(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —
The Comedy Festival's (TCF) Comedy Cares first annual Celebrity Poker Tournament, hosted by HBO Chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht, "The Sopranos" creator and executive producer David Chase, James Gandolfini, and Ray Romano, will benefit Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The event, to be held at PURE Nightclub at Caesars Palace on November 18, is part of HBO and AEG Live's inaugural festival, sponsored by TBS, to be held in Las Vegas, November 17-19.
Presented by PURE, Caesars Palace, AEG Live and The Hollywood Reporter, TCF's Celebrity Poker Tournament will welcome Bill Maher and cast members from "The Sopranos," including Lorraine Bracco, Dominic Chianese, Vincent Curatola, Michael Imperioli, Steve Schirripa, Tony Sirico, Aida Turturro, and Steven Van Zandt. Fans can "buy in" to the tournament at a cost of $15,000, which will raise funds toward the construction of a state-of-the-art, 460,000-square-foot New Hospital Building at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
HBO and AEG Live's The Comedy Festival will be "Everything Comedy," featuring over 50 shows in three days in live stand- up, sketch comedy and film, as well as special events and screenings at Caesars Palace and the Flamingo Las Vegas. TCF highlights include performances by Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart, George Lopez, Dennis Miller and Maher, as well as a special tribute to Jerry Seinfeld, who will be honored with the first annual The Comedian award. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
