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Comedians and comedy

Comedians and comedy
From Jerry Seinfeld to Stephen Chow, Ali Wong to Rick & Morty, SCMP reveals the latest news about the people, shows and films who make us laugh.
Dilraba Dilmurat in a still from Kung Fu Soccer, Stephen Chow’s gender-flipped spin-off of his 2001 comedy classic Shaolin Soccer. The Hong Kong director’s first film in seven years lacks tension and has visuals that resemble AI slop.
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Review | Kung Fu Soccer: Stephen Chow loses his touch with Shaolin Soccer spin-off

Dilraba Dilmurat and Zhang Xiaofei lead a team of female football martial artists in Chow’s film that falls far short of its 2001 predecessor.

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Fame and celebrity

Meet Elliot Page’s comedian girlfriend of Hong Kong descent, Julia Shiplett

Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Review | Unidentified Murder: twisty Hong Kong comedy shows admirable ambition

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American cinema

How Jim Carrey took a dark turn for 1996 stalker comedy The Cable Guy

Carrey’s turn as Matthew Broderick’s pop-culture-obsessed tormentor left viewers confused in 1996. But 30 years on, it seems oddly prescient.

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Jim Carrey in a still from The Cable Guy (1996). Photo: Columbia Pictures.
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

How Pang Ho-cheung’s early black comedies disrupted Hong Kong cinema

The writer-director’s You Shoot, I Shoot (2001) and Men Suddenly in Black (2003) injected a dose of dark satire into a waning local industry.

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Fame and celebrity

Meet Ashley Padilla, the SNL breakout star in upcoming romcom The Catch

She worked as a waitress and as Diane Keaton’s assistant, and was on the verge of giving up comedy – then her sketch made it to the Netflix Is a Joke festival.

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Timepieces

May’s hottest watch moments and major new releases

An unlikely pocket watch tie-up went viral, Kevin Hart dazzled with luxury watches at his Netflix roast, and Omega released a James Bond special.

From left: A. Lange & Söhne Cabaret Tourbillon in Honeygold; Audemars Piguet x Swatch Royal Pop; Patek Philippe ref. 2523 South America World Time. Photos: Handout
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

How Sharla Cheung excelled next to Stephen Chow in 1990s Hong Kong cinema

Sharla Cheung Man’s cool glamour and movie-star looks were a feature of 1990s Hong Kong cinema. Here are some of her best films.

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Anne Hathaway

Meet Anne Hathaway’s The Devil Wears Prada 2 press tour stylist, Erin Walsh

The actress has been rocking designer fits on the press tour with Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt – and her stylist once worked at Vogue.

Fame and celebrity

Meet Matt Friend, whose comedy charms stars, presidents – and King Charles

Friend, whose CNN comedy special aired ahead of the White House correspondents’ dinner, is gaining acclaim for his celebrity impressions.

Comedian Matt Friend’s CNN comedy special, America Laughs With Matt Friend, aired ahead of the White House correspondents’ dinner weekend. Photo: @themattfriend/Instagram
TV shows and streaming video

Meet Ken Kirby, who plays Dr John Shen in HBO Max medical drama The Pitt

The Canadian actor – who grew up between Vancouver, Hong Kong and Shanghai – has TV credits including Dynasty, The Gifted and Good Trouble.

Ken Kirby plays Dr John Shen in The Pitt. Photos: @mrkenkirby/Instagram
Fame and celebrity

Meet queer comedian Robby Hoffman, who plays Randi on Hacks

Hoffman grew up in a Hasidic Jewish household and almost became an accountant – she’s also currently starring in HBO’s Steve Carell-led Rooster.

Celebrity children

Meet Eddie Murphy’s daughter Bella Murphy, who’s in Netflix’s Roommates

The 24-year-old previously appeared in Coming 2 America alongside her Emmy-winning father – and has spoken about being a nepo baby.

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TV shows and streaming video

Q&A | Asian-American Sheng Wang likes to be bored. His best jokes come from it

The Taiwanese-American talks about how jokes in Purple, now on Netflix, were inspired by small everyday events, and his bond with Ali Wong.

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Sheng Wang performs in Los Angeles in November 2022. The Taiwanese-American stand-up comedian talks about his new Netflix special “Purple” and finding humour in “fleeting” everyday moments. Photo: Getty Images/TNS
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

Why these 3 Hong Kong comedies from the 1970s and 80s became local favourites

Itchy Fingers, Pom Pom and Where’s Officer Tuba? were mainstream films that shone amid the proliferation of kung fu and action comedies.

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Jacky Cheung (left) and Sammo Hung in a still from Where’s Officer Tuba?, a popular Hong Kong comedy film from 1986.
Icons and Influencers

Meet Anthony Norman, star of Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat

The second instalment of Amazon’s hoax comedy show stars an unsuspecting Anthony Norman, who believed he was working a temp job and ended up heroically saving the day.

World of performing arts

Making jokes in Hong Kong is a serious business

From TakeOut Comedy Club to Backstage Comedy and open mic nights, Hong Kong’s stand-up scene is growing, thanks to some dedicated producers.

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Fame and celebrity

Meet Larry David’s daughter Cazzie David, who just published a new book

The eldest daughter of the Curb Your Enthusiasm star famously dated Pete Davidson before he moved on to Ariana Grande.

Larry David’s daughter Cazzie David has a new book out. Photo: @cazziedavid/Instagram
Fame and celebrity

Meet Jim Carrey’s partner Min Ah, who he mentioned at the 51st César Awards

While The Mask star’s appearance sparked cosmetic surgery rumours, it was also the first time he publicly gave his partner a shout-out.

TV shows and streaming video

Asian-American comedians get a new platform to have their voices heard

Jokes with JoySauce is part of a US streaming channel that gives a home to Asian-American talent across film, comedy and reality TV.

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Fame and celebrity

Meet Jessica Williams, who plays Gaby in Apple TV’s Shrinking

Starting off with improv in school, she joined Amy Poehler’s comedy group and broke through as the youngest correspondent on The Daily Show.

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Jessica Williams plays Gaby in the Apple TV comedy-drama series, Shrinking, which is now into season three. Photos: @msjwilly/Instagram
Asian cinema: Hong Kong film

3 of Gong Li’s surprising 1990s Hong Kong movie roles

Gong switched gears after making it in Chinese art-house films, starring with Stephen Chow, Brigitte Lin and others in lesser-known movies.

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Gong Li and Stephen Chow attend a promotional event for Flirting Scholar in 1993. Gong rose to fame as the muse of China’s Fifth Generation directors, starring in art-house classics such as Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern and Farewell My Concubine, but found time during the 1990s to make a batch of lesser-known commercial films in Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP
Fame and celebrity

Meet Paul W. Downs, who cosplayed Timothée Chalamet with his Hacks co-star

At the Critics’ Choice Awards, Downs and co-star Megan Stalter walked the red carpet in orange outfits inspired by Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner.

Fame and celebrity

Meet comedian Morgan Jay, who went viral for his auto-tuned musical acts

Jay grew up in a musical family and interned at The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, before going viral on TikTok for his hilarious crowd work.

Donald Trump

Trump hits out at ‘dead man walking’ Colbert in late-night blast

US president calls on CBS to ‘put to sleep’ Stephen Colbert’s show now, before its scheduled end in May 2026.

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Stephen Colbert attends an event in New York on December 9. Photo: AFP
Fame and celebrity

Meet Sarah Sherman, the comedian who just played a drunk raccoon on SNL

The New York-born comedian took a jab at Donald Trump on SNL’s Weekend Update, and her surreal special Sarah Squirm: Live + in the Flesh was just released.

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Sarah Sherman is famed for her physical comedy – but she knows how to get glammed up, too. Photo: AP
Fame and celebrity

Who is Jordan Firstman, aka Charlie in Rachel Sennott’s I Love LA?

The actor, writer and singer wrote for the sitcom Search Party – but it was his humorous pandemic Instagram series that unexpectedly made him famous.

Fame and celebrity

Who is John Mayer’s rumoured new romance, comedian and TikTok star Kat Stickler?

The pair were seen together twice in New York last weekend, though the TikTok star claims her new haircut should be a clear sign she’s single.

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