Economy on minds even at comedy fest

July 19, 2008 The weak global economy did pop up a few times during this week's Just Comedy conference and Just for Laughs comedy festival here. In at least one instance, economic trends served as a set-up for punchlines, while in others, TV insiders discussed the possible effect of a recession on consumers' appetite for comedy. During a panel of comedy experts, for example, Kenton Allen, creative head, comedy and comedy North at the BBC, predicted a rebound of studio sitcoms with live audiences in the U.K. due to economic trends.

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