'The Sopranos' Takes on Las Vegas for a Good Cause

'The Sopranos' Takes on Las Vegas for a Good Cause

Chris Albrecht, David Chase, James Gandolfini and 'Everybody Loves Raymond' Star Ray Romano Host Poker Tournament with Bill Maher to Benefit Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Comedy Festival (TCF) announced today Comedy Cares(R) first annual Celebrity Poker Tournament, hosted by HBO Chairman and CEO Chris Albrecht, "The Sopranos" creator and executive producer David Chase, James Gandolfini, Emmy Award-winning star of "The Sopranos," and Emmy Award-winning star of "Everybody Loves Raymond," Ray Romano, to benefit Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. The event, to be held at PURE Nightclub at Caesars Palace on Friday November 18th, is part of HBO and AEG Live's inaugural festival, sponsored by TBS, to be held in Las Vegas, November 17-19.

Presented by PURE, Caesars Palace, AEG Live and The Hollywood Reporter, TCF's Celebrity Poker Tournament will welcome such star players as Bill Maher, star of the HBO series "Real Time with Bill Maher," and cast members from "The Sopranos," including Lorraine Bracco, Dominic Chianese, Vincent Curatola, Michael Imperioli, Steve Schirripa, Tony Sirico, Aida Turturro, and Steven Van Zandt. Fans can "buy in" to the tournament at a cost of $15,000, which will raise funds toward the construction of a state-of-the-art, 460,000-square-foot New Hospital Building at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles. When it is completed in 2008, it will be the finest medical and surgical environment for seriously ill and injured children in the United States, and it will be a model family- centered environment in which children and their families can heal and learn together. More information about CHLA is available at http://www.childrenshospitalla.org/.

For further information regarding participation in the tournament, please call Harvin Rogas of 5B Events at (310) 559-9334.

HBO and AEG Live's inaugural The Comedy Festival, sponsored by TBS, will be "Everything Comedy," featuring over 50 shows in three days in live stand- up, sketch comedy and film, as well as special events and screenings at Caesars Palace and the Flamingo Las Vegas. Previously announced TCF highlights include performances by Dave Chappelle, Jon Stewart, George Lopez, Dennis Miller and Bill Maher, as well as a special tribute to Jerry Seinfeld, who will be honored with the first annual The Comedian award. Detailed information about The Comedy Festival is available online at http://www.thecomedyfestival.com/.

Source: HBO

CONTACT: General TCF Information, Ron Hofmann, +1-310-248-6133,
rhofmann@bwr-la.com, or Lynda Dorf, +1-310-248-6105, ldorf@bwr-la.com, both of
BWR Public Relations; or Tobe Becker, HBO Media Relations, +1-212-512-5492,
Tobe.becker@hbo.com

Web site: http://www.hbo.com/
http://www.thecomedyfestival.com/
http://www.childrenshospitalla.org/

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