
Chris Tucker, Pete Davidson and Aziz Ansari among stars set for Riyadh Comedy Festival
Announced by GEA Chairman Turki Alalshikh, the latest additions to the lineup include Hollywood icon Chris Tucker, best known for the Rush Hour franchise, and Emmy winner Aziz Ansari, co-creator and star of Master of None and the upcoming film Good Fortune.
Also confirmed is Pete Davidson, Saturday Night Live alumnus and creator of Peacock's Bupkis, along with stand-up powerhouse Tom Segura, whose latest show Bad Thoughts earned an Emmy nomination.
Joining them are Andrew Santino and Bobby Lee, co-hosts of the hit podcast Bad Friends; Emmy-nominated writer Nimesh Patel; Amazon Prime comedy standout Sam Morril (You've Changed); and globally recognized British-Iranian comedian Omid Djalili.
Other big names appearing at the two-week festival include TV and podcast personality Chris Distefano, Netflix regular Mark Normand, stand-up veteran Hannibal Buress, six-time Emmy and three-time Grammy winner Louis C.K., and Australian favorite Jimeoin. — SG
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
3 days ago
- Arab News
Sofia Carson dons Lebanese design on press tour
DUBAI: Sofia Carson is continuing her streak of ensembles by Lebanese designer Elie Saab while promoting her latest project, 'My Oxford Year,' set to hit Netflix on August 1. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ Carson showed off a belted black blouse by the designer in New York this week, and she completed the outfit with a nude pencil skirt and black leather gloves. The actress and singer is known for her affinity for Lebanese labels, and previously showed off a look by Saab in March while promoting Netflix film 'The Life List.' Carson arrived at the 'CBS Mornings' show in New York City as part of that press tour wearing a green dress from Elie Saab's Ready-to-Wear Fall/Winter 2023-2024 collection. She also showed off several looks by the Lebanese designer during Netflix festivities in June. Ahead of Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event — the streaming platform's celebration of global fandom and storytelling — Carson appeared in a white ensemble featuring a tailored blazer, wide-leg trousers and a matching shirt. On a separate occasion, she wore an all-black outfit composed of wide-leg trousers and a sheer top with cape-like sleeves. Both outfits were from Saab's Ready-to-Wear Pre-Fall 2025 collection. A post shared by Sofia Carson (@sofiacarson) Carson's latest film sees her star opposite Corey Mylchreest in 'My Oxford Year,' a romance written by Allison Burnett and Melissa Osborne and directed by BAFTA nominee Iain Morris. T 'Iain Morris wrote and created one of the most iconic shows in British television, 'The Inbetweeners',' Carson, who also executive produces the movie — her second production credit following 2022's Purple Hearts — told a Netflix blog. 'Comedy is his language, so his vision of this film beautifully created a timeless, heartbreaking, sweeping romance, grounded in laughter. Within one scene you may fall madly in love, you may cry, but he will always make sure the joy of laughter is present.' The upcoming film is, as the title suggests, set in the university town of Oxford in the UK. 'When Anna (Carson), an ambitious young American woman, sets out for the UK and the University of Oxford to fulfill a childhood dream, she's got her life completely on track. That is, until she meets a charming and clever local Jamie (Mylchreest) who profoundly alters both of their lives,' the film's logline reads.


Arab News
4 days ago
- Arab News
GEA announces lineup for Riyadh Comedy Festival in September
LONDON: Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, announced on Monday the lineup of stand-up comedians who will perform at the inaugural Riyadh Comedy Festival in September. Award-winning Hollywood actor Chris Tucker, critically acclaimed performer Pete Davidson, and Emmy-award-winning Aziz Ansari are among over 50 top comedians from around the world who will be performing at Boulevard City in the capital, Riyadh, from September 26 to October 9. Tom Segura, known for Netflix specials like Ball Hog and Bad Thoughts, will star at the two-week festival, joined by popular podcast hosts Andrew Santino and Bobby Lee, Emmy-nominated writer Nimesh Patel, late-night favorite Sam Morril, and UK actor Omid Djalili, recognized for his global stand-up performances. Caption This year's Riyadh Comedy Festival will also feature Chris Distefano, who recently released his special It's Just Fortunate; Mark Normand, known for his Netflix special Soup To Nuts; Hannibal Buress, a veteran writer and comedian; Louis C.K., a six-time Emmy and three-time Grammy winner; and Jimeoin, recognized for his observational comedy. The comedians listed are among the first 26 artists to confirm their participation in the festival this week. The Riyadh Comedy Festival will also announce additional performers in the coming weeks. Confirmed acts also include Andrew Schulz, Bill Burr, Bobby Lee, Gabriel 'Fluffy' Iglesias, Jessica Kirson, Jimmy Carr, Jo Koy, Kevin Hart, Maz Jobrani, Russell Peters, Sebastian Maniscalco, Whitney Cummings, and Zarna Garg.


Arab News
4 days ago
- Arab News
MBC's Shahid and Netflix launch joint subscription in regional first
RIYADH: The MBC Group has announced a partnership with Netflix that brings together two major streaming platforms under a single subscription service — a first for the region. It means MBCNOW, the Saudi media giant's recently launched content aggregation platform, will provide seamless access to the full Netflix catalogue alongside Shahid, a leading Arabic streaming platform, as well as MBC's award-winning linear TV channels. The partnership is a first for Netflix in the Middle East and North Africa and aims to cater to diverse viewing preferences across Saudi Arabia and the wider Arab world. The bundled subscription is designed to deliver convenience and value, offering more than 21 percent in savings compared to separate subscriptions. Netflix's head of business development and partnerships for the Middle East and Africa, Mohammed Al-Kuraishi, said the deal would make it easier for subscribers in Saudi Arabia and beyond to access 'an incredible variety of international and Arabic shows, movies, documentaries, kids' content, stand-ups, live events and games.' 'This groundbreaking partnership is one for the books,' said Fadel Zahreddine, group director of emerging media at MBC Group. 'To have two streaming giants — Shahid and Netflix — come together under one platform is something never seen before in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and wider MENA.' Bhanu Chaddha, director of distribution and TV products at MBC Group, said the collaboration represented 'the future of streaming and content consumption.' 'This collaboration is part of our ongoing commitment to provide unparalleled global and local experiences for our audiences in the region,' he said. Launched in February, MBCNOW is designed to bridge the gap between traditional TV and digital streaming. The new Shahid + Netflix package is now available across Saudi Arabia through major retailers and e-commerce platforms. Further information on the subscription bundle can be found at