Howie out, Butt in for Comedy Fest

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The Deal went south, but the replacement's a Gas.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 07/04/2011 (5610 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Deal went south, but the replacement’s a Gas.

Just hours after Howie Mandel dropped as host of the Winnipeg Comedy Festival’s Friday-night Misfortune Tellers gala, citing scheduling conflicts, fest organizers confirmed that Canadian comic and former Corner Gas star Brent Butt has been secured to fill the slot left vacant by the Deal or No Deal star’s sudden exit.

Butt will host the gala, which takes place Friday at 6:45 p.m. at the Pantages Playhouse Theatre. Other comics on the bill include Steve Patterson, Pete Zedlacher, Claire Brosseau, Maureen Langan, Rob Pue, John Hastings and K. Trevor Wilson.

CP
Corner Gas star, creator and executive producer Brent Butt poses with some of the props  from the set of Corner Gas which were on display in Regina, Sask., on Friday, March 25, 2011. Butt was called in to replace Howie Mandel at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.
CP Corner Gas star, creator and executive producer Brent Butt poses with some of the props from the set of Corner Gas which were on display in Regina, Sask., on Friday, March 25, 2011. Butt was called in to replace Howie Mandel at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.
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