All-Star Comedy Gala, Hosted by Drew Carey

Overview

Drew Carey's first love was comedy. Despite long stints on sitcoms and hosting the US Price Is Right, stand-up and improvisational comedy were the things that really grabbed him. Carey's most enduring success is probably US import Whose Line Is It Anyway?, originally borrowed from a British TV show which made stars out of Wayne Brady and Greg Proops. Both recently made treks down under, leaving it to Carey to take his own turn on Australian shores as part of this year's Just for Laughs.

Carey is bringing this expertise at wrangling comedians en masse to the Opera House at the festival's All-Star Comedy Gala, with a lineup of local and overseas comics set to take over the stage under his watchful eye. Carey's collection includes brash US star Bill Burr, Aussies like The Project's Charlie Pickering, and the Spiritual Journey-ed Judith Lucy (whose stylistic mix of the abrasive and the vulnerable should be a good fit to Carey's own mix of the same).

More star power will be announced as the date draws nearer. And given Carey's comic-herding background, it should be interesting to see what the he does with an evening, comedians, and a willing audience.

The Gala will run two shows on October 20, one at 7pm, the second at 9pm.