Branson’s Third Annual Holiday Promenade of Stars will be seen on national TV this Thanksgiving Day. Dave Hamner and Jim Barber will be among the many Branson celebrities featured in the parade.

Entertainment legend Andy Williams served as Grand Marshall and singers Jimmy Osmond and Debbie Boone are Hosts of this television special that ushers in the Christmas season in the Live Music Show Capital of the World.

National broadcast times for the Holiday Promenade of Stars include on Retro
Television Network (RTN) on Nov. 26 at noon Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Dec. 25 also at noon EST.

On RFD-TV on Nov. 26 the program will air at 11 a.m. EST and Dec. 25 at 1 p.m. EST. RFD TV is carried on several satellite and cable providers including over 625 independent cable operators to 42 million households and RTN is seen in 17 of the top 25 markets to more than 60 million households on nearly 100 stations in cities such as Pittsburg, Atlanta, Seattle, Orlando, St. Louis and Boston, according to Nielsen ratings.

On FOX in Springfield, Mo. KSFX times are Nov. 26 at 9 a.m. Central Standard Time (CST) and Dec. 25 at 9 a.m. CST.

In Branson on the Vacation Channel it will be aired six times: Thanksgiving
Day at 8 a.m., Nov. 27 at 8 p.m., Nov. 28 at 8 p.m., Nov. 29 at 8 a.m., Nov.
30 at 8 p.m., and Christmas Eve at 8 p.m.

National Stations
To find air dates in your area please visit:
Holiday Promenade of Stars TV Station Listings

For more information: HolidayPromenadeOfStars.com, Midwest Concerts & Events

Fox & Friends television show will be broadcasting live from Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri this Wednesday morning to celebrate Veterans Day with Lt. Colonel Oliver North. Several Branson celebrity entertainers including our own Dave Hamner and Jim Barber have been invited to participate in the interview for their work in promoting Veterans issues here in Branson.

The public is invited to attend as live audience members and if they bring a new toy as a donation to a deserving Ozarks area child, Silver Dollar City will give them a free return ticket to attend SDC’s An Old Time Christmas!

The program will air on Fox News Channel this Wednesday at 5:00am Central, 6:00am Eastern.

For more information on the event details, click here.

The comedy act of Jim Barber and Seville has been described as one of the most unusual in the world of ventriloquism.  The humor and uniqueness of the characters captured the attention of Akers and Arney Insurance Company, based in Branson, Missouri.  In a series of commercial spots designed to promote the company, writer and producer Jennifer McCullough enlisted the video services of TVC Productions and Jim Barber to act as host of the spots.  The commercials have performed very well locally, and public recognition of the relationship of the host characters and client product have been high.

Hamner Barber Variety Show co-star, Jim Barber and his wife Diane Barber, will appear as guests on the new Yakov Smirnoff TV Talk Show which was recently taped at the comedians theater in Branson.

The Barber’s were invited to be part of the show to discuss their unique relationship and to provide insight into the needs of men and women in relationships.

“Diane and I really enjoyed being part of this special show on relationships. I have a great deal of respect for Yakov, not only as a comedian and business man, but also as a gentleman and father.” - Jim Barber

Here is the official press release regarding the show…

New Yakov Smirnoff TV Talk Show“Law & Order” Pre-empted for “Love & Laughter”
Yakov Smirnoff’s New TV Talk Show to Air on KY-3

Branson, MO (Thursday, November 13, 2008)

Yakov Smirnoff announced today that his new TV Talk Show pilot will air on KY-3 TV on Saturday, November 22 at 9:00 pm.

Yakov’s guests for this episode are ventriloquist & comedian Jim Barber and his wife Diane; author Willard Harley who wrote the book “His Needs, Her Needs;” and an amazing couple, Ray & Irma Ziff, who have been married for over 75 years.

“My new TV talk show is a cross between Dr. Phil and Ellen, where it’s a lot of entertainment and a little bit of information, so you can learn and laugh your Yak-Off,” says Yakov. “My guests were great fun and an inspiration to us all. Tune in on the 22nd and you’ll find out why Law & Order got pre-empted for Love & Laughter!”

Yakov says, “I had the idea to create a television show nearly 10 years ago. Since then it has really evolved into a new type of talk show–one that’s focusing on the important role that laughter plays in healthy relationships.”

Along with his own special brand of comedy, this pilot episode features Yakov discussing Jim Barber’s unique relationship with his puppets as well as his wife. Yakov also delves into relationships during a segment called, “Yakking with Yakov on a Yacht.” During the show audience members interact with best-selling Christian author Dr. Willard Harley. His book “His Needs, Her Needs” provided plenty of animated discussion followed by a hilarious and heart-warming interview with the Ziffs, who recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary and were featured on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Yakov earned his Master’s Degree in Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is an adjunct professor at Missouri State and Drury
Universities. The television show has evolved from some of the concepts introduced to his students as well as seminars he has conducted around the world for the past five years.

Yakov asks viewers to visit LoveAndLaughter.com to provide comments on the TV show and to become a part of his Love and Laughter community.

In addition to airing on November 22 at 9:00 pm, the pilot of The Yakov Smirnoff Show will air again on KY-3 on Sunday, November 23 at 1:00 pm.

Yakov arrived in the United States in 1977 with less than $100. In the years that followed, he has found success as a comedian and has come to embrace his new country with contagious optimism. He moved to Branson in 1993, and along with his successful Branson show at his own theater, has continued to amass accomplishments including books, CD’s, movies, TV appearances, a successful Broadway show As Long As We Both Shall Laugh, and is currently working on a humorous self-help book. Yakov is a featured writer for AARP magazine, the world’s largest circulation magazine with a distribution of 39 million. Yakov gives readers advice (and a few laughs) in his column titled, “Happily Ever Laughter.”

*Law & Order fans alert…The Yakov Smirnoff Show is only running this Saturday, visit www.KY3.com to see their program schedule.

Contact
Amy Hietter, marketing@yakov.com, 417-336-3838 ext 276
Cindy Merry, tomerrys@interlinc.net, 417-739-4925

]]> http://www.hamnerbarber.com/2008/11/14/jim-and-diane-barber-share-love-and-laughs-on-new-yakov-smirnoff-tv-talk-show/feed/ 0 http://www.hamnerbarber.com/2007/02/27/jim-barber-seville-a-hit-on-david-letterman/ http://www.hamnerbarber.com/2007/02/27/jim-barber-seville-a-hit-on-david-letterman/#comments Tue, 27 Feb 2007 16:42:28 +0000 Hamner Barber Theater http://www.hamnerbarber.com/?p=64

tune in online : watch Jim’s appearance on CBS.com now

Jim Barber’s recent performance during the Late Show’s “Ventriloquist Week” was not only enjoyed by the enthusiastic studio audience in the historic Ed Sullivan Theater, and the hard working staff of the show itself, but also by the estimated 4.1 million viewers who tune into the show on an average night.

“Being selected to appear on David Letterman’s show was not only an extreme honor, but a surprisingly fun experience. The staff, stars and crew of the show are the best in the business and they helped make this brief performance one of the highlights of my 35 year career as a professional entertainer. Congratulations to my fellow ventriloquists that have also appeared on Late Show as part of this special “tongue-in-cheek salute” to our rare and wacky art form. Big thanks to David Letterman and everyone at Late Show. ” – Jim Barber

Over a week later, the Hamner Barber Theater’s e-mail box continues to receive many letters of support and congratulations from friends around the globe, both old and new who saw Jim’s act. Some were from inspired young ventriloquists, while others were from well-seasoned professional entertainers who offered a pat on the back. Most however, were from average Letterman viewers who just wanted to say hello and thank Jim for the fun.

“I’m humbled by the hundreds of letters I received in the days that followed my appearance,” said Barber. “I didn’t expect that and am truly thankful for the kind words and appreciation of my act.”

Jim’s performance also caught the eye of some television “Insiders,” including Michele Greppi of Television Week, the communty newspaper of the entire television industry.

Her article featured a multi-photo spread of Jim and Seville with a very positive “mash note” to “Late Show With David Letterman” for booking ventriloquists on the show.

Greppi wrote, “If it hadn’t been for rib-tickling “Ventriloquist Week 2,” The Insider would have gone all post-nuclear on everyone…”

Referring to Jim Barber’s act she added, “In addition to making himself appear to be the dummy of his two operatic dummies, Mr. Seville does an inspired bit with a hand in a glass of water.”

online version: TVWeek.com | The Insider – Feb 19, 2007
Thanks to Michele Greppi & Master Ventriloquist Dale Brown for sending the Article!

“Special thanks to Late Show staffers Mike, Annette and Ryan.
In the photos above, Dave told me you each get two weeks off with pay!!!?” – Jim

update: watch Jim’s appearance on cbs.com now

Branson comedian Jim Barber will “throw his voice” across the national airwaves when he performs his award-winning ventriloquist act on CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman,” Thursday, February 15.

“The opportunity to perform on David Letterman’s show is incredible,” said Barber, “and quite frankly, something I hadn’t expected. I’ve always been a big fan of the show, but it seemed there was a standing policy of no ventriloquist acts until Letterman’s clever concept of an entire week devoted to ventriloquism. It sounds a bit hokey and perhaps what I do is considered a novelty, but according to the Late Show ratings, America is ready for some good ol’ fashioned entertainment once again. That’s what Branson is all about and I’m honored to have this opportunity to share a bit of my humor and imagination with the entire country.”

Jim Barber was selected as one of the five top professional ventriloquists to appear as part of the Late Show’s “Ventriloquist Week” which pulled in extremely high ratings for the program last fall when the concept was first launched. The idea came from Letterman himself during a writer’s meeting. According to writer and producer Eric Stangel, his efforts to seek out the best ventriloquist acts in the country turned up a “list of legends and people who are currently getting it done in the world of ventriloquism.” It is also fitting that the show is taped in the Ed Sullivan Theater which hosted so many amazing variety acts during the early years of television.

Barber is a rare variety entertainer who has not only mastered the technical aspects of ventriloquism, but has achieved a level of respect among his peers for his contributions to the art form. He is an adviser to the world’s largest private collection of ventriloquist memorabilia, Vent Haven Museum in Ft. Mitchell, KY and was voted “Ventriloquist of the Year” at the Museum’s International Convention.

With his entertainment partners, Dave and Denise Hamner, Jim is co-star of the “Hamner Barber Variety Show” which performs nightly from February through December at the Hamner Barber Theater in Branson, Missouri. Last year, the International Magicians Society selected Jim as the first ventriloquist in history to receive their coveted Merlin Award as International “Ventriloquist of the Year,” while simultaneously awarding the Hamners a Merlin Award as “Entertainers of the Year.”

The 2007 season for the Hamner Barber Variety Show opens on Saturday, February 17. Tickets may be purchased by calling the theater box office toll-free at 1-888-335-2080 or by visiting their website at HamnerBarber.com