\'Ben Stiller Show\' Reunion Is Set for New York Comedy Festival

September 21, 2012, 10:26 am

By DAVE ITZKOFF

In a different universe television audiences would be preparing for Fox's 21st season of “The Ben Stiller Show,” the freely-associative sketch show that mashed up Woody Allen comedies and monster movies and wondered what structure Bruce Willis would get trapped in for “Die Hard 12,” instead of morosely noting that it was canceled after half a season in 1992 (and an earlier MTV incarnation in 1990).

For those viewers who never got over this injustice â€" or who simply wonder what became of Andy Dick â€" the principal cast and producers of “The Ben Stiller Show” plan to reunite at the New York Comedy Festival, the festival's organizers said on Friday. The lineup of alumni-made-good who will ga ther for the reunion, set for Nov. 10 at the Paley Center for Media in Manhattan, include Mr. Stiller (of “Zoolander,” “Tropic Thunder” and “Meet the Fockers”); Janeane Garafolo (“The West Wing,” “24″); Bob Odenkirk (“Breaking Bad,” “Mr. Show With Bob and David”), Judd Apatow (“Knocked Up,” “This Is 40″) and the ever-unpredictable Mr. Dick, as well as Jeff Kahn and Rob Cohen.

The festival is also adding a Nov. 9 event at the Paley Center featuring the comedian and actor Denis Leary (“Rescue Me”) in conversation with Kate Snow, discussing a popular if vulgar holiday song by Mr. Leary that he has turned into an interactive picture book. Other festival shows announced on Friday include “You Made It Weird” with Pete Holmes; “Nikki & Sara & Friends”; and “Crowd Work With Colin Quinn.”

The New York Comedy Festival runs from Nov. 7 though 11.