Miss Ellie, a Chinese Crested Hairless dog from Pigeon Forge, TN, competed against over 50,000 other dogs this week in the World’s Cutest Dog Competition and won Week 5 of the online nationwide contest.

The competition, sponsored by All American Pet Brands in Beverly Hills, CA has a Grand Prize of $1 Million Dollars.

Just 3 months ago, Miss Ellie won the 2009 World’s Ugliest Dog Competition – Purebred Division, held at Sonoma-Marin Fair in California.

David Fee, owner of The Comedy Barn Theater in Pigeon Forge, TN said that while Miss Ellie was participating in the Ugliest Dog Competition, people would come up and say that Miss Ellie was so ugly she was actually cute.

As a result, Fee entered Miss Ellie in the Cutest Dog Competition last week and won that week’s online voting with the highest number of votes recorded so far to become one of 12 finalists. Out of the finalists, the title of America’s Cutest Dog will be awarded along with $1,000,000 in prize money. If Miss Ellie wins, Fee has pledged to donate the entire Grand Prize to the local Sevier County (TN) Humane Society.

Miss Ellie, and 14 other dogs, who were rescued from area animal shelters are trained by Comedy Barn animal trainer and performer, Dawn Goehring. The “Comedy Barn Canines” perform daily at The Comedy Barn Theater, a live comedy show devoted to clean family entertainment located in Pigeon Forge, TN.

“It’s a clean, family show where people enjoy themselves and laugh a lot” said Goehring. “Miss Ellie and the dogs are right in the middle of everything having a great time!” During every performance the audience is reminded to adopt a pet from their local animal shelter.

“The Comedy Barn Theater has always been a major supporter of the animals. More businesses across the nation need to give a helping hand to their local Human Society just as The Comedy Barn Theater helps us”, said Jayne Vaughn, Executive Director of the Sevier County Humane Society. “Here in the Pigeon Forge area, as well as all over our nation, the recession is forcing people to give up their pets in record numbers to animal shelters. However, at the same time, the recession is causing donations to animal shelters to drop. In short, we have more dogs and less dollars,” said Vaughn.

According to Vaughn, her animal shelter as well as many other animal shelters across the nation are in a crisis situation and desperately needs more funding. Vaughn said that the prize money from the Cutest Dog Competition would be a much-needed blessing.

The grand prize winner of $1 Million Dollars will be chosen from the 12 finalists later this year by All American Pet Brands.

According to Fee the lesson to be learned with Miss Ellie is that all dogs deserve to be loved and treated well. “A dog does not have to be beautiful to make a wonderful family pet,” said Fee. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Dogs love all people; I just wish people loved all dogs.” Both Fee and Vaughn encourage animals lovers to visit there local animal shelters and either adopt a pet or make a donation. Go to www.comedybarn.com for more information.

FOR MORE INFO:
Jim Peacock
865 429-7183 ext. 3120
jpeacock@feehedrick.com

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – What do a bowling ball, rubber chicken, and ping pong ball have in common? Not much, other than they are all items comedic juggler David J. Hirschi can toss into the air as part of his “Slim Chance” act, appearing at The Comedy Barn during the 2007 season.

Known by his stage name “Slim”, the seven-ball juggler also throws saw blades and incorporates humor into his act by saying his catch phrase “Sissy Dog” using a voice similar to Mr. Haney, who was played by Pat Buttram on the popular sitcom “Green Acres.”

Slim comes to The Comedy Barn from Branson, Mo., where he most recently worked in “The Yakov Smirnoff Show” as a performer, writer, director, and co-producer. David Fee and Jim Hedrick, co-owners of the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, saw Slim’s act in the Yakov show during a trip to Branson in August 2006. In addition to co-owner, Hedrick also is vice president of the Fee/Hedrick company. He says they really found a special addition to The Comedy Barn in Slim’s act.

“As a juggler myself, I instantly recognized his talent,” Hedrick says. “His energy and presentation is very likeable, which is one of the most important aspects of a being a great entertainer. The country theme of his act also really fits into the atmosphere of The Comedy Barn.”

Slim says relocating to Pigeon Forge has been a positive move for him. To keep his act fresh and new, Slim works on new tricks all the time. He is introducing a new finale trick that involves standing on top of a 6-foot ladder on one foot, while balancing 10 cigar boxes on his chin, and twirling a garbage can lid in one hand and spinning a Cowboy rope in the other.

When asked what part of his act he most enjoys performing at The Comedy Barn, Slim is quick to point out that it is not so much what he does, but the audience’s participation. “I enjoy figuring out where an audience is emotionally and bringing them into the performance until they are roaring with laughter. After all, that is what comedy is all about — laughing.”

Slim says juggling is a creative profession. “This is an environment where you are allowed to create happiness in people. There is nothing better than people being appreciative because you made their day better,” Slim says.

But the performer has not always been sure about his career path. He first learned to juggle at 15 years old, after which he found himself leading a double life — his normal, everyday life; then his life as an entertainer. Although he spent thousands of hours on the stage as an entertainer, performing always took a back seat to more serious endeavors, such as graduating from college and working in the “real world.”

While a student at Virginia Tech, he established the Virginia Tech Juggling Club and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. Following graduation, he worked as an education specialist for the National Park Service in Maine and Utah, The National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and Point Reyes Bird Observatory in California. At the same time, he also worked as an actor in theatrical productions, industrial videos, and a television mini-series “The Murder of Mary Phagan,” starring Jack Lemmon. He also honed his juggling skills with appearances at Busch Gardens and Disney World theme parks.

His unique combination of theatrical experience and science education led to six years of writing, directing, and producing large-scale, science shows for The Science Museum of Virginia and The Science Museum of Minnesota. He also received consulting contracts from The Minnesota Zoo and The Science and Technology Museum in Atlanta to develop science-based theatrical productions.

But in 1991, he shifted his career direction when he accepted an invitation to perform his juggling act in Las Vegas, which led to stints at the Excalibur, Maxim, Sands, and Aladdin hotels. Since then, he has worked full-time only as a professional entertainer.

Slim says there once was a time when he questioned the social importance of being a comedic juggler. “As a teacher, we are taught that our purpose is to bring a sense of social value to society. When I started performing professionally, I questioned whether this line of work had much social value,” Slim says. “But one day following a show in Branson, a lady came up to me crying. She told me that her husband had terminal cancer and this was the first time she’d heard him laugh in months. At that moment, I learned we all have our role and place in life, and this was where I needed to be.”

After four years in Las Vegas, he moved to Branson in 1994 where he began performing at The Country Tonite Theatre. For the next four years he developed his new character, “Slim Chance,” which the entertainer describes as “a sophisticated, juggling hillbilly with an off-beat sense of humor.”

His “Slim Chance” act garnered him back-to-back Comedian of the Year titles at the Branson Entertainment Awards in 1995 and 1996. Also in 1996, he received the Country Comedian of the Year Award from the American News Journal in Houston, Texas.

In 1998, David joined Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff at his theater in Branson. The duo created “The Yakov Smirnoff Show,” which became one of the most successful shows in Branson, attracting some 250,000 people per year. He later served as creative producer when Smirnoff wanted to create the one-man show, “As Long As We Both Shall Laugh,” which ran on Broadway in New York City in 2003. That same year, Slim also wrote and directed “The Pam Tillis Show” for the country superstar in Branson.

After 13 years in Branson, Slim moved to Pigeon Forge, Tenn., just a few weeks ago to perform at The Comedy Barn and to enjoy the atmosphere the region offers. “The live entertainment scene in Pigeon Forge is coming into its own, with folks understanding that they will be getting a quality show on par with other entertainment venues around the country,” Slim says.

The Comedy Barn Theater is located one-half block south of traffic light No. 3 on U.S. 441 (The Parkway) in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Open year ’round, The Comedy Barn has two shows nightly in season at 5:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., as well as some scheduled matinees for groups throughout the season. Adult tickets are $21.95, plus tax. One child, age 11 and under, is admitted free with each paying adult. Additional child tickets are $9.95, plus tax. For tickets, call 1-800-29 LAUGH. For more information, visit www.comedybarn.com.

Mallory Matney, of Branson, Mo., and sisters Megan and Ashley Mercereau, of Boone, N.C., are the newest performers kicking up their heels nightly at “The Funniest Show in Town.” All are award-winning cloggers and are featured at various times throughout the show.

Matney, age 20, comes to The Comedy Barn from Branson, Mo., where she’s been a professional dancer for the past seven years. She’s danced in Anita Bryant and Jim Stafford’s shows, and was a featured performer at Branson Landing. She graduated with honors from Branson High School, and earned her associate’s degree from Ozarks Technical Community College. She most recently studied clogging with Stan Webb, director of the Clogging Sensation Team at The Dance Warehouse in Ozark, Mo.

This is also Matney’s first move away from home, and she explains she was eager about it. “I graduated from college and on the same day, I moved out here with my car stuffed. It has been an amazing experience, and I am loving the Barn. I get to do what I love most, clog!”

Pigeon Forge isn’t new to the Mercereau sisters, but they too say they are enjoying being in the area and clogging at The Comedy Barn. Both have been dancing since they were toddlers and they got their professional starts at Tweetsie Railroad theme park, outside their hometown of Boone, N.C.

Younger sister Ashley explains “ever since I was old enough to remember, my family and I have vacationed in Pigeon Forge. It’s a great family spot in which I have many wonderful memories. I feel honored to be able to work here, and I love the many different types of entertainment found here.”

Because of their fond memories, the sisters came to Sevierville about one year ago to work at the former Alabama Grill (now Country Legends Grill). When clogger spots opened at The Comedy Barn, David Fee and Jim Hedrick, co-owners of the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group which produces “The Comedy Barn” show, asked the sisters to join the cast.

Ashley, 19, still works some day shifts at Country Legends Grill and is a student at Carson Newman College. Older sister Megan, 22, is a May 2006 graduate of Mars Hill College, where she earned her bachelor’s in music education and danced on scholarship with the award-winning Bailey Mountain Cloggers team. Megan also has a day job as a full-time music teacher at Pigeon Forge Primary and Wearwood Elementary schools.

When asked what part of the show they most like to perform, all three cloggers agree it’s their dancing solo to Josh Gracin’s “Nothin’ to Lose.” Ashley says, “It gives the audience a chance to learn our names and favorite steps.”

They also are quick to point out that they are real cloggers, not tap dancers made to look like they are clogging. And they have numerous awards to prove that they are the real thing. All three have won titles at the Clogging Championships of America and National Clogging and Hoedown Competition.

The Comedy Barn Theater is located one-half block south of traffic light No. 3 on U.S. 441 (The Parkway) in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Open year ’round, The Comedy Barn has two shows nightly in season at 5:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., as well as some scheduled matinees for groups throughout the season. Adult tickets are $21.95, plus tax. One child, age 11 and under, is admitted free with each paying adult. Additional child tickets are $9.95, plus tax. For tickets, call 1-800-29 LAUGH. For more information, visit www.comedybarn.com.

“The Comedy Barn” show is produced by Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, which is the second largest privately-owned entertainment company in the Southeastern U.S. The company also owns and operates The Miracle Theater, Black Bear Jamboree Theater, and Magic Beyond Belief Theater in Pigeon Forge. For more information about any of Fee/Hedrick’s shows, visit www.feehedrick.com.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. – Dawn Goehring and her team of Comedy Canines from the Comedy Barn Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee are touring Sevier County schools to show students that the Humane Society is full of loving, trainable and adorable pets.

Goehring, the Sevier County Humane Society, and The Comedy Canines are teaming up to recognize “Be Kind to Animals Week”, observed May 6-12, 2007. The 30-minute school assemblies will be educational and entertaining. The school schedule was:

Tuesday, May 8 at 10:00 a.m. – New Center Elementary
Wednesday, May 9 at 10:00 a.m. – Pittman Center Elementary
Thursday, May 10 at 8:30 & 9:30 a.m. – Sevierville Primary School
Tuesday, May 15 at 9:00 & 9:45 a.m. – Pigeon Forge Primary
Thursday, May 17 at 9:00 a.m. – Caton’s Chapel Elementary (K-3)

The goal of the program is to inspire children to become responsible pet owners, while raising awareness of the community service performed daily by local animal shelters. The school shows will also cover important safety lessons on bite prevention and how to properly greet a dog. The special ways dogs assist humans will also be demonstrated and discussed.

Goehring explains, “It is so important to me to take a bunch of rescued dogs to schools, showing children that you can ‘teach an old dog new tricks’! I want kids to realize that they need to look no further than their local shelter to find the perfect pet!”

The assembly will also include seven dogs doing fast paced tricks to music – jumping through hoops, jumping rope, rolling barrels, jumping over hurdles and more. Goehring says, “The kids are encouraged to get excited and cheer the dogs on. It is great to reach the kids at this age and hopefully instill a sense of respect and love for animals of all types.”

Goehring’s canine performers range from every day mixed breeds, to hound dogs and exotic hairless Chinese Crested dogs. They perform complex jumping, obstacles and dances with excellent comic timing. All of the dogs were once homeless, abandoned, abused or forgotten. Thanks to Goehring, the canines now make an unforgettable impression on audiences everywhere.

A few of the dogs will look familiar to students. The talented pets have been featured on Cartoon Network, D.I.Y Network, Animal Planet and on many national advertisements for popular products.

The show-stealing comedic team performs nightly at the Comedy Barn Theater. Goehring owns 11 dogs, one pig, eight chickens and one cat (and a very understanding husband).

The 825-seat Comedy Barn Theater is the only theater in Pigeon Forge, devoted exclusively to comedy, antics and animated stunts. Open year ’round, The Comedy Barn has two shows nightly in season at 5:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m., as well as some scheduled matinees for groups throughout the season. Tickets are $21.95, plus tax, and children 11 and younger are admitted free with each paying adult. For tickets, call 1-800-29 LAUGH. For more information, visit www.comedybarn.com. You can find The Comedy Canines online at www.comedycanines.com.

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn., Jan. 14, 2007 — The funniest show in town has now become the most downloaded funniest video clip in the country. This hilarious funny 9-minute clip from YouTube and is titled, “Dad at Comedy Barn”. The clip features award-winning comedian Eric Lambert at The Comedy Barn and a laughing man from Memphis, who was chosen from the audience to come on stage at The Comedy Barn. The video received over four million hits and was featured on “Good Morning America.”

The laughing man is Doug Collins from Memphis (who the cast fondly refers to as the NYUK NYUK guy) and he is featured in a routine with Eric Lambert, the comedian at The Comedy Barn. “It’s basically an improvisational piece.” says Lambert, “I get a few people on stage, ask them some questions, and kind of bop them on the head to music to make it look like they are singing.

“When Doug started with that laugh, the whole routine kind of went out the window, however,” Lambert said. “About ten seconds after he began that amazing laughing, I really kind of lost it and abandoned the routine. I knew that nothing could compete with that laugh, so I just got a microphone and let him go so we could record it. It was probably the funniest laugh that has ever been recorded. We noticed Doug had strange, quirky laugh years ago when he first came to The Comedy Barn, now every time he’s back in town we encourage him to get up on stage so everyone can hear him laugh. The trick is to make every show an event, not just another show. That’s really the secret of The Comedy Barn’s success, the ability to make every show unique and different.”

The video was placed online by Mr. Collins’ son and has become one of the most viewed videos on the Internet. At last count, it has received over 4 million hits in one week and is set to become the number one comedy video on YouTube for 2007. “750,000 hits in one week is a phenomenal number,” said Lambert. “That’s more than Saturday Night Live (SNL) skits or even nationally televised stories get. That means it is spreading virally. I think the fact that this comedy bit, like all bits we do, is totally clean. That helps to get it a larger fan base, since it is comedy without cursing or blue material.”

You can link to the site and view the video by the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Y4keqTV6w

Now in its 11th season, the multi-million dollar Comedy Barn Theater continues to make audiences roar with its nationally known family friendly comedians, ventriloquists, magicians, jugglers, fire-eaters, musicians and fun barn yard animals. “We are a barrel of laughs and more,” said co-owner David Fee. “The Comedy Barn is proud that it has repeatedly been voted “Funniest Show in Town” by its fans 11 years in a row,” Fee said. “And for 2007, the funniest show has gotten even funnier. New cast members, new routines, new jokes and new country, gospel and patriotic music are just part of what’s in store for audiences this year.”

However, one thing that never changes is the laughter that fills the auditorium night after night as people from all over the country come to enjoy this magical, musical extravaganza.” Fee said, “Our goal is to have clean country family entertainment at a reasonable price. The main focus of our show is country comedy, however we have some incredibly spectacular magic, juggling and music. This is a variety show that the whole family can enjoy. We combine laughter with conjuring tricks to delight people young and old.”

The Comedy Barn is located one-half block past light number three on U.S. 441. Open year round, The Comedy Barn currently has one show on Saturday and two shows nightly on Friday nights and beginning in March will have a show every night in season as well as some scheduled matinees for groups throughout the season. Toll Free 1-800-29 LAUGH or (865) 428-5222.

The Comedy Barn is part of the Fee/Hedrick Family Entertainment Group, and is owned by David Fee and Jim Hedrick. Other shows in the Fee/Hedrick Family entertainment group include: The Miracle, The Black Bear Jamboree Dinner and Show, The Blackwood’s Breakfast Variety Show and The Triumphant Southern Gospel Show, all in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.