Patton Oswalt, Eric Andre, Chelsea Handler and More Sling Hot Takes and Arby’s Barbs at Variety’s SXSW Power of Comedy Event
variety.comCynthia Littleton Business Editor AUSTIN, Texas — Patton Oswalt, Phoebe Robinson, Eric Andre, Chelsea Handler and others were in fine form on Friday night as Variety helped kick off the 2023 SXSW festival and conference with its Power of Comedy event.
The kudos pay tribute to innovators in the business of being funny. Presenters and honorees who gathered at the Creek and the Cave nightclub in downtown Austin made mention of comedians facing a fraught moment as social norms and cultural attitudes are changing.
Mike Lawrence, who hosted the second half of the night, noted that he had to show more identification when registering to get his SXSW conference badge than he would have to buy a gun. “In Texas it’s harder to get a festival badge than to get a gun,” Lawrence said. “Go to a gun store and tell them ‘I hate Jews,’ you get a gun.
Go to registration and say ‘I’m an artist.’ They will question you.” Eric Andre, creator and star of Adult Swim’s “The Eric Andre Show,” was recognized with the Cult Favorite award.
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