More Laughs Than Stares at "People Under the Stares"
We've been prettyexcited about this possibly-maybe new monthly show, the People Under the Stares, produced by the Empty Bottle and Drag City Records. So excited, in fact, that we ended up catching both the 9:00 p.m. AND the last-minute-added 11:00 p.m. show this past Tuesday. We got a chance to catch up with Rian Murphy of Drag City to get a few of his thoughts on the show and its future: "Tuesday was a great night. We had a lot of fun and the audience seemed to as well. The two shows played to really different crowds with different conceptions of what was funny, which was cool. If future shows turn out as well, it should be a good series. We're almost set for September, with the lineup for October in the works as well."
Good! Because we had a great time, and it was very interesting to take in a stand-up show within a very indie rock vibe. For instance, the question arose, "How crucial is it to SEE a performer?" Where a theatrical style is often employed with many stand-up comics in Chicago, we think that merely being able to hear the set-up/punch is adequate, but not the kill it oftentimes is when an audience gets to see the nuanced body language and facial expressions of many of the top independent stand-up comics in the city. Even headliner Fred Armisen brought two of his characters with him to the stage, complete with costume, but we're not sure that the back of the room even got to see the ridiculousness of Billy Smith, Native American Stand-up, or the over-the-top-but-spot-on 'Jazzologist' character.
Nevertheless, it was a great night, and has the potential to be a great series for independent stand-up in Chicago. Also, John C. Reilly stood next to us for most of the show. He was in town filming Quebec. And, according to Murphy, "has been a fan of Drag City artists over the years." David Angelo was pretty excited he got heckled by John C. Reilly. And TJ Miller commented after the show and while we discussed the fact that John C. Reilly was in the venue, "I think we should tell him we keep referring to him as John C. Reilly."
Poor sightline aside, we managed to get a few good clips with the ol' EasyShare:
David Angelo and just one of his quite intentional 'airplane' bits.
TJ Miller makes quite an impression.
And Fred Armisen is quite a character.
We're quite, yes, quite hoping that these clips will convince you, dear readers, to start donating to the Get-The-Bastion-A-Real-Video-Camera-Pronto Fund. Bring your hilariously oversized novelty checks to the corner of Fuzzy and Unfocused. No questions asked. Do it for Chicago comedy.
Bastion Scoops the Trib, Jack Calhoun Makes an Impression
Remember awhile back when we scooped that article about a big time comedy club owner giving three open mic'ers some helpful advice? Well, that article just dropped in the At Play section of the Chicago Tribune today, complete with a "who's your favorite comedian?" video quiz.
In honor of the article, and their verdict that Jack Calhoun is the favored of the three comics mentioned overall, we thought we'd share a brief video we snapped of Jack a few weeks ago at the MIX Monday night open mic, at approximately 12:30 a.m.:
Ahh, the MIX. Speaking of, word has it that Brian the Bartender's last day is next Monday, September 4. TJ Miller is hosting the open mic that evening. Suffice it to say, the Bastion will be there to, uh, chronicle the evening, in the interest of immersive journalism, as it's bound to be one of those seminal nights in open mic history.
Several options available for those desperate for a mid-week chuckle:
Tonight at 9:00 at T's Bar in Andersonville, the Spitfire girls are throwing another fun night of alternative stand-up laughs and red hot shots (served by red hot guys). Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Music and dancing to follow.
At 8:30, the Elevated will put up local stand-ups at the Cherry Red.
And from 9:00-11:00, Hoghead McDunna's will host an open mic for all comers at 1505 W. Fullerton.
Also, at the Empty Bottle, at 8:30, music, sketch and standup comedy, featuring The Co-Governors of Space, 80's Clown, The Fruit Stripes, and The Debs.
Schadenfreudeian Blast From the Past at the Playground Theater
Nick Vatterott warmed up the crowd at the Playground Theater last Friday night before Schadenfreude took the stage to perform a sketch-for-sketch repeat of a show they did in 1999, appropriate soundtrack and cultural references included.
Schad pulled out old favorites like Alderman Ed Bus (pictured at right; "his" ridiculous blog found here), who is rumored to be the focus of the group's recent screenplay efforts.
Soon-to-be-departing troupe member Adam Witt reflects on his blog about the nostalgia that affected him as the show progressed. Maybe his friends can throw him a going-away party and perform a brilliant parody of the super slow-mo "relationship recap montage" they did to great effect at Friday's show.
Want to listen to something nicer than Muzak in the office this afternoon? There's a treasure trove of Schadenfreude's radio archives online, from the several years when they had their own show on NPR.
Fizz: Burlesque and Comedy Flirt, Make Out a Little
Music and comedy are a natural match. So, apparently, are burlesque and comedy, as evidenced by lots of recent (and upcoming) Chicago shows that feature both. New City recently spoke to Chicago's Michelle L'Amour, who recently made a notable but perhaps underappreciated appearance on America's Got Talent, in which she teased judge David Hasselhoff by dancing with KITT (voiced, in this case, by Adam Witt of Schadenfreude). Pop singer Brandy, it turns out, didn't really "get it." But no matter.
L'Amour teaches others the time-honored tradition of the striptease (which is not, as she is careful to point out, the same as stripping), and some of her more accomplished students perform as Star and Garter Burlesque. Starting Thursday, August 31, under the auspices of L'Amour and fiance Frankie Vivid's company, Lavender Cabaret, Star and Garter will be performing a weekly showcase at Lincoln Avenue's Fizz Bar and Grill, where some of Chicago's favorite stand-up comedians will also show their stuff.
The People Under the Stares: Indie Rock and Comedy Get Together in Chicago
More on the People Under the Stares show, a new monthly stand-up and music show kicking off tonight at 9 (and again at 11) at Weeds, co-sponsored by the Empty Bottle and Drag City.
The Reader says it's a natural cross-pollination of indie rock and live comedy (witness Eugene Mirman and David Cross making records on SubPop, and Yo La Tengo and the Shins putting stand-ups on as their opening acts).
Producer and host Rian Murphy says "This is an attempt to find a crossover audience for stuff in town that we think is worth people's attention."
Tonight's featured local comedians are TJ Miller, Elizabeth England, and David Angelo, with special guest Fred Armisen of Saturday Night Live.
And, just for fun, the tale of David Angelo's recent embarrassment at having his credit card declined on a $15 tab at a club where he often performs stand-up. According to David, "I am like a 70 year old man and devote a lot of energy to silly things like this." After the snub, he took his bank to task and insisted on an apology, so he could save face, and look like even more of a 70 year old man. The rest of the story, after the jump.
"I have to hit the 15 minimum for credit cards. Done. $15 tab, card is DECLINED. I am pulled aside by the innkeep so he can tell me. I believe several people noticed. I then go to the ATM 10 feet away, with the same card, DECLINED. This is quite impossible. Turns out, they canceled the card (even though it "expires" on 4/07) because they don't want to be using VISA anymore. Well, I was quite annoyed to find out about the policy change at a point of sale, and ending up making the emergency call rep at my bank question her sanity. In the morning, I complained to the bank manager, and demanded an apology be sent to me and Gunther Murphy's. They, of course, complied. Needless, my new card is being FedExed to me with the highest sense of urgency."
Then, the apology:
"Dear David,
I just wanted to apologize one more time about the issue with your Washington Mutual Debit Card. We recently changed from Visa to Master Card for all of our existing and new customers and all the existing
visa cards were changed to Master Cards. I understand that your visa card didn't work last night and I am truly sorry about this. The reason why it didn't work is because the card was deactivated by Washington Mutual due to the conversion. You must have not received the Master Card replacement and I apologize about this as well. We should have made sure that you had a working card before deactivating it. We are sending you a new card ASAP. You should be getting it by the end of the week.
Sincerely,
Credit Card Company Lady
Wrigleyville Financial Center Manager
3500 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) xxx-xxxx office
(773) xxx-xxxx fax
(407) xxx-xxxx cell"
It's almost fall, which means that soon the Chicago-based "Sports Action Team" will begin airing after Sunday night NFL games, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter back in July.
NBC will air episodes of Sports Action Team, a scripted-and-improvised half-hour comedy show featuring well-known sports figures as well as comedians and improv actors.
"Chicago-based production company Towers Productions Inc., which developed the show in association with NBC owned-and-operated WMAQ in Chicago and its president and general manager Larry Wert, said Friday that it will produce 17 episodes of 'Team.'"
The Bastion followed Robert Buscemi around Saturday afternoon, on his flyering blitz of the neighborhood of Wicker Park, in anticipation of his one-man show September 7. After announcing to the denizens of the 'hood his impending arrival at the Subterranean, it was a mad dash to the Northside for a set at Pressure Billiards and Cafe, the only all-ages showcase in the city. He was joined by John Markham, Ron Rickey, Nick Vatterott, Ricky Carmona, and Sam Fels and a packed house for the "BYOB if yer sneaky" show. The Bastion caught Mr. Buscemi and Mr. Fels on video (see below). You can also see some photos here. After the show, the Bastion caught up with Sam and friend Dan for some post-show celebration at the Huettenbar, and even later on, ran into the comedy superfan Pablo at the local dive bar, out with friends for some karaoke. We're not sure if he recognized us outside in the "real world". We couldn't mistake him and that legendary laugh, however.
After a "business meeting" (i.e. a few Stoli and sodas, a taco wrap, and much merriment and discussion about comedy, the business thereof, and a slew of related projects) with Jeremy Smith, project manager of the Star and Garter Burlesque Extravaganza (to be previewed very soon right here), the Bastion and Mr. Smith made their way to Comics for Change, a new comedic entity in Chicago, with the stacked line-up of Mr. Bill Cruz, the Miss Renee Gauthier, Sir Mike Olson, as-seen-every-damn-place-on-TV Dwayne Kennedy, and host Queen Allison Leber.
The inaugural showcase made the Midwest Workers Association almost $500, between ticket sales and $2 Finlandia shots (sold by the bubbly and adorable Becky Garcia). An impromptu dance party broke out after the show, with Josh Cheney spinning hip hop hits and pumping up the jam. The group hopes to continue monthly showcases for different non-profits every month, and if the Mix continues its gracious donation of hosted bar, we think the future of this endeavor looks to be very bright indeed.
Pictures of the performers here, taken by Krystle Gemnich.
At the Annoyance Theater, on Friday or Saturday, have some fun with President Bush is a Great Man, Grabass, and Crickets, at 8:00, 10:00, and 12:00 both nights.
Tonight at the Playground, at 8:00, State of Delaware, Miss Hawaiian Tropic, and Radar-7. Then, at 10:00, Graffiti Presents Nick Vaterott, and some forbidden fun from Schadenfreude. At midnight, Adventures in Comedy. Saturday at 8:00, Malice, Mort, and Mustang Repair, followed by Don't Spit the Water at 10:30, not to mention Belmont Burlesque Revue at 12:15 (that's in the morning, you energetic young hipsters, you). Then on Sunday at 9:00, Overstock.
SNL Cast Changes Speculation; Chicago Comedy Alumni Radio Interviews
There's lots of speculation and chatter about cast shakeups at Saturday Night Live. Horatio Sanz out? Chris Parnell out? Amy Poehler stepping down so Jason Sudeikis can man the anchor desk alone? As the Apiary says, that place sure is leaky...who can tell how solid any of this info is.
In the meantime, kill some Friday afternoon hours listening to some Fresh Air interviews with Chicago comedy alumni, including some SNL and Daily Show types.
The Wilsons, a married couple of improv performers, tell a story of unwanted boobie staring on the CTA, and a husband's efforts to defend his oblivious wife's honor.
Charna Halpern says she's bringing back mask work to classes at i.O., and also prompts i.O.'s writers to keep their writing packets full and ready for show.
Baz muses about the Mona Lisa, and her facial expression's reflection of percentages of happiness, disgust, fear, and anger.
P.S. I know, we keep haranguing, but let this serve as an offer/challenge to Chicago comedy folks - if you blog regularly, and blog funny stuff, we will post about it here. What's with all the static comedian homepages that are never updated, even with schedule changes? Blog, damnmit! Flash the funny!
David also operates on a few clearly-defined rules of comedy that he swears he will "defend without mercy to anyone who challenges them." Yes, folks, in case you were wondering, them's are fightin' words. Those rules after the jump, if you dare.
RULE #1
There are limits. I don't think there is anything quite so pathetic as a comic using handicapped people as fodder for "material." If I hear one more hack reference a "short bus," I will seriously consider buying an uzi to use on both comic and giggly audience until someone takes me out or I run out of ammo. Mentally retarded or disabled individuals are OFF LIMITS in standup. They are not misfortunate, they are reality. As a standup comic, you are incredibly lucky to have the ability to communicate your thoughts and express yourself. All that separates a comic from someone on a "short bus" are a few mutations in the DNA that neither has any control over. Comics have the faculties to satirize and entertain audiences, abilities one should be thankful for. I do not agree with any of the bullshit excuses that defend the degradation of the handicapped. A comic that ridicules them is begging for cheap laughs at the cost of common decency. You tell me which is the human tragedy: a biological deformity or squandering the talents you make fun of others for lacking.
The same argument can be generally applied to homeless people. Making fun of them is slimy because it's behind closed doors and to an audience of well-off individuals who can afford a night of entertainment. Homeless people jokes are, consequentially, cowardly. I doubt anyone with homeless jokes in their set would have enough courage to mock the demographic seated directly in front of them with the same mean-spirited tone.
Generally, if a joke makes you sound like an asshole, then you are being an asshole.
RULE #2
If you are bombing at an open mic, GET OFF THE STAGE. You won't win them back in the next 2 minutes. Going an extra 4 minutes will not help either. No one will mind if you skip out early.
RULE #3
Don't be sad you bombed. It betrays your arrogance to get upset over a poorly received performance. When comics get upset over lousy sets it is because they expected (or assumed) they would do well. Hubris ruins as many sets as poor material.
The Bastion was in the audience at last Saturday's 8 PM staging of Baby Wants Candy, which was some of the quickest, sharpest improv we've seen. There was much discussion after the show about how the second part of the show, when the cast creates a musical based on a suggestion from the audience, was particularly well-crafted. There was a story arc, with immediately well-defined (though, of course, ridiculous and improbable) characters, and jokes that kept being worked back into scenes as the show progressed.
Especially dynamic was Thomas Middleditch, who we hear nothing but great things about, from his Practice Scaring a Bear partner TJ Miller, and pretty much anyone else who's ever seen him onstage. We shared a little overheard gossip about him not long ago, and were impressed to see his quick thinking on the improv stage, and his undisguised glee, which was impossible to miss, even in moments where he was simply skipping offstage to give someone else their turn. Mark our words, Thomas Middleditch is bubbling with talent and joy, and has a real contribution to make to comedy in the years to come.
The Bastion went to visit Red Bar Radio Monday night, to sit in on the two-hour Internet radio show along with featured guests (and local comedy faves) Prescott Tolk and Mike Bridenstine, and talk a little about the Chicago comedy scene. There was also much discussion about the Fantasia Barrino Lifetime movie, Dane Cook's outstandingly bad hosting job at Sunday night's Teen Choice Awards, the recent arrest of John Mark Carr, and a slew of other topics suited to the 14- to 18-year-old listenership.
Red Bar is quickly becoming a champion of Chicago comedy, and has been inviting comedians to co-host the three-day-a-week program, and will soon be selecting ten regular co-hosts, with a rotating schedule of guest hosts.
Red Bar currently boasts a 6000+ strong fanbase nationally, and is in exploratory talks with the local radio market. We'll be chatting with show creator Mike D. about his plans for the program and his thoughts on Chicago comedy in the very near future.
Tony Sam, who performed in three of the five Don't Spit The Water shows at the Fringe Festival in NYC, also managed to squeeze in some stage time doing his own stand-up while he was there.
"I got in on Friday and went right to the theatre, for Don't Spit the Water. The show was amazing - I have never not been able to get through my jokes. The spits were coming at four seconds, and thirteen seconds. Everybody was on fire and the audience was pumped. Saturday was another great show, the biggest house we had. Fifty-three people or so, which was great. Here's the Thing was a great night of comedy - my set went really well. I got to perform with the guy who plays Marty Shonson on Dog bites Man on Comedy Central (A.D. Miles). He was funny. Drink at Work was great - it felt just like Chicago Underground Comedy. Very cool, hip setting, and the audience was really into it. I had a great set. Everyone has been really cool here too."
Will Bears fans be satisfied to only be able to purchase one beer at a time during football games? Hope so. That's the new rule, along with beer sales being cut off five minutes into the third quarter.
As the article hints, many fans plan ahead and get thoroughly trashed while tailgating outside the stadium before the game actually begins, so the new rule will probably affect beer vendors more than anyone else. Now, if they'd just do something about those damn foam hands salesman, who, we can all agree, constitute a real menace to society.
Chicagoans Return From New York International Fringe Festival
The Don't Spit The Water gang are back from New York. Peruse their nicely filled out travelblog for details on their adventures.
Steve reports that "We played for people from CBS, NBC, HBO, NYTheatre.Com, The UCB Theater, and Backstage. We also made phone contact with a nice lady from Comedy Central. None of those people caught us at our absolute best, but 53 regular ol' New Yorkers did at our Saturday night show."
Bryan talked about his flyering efforts, while dressed as Timekeeper Willis, who "seems to be a hit with large black gay men. I guess I won't have to pay for a drink while I'm in NY. Drop dead sexy women ignore me, but I can tell that secretly they yearn for my touch.I'm hoping I'll get to flyer some more just to be hit on by a cross section of NYC old ladies, gay men, and, of course, drop dead sexy women."
They and Mike Burns have blessed the world with this bit of video, also starring Jared Logan:
We're hoping to hear more from Tony Sam, Sasha and the Noob, Robert Buscemi, and others once their jet lag wears off and they have the energy to click the mouse button and e-mail us.
The Bastion is constantly astounded at how hard-working Chicago comedians are, both onstage and in the rest of their lives. We decided to begin highlighting the busiest people on the scene with this new series, "A Day in the Life of..."
Last Wednesday, the Bastion's senior reporter, Kristy Mangel, spent an exhausting day keeping up with stand-up comedian Pat Brice , from his day job as a live cattle options trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, to his Internet radio show hosting duties with Visitors Locker Room, to his club gig at Zanies, then on to the ensuing party for the Elevated's 10 Year Anniversary, followed by an impromptu afterparty.
After all that, Kristy is convinced that Pat and many other Chicago comedians are blessed with superhuman endurance, as well as dogged determination, although she's still not quite sure exactly what live cattle options are, or how they relate to the price of her last steak sandwich. Her full report is below.
11:15 a.m. -- Arrive at Chicago Mercantile Exchange; attempt to convince security Pat Brice is, in fact, a real person who works there.
11:20 a.m. -- Am informed there are no gallery tours, come to the conclusion that I'll have to wait until 1 p.m. to meet with Pat. Sit down to an overpriced lunch at Rivers Restaurant.
11:50 a.m. -- Impatiently smoke a cigarette.
12:00 p.m. -- Talk to Pat. He is able to get away from the action for a few minutes to fetch me so I can visit the floor. Learn I am not allowed on the floor because of my choice in footwear (flip-flops).
12:08 p.m. -- Pat goes on a hunt for a pair of suitable gym shoes.
12:11 p.m. -- Pat returns with Kevin the Clerk's size 14 brown loafers. Slip shoes on over flip-flops, greatly amusing the formerly hard-assed security guards. Giggle incessantly.
12:15-12:30 p.m. -- Pat offers a rundown of futures trading, a quick tour around the pits, and a trip to the upper level, where we listen in on a trade and watch as Kevin the Clerk executes mysterious hand-signals to his cohort on the other side of the floor.
Pat works exclusively with live cattle options for a thirty-man operation which was started by two brothers, and puts in his time every weekday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. He sports a burgundy jacket that signifies his trader status. He scrutinizes a Rosetta Stone-like sheet of paper with tiny numbers printed on it all day. When the market is volatile (due to war and other extenuating global circumstances), he yells a lot. He is supported in his efforts by a clerk who will sacrifice his shoes when Pat orders him to.
Pat studied finance at the University of Dayton, which is where he began his stand-up career roughly two weeks before graduating in 2000. After college, he took a job in business leasing while waiting for his Big Break. Realizing quickly that he hated the leasing industry, he then bartended and waited tables at Castaways on North Avenue Beach. Working at a job that could be "rained out" proved less than ideal, however, so he checked out a job recommendation in options trading from a broker acquaintance. He's been with his present company for three and a half years.
12:35 p.m. -- Say goodbye to Kevin and his shoes, wait for Pat to wrap up his work day.
1-1:20 p.m. -- Take a labyrinthian shortcut, under traintracks and through buildings, back to the company's office.
1:25 p.m. -- Meet boss and co-workers who run the company's computing systems; good looks and pleasant demeanors are noted.
1:35 p.m. -- Pat grabs a sandwich to go at shop that advises, "Get a great return. Invest in our sandwiches." Hail taxi to the Fearless Radio studios.
2-3:00 p.m. -- Pat checks his email, eats, checks online sports headlines to prep for the show, and takes a disco nap, er, power nap.
2:50 p.m. -- The other boys in the Visitors Locker Room crew, Adam Kroshus and CJ Sullivan, with Chicago ex-pat Jeff Klinger, who is back home for a visit, filter into the office. The testeosterone flows as the boys immediately start in on each other while prepping for the show. Turns out there is no difference between pre-show prep and on-air banter. I go over my Bucky Badger facts in anticipation of being part of the on-air sports conversation.
3-3:30 p.m. -- The first half of the show goes smoothly; there is much spirited discussion of whether Pat's unique genius is truly of the stature that requires the kind of documentation that his temporary personal biographer is now offering.
"VLR started after Nate Craig and Shawn Cole had a meeting with Pat Oliver and Rocco Cataldo, the creators of Fearless Radio. They are primarily a music channel but they liked the idea of comics doing a sports show since they didn't have either of those elements at Fearless. That and they needed another show to fill air time," Pat says of the genesis of the sports comedy program.
When asked if he had any prior experience with radio, he says, "None of the members of the VLR had any experience with radio before starting the show. After a year on the air, I can comfortably say we still have very little experience on the radio."
Pat sees the program continuing, in one form or another, for several years to come. They celebrated their one-year anniversary August 1.
3:30 p.m. -- Pat has to leave the studio to head back to the office for a training class. The class is to help acclimate new traders to the high-energy environment of the pit, complete with screaming and cursing. I am curious about it, but decide to stay in the studio. I doubt the boss and co-workers would have been too keen on having me there, anyway. Jeff leaves to catch a plane back to L.A. It will be his second attempt of the day.
5:30 p.m. -- Class ends. Pat goes back home (Bucktown) to get ready for his Zanies gig (downtown).
6:15 p.m. -- Pat leaves house to get to club.
7:10 p.m. -- Meet up with Pat; get first drink of the club's two-drink minimum requirement.
7:30 p.m. -- Show starts. Have met the two-drink minimum.
Pat is offered an emcee position with Zanies about every six weeks, working a full week at a time. This stretch has him working eleven shows in six days. He has, so far, worked a total of seven weeks for Zanies. Ideally, he would like to land a feature spot, but "that's not the easiest thing to do," he says.
9 p.m. -- The first show, with headliner Wendy Liebman, wraps. Pat has about a half hour until the late show begins. I leave to attend the Elevated's 10 Year Anniversary show in Lincoln Park.
The energy in the packed Elevated is a much different energy than the club energy of Zanies. While he enjoys comedy clubs and believes them to be relevant and viable venues for comedy, Pat says of the independent Chicago comedy scene: "I think the Chicago comedy scene is amazing. The showcase rooms really couldn't be better with The Lincoln Lodge and ChUC being two of the best venues to perform at in the city and of course the Elevated is great too. But there is just such a strong bond between so many of the comics on the scene. I don't know how any other cities' comedy scenes are but I'm really proud of the way the comics in our scene work together and push each other to form new projects and shows. I think all the comics in Chicago know that there's something really great about what's going on here."
approx. 11:30 p.m. -- Pat makes his way to the post-show party at the Elevated. He is greeted with a spontaneous smattering of applause by the drunken merrymakers.
approx. 12:30 a.m. -- A small but lively crew, consisting of Pat, CJ Sullivan, Ricky Carmona, Krystle, and yours truly, heads over to Vaughn's.
approx. 2:00 a.m. -- We close the bar, sans CJ, and climb into Ricky's convertible, winding our way down city streets to Bucktown to deliver Pat back to his home.
9:00 a.m. the next day -- Pat makes it back to the trading pit, armed with two Red Bulls. It all begins again.
Photos, from top to bottom:
1) Outside the Merc.
2) Disco nap.
3) Fearless Studios.
4) Video clip from Zanies.
5) Cayne Collier and Angel Busque at the Elevated Anniversary show.
6) Pat, Ricky Carmona, Jordan Vogt-Roberts, and Sean Flannery.
But this gives us a good excuse to say that we got a super secret sneak peek at the latest Blerds video efforts, which are not ready to go online yet, but are, suffice it to say, awesome.
(EDIT: Our Big Poppa, the Apiary in New York, sees our Chicago boys TJ Miller and Prescott Tolk in their Bombast show at the UCB in NYC for himself, agrees with what we've been saying all along: HUGE talent. HUGE. Says the Apiary: "TJ has all the markings of a comedy megastar." Um, yeah!)
Schadenfreude's monthly Rent Party is tonight at 8 at the Gallery Cabaret. It will lack "The Ass That Goes Pow" (which graced last month's festivities) but will feature the champs from the Rhyme Spitters competition (freestyle hard core rap). One of the performers, we hear, was the champ of his Joliet prison league, so be sure to bring your Grandma.
Dave Odd gave some newbies a soft place to land on their fledgling attempts at stand-up last night at Pressure, as well as accomodating some more experienced performers. Saturday night at 8:30 he'll also host the Edge Comedy Showcase, also at Pressure.
Next Monday, August 21 at 10:30 p.m. Chemically Imbalanced Comedy will present a one night only presentation of their improv show "Bad Review" at the new Annoyance Theater at 4840 North Broadway. What do they do, exactly? According to creator and director Angie McMahon, "We take the worst review (of other shows) from the Chicago Reader and we improvise the show we feel the Reader would have rather seen." This, of course, results in good reviews for Bad Reviews. Confused yet? Don't feel bad. It is pretty meta.
What else? Hot dogs, besides being made of the unsavoriest parts from the reject barrel at the slaughterhouse, can cause genetic mutations. just thought you might like to know.
They are happily reporting that people from CBS, NBC, and the UCB have been popping in to the catch Sasha and the Noob doing their usual gameshow ridiculousness.
The Bastion caught up with our friend Brooke Van Poppelen, back in the Midwest for a short time, at Tuesday night's Chicago Underground Comedy show. It was here we also met John Mulaney, in town for a Zanies stint next week before heading back home to New York. Jeff Klinger was also visiting town for a few days, and even between CJ Sullivan's cajolings and the 10 Year Anniversary Show at the Elevated Wednesday night, we weren't able to convince him to stay a bit longer.
Tony Sam's inner monologue comes out during his hair appointment.
John Mulaney discusses the intricacies of drunken money-making and chemically-induced paranoia.
Brooke Van Poppelen gets to the truth about her food journaling and her dealings with NYC denizens.
Sean Flannery recently announced the Chicago reception for his and long-time girlfriend Jessica's nuptuals. "This assumes I survive my bachelor party this weekend, so we'll see. I've given Jessica permission to call herself a widow if I die before the wedding. She'll then curse herself for valuing sense of humor and blue eyes too highly," he jokes. (Or does he?)
We've got the scoop on where Flannery and buds will be partying this Saturday night, and if we know their usual celebratory habits, they're going to deserve some congratulations for merely surviving this round of raucous revelling.
(Why is today turning into beverage-plugging day? Somebody better get us some Yoo-Hoo!)
Second City alum and i.O. master improvisor TJ Jagodowski wants you to mix him a drink...which might prompt him to laugh, spout random weirdness, or make unexpected confessions.
Former friends of The Bastion Don't Spit The Water have announced their corporate sluttiness with the recent revelation that they are, in fact, hapless stooges of industry, and are bound to use Aquafina, and only Aquafina, in their shows for the next year.
Okay, they're not really our former friends. We're just envious because we haven't figured out a way to get huge crateloads of stuff delivered to our doorstep.
This post has been brought to you by Country Crock. Mmm....vaguely yellowish, high viscosity, artery-clogging Country Crock. Smear it on bread. Use it as hair gel. Dab it on your baby's bottom when he's screaming from diaper rash. "It's not from the country; there is no crock." Country Crock.
When is a sketch show really a sketch show? If your audience is mostly members of other sketch troupes who anticipate your attendance at their show in return, and you're not up long enough to get reviewed or build a following, is it really more like grad school for young comedy performers? There's a big difference between playing to other comedians and playing to civilians.
The Bastion has heard a lot of chatter lately about the sheer number of sketch and improv shows being staged around the city, versus just a few years ago. Students at various writing programs are being told that even ten years ago, there were greatly fewer and, by some accounts, "much better" sketch troupes on the scene, operating under a working class mentality, and "paying the bills."
Students and newcomers are being advised to take themselves seriously, be disciplined about developing their art, and work hard to distinguish themselves from what seems to increasingly be "the masses."
Maybe it's not such a bad thing. Maybe the competition to be recognized and respected will prompt people to work harder, and result in troupes banding together tightly and working hard to create a unique and strong identity.
Second City Conservatory Student Hosts Miss Chinatown Pageant
Actress and Second City student Leigh Vandiver has made a unique Chicago stage debut. Last Saturday night the U. of Georgia theater grad brought a little Southern charm to an Eastern-flavored evening when she acted as emcee for the Miss Chicago Chinatown Pageant. How many comedic actresses have that on their resume? Cameron Diaz? No. Sarah Jessica Parker? Didn't think so. Kate Hudson? Sit down.
Who walked away victorious and will strut her stuff in a traditional Cheongsam dress in the next level of competition in San Francisco? Was it the petite Asian beauty, the petite Asian beauty, or the petite Asian beauty? Visit the pageant website to find out.
Another recent host of the event was Ron Mok, a key player in Stir Friday Night, Chicago’s premiere Asian American sketch comedy troupe, which also features Second City General Manager Ranjit Souri, who we caught last week in the Cupid Player's musical sketch revue Cupid's Got a Heart On.
In the interview he talks about his street theater stunt-pulling days in Chicago with the UCB, including a tale about Horatio Sanz getting arrested for staging a fake protest and North and Damen involving plastic guns and tiki torches, and McKay advertising his own suicide, culminating in throwing a CPR dummy off a five story building, and McKay's friends paying the Grim Reaper to recover his soul.
We've been pretty excited about this possibly-maybe new monthly show, the People Under the Stares, produced by the Empty Bottle and Drag City Records. So excited, in fact, that we ended up catching both the 9:00 p.m. AND the last-minute-added 11:00 p.m. show this past Tuesday. We got a chance to catch up with Rian Murphy of Drag City to get a few of his thoughts on the show and its future: "Tuesday was a great night. We had a lot of fun and the audience seemed to as well. The two shows played to really different crowds with different conceptions of what was funny, which was cool. If future shows turn out as well, it should be a good series. We're almost set for September, with the lineup for October in the works as well."
Nevertheless, it was a great night, and has the potential to be a great series for independent stand-up in Chicago. Also, John C. Reilly stood next to us for most of the show. He was in town filming Quebec. And, according to Murphy, "has been a fan of Drag City artists over the years." David Angelo was pretty excited he got heckled by John C. Reilly. And TJ Miller commented after the show and while we discussed the fact that John C. Reilly was in the venue, "I think we should tell him we keep referring to him as John C. Reilly."
Several options available for those desperate for a mid-week chuckle:
Nick Vatterott warmed up the crowd at the 
Music and comedy are a natural match. So, apparently, are burlesque and comedy, as evidenced by lots of recent (and upcoming) Chicago shows that feature both. 
Tonight 
There's lots of speculation and chatter about
The Wilsons, a married couple of improv performers, tell a story of 
RULE #1
Will Bears fans be satisfied to only be able to purchase 
The Don't Spit The Water gang are back from New York. Peruse their nicely filled out 
The Bastion is constantly astounded at how hard-working Chicago comedians are, both onstage and in the rest of their lives. We decided to begin highlighting the busiest people on the scene with this new series, "A Day in the Life of..."
The Bastion was alarmed when we read this headline:
Schadenfreude's monthly 
Next Monday, August 21 at 10:30 p.m. 
Chicago comedian and performer 
Also joining DSTW for three of their five shows is 
Second City alum and i.O. master improvisor 
Former friends of The Bastion 
This post has been brought to you by Country Crock. Mmm....vaguely yellowish, high viscosity, artery-clogging Country Crock. Smear it on bread. Use it as hair gel. Dab it on your baby's bottom when he's screaming from diaper rash. 
When is a sketch show really a sketch show? If your audience is mostly members of other sketch troupes who anticipate your attendance at their show in return, and you're not up long enough to get reviewed or build a following, is it really more like grad school for young comedy performers? There's a big difference between playing to other comedians and playing to civilians.
Maybe it's not such a bad thing. Maybe the competition to be recognized and respected will prompt people to work harder, and result in troupes banding together tightly and working hard to create a unique and strong identity.
Actress and Second City student 
Another recent host of the event was Ron Mok, a key player in 
Adam McKay, vet of 