Laugh it off in '25
Plus: The news of the week — CMS to raise pay; Whitewater Center plans for growth; TikTokers brace for ban; Duke Energy CEO to retire
Good morning! Today is Saturday, January 18, 2025. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger’s Weekend Edition.
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From Kevin Hart to Jerry Seinfeld and beyond, these Charlotte shows promise to deliver the belly laughs we all need in the new year
March 22 will bring a perfect storm of comedy to Charlotte, with Marc Maron (pictured) at Knight Theater and Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan performing at the Spectrum Center. (Photo courtesy of Blumenthal Arts)
by Jay Ahuja
I have never been one to make New Years’ resolutions, but after a tumultuous 2024, I could use some belly laughs in 2025.
Fortunately, the first quarter of this year offers some stellar choices. If you also feel the need for some levity, one or more of these shows may tickle your funny bone:
◼️ Kevin Hart, the diminutive comedian/actor/TV pitchman who has been nominated for both an Emmy and Grammy, kicks things off this weekend at Ovens Auditorium. Saturday and Sunday performances are at 8 p.m.
◼️ Dave Attell, perhaps best known for always having a cigarette in his hand and hosting Comedy Central’s “Insomniac,” will be at the Comedy Zone for three nights. You can expect his caustic brand of humor to touch on a range of subjects, and nobody is safe from his wrath, so book your seats strategically. He is in town Friday through Sunday, Jan. 23-25.
That same weekend, Maria Bamford is at Knight Theater, on Jan. 24. Bamford, who can get dark and self-deprecating, may be my favorite comedienne. Perhaps all you need to know is that Judd Apatow said she is “the funniest woman in the world,” and Steven Colbert referred to her as his “favorite comedian on Earth.”
◼️ Adele Givens graces the Comedy Zone stage from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2. Her film, “Queens of Comedy,” was nominated for a Grammy, and her Showtime special became the highest-rated and longest-running special in the network’s history.
◼️ On Feb. 4, New York comedian Sam Morril will appear at Knight Theater. Morril co-hosts the “We Might Be Drunk” podcast with Mark Normand and has had stand-up comedy specials on Netflix, Comedy Central and Amazon Prime.
◼️ Josh Johnson, who you may know from his political correspondent role on “The Daily Show,” is coming to The Fillmore for two shows on Feb. 15. This is the first comedy show for which I’ve already bought tickets in 2025.
◼️ Kevin Nealon, best known for his Weekend Update anchor role on “Saturday Night Live,” once held the record for longest-tenured cast member of SNL. Nealon was also a regular guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “Late Night with David Letterman.” He returns to the Comedy Zone from Feb. 20-22.
◼️ Trae Crowder, a self-proclaimed “liberal redneck,” may be best known for his YouTube and Twitter videos pontificating about American politics from inside his truck. He brings his act to Knight Theater for one night only, on Feb. 23. I look forward to catching his take on the 2024 election and what may come next.
◼️ Originally from Chicago, Matteo Lane is a super quick-witted, musically talented improv comic who honed his craft in New York City comedy clubs before hitting the big time, selling out Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. He has a new Hulu special coming out in May, and you can see him before then at Knight Theatre on March 15.
◼️ In what promises to be an incredible double bill of observational stand-up humor, Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan will be performing at the Spectrum Center. They first got to know each other filming an episode of “Comedians in Cars Having Coffee,” hit it off, and decided to tour together a few years ago. The current tour kicks off in Toronto and arrives in Charlotte on March 22.
◼️ That same night, Marc Maron — the cranky yet hilarious host of the long-running WTF Podcast — has the unfortunate booking of playing at Knight Theater. I’ve seen his stand-up act several times and had I not already purchased tickets for Seinfeld-Gaffigan, I would definitely be there.
◼️ Last, but certainly not least, Kathleen Madigan brings “The Day Drinking Tour” to Ovens Auditorium on March 29. One of the hardest working comedians in America, Madigan tours up to 250 nights per year. She has also appeared on late night talk shows more than 40 times.
Expect even more comedy to arrive in 2025, as The Comedy Club at Duckworth’s has opened inside Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse, uptown at the corner of North Tryon and 7th Street. A national headliner will perform along with opening acts. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $35 for reserved seats.
As the expression goes, laughter is the best medicine. In the months and years to come, let’s hope that holds true. I suspect we’re going to need it.
Jay Ahuja has lived, worked and played in Charlotte since 1986. He has one wife, two stepsons and one dog. He’s had two sports travel guidebooks published and produced a documentary film, “Live From The Double Door Inn.” He serves on the Charlotte advisory Board of North Carolina Outward Bound School and recently retired from WDAV 89.9FM, the region’s classical public radio station.
Today’s supporting sponsor is Trinity Episcopal School. Wildcat Summer Camp at Trinity Episcopal School offers full- and half-day camps for any rising K-8 students at Trinity's First Ward campus in uptown. From sports to coding to arts, there's a camp for everyone. Explore the line-up of camps at www.tescharlotte.org. Registration for Wildcat Summer camp begins on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
This week in Charlotte: Northlake Mall to be sold; Lovin’ Life Music Fest gets new owner; OrthoCarolina to sell off part of its business
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
School apologizes: (Ledger 🔒) Charlotte Catholic High School administrators apologized for not informing parents about an accreditation switch that sparked concerns about transparency and the school's college-prep focus. Despite assurances of continued academic excellence, some parents remain uneasy and are exploring alternative schools.
CMS pay increase: (WFAE) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools administrators have proposed a $26M plan to raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour for about 5,000 employees such as custodians, bus monitors and technicians. The school board will vote Jan. 28 on the plan, which would roll out in February and is part of a three-phase strategy to address pay equity. It won’t include teachers, whose pay is set by the state and supplemented by local districts.
Politics
Primary challenger for Tillis: (Longleaf Politics) Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis appears to have drawn a primary challenger, as longtime Republican operative Andy Nilsson has filed paperwork to run for Senate in 2026. Nilsson ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2000 and has worked for former Sen. Richard Burr and former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot.
Germany trip expenses: The city of Charlotte released a one-page summary of the expenses for 7 council members and 6 staff for a November trip to Munich, Germany, that coincided with a Carolina Panthers game. It showed total expenses of $64,489. The Ledger and other media had requested information on the trip more than a month ago. The city has not responded to The Ledger’s request for “details of expenditures and receipts” in connection with the trip. View the city’s expense summary.
Local news
Whitewater Center expansion plans: (Ledger 🔒) The U.S. National Whitewater Center is making plans to invest $25M in new facilities on its Charlotte campus, including a leadership development center, conference space and indoor climbing facility, while also expanding projects in Virginia and exploring a $350M whitewater center in Raleigh. CEO Jeff Wise highlighted the need for long-term land control to support the investments on the Charlotte campus.
Local theater company returns: (Ledger 🔒) Carolina Actors Studio Theatre, a theater company that closed in 2014 due to financial pressures and dwindling attendance, is making a comeback with the production of the Pulitzer-nominated "Alabaster" by Audrey Cefaly. The production is a collaboration with Actors Collaborative Theatre and will run from Feb. 27 to March 16 at a theater in Mint Museum Randolph.
Hospital restrictions to combat virus spread: (WBTV) Atrium Health and Novant Health are imposing temporary restrictions on visitors at their hospitals because of the increased spread of respiratory viruses. Atrium is restricting visitors aged 12 and under and requiring masks in the emergency room and areas where care is given. Novant is restricting visitors aged 13 and under, and masks will remain optional.
Business
Duke Energy CEO to retire: (Business North Carolina) Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good, known as a low-key leader who led the Charlotte-based Fortune 500 utility since 2013, said she is retiring effective April 1. She will be replaced by president Harry Sideris.
Northlake Mall to be sold: (Observer) Financially struggling Northlake Mall is on the verge of being sold to Hull Property Group, according to court filings. The $39M proposed sale price is far below the $248M the mall sold for a decade ago.
New owner for festival company: (Biz Journal, subscriber-only) Opry Entertainment Group of Nashville acquired a majority stake in Southern Entertainment, the Charlotte company that puts on the annual Lovin’ Life Music Fest.
Sports
Departing radio voice: (Ledger) Jessica Charman is leaving as radio color analyst for Charlotte FC after three years of broadcasting for WFNZ. She informed the club last week that she is resigning to pursue opportunities in TV play-by-play.
Basketball event ending: (Biz Journal) The Jumpman Invitational, a Michael Jordan-themed college basketball event that's been held in Charlotte for the past 3 years, will not return in 2025. The event, which featured a two-night doubleheader of men's and women's games, was created in 2022, but it struggled to generate enthusiasm on the nights the UNC men's team wasn’t on the floor.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Doodles are king: Dog walking in the exclusive Myers Park neighborhood opened Ledger contributor Palmer Magri’s eyes to the world of pampered pets and the people who own them.
Plus: New report on effects of rising housing costs; Contract to be awarded for South End-uptown pedestrian bridge; update on Ledger records request related to city attorney’s departure
Wednesday (🔒)
With the future of social media app TikTok uncertain, local influencers and people who use the app for business like Realtor Maceon Mitchell are facing the very real possibility of the key marketing channel and its connections to potential clients being cut off.
Plus: Lawyers weigh in on $395/hour billing rates; A look at 1950s Charlotte tourism merch
Friday (🔒)
OrthoCarolina plans to sell its physical therapy business; CMPD is testing out drones; There’s colorful new art at the SouthPark Regional Library
Ways of Life (🔒)
Her focus was on kids: Diana Stokes Bagwell, a force of nature and champion for her students and children she served through the Guardian ad Litem program, passed away at 79. She spent many years in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and then served as an advocate for children in the court system. She was known for her constant smile and positive mindset that impacted people in a positive way.
Rethinking the Silver Line: A group of transit advocates is proposing an alternative route for the Silver Line, a 29-mile transit line from Belmont to Matthews, that would follow existing freight tracks owned by CSX Transportation. The group believes the route could better connect communities while potentially costing less to build and maintain.
Roster changes: Charlotte FC reached a deal to land Wilfried Zaha, a bona fide star on the international soccer scene, who played 12 seasons over two stints with Crystal Palace of the English Premier League. We’ve got other news on the team’s key offensive players.
Peek inside a local media outlet: Charlotte Ledger executive editor Tony Mecia talks to podcast host Steve Dunn about how things are going at The Ledger, including the state of subscriptions, how The Ledger works to differentiate itself and align with readers and how AI is playing out in the news industry.
😁 Do something fun this weekend — send in a nomination for The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Awards!
One of our favorite seasons of the year started this week — nomination season for The Ledger’s 40 Over 40 Awards, Presented by U.S. Bank!
Now in its sixth year, the 40 Over 40 Awards recognize difference-makers in our community who are in their 40s and beyond. You’re welcome to submit as many nominations as you’d like.
Nominations close Feb. 17, so get crackin’!
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