--Jena Friedman netted an amazing $7800 with the fundraiser she threw this week in connection with her upcoming musical spoof, Refugee Girls. As she said on her grateful MySpace bulletin, "That's equivalent to a years' worth of food for a family of six in Bolivia...or a couple nights of space at a dope ass theater in Chicago." Anyone who thinks Chicago comedy doesn't have a big generous heart hasn't seen the phrase "$15 all-you-can-drink open bar" in their inbox lately. (Edit: the $7800 was a joke, which we were a bit too thick and optimistic to get. See here.)

--In an exciting new scientific development reported by Discovery News, the formula for successful stand-up comedy has been broken down into a Unified Field Theory of all that makes us go "ha ha ha."

"Stand-up comedy routines, which often only involve a lone comedian on a stage with a microphone, appear to be simple performances, but a new study reveals many acts follow a complex formula strengthened by multiple linguistic techniques. If done incorrectly or with malice, such routines can lead to serious problems, as recently illustrated by comics Don Imus and Michael Richards. The techniques, however, also help to explain the success of entertainers like Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, Dave Chappelle and Eddie Izzard, two of whose routines were analyzed for the study."

--On a related note, according to late author Robert Benchley, "Defining and analyzing humor is a pastime of humorless people." Chew on that one for awhile.

--Comic Vince Averill recently blew through town, hitting the comedy stages at the Lincoln Lodge and Chicago Underground Comedy, and enjoying a little Windy City culture as well. He leaves us with a postcard of sorts:

"Hey Chicago,

Just wanted to write a quick thank you note to an entire metropolitan area. You guys really poured it on heavy and made it my best first week of April ever. It wasn't all eating burgers at Muskie's, buying limited sneakers at St. Alfred's, and snatching up puffy stickers and whoopie cushions at Uncle Fun, but thanks to my tour guide Dave for that.

Tuesday brought the underground show. Tony and his co-producer Tony "the puppet" run a cool room, sorry if there are other producers but Tony booked me and the puppet handed out drink tickets so.... Anytime a venue has a monitor I can prop a foot up on and cock my elbow so as to feel like Glenn Danzig, the laughs become a bonus.

Thursday and Friday found me at the Lincoln Lodge. I had a really great time both nights. The show is managed so well, and features massive beers that don't seem to get warm, that being the catch 22 of the huge beer, a warming effect...ok, back on track.

Anyhew, I got the chance to meet, watch, and or reconnect with many funny folks. Funny, and for the most part decent folks, some were just funny, and some were just good people.

Chicago loves celery salt!

Bury my heart at Navy Pier,
Vince Averill"