Seinfeld, Chappelle to laugh first at comedy fest

NEW YORK - Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart, Lewis Black, Bill Maher, Dennis Miller, Larry David, Chris Rock, Garry Shandling, and Jerry Seinfeld will all be part of the star-studded inaugural edition of The Comedy Festival, set to take place Nov. 17-19 in Las Vegas.

In announcing most details of the program lineup on Tuesday, organizers HBO and AEG Live said Seinfeld will be honored with the first annual The Comedian award in a special tribute moderated by CNN's Anderson Cooper.

The consumer-focused festival, which will complement HBO's annual U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo., will take over nine performance venues at Caesars Palace and the Flamingo Las Vegas.

Chappelle will return to the spotlight by closing out The Comedy Festival Saturday, according to the organizers. In May, Comedy Central had said the star had stopped work on the third season of "Chappelle's Show," which had been scheduled to begin May 31. It is still unknown if and when the show may return.

Meanwhile, Lewis Black and Dave Attell will co-headline their own show at the Palace.

Stewart will perform in a rare West Coast stand-up appearance, while Comedy Central-star Carlos Mencia will perform with special guest Pablo Francisco. Dane Cook and George Lopez will have their own shows, while Miller will tape a new hour-long HBO special in Vegas.

Maher will host a late-night "For Adults Only" show with Gilbert Gottfried and Sarah Silverman confirmed as guests.

In addition, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog will host a late-night variety show, and Susie Essman will host a "Women with Attitude" showcase with the lineup to be determined.

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