Ike Barinholtz is a Chicago comedy kid made good. He trained at Second City, iO, and the Annoyance Theater and performed with Schadenfreude and iO's Lindbergh Babies, among others, before moving to Holland to perform with Boom Chicago. Along with fellow Boom Chicago performer Josh Meyers, Ike landed a spot on MADtv, where he continues to entertain audiences with a wide array of ridiculous celebrity impressions and sketch work.

You had a very well-rounded Chicago comedy training experience, learning and performing at Second City, IO, and the Annoyance Theater. What are the most valuable things you learned about comedy in Chicago?

Probably that the funniest things are the ones that are based in reality. Chicago is a real person's city. LA and New York have their own types of bullshit, but in Chicago, people laugh at things they can identify with.

How did you land the MADtv gig, and what's the best part about that job?

I did a two-man show with my buddy from Amsterdam, Josh Meyers. Some folks from MADtv saw it, got us to audition, and the producers liked us, for reasons unknown to me. I would have to say the best part of the job is working with great people who keep me laughing all day, and getting to make fun of stupid people who think they're hot stuff.

Any good celebrity dish you'd care to share with us? You all eat at the Celebrity Diner three meals a day and hang out together, right?

Loni Anderson's Chicken Piccata:
1 lb chicken breasts
1 cup flour
1 cup olive oil
lemons
salt and pepper
1) Dredge chicken breasts in flour. Sautee in olive oil and lemon.
2) Sue Burt Reynolds for everything he's got.

I misunderstood the first part of the question.

You spent two years in Amsterdam performing with Boom Chicago. Any good stories you can share about that experience? (Also, is it hard to be funny when you're stoned 24 hours a day, or are we making unfair assumptions about the way Americans live in Amsterdam?)

How dare you! I have never been more insulted in my whole life. For you to assume that I spent any time in a "hash house" or "coffee shop" is offensive to me and my family. You think that because I lived in Amsterdam for two years I would sit around Rookie's Coffee Shop and smoke pre-rolled spliffs that only cost four Euros and came in an incredibly handy plastic carrying case and drink beers? Well, again, I say, shame on you. But that place is the best.

In your experience, is there a sense of camaraderie among Chicago comedy folks in the entertainment bizz?

For sure. Chicago comedians have a sense of brother or sisterhood. Just last week, me, Vince Vaughn, Emo Phillips and Jeff Garlin did beer bongs at Portillo's in Eagle Rock. No, seriously, comedy folks from Chicago know that their own will make them laugh.

We've heard that you and some of the other MADtv cast members pop into IO West to try out new material sometimes. Can you tell us about that?

We do a weekly show every Tuesday. It's not so much for trying out new material, but more about having fun.

Give us a few key adjectives that help you pull off each of the following celebrity impressions:

Dane Cook - "random"
Kevin Federline - "scumbaggy"
Mark Wahlberg - "Bostony"
Nick Nolte - "drunken fury"

What do you miss most about Chicago?

Actually, not too much. Just my family, Lou Malnati's, Wrigley Field, Bojono's, Lincoln Park, the Old Town Ale House, iO, Second City, the Annoyance, Holiday Club in Bucktown, Millennium Park, the Art Institute, Chen's on Clark, Old Style, cool cops, jogging on the lake, good public transportation, friendly funny people, Greektown, Ty's Til Five, Salt and Pepper Diner, and a professional football team. I think...that's it.

Tell us the truth, if Schadenfreude asked you to rejoin the group and play shows for beer and chicken wings, you'd drop all the Hollywood glitz and move back here, right?

I actually already have. I'm coming in next week and bringing back my patented "Grandpa Who Shits in a Box" character. The people have spoken, and then want me! All five of them. Schad kicks ass, and if you live in Chicago and have never seen them, go right away, before they go all Hollywood.

- Elizabeth McQuern