Comics Come Home is an annual charity

stand-up comedy Stand-up comedy is a performance directed to a live audience, where the performer stands on a stage (theatre), stage and delivers humour, humorous and satire, satirical monologues sometimes incorporating physical comedy, physical acts. These ...

festival held in

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

. The event, co-founded by comedian Denis Leary (who remains its curator and presenter) and hockey hall of famer Cam Neely, was first held in 1995 and is now the longest-running comedy fundraiser in the United States."Comics Come Home" announces line-up for 24th-annual event
'' The Lowell Sun'', September 27, 2018. Since its inception, funds raised from the festival have been donated to the Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care.Denis Leary teases 'huge surprise' for 24th annual Comics Come Home event
'' Metro'', October 31, 2018. the festival had contributed approximately US$11.5 million to the Cam Neely Foundation. Neely played with the

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

and later became team president; after his mother died of cancer in 1987 and his father in 1993, he founded the charity in 1995 and that same year asked Leary if he were interested in orchestrating a Boston-based comedy benefit show. The inaugural Comics Come Home was held in the Orpheum Theater in 1995.Leary Celebrates 'Comics Come Home' at the 'Gahden'
'' Boston Globe'', November 6, 2014. From 2005 to 2013 it was held at the Agganis Arena, and since 2014 it has been held at TD Garden. The performance by Wanda Sykes in 2016 included jokes about then-president-elect

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

, which were booed by the audience; Sykes ended her performance early. Her set was followed by a performance by Nick DiPaolo, whose performance joked about rape and

Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, lawyer and diplomat. She was the 67th United States secretary of state in the administration of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, a U.S. senator represent ...

, leading to a confrontation with an audience member.Political Rants Lead to Chaos at Comics Come Home in Boston
''

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

'', November 14, 2016. In 2017, John Mayer appeared at the festival, playing guitar as Leary and Jimmy Fallon sang a cover of

Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry and B ...

's " Walk This Way". The 2019 Comics Come Home marked its 25th event, and included a guest appearance by Michael J. Fox.Comics Come Home 25 brings power and precision to TD Garden
''Vanyaland'', November 11, 2019.

Performers

* Jim Breuer *

Eddie Brill Eddie Brill is an American comedian, writer, and actor who started his career in Boston, Massachusetts. He was previously the warm-up comedian and comedy talent coordinator of ''Late Show with David Letterman''. Brill tours frequently, performi ...

* Bill Burr * Randy Chestnut * Louis C.K. * Lenny Clarke * Dane Cook * Pete Correale * Nick DiPaolo * Jimmy Fallon * Craig Ferguson * Michael J. Fox * Jim Gaffigan * Billy Gardell * Janeane Garofalo * Gary Gulman * Pete Holmes * Christine Hurley * Robert Kelly * Jessica Kirson * Denis Leary * Kelly Macfarland * Marc Maron * Jay Mohr * Tracy Morgan * John Mulaney * Patrice O'Neal * Brian Regan * Kenny Rogerson * Jon Stewart * Steve Sweeney * Wanda Sykes * Warren Thomas * Tony V * Shawn Wayans * Steven Wright * Joe Yanetty

References

{{reflist Recurring events established in 1995 1995 establishments in Massachusetts Comedy festivals in the United States Comics Come Home Charity events in the United States