Ellen ditches the press tent

Tonight "The Comedy Festival" arrives for its third year in Vegas.

The festival at Caesars culminates with weekend shows by Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock (Friday and Saturday). Other comics set to appear include Buffet regular Artie Lange (tomorrow) and Eddie Izzard (Saturday).

But there has been one interesting change in the TCF plan. Tomorrow all the media attention at "The Comedy Festival" was to be focused on a three-hour taping of "Ellen's Really Big Show."

The show features Vegas staples like Wayne Newton and Barry Manilow along with out-of-town talent like Mary J. Blige and Sheryl Crow. The result is set to air on TBS on November 19.

According to a press release sent yesterday morning by TCF reps, the plan called for a special press tent to be erected where we were promised: "Talent will come into the press tent before during and after the show." That is a lot of interesting interviews. But last night the press tent was canceled with no explanation.

Could it be that a talk show host doesn't want to talk to the press right now? What about all those freelancers who have assignments and were counting on getting quotes from Ellen DeGeneres? Now they are all out of a job for that time. Some people are mean, mean, mean.

Oh, well, it is Las Vegas and there are other things going on. I can watch the Democrats debate at UNLV or go to the Michelin Guide reception at Wynn to watch owner Steve Wynn do a happy dance over all the stars his resort has won this year.

(Photo by Sarah Gerke)