Night of Too Many Stars Serves Up Laughs for a Good Cause

Credit: Comedy

Jon Stewart is back to host Night of Too Many Stars

Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Stars showcases a huge amount of talent to a raise money for autism programs

Since its first instalment back in 2006, Comedy Central’s Night of Too Many Stars has gathered together some of the biggest names in the comedy world for a side-splitting telethon to raise money for autism programs. 

This is not your father’s telethon; no heart-wrenching pleas, no Jerry Lewis singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” no Jurassic comedy routines from Norm Crosby — just a two-hour extravaganza jam-packed with top-tier talent.

Jon Stewart Returns to Host Telethon

The biennial event is the brain-child of writer Robert Smigel (best known as canine alter ego Triumph the Insult Comic Dog), who, as the father of an autistic child, launched a 2003 charity dinner. The event grew far bigger in scope when he enlisted The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart as host, which led to the gala transforming to a TV special. 

Past shows have included such shenanigans as Sarah Silverman making out with staid film critic Leonard Maltin, Chris Rock agreeing to curse out the ex-boyfriend of a donor who pledged 20 grand, Rock performing a gut-busting duet of “Scarborough Fair” with 30 Rock’s Tracy Morgan, and Stephen Colbert making an extravagant display of presenting Stewart with a giant, oversized cheque — for $50. 

There’s a sense that anything can happen, and having so many funny people gathered together unleashes a friendly comedy competition; everybody ups their games, and the results are hilarious. 

Night of Too Many Stars 2012

This year’s show promises to be a great one, judging from the roster of talent scheduled to appear. Among the “too many stars” to participate in the 2012 event are: SNL’s Fred Armisen and Jason Sudeikis; Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen; Stephen Colbert; 30 Rock stars Tina Fey, Jack McBrayer and Tracy Morgan; Fox News blowhard Bill O’Reilly; Parks and Recreation’s Amy Poehler; Seth Rogen; Bob Saget; Jerry Seinfeld; Triumph the Insult Comic Dog; Matthew Broderick; Anderson Cooper; Jimmy Kimmel; Julianne Moore; Meredith Vieira; Katy Perry; former Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello; and others yet to be announced. 

As always, expect an evening of laughs while Stewart and company try to top the US$3.1 million they raised back in 2010.

Night of Too Many Stars airs Sunday, October 21st on Comedy at 8 pm.

Originally published in TVW. For daily programming updates and on-screen Entertainment news, subscribe to the free TVW e-newsletters, or purchase a subscription to the weekly magazine.