Fans Nominate Don Barnhart for Best Comedian in Las Vegas

by chucklehut | January 26, 2009 at 10:20 am

341 views | 1 Recommendation | 0 comments

Comedy fans nominate Don Barnhart for 2009 Best Comedian in Las Vegas.

Each year, the Las Vegas Review Journal newspapers asks their readers to vote for their favorite things in Las Vegas and this year comedy fans are voting Don Barnhart the 2009 Best Comedian in Las Vegas. It’s not your typical contest as it’s entirely fan based and only one vote is counted. Readers can either mail or vote online.

It seems as Don Barnhart’s comedy star is rising fast. Past winners include George Carlin, Rita Rudner, Carrot Top, George Wallace and Louie Anderson. I’m just thrilled to have my name associated with such comedy greats and legends as I’m still a huge fan of them all and try to see their shows when I’m not performing my own.” said Barnhart from a recent phone interview where he was on tour headlining for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

Besides his numerous Vegas shows, Barnhart continues to tour worldwide headlining the top comedy clubs across the country as well as entertaining the troops for the USO and Comics On Duty. He has plans to go back to Iraq and Afghanistan later in the year. When asked why? Don replied, I’ve been fortunate to make a comfortable living doing what I love and it’s just one way to put something back. We all have an obligation to support our troops and this is my way by going over there to do shows and let them know we care”.

Barnhart has been doing shows for the troops since 1992 and is also working on a documentary and a Welcome Home’ concert. We are currently looking for sponsors and are trying to put together a concert and have a gift pack to present to the troops when they come home. The concert would feature all the top Vegas based comedians and the basket would include a gift cards to different restaurants, clothing stores, night clubs, gym memberships, spas and anything else we can get to make their homecoming and transition a bit easier”, said Barnhart. We would like to start in Vegas and then get national sponsorship to make it a nation wide event. Besides, some of these guys and girls have been gone so long, their fashion could use an update”.

Barnhart’s popularity might also have something to do with his numerous television and film projects that he has brought the Vegas community. Since moving to Vegas several years ago, Barnhart’s intent was to make Las Vegas the home base for his independent TV and film production company Don Barnhart Entertainment and it has certainly paid off.

Two of Don Barnhart Entertainment’s projects are nominated for Best Use Of Las Vegas in TV or Movies; China Dolls for Feature Film and The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show for Television.

His first film, China Dolls was cast and shot in Las Vegas and is getting great reviews for a low-budget independent film which has given the comedian even more exposure and he’s currently in pre-production on his second film Freeloader; A comedy film about a returning Veteran that ends up homeless and finds his way back through comedy. The film is written by and starring Don Barnhart, produced by Barnhart wife, Linda Vu and will be directed by his father, Don Lewis Barnhart (Mork & Mindy, Saved By The Bell and Full House). It’s the first time Don and his dad will work together professionally.

Don Barnhart Entertainment truly is a family affair. Don’s wife, Linda Vu (Actress, Artist, Model, Photography and Author) is the producer for Freeloader. She also produced starred in their first film, China Dolls. Barnhart added, I couldn’t do it without her as she’s the true brains and beauty behind the operation. We do have a lot of projects going on and Linda keeps it all together.” Vu is also a Certified Fitness Trainer and is getting ready to publish her first book, Fit, Feminine and Fabulous” a fitness book for women teaching women how to slim down the natural way and toning their body without losing their femininity.

The Freedom of Speech Comedy Show is a joint production between Barnhart and Joaquin Trujillo Entertainment and was shot at the LA Comedy Club with plans to shoot even more episodes later this year. The show features the top, touring comedians with no gimmicks, contests or censorship allowing the comic to do what they think is funny Uncensored doesn’t mean dirty. It just means we don’t micro manage what the comics do. We trust them to be funny”, added Barnhart. The show is currently being syndicated and the DVD’s are now available at retail stores, online merchants and in the rental sections.