COMEDY CENTRAL® to Stage Two Free Summer Concerts in New York City's Central Park and Red Hook Park as Part of Its Ongoing Partnership With the City Parks Foundation SummerStage Performing Arts Series

NEW YORK, May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Free outdoor stand-up comedy just got twice as cool.  COMEDY CENTRAL Live^® is marking its sixth consecutive year partnering with the City Parks Foundation by expanding its successful annual SummerStage comedy showcase in Central Park, adding a second free event in Brooklyn's Red Hook Park.

For the first event, COMEDY CENTRAL gets political with "Indecision in the Park," which will be hosted by John Hodgman, and feature stand-up comedy by "Daily Show" correspondents Wyatt Cenac, Al Madrigal, and John Oliver, along with contributor Kristen Schaal, executive producer Rory Albanese, and co-executive producer Adam Lowitt, among others.  "Indecision in the Park," sponsored by Outback Steakhouse, will be held rain or shine on Wednesday, June 20 at 8:00 p.m. (gates open at 7:00 p.m.) at the SummerStage venue in mid-Central Park.  Enter at Fifth Avenue and 69th Street.

COMEDY CENTRAL expands to the borough of Brooklyn for the second event, "COMEDY CENTRAL Live Presents: Hannibal Buress" in Red Hook Park.  Headlined by uber talented stand-up comedian and winner of the 2012 Comedy Award for Club Comic, Hannibal Buress, and featuring performances by comedians Kevin Barnett and Josh Rabinowitz, the event will take place rain or shine on Sunday, June 24 at 7:00 p.m. at the SummerStage venue in Red Hook Park.

COMEDY CENTRAL Live's free SummerStage stand-up comedy shows in New York City's historic Central Park began in 2007 with an evening of comedy hosted by Dave Attell, featuring comedians Ted Alexandro, Joe DeRosa, Kurt Metzger, John Mulaney and Amy Schumer.  Subsequent "COMEDY CENTRAL Park" events included: Stephen Lynch, Mike Birbiglia and Julian McCullough (2008); Gabriel Iglesias and Pablo Francisco (2009); "The Daily Show & Friends" featuring "Daily Show" correspondents Wyatt Cenac and John Oliver, series alum Rob Riggle, executive producer Rory Albanese and supervising producer Adam Lowitt and a special performance by Lewis Black (2010); and last summer's show, which was headlined by Jim Gaffigan and John Pinette. 

Wyatt Cenac is a comedian/actor/writer who currently resides in New York and is an Emmy^® Award-winning writer and correspondent on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."  Previously, he spent three seasons as a writer and contributed voice-over work for FOX's "King of the Hill."  In 2008, he starred in the film "Medicine for Melancholy," which was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards.  Most recently, his first one-hour stand-up special, "Comedy Person" aired on COMEDY CENTRAL.

Al Madrigal is a correspondent on "The Daily Show" and joined the series in May 2011.  His unique, spontaneous and fast-paced lyrical story-telling style has made him a regular on television with numerous appearances on COMEDY CENTRAL, including his own half-hour stand-up special, "COMEDY CENTRAL Presents: Al Madrigal," "John Oliver's New York Stand-up Show" and "Pretend Time with Nick Swardson."  His late-night television appearances include "Conan," "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

John Oliver has been a correspondent and multiple Emmy Award-winning writer on "The Daily Show" since 2006.  In that time, he has done everything from interviewing UN Ambassadors to breaking his nose fighting for the Confederate Army.  He appears regularly on NBC's "Community" and hosts COMEDY CENTRAL's stand-up series "John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show."  He is also the voice of Vanity Smurf in the Smurf movies.  That last one is not a joke.

Kristen Schaal starred in the HBO cult hit "Flight of The Conchords" and is the Women's Issues correspondent for "The Daily Show."  Other film and television credits include "Dinner for Schmucks," "Toy Story 3," "30 Rock," "COMEDY CENTRAL Presents: Kristen Schaal" and FOX's "The Simpsons."  She also provides the voice for Louise in the FOX animated series "Bob's Burgers."

Rory Albanese is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning executive producer and writer for "The Daily Show."  He has been a key part of the series since 1999, including co-authoring Earth: The Book with Jon Stewart and the other "Daily Show" writers.  Albanese is also an accomplished stand-up comedian whose first one-hour stand-up special aired on COMEDY CENTRAL in April 2010.  Albanese and John Oliver are writing a feature film for Paramount Pictures.

Adam Lowitt is a three-time Emmy Award-winning co-executive producer for "The Daily Show."  As a stand-up comedian, he has appeared on COMEDY CENTRAL's "John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show" and performs regularly in New York City and across the nation.  Check out adamlowitt.com for show dates.

John Hodgman is the resident expert on "The Daily Show" and the author of That Is All, his third and final book of complete world knowledge, compiling fascinating fake facts and made up trivia on subjects as diverse as wine, wealth, sports, and the end of the world.  Previously, he portrayed the "PC" in a series of advertisements for a MAJOR computer company, as well as Louis Greene on HBO's "Bored To Death" and a space brain surgeon on "Battlestar Galactica."  Even more previously, he wrote for The New York Times Magazine and the Paris Review.  Even most previously, he was a cheesemonger.

Cool, confident and intelligent, Hannibal Buress is one of the hottest comedians on the scene today.  He has earned both the honor of performing at the "Just For Laughs" comedy festival in Montreal and the well-earned respect of his peers, who regard him as one of the brightest young talents to emerge from Chicago.  A natural storyteller who can captivate a room with his words alone, Buress generates huge laughs with the laidback, quirky observations that have become his trademark style.  The former "Saturday Night Live" writer recently opened for Aziz Ansari at the "South Beach Comedy Festival" in March 2012.

Kevin Barnett's credits include appearances on COMEDY CENTRAL, CollegeHumor.com and a panelist on MTV's "#FAIL." He can also be seen in the independent film "How to Follow Strangers" and comedian Mike Birbiglia's feature film "Sleepwalk With Me."  Barnett performed at the "Just For Laughs" comedy festival in Montreal and is a co-host one of the best podcasts in New York, "The Roundtable of Gentlemen."

Josh Rabinowitz is a 24 year old comedian in New York City.  In November, he was named one of COMEDY CENTRAL's "Comics to Watch" at The New York Comedy Festival and this year played "Kent" on MTV's "I Just Want My Pants Back."  He has also appeared on COMEDY CENTRAL's "Live On Campus Tour" and CollegeHumor Live.

SOURCE COMEDY CENTRAL Corporate Communications