US President Barack Obama took a few humorous shots at the 2016 presidential field - and a few at his own image - in his annual comic turn at the White House.

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.

Forget the birds and the bees, Michele A’Court says there are other important things to tell your children. Rebecca Barry Hill talks to the comedian about parenthood, making people laugh and being a grandmother at 53.

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.

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.

The name of Eddie Izzard's latest tour Force Majeure means a superior force, an act of God, an unavoidable event.

At a time when more Hollywood comedians are flaunting their loudness and lewdness, Jason Sudeikis' rise to stardom seems remarkably understated and subdued.

Whoa, this can't be right. Guys, guys, guys - this isn't the end. It feels like the lights have just come on in the theatre just when I was settling down to my popcorn...

Mike Myers has reprised his Austin Powers villain Dr Evil to poke fun at the Sony/North Korea hacking scandal on Saturday Night Live.

How offensive can Chelsea Handler get? Chris Schulz braved the TV comedian's first Auckland show to find out.

Two North American comedy stars are making their way to Auckland next year. Canadian Russell Peters is returning to New Zealand after his sold-out 2013 show.

Veteran comedy star Bill Cosby struck a defiant pose and lapped up standing ovations at one of his live shows in America at the weekend as he faced down growing allegations of rape and sexual assault....

Russell Brand has fired back at social media users who have ridiculed his political rants using Blur's Parklife by re-recording the song himself.

Prince Charles has roasted Molly Meldrum in a tongue-in-cheek message coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Countdown.