ComedyGuys.com sends a birthday shoutout to Cedric the Entertainer.

Cedric Antonio Kyles is a son of the “Show Me” State, born in 1964 in Jefferson City, Missouri, and growing up in Carruthersville and later Berkeley, in the northeast suburbs of St. Louis.

Though he has moved on to television programs like The Steve Harvey Show and movies like Barbershop, Be Cool, and Spike Lee‘s The Original Kings of Comedy, Cedric keeps in touch with his neighborhood. Every year, his Cedric the Entertainer Charitable Foundation Inc. awards a scholarship to one senior graduating from Berkeley High School.

Here’s a clip of Cedric the Entertainer doing what he does best: making people laugh. This clip is from an appearance on The George Lopez Show, and though Cedric has had to tone the language down for network television, he still proves that he deserves his stage name.

Happy Birthday today to Eric Idle, born in 1943 and one-sixth of the internationally famous Monty Python’s Flying Circus which has either been making people laugh or shake their heads in confusion since 1969.

(Just for the record, the ones laughing are the smarter ones.)

But his career didn’t start and stop with a five-year run on a BBC television program. He is also created and wrote the series Rutland Weekend Television,  which gave rise to The Rutles, a Beatles parody band Idle created twith Neil Innes. Then came their movie, The Rutles: All You Need is Cash, which is a huge favorite of our own Terry Yates.

In the years since The Rutles, Eric Idle has also appeared in several films and stage shows, and published at least two novels. But he’s best when you can see him in action. This clip is a compilation of some of his work from Monty Python.

Nudge, nudge, say no more.

If you’re not following @ComedyGuys on Twitter yet, you’re missing out on some funny stuff.

I just saw one Toyota Highlander drive another off of the road because, of course, there can be only one.

The wife spend three hours yesterday getting our windows perfectly spotless. She’s not a clean freak; she just really hates birds.

Imagine how crowded the parking lot at the Hotel California must be by now!

I wish I didn’t snore so loudly. I’ve lost so many jobs because of it.

When someone tells me a lame joke, I say “You should totally tweet that!” Then while they’re tweeting, I can make my escape.

Several of our instructors are tweeting too, so you can even follow that guy who taught your defensive driving class.

• @GaryMurray2357 teaches defensive driving classes in Mesquite and literally wrote the book on defensive driving, as far as Comedy Guys is concerned.
• @TheGeneMcGuire teaches defensive driving classes in Burleson and Carrollton.
• @TerryYates1 teaches defensive driving classes in Dallas and Plano.
• @TomLenaghen teaches defensive driving classes in Garland, Richardson, and Carrollton.

The Dallas – Fort Worth theater critics at John Garcia’s The Column has announced their choices for Best of Theatre 2011. And among the choices honored were two that included two of the comedian/actors that teach classes for Comedy Guys Defensive Driving.

Associate critic Mark-Brian Sonna chose A TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, presented by the Contemporary Theatre of Dallas last April/May as “THE BEST production in DFW last year.” As we wrote last March, the Bountiful cast included Tom Lenaghen, a professional actor who also teaches defensive driving classes for Comedy Guys in Richardson and Garland.

For Best Playwright of 2011, associate critic Mary L. Clark chose Valerie Goodwin and her THE MAGDALEN WHITEWASH, which had its professional premiere staged last spring by the Broken Gears Project Theatre. That production included Terry Yates, a comedian and actor that teaches Plano and Dallas defensive driving classes for Comedy Guys.

Comedy Guys congratulates all the Dallas – Ft Worth people and productions singled out by The Column for this recognition. You can read a complete list of choices made by John Garcia and twelve associate critics here.

December is a busy time for movie studios. And so many new releases means it’s a busy time for movie reviewers, too.

Our own Gary Murray has been busy doing his part, seeing nine new movies this week alone. And he has two new reviews online at Selig Film News.

SHERLOCK HOLMES: GAME OF SHADOWS and YOUNG ADULT

The reviews on those other seven movies have to wait until the movies open.

Gary Murray teaches Comedy Guys Defensive Driving classes in Mesquite TX.

Now that THE HELP is out on Blu-Ray, this might be a good time to re-visit this review by Gary Murray, Comedy Guys Defensive Driving instructor and resident film buff.

Back in the old studio days there was a division that made ‘women’s pictures’, films that were pushed for the female audience.  Today even without the studio system, the major production companies make films that will generally appeal to the females. The Help is being marketed that way, which is a shame.  This is a film that everyone should see. Read the rest here.

For those of you not old enough to remember actual letters, that was where people used to communicate by picking up a pen or pencil and writing actual words onto a piece of paper, which they then put into a stamped envelope and mailed to the recipient.

Absolutely no electronics involved.

Yesterday, we got just such a thing from one of Defensive Driving instructor Terry Yates‘s very happy customers. Terry, who teaches defensive driving classes in Plano and Dallas, has been with Comedy Guys Defensive Driving for a long time, and his fun, relaxed classes have earned him quite a following among those drivers who don’t like to slow down.

Yesterday’s letter from Jeff H. of Plano TX is just one more example.

Here’s some of what Jeff had to say: “I was very impressed with Terry Yates and his presentation. Terry was creative and innovative with his approach to conveying the importance of the course. He held our attention from start to finish with the use of wit, charm, and humor. He kept us interactive with discussions, not to mention in stitches as well. I’m very glad to have had Terry as a defensive driving instructor and thoroughly enjoyed our one-on-one conversations during the breaks.”

Thanks, Jeff, for paying such great compliments to one of our Comedy Guys.

And Terry really liked your suggestion about him getting a tip jar.

— Wes Williams

Gary Murray, our resident Comedy Guys entertainer and film buff, has published his latest review for THE MUPPETS at Big Fan Boy.com.

At Comedy Guys Defensive Driving, we love the Muppets. And not just because Kermit is the color of our logo.

“The first Muppet movie is arguably one of the best films ever made. With the opening of ‘The Rainbow Connection,’ the movie charms as it delivers joke upon joke, many that have become much-quoted classics. It still holds up as both a testament to how a ‘family film’ can be entertaining and how, with determination, inanimate objects can project major emotions.

“The sequels didn’t hold up as well until the premise seemed to be pushed into the ground. In a world where everything old is new again, the Muppets are back with a new film appropriately titled The Muppets.

“The story starts in Small-town USA with Walter and Gary (Jason Segel), a pair of brothers who are as different as two brothers can possibly be. While one is a human, the other is no so much a person as a puppet. Gary also has a girlfriend of ten years named Mary (Amy Adams). The two are planning…” Read the rest of the review here.

Last week we showed you some of the YouTube clips where people have classic comedy team Laurel and Hardy dance to all kinds of different songs.

Well, we couldn’t let this go without adding a YouTube video of our own.

Credit for choosing “Fins” as the perfect Jimmy Buffett song for the black-and-white duo goes to Comedy Guys defensive driving instructor and film maven Gary Murray, whose movie reviews can be read at Selig Film News.

Gary’s defensive driving classes take place every week in Mesquite.

Agatha Christie’s THE MOUSETRAP  ONSTAGE in Bedford Bedford Boys Ranch 2801 Forest Ridge Drive (SW corner of Forest Ridge Dr. at Harwood) Bedford, Texas 76021 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday $10-$15 817-354-6444 Performances begin at 8pm

Okay, imagine you’re trapped with a bunch of strangers in a boarding house during a snow storm. A policeman shows up, and people start dropping dead. Can you identify the killer before he kills again or gets away?

This is the plot of THE MOUSETRAP, an Agatha Christie play that’s been in production constantly since its premiere in 1952. And now the longest continuously running play in theatre history is running in DFW now, and one of the Comedy Guys is in the cast.

Directed by Lisa Cotie, THE MOUSETRAP is presented by ONSTAGE in Bedford through October 16. Shows have been selling out quickly, so get your tickets fast if you haven’t already.

The cast includes Terry Yates, standup comic turned actor who teaches Comedy Guys Defensive Driving classes in Dallas and Plano.

Reviews have been very positive, both for the play and for Terry.

Bonnie Damon of John Garcia’s The Column said, “Yates provides a humorous outlet for the show with his perfectly exaggerated Italian accent and sleazy laugh, and he plays his character a little more toward the audience than the rest of the cast.”

Punch Shaw of the Fort Worth Star Telegram described Terry like he knew him personally. “Terry Yates almost has too much fun with the colorful and mysterious Mr. Paravicini. He is guilty of milking the role a bit and could pick up the tempo in a few places. But, overall, he’s a hoot.”

Anyone who’s sat through Terry’s defensive driving class at Desperados or Spaghetti Warehouse knows just what he means.

Tonight, Dallas-area actors and improvisational comics are joining forces to set a world record and raise money for Orphan Outreach.

The event is called The Whole Whole Lotta Improv, but the slogan probably tells you more than the name: One Story, No Script, 48 Hours.

Over the weekend, from 8pm tonight until 8pm on Sunday, funny people from Fun House Theatre and Film, The Alternative Comedy Theatre and a collective of renowned improvisers will attempt to break the World’s Record for long form improv. The fun takes place at The Cox Building Playhouse, 1517 H Ave in Plano, Texas.

“Long form improv” means that, instead of a series of unrelated skits, this weekend-long  piece will feature one story, following a continuous thread, based on an audience suggestion at 8:00pm on Friday night and running non-stop over 48 hours.

The event is organized to be flexible. You can come for a few hours or come back often. Single tickets are $10, 3-Day Laugh Passes are $20, and 100% of the money raised during the three-day even will be given to Orphan Outreach.

Orphan Outreach is a faith-based charity that works to to improve the lives of orphans and at-risk children primarily in Guatemala, Honduras, India, and Russia through early intervention, education and evangelism, thus meeting the physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of the children. To make a donation to this worthwhile event, visit the Orphan Outreach Fun House page.

Professional comic  and defensive driving instructor Billy McFarland is headlining a stand up show tonight at Big Shots Sports Cafe in Bedford. The show starts at 8pm.

Later this week, he’ll be doing four shows at The Backdoor Comedy Club in Dallas: Thursday at 8:30, Friday at 9, and Saturday at 8 and 10:15

Between Oct 12-15, Bill will be performing at four military bases in Texas and Oklahoma. If you want to catch those shows, it’s not too late to enlist.

Shirley W. of Dallas left this comment for Comedy Guys instructor David Moore after a recent class in Dallas:

“I really enjoyed David. If I could come back without getting a ticket, I would.”

Well, actually, Shirley, you don’t. You can come back and take the class as often as you want. And if you want to vary up the menu a bit, David teaches at three different locations for us: Dave & Busters in Dallas, El Chico Restaurant in Arlington, and Los Lupes in Irving. Just think of it as dinner and a show, and it won’t be that weird.

And feel free to bring a date.

I’ll admit it: I was a little nervous when Comedy Guys Defensive Driving gave Gene McGuire a little video camera to take to his defensive driving classes. I mean, there was no way of knowing what this guy would bring back.

But so far it’s been okay. Just a few of his defensive driving students telling stories and a couple of clips of some cat doing something “adorable.”

Here’s the first one: Aaron telling the story of the time he challenged some cop to a street race.

And just so we know you’ve been told this at least once, don’t do stuff like this.

One of my all time favorite tickets was from a young lady in my class who worked for a funeral home.

One day, she was transporting a body in a casket either to or from the funeral home, and hopped into the HOV lane under the assumption that there were two people riding in the car.

The police officer that pulled her over didn’t quite see it that way, and neither did the judge. She tried to fight the ticket, explaining that there were two of them in the car. The judge explained to her that a corpse didn’t count as a person, that’s why autopsy reports are public record, and they refer to the deceased’s ‘remains’.

When I retell this story in the classroom, many of my students tend to take her side.

During one class where I was telling this story, a young lady there that day — not the brightest bulb in the chandelier — asked “Was it like a hearse of something?”

No, we tried to explain, she found it on the side of the road.