Broadway Shows In Nyc

Artest Still Artest for His Comedy Show

News of Ron Artest’s decision to change his name to Metta World Peace had the odd side effect of nearly giving a comedy club promoter a minor panic attack.

Greg Charles, the director of publicity for Carolines on Broadway, New York’s best-known comedy club, learned Friday that Artest had filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to change his name to Metta World Peace. Artest, long known for his eclectic interests, is scheduled to host four comedy shows at Carolines on July 15-16, and the club has been promoting the event with ads that use his name—the old one. There’s even a sign outside the club touting “Ron Artest: The Ultimate Comedy Tour.”

Understandably, Charles found the news of Artest’s legal proceedings somewhat disconcerting. Would the club have to change things up? Print new posters? Rename the show? (“Metta World Peace: The Ultimate Comedy Tour” does have a certain ring to it.) But after a call to Artest’s manager, Charles’s concerns were allayed. The court isn’t scheduled to consider Artest’s petition until Aug. 26.

“So we’ve decided to keep things the same,” Charles said. “If the name change does go into effect, it won’t be until well after Metta World Peace swings through town.”

The news was first reported by the celebrity website TMZ during the first round of Thursday night’s NBA draft, and David Bauman, Artest’s agent, called the timing “unfortunate.” Artest had intended to file the petition earlier in the week, Bauman said, but there was an unexpected delay. “He really didn’t want this to overshadow the draft or the ongoing labor talks,” Bauman said. “He knew it would be a two-month process, and it’s something that’s been in his head for a while.”

There is precedent for this sort of unorthodox name change. Lloyd Bernard Free, the former NBA player, changed his name to World B. Free , and wide receiver Chad Johnson changed his name to Chad Ochocinco . But Artest seems to be taking things to another level. According to UrbanDictionary.com , “Metta is a sincere wish for the welfare and genuine happiness of all beings, without exception.”

Artest, a former star at St. John’s University, has averaged 14.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game over a 12-year career , which includes an NBA title in 2010. But as a member of the Indiana Pacers in 2004, he was part of an infamous brawl during a game against the Detroit Pistons. As a result, Artest served a suspension for the rest of the season, including the playoffs.

What Broadway Show To Skip On Your Next Trip To NYC? Obama's ...

Is because it is an overblown hard-sell of a show, insistent on proving that if you take an old movie that made lots of money at the movie box office, people will come. If you liked it in a comfortable movie cinema seat, you will enjoy it just as much twenty years later in a cramped theatre seat… for ten to twenty times the price. The story still kind of works, but the new songs (and there’s way too many of ‘em) and the new jokes definitely don’t work. It’s one of the most unimaginative shows around. Then there’s the problem of the new hyperactive leading lady — an import from the British production of the show. The show is just a flat tire, leading you to a totally expected destination, one lumpy rotation at a time.

Another reason might be because the show will give a special fund-rai$ing performance for President Obama tonight. Beause, you know, Obama needs a lot of money to convince all the unemployed Americans they should re-elect him and let him continue his incredibly successful policies…. And besides, it’s not like the president has anything better to do than to come to Broadway musicals for photos ops with politically naïve actor-types. (Obama likes to come to mediocre shows; his last visit was at the dismal and boring The Addams Family musical).