HBO Comedy Festival Homeless

Where will HBO hold its annual U.S. Comedy Arts Festival?

The pay-cabler announced in May that it wouldn't keep the industry-targeted fest in Aspen, Colo., where it had been held for the past 13 years -- this followed a 2007 incarnation in early March that was marred by bad weather and flight cancellations, as well as the decision by fest headquarters, the St. Regis Hotel, to go condo.

Former HBO chairman and C.E.O. Chris Albrecht was a big supporter of moving it to Santa Barbara. But his exit means, according to Variety, that it won't. The magazine cites an email from Bob Crestani, who heads up the event, sent earlier this month. Daniel Frankel reports:

"We looked at Santa Barbara very seriously; we looked at a number of cities very seriously, but we never made a commitment," said an HBO spokesperson, who added that the fest remains "on the back burner" for now.

• Variety