Arts & Entertainment
Joke A Thon
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Carla Schalman
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HOW MANY JOKES DOES IT TAKE TO…
Comedians Of All Stripes From Around The World
To Put Their Best Jokes Forward In Effort
To Help Teen Fight Off Illness With Record Breaking Jokes
(Los Angeles, April 18, 2012) In a unique cross-country effort to lift the spirits of a Midwest teen fighting a rare form of brain cancer, the famed Laugh Factory in Hollywood (8001 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles) – home to the world’s top comics -- will attempt to set a world’s record for most jokes told in a 24-hour period – 10,000 in total – at the end of this month.
Nineteen-year-old Miles Austrevich will watch from his hospital bed in Chicago, Illinois as comedians and others from throughout Los Angeles step up to microphones and live-streaming cameras to be a part of a joke-a-thon – with seven jokes being told at breakneck speed per minute -- which Austrevich requested to lift his spirits.
The one-liners will appropriately begin at one in the afternoon April 24 and continue through the next day.
“Laughter is supposed to be the best medicine,” said Laugh Factory comedy impresario Jamie Masada. “Well, we’re going to give it a try. The goal is to show Miles that he isn’t alone in his battle and to help him feel better.”
A website, jokes4miles.com has also gone live for people from around the world to share jokes that can become part of the laugh-a-thon. According to Masada, Miles has been battling brain cancer for over three years, now with a fourth recurrence, he is about to undergo an autologous stem cell transplant at LA Children’s Hospital. He will be in
isolation, 2,000 miles from family and friends for months, that's why Masada has teamed with Mile’s father, Len, in asking people around the world to participate in sending 10,000 jokes that he can watch online from his hospital room.
“I’ve already taped his classmates, his principal, his doctors and a whole bunch of comedians, including Jay Leno,” said Len, a former stand-up comedian. Len and his son have shared a love for comedy since Miles was a child and have launched a foundation to help other children with similar maladies.
Everyone who comes to the Laugh Factory and contributes a job will receive one free ticket to a future Laugh Factory show.
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