Hollywood
Hannibal Buress, Jerrod Carmichael and Nitin Mirani added to Dubai Comedy Festival line-up
MUMBAI: The Dubai Comedy Festival announced an exciting addition to its line-up on 28 September. Renowned American stand-up and Comedy Central favourite Hannibal Buress as well as one of variety magazine’s top ten comics to watch, Jerrod Carmichael will join international funnyman Dave Chappelle and new host of ‘The Daily Show’ Trevor Noah in what is set to be the region’s largest comedy festival. Also added to the programme is the homegrown international comedian, UAE and India’s representative in ‘The Funniest Person in the World 2015’ competition, Nitin Mirani.
Taking place from October 15 – 24, tickets are now on sale at www.dubaicomedyfest.ae and are available in four categories diamond, platinum, gold and silver. As excitement mounts for what promises to be an exhilarating and entertaining ten days of gigs, shows and performances, fans are urged to book now and bag their spot to see these superstar comics and the stellar line-up of supporting local, regional and global comedy talent in action.
A purpose-built 4,500 seat venue at Skydive Dubai will be the stage for two main gig weekends, which will include an opening night of Arabic Comedy, second night performance from Hannibal Buress and Jerrod Carmichael on 16th October as well as a closing weekend that will see Dave Chappelle take the stage on 22nd and the 23rdOctober and Trevor Noah perform on Saturday 24th October. Nitin Mirani will headline ‘Desi Invasion’ on Saturday October 17th, performing alongside Atul Khatri, Abish Mathew, Kenneth Sebastian and NeetiPalta. Local funny man Ali Al Sayed, Saudi Arabian YouTube sensation Bader Saleh and Las Vegas headlining Comedy Magician Mac King will also feature during the festival. Other highlights include the Comedy Strip @ JBR Walk, which will host a number of unique and hilarious Comedy Nights, and free daily street performances.
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
