a variety show with topical sketches, songs, dancing and comedians

A catastrophe is never a good thing. Catastrophe can refer to a momentous tragic event, an utter failure, a violent and sudden change in a feature of the earth, or a violent usually destructive natural event.

// Despite her careful planning, the party was a catastrophe.

Extenuate is a formal word that is most often used to mean “to lessen the strength or effect of something, such as a risk.” In legal use, to extenuate a crime, offense, etc., is to lessen or to try to lessen its seriousness or extent by making partial excuses.

// Developers are trying to extenuate the various risks associated with the product.

Someone or something described as amiable is friendly and agreeable.

// Both children have amiable dispositions, which makes them easy to travel with.

Tomfoolery is a word with an old-fashioned sound to it that refers to playful or silly behavior.

// The antics in the play itself apparently inspired tomfoolery behind the scenes as well, as cast members constantly played practical jokes on one another.

Otiose is a formal word typically used to describe either something that serves no useful purpose, or something that has no use or effect.

// I enjoyed the storyline, but was bothered by the otiose punctuation.

// The new zoning regulations rendered their proposal for the empty lot otiose.

to become vague, indistinct, or nebulous

Limpid describes things that are perfectly transparent or clear, or that are simple in style.

// Though the stream was deep, flecks and shimmers in the sand shone up through its limpid water.

// The author is known for her limpid, exacting prose.

Respite refers to a short period of time when someone is able to stop doing something that is difficult or unpleasant, or when something difficult or unpleasant stops or is delayed.

// The long weekend provided a nice respite from the pressures of her job.

// The station's meteorologist had predicted that the bad weather would continue through the week without respite.

any secluded place of residence or habitation; retreat; hideaway