Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's amusing yet bittersweet debut film is a departure from their previous collaborations.

The home of the American West family is "too classy" and there's no room for a Munter in the US version of Outrageous Fortune.

Outlandish English comedian Russell Brand gets a film to call his own, playing a wastrel rock star.

An embarrassed TVNZ has been forced to apologise to viewers after it was duped into broadcasting a live-to-air interview with a fake pro-whaling lobbyist.

The state broadcaster has admitted it was duped by a prankster pretending to be a pro-whaling advocate.

Another local comedy crew is unleashing its souped-up vehicle.

New show Radiradirah has assembled a comedy dream team in a cast where Boy goes bro'Town and it's Fred Dagg v Flight of the Conchords. But is putting them all in a sketch show a good idea?

Opening with the eternal question - 'what do you do with a BA in English?' - Avenue Q dispenses a bright and breezy antidote to the pressures of life in the big city.

The man behind 'Chopper' - and the star of forthcoming New Zealand film Predicament - talks to Alex Perrott.

Fell, a 2010 Billy T. Award Nominee, is rude, suggestive and sex-crazed, asking the many audience members he uses during the show about their sex lives.

Timeout catches up with Trekkie Monster from puppet show-meets-theatre musical Avenue Q.

There are fewer Indian jokes this year, even though they are clearly what the audience is after - the thick accents Mohanbhai did pull out had the room roaring.

Drawing on her six decades in comedy, Betty White was the consummate host - sweet, sassy, salty, charming and clearly game for anything.

Courteney Cox's new role is her most daring and controversial yet. She tells Rebecca Barry why she's basically playing herself.

Cougar Town perpetuates some nasty stereotypes about men and women, reports Deborah Hill Cone.

Should your wallet still be showing signs of flushness and your sides remain unsplit after three weeks of comedy festival, there's another big name on the way.

At the more refined end of the Comedy Fest spectrum is an elegant memoir chronicling Paul Barrett's life-long engagement with Tourette's syndrome.

Comedian Justine Smith gets serious about her favourite things.

If the rule of comedy is that you have to round off every joke you start then Maeve Higgins breaks it every time.

Sacha Baron Cohen is preparing to unveil a fourth alter ego...

The local old hand: 7 Days has boosted Jeremy Elwood's reputation as a comic, so can he live up to the hype?

A comic genius is a guy who can skulk onto the stage and tell a joke about not being allowed to open his hotel window and have everyone giggling and writhing.

Scottish duo Barry and Stuart represent a wave of edgy magic acts invading the comedy scene, reports Russell Baillie.