Hannibal Buress Is Done Talking About Bill Cosby - But Comedy Central Is Not (Photos)

While most comics would shiver at a TV network’s content cleaver slashing all things political, controversial or scandalous, for Hannibal Buress at the premiere of his new topical news comedy show on Wednesday night, the network cleaver looked more like a spotlight.

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What’s the one thing Buress does not want to discuss on “Why? With Hannibal Buress?” Bill Cosby. Cue the bike-riding, helmet-toting, arbiter of comedy taste and talent Kent Alterman.

“I’d like to thank Bill Cosby for making tonight possible,” the president of programming opened. “He’s mostly known for nurturing, young, attractive… actresses. But what he has done for this young African-American comedian is nothing short of miraculous.”

Buress and Alterman at Wednesday night’s premiere. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

Alterman got a big laugh from the crowd inside SmogShoppe.

That crowd on benches and chairs included Doug Herzog (Head of Viacom Music and Entertainment Group), network President Michele Ganeless, Jim Sharp (Comedy Central’s West Coast Executive VP Original Programming and Development), and longtime former Viacom executive behind “South Park” and “Crank Yankers” amongst a pile of other hits, Debbie Liebling.

You are both “the man”: Eric Andre and Nathan Fielder (“Nathan for You”). (Mikey Glazer)

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For the backstory, last fall a bit of Buress’ standup in which he called out Cosby as a rapist went viral. It was the flashpoint in changing the conversation about Cosby, now serially-accused or being a serial rapist.

That media storm propelled Buress, already a comedy 1-percenter but not yet a household name, to a new q score. In a career winding through “SNL,” “30 Rock,” and co-hosting and starring in a pile of other TV shows, he does not want that career fraction “milked.”

Doug Herzog and Jeffrey Ross. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

Alterman quickly followed up with sincerity, revealing “the degree to which I humiliated myself by chasing (Buress) for several years”. After finally getting him in to a development deal with Comedy Central and receiving his pilot script, Buress went ahead and tweeted out that his show had been picked up.

“No one else has ever done that,” Alterman told the crowd. “This is a weird place. This guy that I am desperate to get on the air has put in the position of telling the world, ‘his pilot has not been picked up’.” To be clear, “Why?” arrives neither by a forced hand nor on the exhaust of a fluke media spike.

“This episode is really good,” Buress told the crowd. “I can’t speak on how the next seven will be, but this one is a banger!”

Buress, Andre, Derrick Beckles and Byron Bowers. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

“Why?” is studio based, opening with a monologue before tossing to pre-taped pieces in the field and on-stage bits with guests. If Buress was sleepier than his usual low-key persona at the premiere, it was justified.

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They shoot Tuesday nights for a Wednesday night airing, having just completed the premiere a few hours before it hit the air. Episode 101 topics included the Women’s World Cup, Greece’s debt, Donald Trump, the 4th of July, and an E!-esque corporate crossover guest star from fellow “Comedy Central” star Amy Schumer before the first commercial break.

Alterman, John Gemberling and President of Comedy Central, Michele Ganeless. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

Buress’ comedy peers who came to support, sip bloody marys and chomp on a “Make Your Own Breakfast Sandwich” bar included Eric Andre (in Reebok pumps), the (criminally underappreciated) Nathan Fielder, musician Open Mike Eagle (Buress’ one time college R.A.), the clean shaven Jeff Ross, and “Funny or Die” president Mike Farah.

“Why? With Hannibal Buress” airs on Comedy Central on Wednesday nights at 10:30 PM ET/PT.

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Party Report in Pictures: The Dalai Lama, Jessica Alba, Justin Bieber, Ryan Seacrest Helen Mirren, Zedd, Pharrell (Photos)

Macklemore rocked Major League Baseball's "All Star Bash" in Cincinnati on Sunday night ahead of Tuesday's mid-summer classic on Fox.
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Macklemore shared the bill with Snoop Dogg, who went on at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday night and brought a double-fisting (joints) dog mascot on stage with him.
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Frequent Super Bowl and major sporting event enthusiast Rob Riggle took in the party from the VIP section at the Old Enquirer building. (Riggle's wingman is Chad Lowe.)
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This is branded entertainment. Pepsi, Budweiser, Sony Playtation, and Captain Morgan White Rum also sponsored the bash.
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Gwen Stefani threw a high tea with 90 top Youtubers at the Ebell Theatre to promote her Harajuku Lovers line. Kandee Johnson and Bunny Meyer flank the designer/rocker. The event was part of Beauty Con L.A.
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The Dalai Lama spent July 4th with an intimate crowd at Rancho Las Lomas (a resort/event space near Irvine), where Forest Whitaker (right) introduced His Holyiess.
Peak Mind Summit
Michelle Phan, Maroon 5's Jesse Carmichael, rockers Chris Cornell and Linda Perry, and surfer Kelly Slater got seats. Aloe Blacc sang for the Dalai Lama at the stop hosted by the Peak Mind Foundation.
Peak Mind Summit
Mr. Brainwash could not help being Mr. Brainwash. For Brainwash, "spaz" is always the answer.
Peak Mind Summit
Later in his swing through SoCal, the Dalai Lama would play to a bigger room, filling the arena in Anaheim as part of his 80th Birthday Celebration.
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Julia Ormand, Wilmer Valderrama, George Lopez, and Randy Jackson joined the Dalai Lama on stage.
Peter Ruprecht
Earlier in the 4th of July weekend, Bootsy Bellows through a "white party" at Nobu in Malibu, making a smart use of the prime real estate on a day when sushi is not anywhere on the holiday food pyramid.
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Jessica Lowndes and Brit Pixie Lott, whose fame is much greater in the UK than here, buddied up on the deck. H.Wood Partner Marcus Molinari brought his flair to the event, as the fashion designer Brian Lichtenberg ("Homies") was the chill one.
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Before beginning a press tour for his E! show "Sex with Brody", the perennial reality star DJ'd behind the guy who may or may not be in an illicit relationship with his half sister, Tyga. At the party but camera shy: One Direction's Harry Styles, Ryan Seacrest, Robin Thicke, and Brody's mom, Linda Thompson.
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Hamptons Time! Leigh Lezark and Emily Ratajkowski at the REVOLVE Hamptons House, where DeLeon Tequila flowed for the 4th.
Matthew Eisman/Getty Images for REVOLVE
Evan Ross took a spell from promoting his upcoming album to cheat at cornhole at the Kia Beach House in Malibu on Tuesday. They want you to know there are a pile of sponsors there like "JustFab" and "Gevalia Iced Coffee".
Dan Steinberg/InVisionn AP/ Talent Resources
Feeding the models: Chanel Iman, draped in a JustFab jacket, Jessica Stam and Jessica Szhor forked STK at Just Jared’s Just Fabulous Dinner Party at the JustFab Beach House in Malibu.
Justin Campbell
Ryan Seacrest and Pharrell Williams in Cannes, "Power Breakfast" headliner Helen Mirren scoops an award, and Jessica Chastain is looking up in London, amongst this week's top shots.

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Robert Rodriguez presented to Raquel Welch and "Orange is the New Black" star Dascha Polanco won the Lupe Award at NALIP's Latino Media Awards at the W Hollywood on Saturday night.
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This is not your average "backstage-with-your-award" pose.
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Meghan Trainor jumped up with Tori Kelly at Kelly's album release party at the Nice Guy on Thursday night. Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun took in the show from the front row. Biebs gave a standing "O".
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"Orange is the New Black's" new breakout, Ruby Rose, hung with Justin Bieber backstage at Encore Beach Club.
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Jessica Alba and her Honest Company bonded with other anti-chemical outfits like Naturepedic and Seventh Generation to lobby on the Hill. Here, the "Sin City" star lobbied Sen. Dick Durbin.
Ben Droz
Before "Million Dollar Listing New York's" season finale on July 1, real estate shark Luis D. Ortiz (far left) celebrated with some of his non-televised fellow agents.
Clint Spaulding for Patrick McMullan
2 Million Dollars worth of Grin: Ortiz and running mate Frederik Uklund at the Rainbow Room for the Bravo bash.
Clint Spaulding for Patrick McMullan
Evan Ross performed at the "reveal" of the new STK in the W Hotel in Westwood on Thursday night. The La Cienega location is moving there.
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In town shooting the fall season of "Shark Tank", sharks Daymond John and Kevin O'Leary took up a table, modeling Mr. Wonderful's namesake wine.
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The new location is a spitting image of the former hotspot on La Cienega.
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Meanwhile in Beverly Hills on Thursday night, Michael Sheen served on the jury that handed out BAFTA's US Student Film Awards at the Annenberg Center.
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In New York, Craig Robinson and Peri Gilpin promoted the upcoming "Mr. Robinson" at NBCU's Summer Press event on Wednesday afternoon.
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Meanwhile in Cannes, Ryan Seacrest, Pharrell Williams, and IHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman took in the view from the Palais after a panel during the Cannes Lions.
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As part of his duties as a guest editor for Vanity Fair at Milan Fashion Week, NBA star Russell Westbrook hung with Giorgio Armani at Armani's menswear show on Tuesday.
Courtesy of Vanity Fair
GQ, also in Milan, celebrated creative director Jim Moore's (left) 35th year with a party at Casa Degli Atellani and a performance by Miguel on June 20.
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Over in London, Jessica Chastain looks up to "Game of Thrones'" Gwendoline Christie at Ralph Lauren and Vogue's Wimbledon party.
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David Spade celebrated "Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser" on the Sony lot on Tuesday night, June 24. Child actor twins Allison and Lauren Gobuzzi flank Chloe Guidry and Mr. Dirt.
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Crackle
Colin Quinn and Spade buddy Kevin Farley (who is in the film) hit the after party, where there was a replica trailer.
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Crackle
Happy Madison's Doug Robinson and Crackle GM Eric Berger will release the film on Crackle on July 16.
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Crackle
Adam Sandler showed up to the premiere. Sandler is no stranger to digital feature film releases. He has a four film deal with Netflix.

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Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Crackle
Up on Sunset, the documentary with 100 celebrity narrators, "Unity" had its world premiere at the DGA. David LaChapelle and narrator Pam Anderson arrived together, No Doubt's Tony Kanal, writer-director Shaun Monson, and narrator Moby formed a music crew, while narrator and "CSI" star Jorja Fox modeled the one-sheet.
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"Jem and the Holograms'" Hayley Kiyoko hosted a party for the new lifestyle series she hosts, "Denim Hunters" at Riviera 31 at the Sofitel on Tuesday night. On "PopularTV", it is a surprisingly high quality short form video series on a channel from the former heads of Nylon, Marvin and Jaclynn Jarrett.
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L.A. Clipper Glen "Big Baby" Davis turned up at one of PATH's (People Assisting the Homeless) centers for families in downtown L.A. to captain story hour. He read his own children's book, "Basketball with Big Baby".
Courtesy of Path
Pitbull supported pal DJ Irie at the Miami-based (but nationally appreciated) artist's annual Irie Weekend in Miami.
Omar Vega & Thaddeaus McAdams.
Anthony Mackie and Daymond "The Shark" John joined the weekend of festivities in South Beach for Irie's foundation that counsels teens from middle school through high school via mentorships.
Omar Vega & Thaddeaus McAdams.
The World Jewish Congress awarded Helen Mirren a 1936 Kiddush Cup for her role in the film "Woman in Gold" in New York.
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"I can't imagine having your family heirlooms stolen from you as (her character) Maria did," Mirren said. Whether it’s your mother's ring, or your grandmother's, or now your great-grandmother's - it's special to you and belongs to you. Mirren is starring in "The Audience" on Broadway.
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Jason Reitman keynoted at the Palm Spring International ShortFest on Sunday afternoon. He spent time with fest Executive Direct Darryl Macdonald and Forums Producer Helen du Toit.
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Eva Longoria smacked a Svedka piñata, cozied up to the mariachis, and watched young Hollywood slug new grapefruit jalapeño flavored "Disco Cups" at the vodka's summer fiesta in Beverly Hills on June 16.
Michael Simon/StartraksPhoto.com
In downtown, the L.A. Chamber Orchestra celebrated the earliest era of Disney Animation at the Ace Hotel with live performances accompanying re-premieres of restored versions of 1920's and 1930's era Disney shorts, like "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit." The sellout raised $215,000 for the L.A. Chamber Orchestra.
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A pile of reality stars got muddy together in New Jersey for the BattleFrog obstacle race, a course designed by Navy seals. The tired and dirty crew included (from top left): Nadiya Anderson (Survivor / Amazing Race), RC Saint-Amour (Survivor), Ryan Allen Carrillo (Expedition Impossible), Eliza Orlins (Survivor), Paulie Califorie (model), Gina Marie Zimmerman (Big Brother runner up), Nicole Zanatta (Real World), Natalie Anderson (Survivor winner / Amazing Race), Jay G (Real World), Joe Papas (Dating Naked)
Lee Holt/Special to BattleFrog Series
At Hangar 8, Zedd (far left) and Jason Derulo swiped right on an offer to play Tinder's party celebrating their new Tinder Plus service. Zedd pal Martin Garrix (19, to Zedd's right) turned up on the scene before both headed to Las Vegas.
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