HBNO
March 7, 2008
Last year, at this time, the HBO Comedy Arts Festival would be going on, and I would have shot 10 episodes for my Grassroots TV show. I would have already figured out how I could see as many shows and movies as possible. I would be a happy guy, a very happy guy. This year I’m not happy. This year I’m trying to figure out what the hell happened?
A number of years back HBO threatened to pull out only to be saved by the efforts of a valiant few to supply more rooms, and discounted plane tickets. Over the last few years HBO has expanded to Vegas, and to those in the know, it seemed obvious the HBO Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen was soon to be a distant memory.
No more Robin, Steve, Whoopi, Billy, George, or Colbert. No more salutes to comedy legends or favorites. No more first looks at the stars of tomorrow. No more HBO.
Why? Numerous reasons: Too expensive, to hard to get there, one to many guys beating up their girlfriend, or how about just a lack of communication for too many years.
For the most part, I don’t think the Comedy Arts Festival was ever really appreciated. The Ski Company claimed they were depleting rooms thus skier dollars. We didn’t need the event was mumbled on more than one occasion. The city had a warning they did not heed, nor a functioning warm body to heed it, and for whatever reason seemed surprised by HBO not returning. I wasn’t surprised - as a matter of fact nobody should have been. The writing was on the wall for years. You just had to be paying attention.
There’s a rumor the Comedy Arts portion of the event is coming back in some form next year. Another rumor is that Will Smith might be interested in putting some of his money into a comedy event. Gram Slaton, at the Wheeler, would like to be potentially involved. This year he stepped up, and with David Brenner presented some great comedy.
But, to bring back the HBO Comedy Arts Festival as it was, is unlikely at best. Not only was it well produced, but also the intrinsic media value for Aspen will be tough to duplicate. I image if Food & Wine talked about moving to Vail, someone would jump up out of their seat and do whatever was necessary to prevent that from happening – or I would hope. No Food & Wine, how would we all survive? How would ACRA survive?
The simple truth is the powers that be at the time just didn’t care about, or like the HBO Comedy Arts Festival event enough to try and save it, OR did it just get lost in the traffic and affordable housing shuffle?
I hope a lesson can be learned. And that lesson is not to take anything for granted. When you have something great - cherish it, appreciate it, and say thank you once in a while.
Personally, I already miss the HBO Comedy Arts Festival. Something new will replace it, and that’s good. I’d rather have my old comfortable slippers - but that’s just me.
