NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York Comedy Festival (NYCF), in association with COMEDY CENTRAL, announced its 2011 line-up today, which includes some of the industry's biggest and most notable stars.  Multiple Emmy® nominee Louis CK, star of FX's hit series "Louie," will perform at the Beacon Theatre.  Ricky Gervais, with Emmy® nominations for his Golden Globe-hosting appearance and his HBO special, will appear at the 92nd Street Y for a rare one-on-one conversation, with The New York Times' media correspondent Bill Carter.  Bill Maher, who will release his fifth book, "The New New Rules," this fall, returns to the festival to perform at the Beacon Theatre.  Maher's popular HBO series "Real Time with Bill Maher," also garnered an Emmy® nod for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series.  With record-breaking concert sales throughout the world, international comedy sensation Russell Peters will make a very rare comedy club appearance when he headlines an intimate, four-night engagement at Carolines on Broadway as part of the festival.