Lilly Singh, John Leguizamo and More Variety Power of Comedy Honorees on ‘Meaningful’ Jokes and Gifting ‘Relief’ Through Comedy

variety.com:

Tomris Laffly For the second year in a row, Variety’s Power of Comedy Awards, which recognize comedic achievements across stand-up, film, TV and digital platforms, will be presented at the SXSW Comedy Festival.

This year’s event will take place March 8 at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater. Comedy Director “Discomfort breeds comedy,” says Adlon, the Emmy-winning star of FX’s hit comedy series “Better Things,” which she directed and co-created with her agile feminist voice. “Darkness needs light.

The laughter is in the unexpected, the feeling is in the transition.” While “Better Things” marked the longtime actor’s successful shift into showrunning and producing, the SXSW-premiering “Babes” starring Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau and Hasan Minhaj, is about to launch her into the world of feature films as a debuting director.

And it is laced with many of Adlon’s signature thematic interests, including motherhood and modern-world femininity. “I was born to guide and protect heart and humor,” says Adlon, who leads her own all-female production house, Slam Book Inc. “And I live to hear people say, ‘That shit is funny.’” Comedy Innovator As the first woman to host a late-night series for a major network, with TBS’ “Full Frontal With Samantha Bee,” “The Daily Show” vet needs no introduction.