NETFLIX TEAMS WITH LEGENDARY COMEDY DIRECTOR MARTY CALLNER FOR “THE HALL: HONORING THE GREATS OF STAND-UP” 

PERMANENT HOME TO BE AT THE NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER IN JAMESTOWN, NY

Netflix Is A Joke, Netflix’s comedy brand, will be presenting the inaugural edition of THE HALL, a first-of-its-kind hall of fame honoring the greats of stand-up comedy. Today’s biggest names in comedy will pay homage to and induct comedy legends George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, and Robin Williams.

The Hall and induction ceremony special were created by award-winning director/producer Marty Callner and producer Randall Gladstein. Callner will direct and executive produce through his Funny Business, Inc. shingle. Gladstein and award-winning producer/manager David Steinberg will also executive produce.

The Hall—which will have a physical home in a newly designed wing of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York—will be taped at the Hollywood Palladium in May of 2022 on the closing night of the Netflix is a Joke: The Festival taking place in Los Angeles. The program will be streamed on Netflix at a later date.

“Netflix has become the dominant player in the comedy space, which made them the ideal broadcast partner for this long overdue acknowledgment of the art of stand-up comedy,” “The Hall” director Marty Callner and fellow executive producers Randall Gladstein and David Steinberg said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. “The relationship with Netflix and the caliber of our four beloved inductees have made it possible for us to bring together, for the first time, every leading voice in stand-up to honor those that paved the way.”

“Stand-up comedy is more than funny jokes — these artists shape our culture, teach us, and challenge us about the world and ourselves,” said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer, Netflix, in a statement. “We’re honored to partner with Marty, Randall, David, and everyone at the National Comedy Center as we celebrate the greats in this field, create a space for comedy lovers to come together, and share the induction ceremony with Netflix members everywhere.”

Previously, Callner directed HBO’s first ever stand-up special “An Evening with Robert Klein,” as well as specials for comedians like Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, and George Carlin.

“Stand-up comedy is an art form all its own,” said Callner. “Stand-ups have a unique ability to make us laugh and to make us think. Often their social commentary mixed with humor makes them the most effective voices of the moment. It is long overdue that they be recognized with ‘The Hall,’ where generations to come can appreciate their work forever.”

The National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York will host “The Hall.” Inside will be a curated experience with interactive exhibits that allow in-person visitors to explore archives of rare performances and interviews, as well as memorabilia and personal effects from these legends of stand-up.

“As the country’s official cultural institution dedicated to the art form of comedy, the National Comedy Center is honored to partner with Netflix, Marty Callner, Randall Gladstein and David Steinberg to become the permanent home for the legends of stand-up comedy,” said Journey Gunderson, National Comedy Center executive director. “We look forward to welcoming comedy fans from around the world as we share the stories of the artists who had an enormous impact on comedy, and in turn, our culture – in a new wing of our museum complex devoted to these brilliant comics.”