Comedy Talks is a hosted panel discussion that brings the classic late night talk show format to the live stage.
Host Robert Strong talks with a panel of three comedy legends about their careers, personal lives, insider gossip, and tips of the comedy trade. A Q&A period lets the audience in on the conversation, too. Meet comedy luminaries so familiar that they feel like old friends, as well as the behind-the-scenes geniuses responsible for some of the biggest laughs of your life.
Producer and host Robert Strong is a comedian and magician who has been entertaining audiences since 1985. In his many years on the road, Strong had the pleasure of meeting dozens of legendary comedians, becoming increasingly intrigued by his impression that the behind-the-scenes chit-chat was often just as entertaining as the performances themselves. This revelation gave rise to the idea of bringing those personal, genuine, and fascinating backstage conversations to the public in the form of Comedy Talks. In 2009, Strong partnered with Juliana Gallin, founder and director of San Francisco’s Ask a Scientist lecture series, to produce the very first season of Comedy Talks. Taking place at the University of San Francisco’s Presentation Theater over three consecutive Sundays in August 2010, Comedy Talks launched with celebrity panelists George Segal, Paul Mazursky, Ronnie Schell, Rich Little, Carol Channing, Steve Rossi, Robert Morse, Shelley Berman, and Will Durst. These national treasures shared their wisdom, wit, and experience with adoring audiences in an atmosphere at once intimate, boisterous, and euphorically funny. Comedy Talks’ producers, crew, panelists, and audience look forward to many more seasons to come!