An aspiring comedian who rushed the stage at his local bar and stole the microphone off a star comedian says "too much vodka" was to blame for his actions.

The Thrilling Adventure Hour takes a little longer than that. It's actually about 80 to 85 minutes on stage, says Ben Blacker, laughing.

Noel Fielding took to the stage and embraced the bare accoutrements of traditional stand-up comedy, writes Karl Puschmann.

It might be years since the end of The Mighty Boosh, but the local following that Noel Fielding earned from the surreal show will be welcoming him to this year's comedy festival.

Three makes a trend, so it's official: Amy Schumer is the new John Oliver.

I have never been a big fan of comedians who resort to crude, shock humour, riddled with curse words that would make a sailor proud. So it was refreshing to get along to Wash Your Mouth Out, at Vault at the Q Theatre, in Auckland.

Miles Allen was a struggling actor in LA when his Breaking Bad impressions went viral, making him one of the hottest tickets at this year's Comedy Festival. He talks, in many voices, to Chris Schulz.

Colin Hay, the singer of Men At Work classics like 'Down Under', returns to Auckland as part of this year's comedy festival.

Taika Waititi is returning to the small screen in Brown Eye, a satirical look at the news with a Maori perspective which is starting on Maori Television next month.

21 comics over three-and-a-half hours became 'comedy as punishment' at last night's Comedy Gala.

With the New Zealand International Comedy Festival just around the corner, Sarah Ell caught up with comedian Jamie Bowen.

Rose Matafeo reveals what part of her Jono & Ben billboard is photoshopped, and explains why she is staging her own funeral at the NZ International Comedy Festival.

Rape may not be a joke, but comedian Adrienne Truscott pokes fun at the absurd issues around the subject - even stripping to make her point, writes Lydia Jenkin.

Amy Schumer has mocked industry sexism and ageism in her viral Last F**kable Day sketch with Tina Fey, Patricia Arquette and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Is this the cheekiest act of the Comedy Festival? One-half of Aussie duo The Naked Magicians tells us about their accidental 'orgy' of comedy, magic and nudity.

Dennis Quaid's curse word-filled, on-set meltdown - which surfaced on Reddit Monday - was all for a Funny or Die sketch.

He was a loudmouth vampire in What We Do in the Shadows, but comedian Cori Gonzalez-Macuer prefers dry understatement. He talks about tattoos, whisky, failure and success.

What does it take to be a successful comic? Well, being funny sure helps. But so, too, Dai Henwood tells Greg Dixon, does having a clear head and a brain for business

It sounds like the set-up for a joke: what does Mel Brooks have in common with Audrey Hepburn, Whoopi Goldberg and Sir John Gielgud?

An attack of the giggles can sometimes appear at the strangest moments, but laughter often isn't to do with comedy value.

Comedian Urzila Carlson talks about gender-bending life experiences, the delights of toilet humour and learning to man up.

This simply staged one-man show makes for an easy, funny and extraordinarily entertaining night out.

The line-up for the 2015 Comedy Festival is out today with a programme featuring everyone from returning international and local stars to provocative new acts.

Eddie Murphy refused to play troubled comedian Bill Cosby in a sketch during Saturday Night Live's 40th anniversary show.

Early on in Eddie Izzard's performance, one of two in Auckland before his 26-country Force Majeur tour returns him to the UK, there was the matter of the pesky fly.

His last tour here was called Life is Pain but it seems Alan Davies will be in a bit of a better mood when he visits again in July.

Michael Palin gives Dominic Corry insights on Kiwis and humour.

A festival show has patrons pounding streets, finds Rebecca Barry-Hill.

British funnyman Rowan Atkinson is set to reprise his role as Mr. Bean.

The international magician dubbed The Unusualist is returning to New Zealand with his own box of tricks.