Comedy fest explores free speech

The importance of free speech is to be celebrated at America's top comedy festival.

Organisers of the Comedy Arts Festival, which takes place in Aspen, Colorado, have decided the climate is right to focus on comedians who have risked their career by pushing boundaries of free expression.

The festival's executive director Stu Smiley said: "The success of comedy has always depended on the freedom of speech.

"As a group, these artists are the standard and examples of courage and commitment to free expression while creating innovative work."

Ken Paulson, executive director of the free speech wathcdog First Amendment Center, said: "From the satirical writings of Ben Franklin to the cutting-edge comics today, humour has played a vital role in America's tradition of free expression. It's important to remember that the First Amendment protects far more than the press and politicians. Sometimes free speech has a punch line."

Among those taking part is stand-up Bill Maher, whose talk show Politically Incorrect may be axed after his comments that flying a plane into a building was not cowardly compared to firing missiles from thousands of miles away angered advertisers.

Also appearing will be The Smothers Brothers, whose groundbreaking US TV show was axed in the early Sixties for being too political, and Matt Stone and Trey Parker, who pushed the boundaries of free expression, and perhaps taste, with South Park.

The event, now in its eighth year, will also include the more traditional showbiz back-slapping, with accolades for Whoopi Goldberg and Lily Tomlin.

Goldberg will be at the event, which takes place from February 27 to March 3, to pick up her American Film Institute Star Award.

Past recipients include Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, Monty Python, Robin Williams and Steve Martin.

The festival will also honour Lily Tomlin with a career tribute celebrating her accomplishments on Broadway, television and in film as a writer, actress and producer.

Backed by pioneering cable network HBO, the Aspen festival is seen as an industry event where TV deals are struck.

Published: 5 Dec 2001