Team Submarine's Montreal "Just For Laughs" Comedy Festival Adventures
TeamSubmarine's Nate Fernald and Steve O'Brien skipped out of Chicago for a few days and did their comedy magic at the Montreal "Just For Laughs" Comedy Festival a little while back. Nate checked in with the Bastion and gave us some scoop on their recent performances in Canadia. Canadaland. Quebekiastan. Whatever the hell country Montreal is in. Following is Nate's account of Team Submarine's Montreal escapades.
Let me just state that our much-talked-about Montreal spot isn't nearly as important or legitimate as one might think. We basically in through the festival's back door after a few mere coincidences. Or we are being set up to be the punch line of some huge joke by a much higher power (Ashton?)
Here's how it went down:
We were doing a brief set at the Lakeshore Theater's Saturday night variety show (the "Spectacular Hour of Wonderment" as some call it). It was probably close to 1:00 AM and the entire audience was drunk. So, we tried out some new material and thought nothing of it. But it just so happened that Paul Provenza (director of the Aristocrats and Kumail Nanjiani's show Unprounceable) was in the audience. He seemed to take a shine to us and invited us to come to Montreal. The festival line-up had already been booked months in advance, so he got us an opening slot at the show he was hosting. So, we hopped a plane to Canada with very little money and nowhere to stay. The Green Room (Paul's show) is set up sort of like a talk show, where acts from the festival sit on a couch and talk about whatever they want with Paul. It's very relaxed and (intentionally) unpolished. They tape the show, and will later air it somewhere in Canada. We went on as the warm-up act for a show that had three of the Kids In The Hall and Bob and David. During out set, they taped the audience. When the show goes to air and it cuts to the audience laughing (uproariously, mind you) at [insert famous comedians who were on show here], they are actually laughing at us. Which I realize must make me sound entirely crazy.
We then spent the next the next three days seeing shows, getting kicked out of backstage areas, stealing grapes that were intended to be eaten by Damon Wayans, and trying not to make it too obvious to the locals that we didn't speak French.
Not to downplay the entire experience though, because we had an amazing time. We even got to eat gross hamburgers with Dave Foley and Kevin McDonald. And Paul Provenza was incredibly awesome to us. He got us in to see all the shows we wanted to see, bought us drinks, meals, and cab rides.
Highlights of the festival:
-Kids In The Hall reunion show
-Bob and David (hosting a sketch showcase)
-Finding a Street Fighter II machine with nine free-plays on it and beating some snotty French guy
-Andy Kindler
-Zach Galifianakis
-The music video for Pet Shop Boys "Go West"
-Watching a clip of Eddie Izzard's new show on Eddie Izzard's iPhone
As far as what we hope this might do for us, it got our name out there. So maybe in one of the upcoming years we can actually be legitimate performers at the festival. And maybe one day I can get my own show "The Mind of Nate Fernald" and Steve can finally release that "Tourgasm" CD he's always dreamed of (have you seen Steve's impression of a loud snake? It's amazing).
We're not heroes or anything - we just got lucky. We'll just keep going about our business and continue to do what we do and hope something like this happens again. It was a pretty incredible experience and we're really grateful for it.
Also, I'd like to give a shout out to TJ Jagodowski, who let us take naps in his hotel room when we couldn't get a room in the local hostel. He's quite possibly the nicest guy in the world.
Is it a boy? Is it a girl? It's something else altogether -- it's a Schadenfreude baby! Introducing Miles Vincent Kaufmann, offspring of Julie and Justin, he of the respected Chicago goof troop Schadenfreude.
Did you know that new babies look like Roger from American Dad? That's what Justin says, anyway. We always thought they looked like little pink angels directly from Anne Geddes' photoshopped heaven, but he's the dad.
We look forward to the day that Miles grows up and fills his dad's loco pantalones. Congratu-baby-lations!
Thanks to Jessica Joy for the tip: TJ Miller is making the press rounds on behalf of his ABC show "Carpoolers." Here he is on BuzzSugar, which says "His character, Marmaduke, steals scenes left and right in the pilot, including one where he's interviewing for a job sans pants."
TJ goes on to explain his Chicago comedy roots and says "I obviously love (Carpoolers' executive producer) Bruce McCulloch because of "Kids in the Hall" ... that's one of my comic idols. His show was in my sketch comedy education. So I came to it there and got the pilot out of Chicago and then the pilot got picked up and I got another film out of Chicago and so now I'm in LA, but yeah. I hope to be the rookie of the year this year for network television."
If you haven't left your dignity behind and wallowed in the mud with the rest of us pigs, there is a wonderfully inane comment thread war developing here at the Bastion, and if you're interested in Chicago comedy in the least, please do stop by and drop your calling card. 45 inflamed comments and counting! What a delight.
This seems like as good a time as any to make another loud and plaintive plea for contributing writers. We do have a few, and we appreciate them very much, but even the willing are busy people like you and me.
Yes, there's lots of good stuff that goes on in Chicago comedy that we can't cover, because we are human beings unable to manipulate time and space in such a way as to be present at six physical locations at the same temporal destination, and we don't have a Pulitzer Prize-winning staff culled from the top ranks of the Washington Post and the New York Times.
We'd like for the Bastion to be on hand for more Chicago comedy happenings, and that only way that's going to be possible is if we wrangle more scrappy writers into the fold. As we said in a passionate response in the comments thread, "We're a small creative community here, brothers and sisters. And we're all in this together." (We also said something about a bottle of "Chill the F*ck Out" pills, so it's not all sunshine and lollipops.)
Want to make this a better, fuller, more well-rounded site? Send writers our way. We promise not to bite, scratch, or smack them. Send us an e-mail with a writing sample, a little info on your comedy background, and an explanation of what kind of stuff you might be interested in writing about, and we'll give you a try.
Last night, the Bastion attended the Chicago Comedy Series (CCS) show at the Apollo Theater. The Series had been on a two-month hiatus, reentering the theater scene with a retooled format, focusing heavily on stand-up. Last night saw the stylings of host Jared Logan, Dan Telfer, Fay Canale, David Angelo, and Prescott Tolk, none of whom seemed nonplussed by the lack of a microphone. Powerhouse improv group Dirty Water rounded out the evening, with their rants and wacky meandering stories of sports, technology, and whatever other topic of conversation might come up between friends at the local pub.
The intimate theater offers an opportunity for comedians to use the physical space and project their bits in what comes off as a storytelling session to fifty friends. The vibe is certainly different than a typical night of a comedy at a smoky bar, with a convenient cocktail waitress circling to be sure the audience stays well-wetted. The audience is made up of a nice range of ages, since it is a theater space and no one has to be of a certain age to enjoy the performance.
We might surmise to say that the space is doing for local acts what the Lakeshore Theater is now doing for national comedy acts -- creating a theater experience outside of the original comedy club, where comedy is being celebrated as a performance art. This is a natural transition, especially here in Chicago, where the comedy tradition is heavily rooted in theater performance -- now, stand-up is been enveloped into that, in both performance styles and venue.
The August 29 show will feature members of Blerds.com, and the September CCS show will officially begin their new Saturday night run, at 10:30 p.m. on the 29th. Also in the works is a mainstage comedy showcase on August 13, featuring acts from all of the Apollo shows, with headliners Baby Wants Candy. We will have more information on this jam-packed event next month. Also overheard on the scene last night was some whisperings of SpitFire Comedy teaming up with CCS to begin a bimonthly showcase in the theater -- stay tuned for more on that soon!
Bottom Shelf Comedy, a new showcase in Arlington Heights, is presenting Micks on the Mic tonight at 8 p.m., which, iffin you couldn't tell from the name, will feature all Irish stand-up comedians. Tonight's line-up is Dean Carlson, Joe Kilgallon, Brendan McGowan, CJ Sullivan, Sean Flannery, and Chuck Roth, and is dedicated to the memory of Pat Brice, who was originally scheduled to headline the showcase.
Bottom Shelf also has a Sunday show in the 'burbs, first Sunday of every month at Eddie's Lounge, in addition to the last Thursday of every month at Murphy's Pub. Producer Dean Carlson is slowly but surely taking over the north suburbs with the new free, all-ages rooms, which feature bright stand-up newcomers and veterans alike, and afford an opportunity for Chicago performers to break the city perimeter and bring their acts to a suburban audience. Carlson is also a burgeoning filmmaker, and we have enjoyed watching him come up this past year and are excited to keep our eyes on his movements in the next.
Check out this big-budget trailer and see if you recognize the voice behind the camera. Hint: his initials are TJM.
Those i.O. kids made that silly McNuggets rap awhile back, and now it's a full-fledged McDonald's commercial:
Let's Get Out of this Terrible Sandwich Shop's "Hatchet":
thoseguysfilms.com present "See Ya Around":
Dan Polydoris talks about 'oily discharges' at the premiere night of the Pop Stand:
Eric Acosta has a pilot in a Comedy Central competition right now, and you should vote for it! It's called Welcome to Litleton, and it's the last one on the page here.
Visitors Locker Room To Continue, More From the Brice Family
What's going to happen to comedy/sports radio extravaganza Visitors Locker Room after the loss of co-host Pat Brice? Sean Flannery let us know. "After much deliberation, CJ Sullivan and I have decided to start broadcasting the Visitors Locker Room again this week. We weren't sure what to do about the show, until Adam Kroshus provided five straight days worth of vintage quotes on the shortcomings of his hosts, random facts about the White House lawn, and plans for his next relationship- all unsolicited. At that point, we finally knew the answer to the question every one asked all week - 'what would Pat want me to do?' The answer is - start the show back up by making fun of Kro with fresh stories. We hope to make Pat proud by continuing the show. As you know, CJ and I loved him very much and were so proud to work with a person of his talent."
Chicago comedy did us proud last week by showing up to Pat's services in huge, huge numbers. The line of people waiting to visit with Pat's family wound around the block, and the service began about an hour and a half late to accommodate all of people who showed up to pay their respects. Nativity of Our Lord pastor Father Dan Brandt read Pat's Blerds comedy essay "It's All in the Name," and may have created Chicago Catholic history and/or shocked God himself by saying the word "peckerhead" aloud in the 138-year old church, which was a beautiful, beautiful moment.
Also this week, Pat's dad Bernie reached out to us again, and asked us to pass along these sentiments: "I hope you'll allow me to thank all the people from the comedy community who attended Pat's visitation and funeral mass and burial ceremony. I cannot tell you how much my family was overwhelmed by the love and support shown to Pat and our family. I would like to thank every single member of your community who gave us strength at this time, from comics, writers, bookers, website editors, and all those who posted on the various blogs. We are also grateful to all the people at Fearless Radio, VLR, Chicago Underground Comedy, and The Bastion. Without your help, we wouldn't be able to reach out to the comedy community. My family will be eternally grateful. Pat loved his fellow comics, and we do also. We wish all of you success in your chosen field but, more important, we wish all of you good health and happiness. -The Brice Family."
Edit: also today, Pat's brother Dan Brice e-mailed us: "I first would like to thank you all for the kind words and support that you've shared over the past week for Pat and my family. I can't tell you how much it's meant to us and how therapeutic it's been to read your comments. It's making the loss of Pat a bit easier knowing that he touched so many of you in the same way he has moved us over the past 29 years. Your love has been overwhelming and I thank you.
"Pat was my best friend, as he was to many of you on this forum. I was lucky enough to have spent 29 incredible years of sharing in his laughter, joy, pain and love. He was passionate about everything he did in life, accomplishing whatever he wanted to. That's why there are no regrets about his passing. He lived a full life and he already made it a long time ago in our eyes.
"My mom, dad and I consider ourselves so fortunate to have spent the last moments of Pat's life together with him as a family. We danced, we drank, we laughed, we took photos, we hugged, we laughed more all the way until the end. And that's what I want to leave everyone with...that Pat was genuinely happy with his life and you all are a big part of his inner peace. I hugged him goodbye at 3:30AM on Sunday morning. It's a hug that I'm sure many of you have experienced. Hang on to that feeling forever...I am.
"Thanks for keeping Pat's laughter and spirit alive. Continue to share stories and remember to live your lives to the fullest. Take a leap of faith, be relentless, pursue your dreams, call a friend in need, tell your family you love them, travel and make someone laugh, because Pat will be right there with you.
I love you Pat. You were just too good for us."
Pat Brice's re-mastered "Lunar Measurements" Blerds video:
Special Bastion correspondent Robert Buscemi hit the Lakeshore Theater over the weekend to catch the stand-up magic of Arj Barker. He's a little tough on himself as a reviewer, but the show was great.
Maybe I'm not the guy to review Arj Barker, since everything he says almost knocks me off my chair. And the guy who sat right behind me at the show was right there with me, practically crying laughing without stop. The two of us would be laughing two minutes later at some sub-joke Arj had made in the most passing of fashions. (About, for example, an analog watch hiding away in the "egg-shaped vibrator" it was originally sold in.) In my opinion, Barker is just a freaking phenom.
But watching him perform is almost like a social experiment. I've seen him, oh, five times now maybe. And he's just an absolute demon of subtlety and understatement. It's like watching Lou Reed play the flute or something. It's a whole other genre, and you have to listen underneath his preternaturally placid surface for the insanely wicked material below. He's so detached he could be walking on hot coals up there.
He's the king of the stare-down. He plays chicken or high-stakes poker with a crowd. He never tips his hand, so it's like he's playing a Zen trick somehow. It's hard to describe, but the guy DEMANDS that you meet him on his terms. So I think people who don't get into him might feel like they're not being catered to in the way they're used to by an entertainer.
But I felt catered to plenty. His material is blazing. Some of the best I've ever heard.
One time a couple years ago I heard him at the Comedy Cellar in Manhattan get an insufficient laugh on a joke, so he said "Hey, you don't have to laugh at every joke. We're not human LAUGHINGS, we're human BEINGS." Just killed me.
And apparently he's like one of the biggest stars in Australia. I'm not even kidding. Who knew? Them Aussies know a thing or two, I guess. Maybe we should put them in charge of something.
Otherwise, our man Kumail opened, riffing away delightfully about the brand-new billion-dollar lighting at the Lakeshore Theater and killing them with fantastic bits as per usual. And middle-act Tony Camin was very, very funny and likable as well, a real goofy and enjoyable performer who stuck around to riff at the midnight show as well, where for my money was even funnier. His arms are rangy and his mind is sound.
Oh, and The Lakeshore Theater (can we just call it the LST?) just got voted "best place to see live comedy in Chicago" by Chicago magazine, so huge congrats to them for being so aggressive at booking marquis alt-comedy shows. God knows LST has shaken things up in these waters.
Anyhow, all hail Arj Barker. I'm not even kidding.
I think I'm the worst comedy reviewer ever.
Buscemi hopes to sell out a second smash week in a row at the Annoyance Theater for his "Buscemi and Friends DVD-Release Party" this Sunday, July 29, at 8 PM. Email rbuscemi@gmail.com to request your half-price discount. His DVD, "Robert Buscemi, (t)wit, a concert film by Jordan Vogt-Roberts" can be bought at the bar.
Robert Buscemi's DVD release party last night at the Annoyance was good fun. We talked to him last year shortly after the filming of the DVD, which was shot by filmmakers Landon Kirksey and Jordan Vogt-Roberts at the Subterranean, and we have been eagerly awaiting the project ever since. Produced with a DIY-spirit that seems to be taking over more and more Chicago comedians, the Buscemi DVD is more proof that if you want to showcase your skills, you don't have to sit around and wait to get your own HBO special.
The Annoyance soiree included film clips and performances by an unexpectedly mayo-loving Buscemi, plus Jared Logan, Kumail, Jenni Lamb, Mike Sheehan, and more. Andy Ross also took the stage in a reporter's trenchcoat, doing a faux-news bit that may or may not have been a tip of the fedora to the fact that he recently nabbed a gig writing for the Onion News Network.
Matt Braunger,who got started with comedy in Chicago, now lives in LA, and popped into the Blerds one year anniversary party a few weeks ago, got into the Montreal Comedy Festival.
We bugged him via e-mail for some scoop, and he shared this: "Brian Baldinger, a very funny comic who works for Just For Laughs, booked me for a showcase show. I then got a callback at the Improv, and was asked to be in the fest about a month ago. Thing is, I wasn't allowed to tell anybody, because it's the 25th anniversary and they wanted to keep the 'industry types' guessing. That, or they were ashamed of me. If anyone found out I was in, there was a possibility I'd be removed from the line-up. I told only my mom and dad. Yep, not even (Kyle) Kinane.
"As far as the material I did to get in, I basically did the stuff I like and was myself. Simple as that. Starting out, I got a lot of bad advice along the lines of, 'It's funny, but would it make a good sitcom.' So, I think the point is to just do stuff that reflects who you are. The rules have not only changed, I think they've improved. Doing what you think is funny is the best way to go, I think. There's no mold to set yourself in. Wait, why am I giving advice. It's all pretty new to me, as I haven't been in a festival since sweet, sweet Chicago back in 2002 or so. But it's great. I did the first of two sets last night and, from what they tell me, killed. I'm still too in shock that I'm here to know.
"But I know I owe my being here to being in Chicago and they comics I came up with there. I got offstage last night and thought about how if Pat Brice were here, he'd punch me in the gut and dance around laughing. It's not just me here, I guess is my point."
We don't know about you all, but we here at the Bastion are looking forward to having some laughs with friends at the Music Box this weekend for the Chicago Short Comedy Video and Film Festival.
This two-day event marks the tenth year for the festival, and will feature forty-one short comedy films. Matthew Craig, Amanda Blake Davis, Paul Grondy, Peter Grosz, Alex Fendrich, Megan Grano, Noah Gregoropoulos, Patrick McKenna, David Pasquesi, Sarah Reule, Brian Shortall, Miles Stroth, Rich Talarico, Brian Wilson, and Emily Wilson are just some of the actors, writers, and improvisers featured in this year's films.
In addition, the Chicago Comedy TV Pilot Competition will run concurrent to the fest this year. Below is a promo piece for the competition, directed by Steve Delahoyde and written by Delahoyde and Andy Ross:
You can find the full schedule and location of the festival and competition here.
Hey, readers, along with a video tribute to Pat Brice, we wanted to share some some more messages from Pat's father, Bernard Brice: "My name is Bernard Brice, Pat's Dad. I just want to thank everyone who has posted such nice words and sentiments about Pat at the various sites. My family has suffered a huge loss but thanks to family, friends, neighbors, and friends of Pat and my other son Dan, we will get through this ordeal. I noticed that there are several shows that will donate funds and want to inform you that any funds donated will be donated to the two mentioned in Pat's death notice, Nativity of Our Lord Church and/or Misericordia. I have met several of Pat's comic friends over the last few years, of course, Sean and CJ, but also Ricky Carmona, Brian Potrofka, Steve O, Nate Craig, et al., and have enjoyed meeting all of you. I apologize for any names I've forgotten, and, no, Kro, I did not forget to mention your name. ( I HAD to do that in Pat's memory, Kro). Again, thank you all so much for your words. Thank you, Pat's Dad"
We exchanged e-mail with him, and he gave us permission to print all of this: "Hello Elizabeth...you may use any quotes you like and you may include that I am a regular reader of the Bastion and Blerds and an avid listener of VLR. Thank you for your condolences and thank you for posting the part of my email concerning donations. Pat's loss is a tremendous loss to my family but we were fortunate to have him for 29 years. Bernard Brice"
6:00 PM - Update: we just received an e-mail from Pat Brice's father, Bernard Brice. He wanted everyone to know that "any funds donated will be donated to the two organizations mentioned in Pat's death notice, Nativity of Our Lord Church and/or Misericordia." He also wanted us to thank everyone who has been sharing their "nice words and sentiments" about Pat.
Tonight's Chicago Underground Comedy show will be dedicated to Pat Brice, and all proceeds will go to his family.
All proceeds from the July 25 Chicago Comedy Series show at the Apollo Theater will also go to the Brice family as well.
Thanks so much to everyone who continues to add their stories and memories to the "Remembering Pat Brice" post. If you knew Pat, or even if you just enjoyed his comedy, please contribute your sentiments. We plan to print them out and give them to his family members later this week. Thanks, everyone, and take care.
Sean Flannery has shared this information about services for Pat:
Visitation/Wake - Thursday, July 19th from 1pm - 6pm
Nativity of Our Lord
37th & Lowe Ave., Chicago
Funeral Mass - Thursday, July 19th at 6pm
Nativity of Our Lord
37th & Lowe Ave., Chicago
Burial at Cemetery - Friday, July 20th at 10:30am
St. Mary's Cemetery
87th & Hamlin (between Kedzie & Pulaski)
Please be sure to check Wed. & Thurs. Obituaries in Times and Trib.
Here's Pat riffing on the Family Feud at the Globe Gong Idol show on June 4.
Shopping With Posh Spice: a Chat With Renee Gauthier
In this Bastion exclusive, Chicago comic-gone LA Renee Gauthier talks about life in LA, what she misses about Chicago, and her experience working as Victoria Beckham's personal assistant during the filming of "Victoria Beckham: Coming To America," which aired last night on NBC. Yes, Victoria Beckham, as in Posh Spice, who married David Beckham, recently signed to a $250 million deal to play for the LA Galaxy, himself described by Gawker as "the man sent by God to Los Angeles to punish it for its celebrity-worshipping sins."
The show was described by the New York Post as "relentlessly self-promoting," showcasing "vapid, condescending behavior" in a show portrayed as "an orgy of self-indulgence." According to Celebrity Cafe, Victoria is tromping through LA saying and doing as she pleases, whipping out barbed zingers like calling Eddie Murphy a "Beverly Hills C**k. I’d spit in his food definitely, I’d chop his d*** off too." The LA Times quotes Mrs. Beckham as critiquing fellow celebrities' fashions thusly: "They dress down quite a lot here, don't they? It seems to be in keeping to go to Starbucks in track suit bottoms and Ugg boots."
We don't know how the Beckhams will adjust to LA, whether they'll ingratiate themselves to the A List as well as win the hearts of the hoi polloi, or whether Victoria will lay off the dazed sex robot face and ever actually smile like a human being in public, but we're relieved to hear that Renee has survived her brush with megafame and is still her happy, funny self.
(Until it gets yanked, here's a clip of Renee working with Posh):
What's it like trying to go through your workday in public with paparazzi all over the place?
The first day of work, we went out to grab some things and the paparazzi was waiting on a side street for her. It was so crazy to see how much she has to deal with. I was almost afraid at first, because while you are in the car you can see them strapping on their cameras, big cameras, but after that first initial day, it seems like a regular thing.
Having seen extreme fame and fortune so close up now, is that something you would want for yourself?
Well, I have thought about that. As an aspiring comedienne, would I want to get so super famous and have to deal with the privacy issues and tabloid lies? And the answer is yes. If it meant that I got to do what I love and be known for it enough that people wanted to "know me," yes. Victoria is such a down to earth person that it shows you how one can maintain sanity through the fame.
What kind of a shopper is Posh? A bargain hound, a "one in every color" shopper, the kind that buys stuff that never actually gets used?
The kind with money. I mean if she wants it she can buy it. I was shopping with her and looked at the prices and remembered why I never went shopping at these places - because I am poor. I think she shops like most people, sometimes for a reason and sometimes just for fun.
Is David Beckham that hot in person?
Unfortunately I do not know if he is hot in person. He was not in LA during the time that I was working with her. My god, I bet he is pretty though. Although I am not hot in person and in photos I look like I need assistance.... so who knows. Well I guess we all know he is most likely gorgeous... considering his wife.
Did you spend any time at their house?
She was looking for homes so she was in a rental and that house was ridiculous so I could only imagine what the real house will look like. The place that she was renting had an amazing view and cool pool... weird art, but cool. I share a bedroom with my sister, oh and a bed...so anything outside of that situation looks like gold.
What's Posh's closet like?
Oh my goodness, her closet is my dream come true. She has great taste in clothes and shoes. I think I drooled when I went in there and saw all the shoes. I actually remember coming in while she was just picking stuff out and I was wearing some Gap outfit, which is a good outfit, until you see hers.
Posh welcomes herself to America by arranging for a confrontational tête-à-tête with gossip blogger Perez Hilton:
Does she bother even owning a fridge?
No she eats like an astronaut - all dried foods, including ice cream. She drinks Tang. Yes, she bothers to own a fridge. She eats, people! Not as much as your friend Renee here, but yes. I shoved a burger in my mouth in front of a male model and then proceeded to ask him how he eats his steak. Just for conversation, of course. Not many people in L.A. are like me, in terms of eating like normal people.
Did Posh ever comment on things about our culture and people?
She was surprised by a few things, like terminology, and talked about how nice and friendly people are. She also mentioned that she thought it was nice that Americans are so patriotic. She had nothing but great things to say about the culture.
What else is going on for you in L.A. these days?
I am doing the comedy scene and just working a lot. I have shot quite a few sketches for the web and I am also attempting to develop my own sketch show, based on original characters.
What's the best part about living there?
The sun and the chance of seeing someone really cool. I have met a few cool people due to working at a great restaurant and doing comedy out here. I have met Scott Thompson from the "Kids In The Hall," Greg Berhendt, who wrote "He's Just Not That Into You" and Mindy Kaling from "The Office" to name a few. That has been really cool.
What do you miss most about Chicago?
I miss the scene and the rooms. I miss the comedians and I miss the summer in Chicago. Oh yeah - my family and friends.
And, to wrap things up, the Bastion surveyed Beckham-obsessed fellow posters at a pop culture message board we spend a sick amount of time at and chose these selected questions. In other words, we're sorry about the "tits" question. We would never use such vulgar terminology. We prefer terms like "knockers," "globbies," and "sweater puppies."
What, if anything, does Posh eat in a 24-hour period?
Posh eats like regular people. She is just a fit woman who knows how to keep looking good. She does not look too thin in person. She even drinks pop - diet of course, but still there is sugar in there.
Does she think her tits look good? (Renee can be seen walking behind Posh in pictures accompanying this article, which speculates wildly about the aforementioned boobs.)
I never asked her and she doesn't really go on about her "ladies." I think that would weird me out if someone sat around just out of nowhere saying "good god my TITS look amazing." Who wants to know about "tits?" What a dirty word. That just makes me feel filthy talking about tits. From now on we call them "ladies."
Posh and Becks with a pre-Borat Sacha Baron Cohen (in character as Ali G) several years ago:
What does she think about her fellow Spice Girls?
From what I can tell she has a close relationship with all of the girls. I did get to meet another Spice Girl, and she was hilarious and gorgeous. I don't think they see each other as often as they would like but again that is what I gather. When she spoke about the Spice Girls it was in a way that told me she missed and enjoyed that time. I do know that I have personally deemed myself "PA Spice." I carry a scheduler around and wear glasses.
What's the deal with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes suddenly being BFF with the Beckhams?
I am not sure - it is sudden! I don't know much about it. I am just wondering how Tom and Katie are gonna feel now that VB and I are BFF's ...I mean - will Posh go over to TomKat's for a screening and gourmet food, or go to Renee's for a movie on a 27 inch TV and order-in pizza? I am obviously gonna win.
Pat Brice's friends and fellow comics are sharing their thoughts about his loss, and what his life and comedy meant to them. Feel free to add your own tribute to our beloved friend in the comments section, so we can collectively create a nice archive of remembrances of Pat.
Mike Holmes: "We've all lost a really great friend and our favorite comedian. I always took great joy in bringing my friends from outside of the comedy world to shows that Pat was in, so they could see first hand what everyone in Chicago comedy knew to be true - Pat was the best, on-stage and off."
Renee Gauthier: "Pat Brice is one of the funniest comics ever and I just wish the world knew that. We were just starting to get to really know each other, he will be missed."
Mike Bridenstine: "Pat was one of the people in comedy I respected and looked up to the most. One of the funniest people on stage and off that I have ever met in my life. When he talked, people listened. And they loved what he had to say. This is a real tragedy for everyone that knew and loved him in Chicago, as well as a bigger tragedy that he was on the brink of having everyone else know and love him too. I'm really going to miss him."
David Angelo: "He was funnier and cooler than all of us."
Robert Buscemi: "He was just always a gentleman and a decent guy. Always. You could talk to him about your insecurities and struggles as a comedian, and he was a great listener and friend. And as we all know, he was one of the most talented, fun comedians to watch we've ever seen. It was an honor to share his journey with him, and again, all condolences to his family and closest friends. He was just a great positive force and a very, very smart and gifted comic. I always admired and liked him, as I think everyone did."
Aaron Foster: "We lost a great friend and great comedian. Pat Brice was one of my personal friends and favorite comedians especially in our 'Chicago' scene. My full and unconditional condolences to the Brice family and all others who morn his loss with me."
Dave Odd: "He was a genuinely good guy who helped encourage me...he gave me his number and told me to call him if I needed anything. Throughout the years he was always friendly and cordial with me not to mention one of my favorite comedians in the city to watch. My condolences to his friend and family, we lost a great guy and a great comic. I hope this puts things in perspective and that we can realize how lucky we all are to live our lives doing what we love to do."
Kelly Lee Williams: "Every time I saw Pat Brice he was positive and in a creative mode."
Jason Fever: "Pat Brice was one of the greatest comedians ever in the history of mankind and he was my friend."
Jay Harris: "The world is a lot less funny without him. Pat was an inspiration to all comics...and I'll definitely miss his sense of humor. He was an upstanding guy...my condolences to his family & friends. We love you Pat!"
From your e-mails to us, and comments on this post:
Nate Craig: "Patrick Brice. Son, brother, great friend, awesome comic, down homie, mauler, basher, destroyer, intellectual, gentleman, south sider, legend and consummate professional. He was the best. We all love him very much. If you knew him, celebrate. Laugh all you can and don't drive like an idiot. Keep him and his family in your hearts and prayers. Go White Sox."
Kara Buller: "I loved Pat Brice. One spring evening on a porch at a party, when he was sporting an especially amazing pair of jeans, he successfully recapped the entire Madonna discography in correct chronological order. He even remembered the commercial failure American Life, which everyone always forgets. That's the kind of guy he was: so sure of himself that he could recall all Madonna albums, in white pants, in public, and still be the sexiest man at the party. Of course, what I liked best about Pat wasn't that he was sexy or that he had a brain large enough to contain information he probably didn't even give a shit about. It was that he was, if you can believe this, genuinely kind. He never gave me any shit. And now I'm outing him for knowing Madonna albums. I think he'd be okay with it."
Prescott Tolk: "Pat Brice was the guy I've always wanted to be. He was naturally cool and naturally funny. It's hard to believe he's gone. He was energy incarnate. I, like most people, craved his company because I always felt cooler whenever I was shooting the shit with him. He also made me laugh until I sneezed beverages. But most importantly, he was an amazing friend whose presence made everyone’s life better. I miss him dearly."
Peter Hinsdale: "Pat was one of the funniest people I've ever met. He always made me laugh and was a true pleasure to be around...He will be greatly missed."
James Fritz: "I was actually just starting to see more of Pat. And getting to know him better. You see, it's a little different for me because I saw Pat as an inspiration long before I considered him a friend. Before I ever found the balls to get on a stage I'd catch him at a show and just be awed by his talent. His rhythm. His righteous anger. God Damn he was funny. Hell yes I was intimidated by him. He was a badass onstage and I was nobody. And he couldn't have been cooler to me from day one. He was a great guy. A great guy. He was so freaking alive. All the time, it seemed. Eyes wide open, two or three pretty young things on his arms, smiling his shit-eating grin. This really sucks."
Tony Sam: "A lot of people can talk about how great a person is on stage, but the most important thing is who you are off stage. Pat Brice wasn't just a great performer and comedian, he was a great person. You knew that the moment he opened his mouth. I feel fortunate to have known him and had the chance to get to know him well. The thing about Pat, is how full of life he was, so big and ready to burst out at any moment. I like just being around him, because it felt like you were really living. The best way to honor Pat is to celebrate what an amazing individual he was, and (especially the other performers) to do the best we can at what we love to do. I like everyone else, will miss him dearly."
Joe Kilgallon: "Chicago lost a great talent and a great friend. Pat was an amazing person, who will be deeply missed. As a young comic, I looked up to Pat, he headlined the first show I ever did, and I remember thinking if I could only be half of the comic he is I'll be happy. Pat will never be forgotten."
Mike Burns: "Pat was a hero of mine. And, he was my friend."
Jenna Gianneschi: "To those of you in mourning, I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine the devastation his parents and family are suffering, wrought by such an abrupt and unexpected tragedy. To the Brice Family, I extend my deepest, most heartfelt sympathies and condolences. I know that a lot of the comments that have been posted up here have been by fellow comedians and those of you that have worked with Pat through the years or got to know him through the comedy scene. I met him through a mutual friend so for me, it was always the off-stage side of him that I saw. Obviously it goes without saying he was funny -- that we can all agree to -- but his other side was of equal, if not greater allure. He was polite (cabbies excluded) patient and sweet. He was fair and never judged (aside from a few blanket statements here and there). He had a magentism that really resonated with people, as is so painfully evident in our tears shed for his untimely departure. Every time we went out we ran into someone he knew. A wild cast of characters over time, but adoration was the prevailing theme. He was held in SUCH high esteem by SO many people -- professionally, platonic, and otherwise. Patrick was the kind of person you always wanted to have at the party -- the person to bring the life and the feistiness that would keep people would be talking for months long thereafter. But he was not the kind of person that only shared in the joys...he participated in your sorrows too. He was a good listener, empathetic, and always there to offer a gentle hand to help however he could. I will forever consider myself so truly blessed for having been the recipient of so many of his kindnesses. I love you, Patrick. Have for a while. I am sorry I never had the courage to tell you face to face. You are in my prayers and thoughts, often and fondly."
Eric Acosta: "I already miss him so much."
Andy Ross: "Pat Brice had enough charisma and energy to fill a room. His had the loudest voice in the front of the bar, and his had the loudest laugh in the back of the audience. Onstage, he was confident, commanding, and smart, and offstage he was the same. And, he was a nice, solid guy--engaged, comfortable, generous with his attention. I liked him a lot, and my deepest condolences go out to those close to him."
Bradley Fojas: "Pat Brice was a guy that I always had respect for. Even before I knew him. My first year doing comedy, I spent most of my time at garbage open mics and never really met him. But his reputation preceded him. Everyone always had great things to say about him. TJ Miller, Aaron Foster, and Dave Odd were telling me that he was the best and that I really needed to see him if I ever got the chance. I'm glad I did eventually get to see him and meet him, because he was an amazing person, on and off stage. He was an intimidating figure on stage and I remember being really afraid to approach him after the first time I saw him. But once I got to know him, I immediately felt welcomed by him. He was a lot better than me (hell, he was better than all of us), but he never made me feel inferior. I wasn't as close to him as some of the other people on the scene, but if we were hanging out, it just didn't seem to matter. He was just such a cool guy. I used to wish we had more guys on the comedy scene like him. Now I wish we could just have back the one we had."
Emily Dorezas: "He was important in my life."
Kristy Mangel: "i think the first time i actually talked to pat was at the Blerds launch party in April '06, when i asked him to perform at my birthday party that june. i was WAY too intimidated to talk to him before that. he was so friendly and nice, it took me quite aback, only knowing his stage personality. we became better acquaintances throughout that year, and friends, i would say, when i did that Day in the Life profile. one of my favorite memories of pat happened that day, when i almost wasn't allowed to go on the trading floor b/c i was wearing flip-flops (no open-toed shoes on the floor). he went back up to the floor and snagged some shoes from a co-worker for me. they were HUGE. i was able to wear them over my flip flops. when i put them on, we both started cracking up and were nearly on the floor in tears of laughter. after that, i considered him my friend. we had good times at post-show gatherings and even informal gatherings at a local pub when he and the other VLR boys would get together for drinks and to watch the games -- if i was in a rotten mood for whatever reason, a few drinks w/ those guys, just being in their presence, ALWAYS straightened me out. selfishly, i am so sad by this loss, for myself and for everyone who loved pat."
Jacqueline Hickel: "Pat was a good man with a big heart. He always made me laugh and although I didn't see him all that much after college, he never hestitated to say hey and strike up a conversation as if we talked everyday. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. May God bless you."
Dan Telfer: "I am so grateful I could meet him, however briefly. His work was fantastic. Even greenhorns like me knew it."
Lauren Bishop: "Pat's clarity and intense passion for the stage made him a role model for me. But his heart made him my hero. I miss him already."
Landon Kirksey: "I loved watching Pat perform and I loved hanging out with him offstage. That combination is very special and rare. There was nothing false about him. Nothing contrived. It's sad to lose someone like that, and especially sad for the world of comedy. I count myself lucky to have known him."
Keith Ellett: "As Brice would say, 'You're welcome for being able to have known me and to be a witness of my comedic genius.' The world is pissed that he can not be a part of its future that is for sure. Hopefully we can all strive to affect people in a similarly positive manner as he has all of us. Peace, brother."
Lesley Paluf Gerbitz: "I was shocked and saddened to hear about this terrible news. Pat was a great guy to be around back in college. I am sorry from the bottom of my heart and I am praying for his friends and family."
Piper T. Gorsuch: "Oh Patty, he was the love of my life and my best friend. Not a single day has passed in three years that I didn't think of him. I always told him that I was his #1 fan, and when he got famous, he could employ me as his personal eyebrow tweezer and stylist. I'll be seeing you in my dreams, Pop. Love, pipes"
TJ Miller: "He was funnier than me. He was a killer, just simply built to kill."
Brooke Van Poppelen: "Pat Brice represented Chicago comedy in so many ways that only now in his absence does it become abundantly clear what we've lost.
"Comedy is a fickle thing and it has many moods and dark sides. I was always in awe at Pat's seemingly effortless transition from dude you were having a laugh and a drink with to dude who stepped on stage and made a hundred people howl without skipping a beat. There was no magic hat or persona donned for his 8 minutes of stage time. You were laughing at Pat Brice being Pat Brice. The only difference was how unbelievably sure he was and how when given a microphone, and some energy and momentum to feed off of from a crowd, he became a wrecking ball. Sometimes I didn't laugh because I was so astounded by the fact that he seemed to be channeling a higher energy. Those who have seen him perform know the possessed look that would enter his eyes.
"He would climb off stage and there would be no brooding, no posturing, no bullshit--- he always found his friends, cracked open a Miller Light and went back to a corner booth to keep shooting the shit and laugh the night away like nothing transcendent had just happened.
"He was intimidating. Impossible to dislike try as you might; he was the real deal. He was down to earth for someone with a larger than life personality and voice. It was confounding and refreshing to know someone with so much talent and so little ego. Sure the kid had an ego, but the good kind. The kind that pushes you to take wild chances on stage, voice a lot of really strong opinions and makes you believe that what you are doing is right and important and that you should stick to your guns.
"I think Chicago comedy is known for a lot of things. Our penchant for really fun, quirky comedy is definitely one of them. Pat was quintessential "old school stand-up comedian" and on any given night the odd man out among a group of oddballs. A typical night of comedy would have a line-up full of wonderfully wacky characters, premises, cuh-razy act-outs, props and then Pat Brice would get on stage and start tearing into real life situations and bring us all back to reality. I remember at first being weirded out by him and his aggressive style. He made me uneasy because now, as an older comic who has moved into comedy that is more personal and real, I know I was being challenged by what he did from the get go. Sometimes it was hard to listen to because it was raw and honest.
"What I have learned from Pat is to unabashedly be yourself. Fuck your fear and talk about what's really going on. He is someone who didn't have to "find his voice" because it was always there. All he had to do was just keep getting funnier and funnier and run laps around us all.
"To my Chicago counterparts who are hurting right now, I want you to know that I am fiercely proud to have come up in this scene with you all over the years. I have loads of admiration and respect for you all whether or not you know it. Pat was a good friend to a lot of us and a best friend to many more of you. We have lost a key player in our scene but once the grief has lifted, get your asses on stage and talk about life and let comedy heal you. We've got a job to do and standards to keep because Pat raised the bar and he'd give us all shit if we didn't do that for him.
"Thanks to all of you for taking chances every day and doing the hardest art form in the world. Be thankful we got to have someone like Pat to perform with, laugh with and learn from. We will miss him greatly."
Jeff Timberlake: "I love Pat Brice. I've worked with Pat Brice for the last 3 years. Actually i compete against him at the Merc in the cattle option pit. I used to think i was the shit. Not after Pat, he was a huge wake up call for me. And i was lucky enough to share an office with him for the last 5 months. I looked forward to seeing him every day. Of course he always made us laugh, but it was his focus and energy about trading that i loved and admired. The guy worked 24/7. After our 4hr day my brain is fried. But Pat was just getting started looking for the next great joke or routine. And he listened and looked for it all day long. I also have to vent about all the great times i didn't get to have with him. He was the life of the party. I was so looking forward to getting to know him better. He had a way of making you feel special. He was an idea man as well. It has been a little slow lately and it was Pat who came up with the idea of a time machine. Genius! Bottom line i love Pat Brice. I miss so much already. He is and was beyond words. Love Ya Bro"
Allyson Overman Catanese: "I'll always remember Pat Brice. We went to college together and saw eachother out in Chicago post graduation. He was always a gentleman, and someone I loved being around. I'll remember him always."
Tom Suffredin: "I went to high school with Pat and had the chance to watch him go from funny guy around the lunch table to open mic guy to real live working comedian guy. He is going to be missed because he was always an addition to any place he was and a pleasure to be around. There are going to be plenty of 'Remember the time Brice...' stories told for a long time by a lot of people."
Jeremy Smith: "Pat is the kind of guy you need to have around cause he would tell you like it is. The first time I met him was at one of our shows and he had me at "air and building crumbling show". On behalf of the entire Lavender Cabaret family, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the Brice Family, his colleagues, CJ, friends, and all of his fans. He will be missed greatly."
Ken Barnard: "Pat Brice was, without a doubt, one of the strongest comedic voices I have ever witnessed. His command of the English language transcended comedy, making him a brilliant, biting poet. When Pat spoke, words became powerful. He attacked the stage like a wolf, and he lived his life the same way. Aggressive and balls-to-the-wall. Being around Pat's energy was truly an experience.
Besides being vivacious and supremely talented, Pat was down-to-earth, generous and really, an honest-to-goodness sweetheart. I'm grateful for the time that I got to spend with him and my condolences go out to his family and friends. The world will be a less lively place without you around, Brice. I'll miss you."
Ben Krueger: "Pat was an extremely funny individual, but aside from that he was a very genuine and caring person that always put others before himself. He was exuberant in generosity, and his sincerity always transcended his comedic persona. His supported other comedians as wholeheartedly as he created his own comedy. His zealousness toward life, as well as his genuine friendship will be missed by many, including myself."
The Bastion is very sad to report that Chicago stand-up comedian Pat Brice passed away over the weekend while attending a friend's wedding out of town. No details are known about his passing at this time, and we mourn the loss of a wonderful, warm, and very talented young man along with all of his family and friends.
Earlier this year the Bastion tagged along with Pat in a "Day in the Life" feature, and witnessed him in action at his day job as a trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, a stint at Fearless Radio for an airing of Visitors Locker Room, then back to work again, then to Zanies for an emcee spot, traipsing on to the Elevated's tenth anniversary party, and finally an afterparty at Vaughn's. Pat committed to the things he cared about with 100% effort, and his presence will be greatly missed.
We are gathering thoughts from Pat's friends, which we will share later today or tomorrow.
Here is Pat's MySpace page. Pat's Blerds and stand-up videos can be seen on YouTube. Pat on Effin Funny.
Yo! It's another ridunculous Friday night for stand-up comedy in the city, and we're not EVEN talking about the Michael Ian Black/Michael Showalter show that's happening at 8 p.m. tonight at the Lakeshore Theater (we'll be there, et tu?).
Immediately following their show (and we're hoping against hope they'll stick around the theater and check out some local programming), is the reincarnation of Honeys and Funnies (as named by us), the burlesque and comedy show that was originally staged at Fizz and that has been on hiatus for the last few months. Now named Lipschtick, producer Jeremy Smith says, "Conceptually it's the Fizz show, but it's bigger, louder, faster, badder, sexier, shinier, with more ass than you can legally fit into one room. It will be a classy affair in a great new space." The dancers tonight are the Star and Garter Starlets, with a special appearance by Miss Exotic World 2005, The Ass That Goes POW!, Miss Michelle L'amour, and the jokers tonight are Ricky Carmona, Jared Logan, CJ Sullivan, and Kumail Nanjiani.
Across town at 9 p.m. at the Beat Kitchen they're staging the second evening of the Pop Stand, a comedy show that skewers pop culture. Here, Chicago Underground Comedy has teamed up with Rooftop Comedy to present this multimedia showcase, and tonight's show will feature two videos created specifically for the Pop Stand, a Neil Diamond tribute, a special presentation by the Visitors Locker Room, and appearances by comedians Tony Sam, Ken Barnard, Bill Cruz, Robert Buscemi, Hannah Gansen, Jeff Hansen, and Nick Morgan.
Oh, but you just wanted some good ol' fashioned stand-em-up comedy? We got that too tonight! There's a new monthly showcase at 8 p.m. over at Vida Lounge, featuring both newer and veteran comics with a myriad of comedic styles to get you laughing. The line-up tonight has got Nick Lullo, Reis Hand, Cameron Esposito, Jonathan Fin, and Hannibal. And battling for your love, yet another showcase just down the street at the Apollo Theater, the Blu Mic, tonight at 10:30 p.m. featuring Steve Mulcahy, Jeb Cadwell, Leah Eva, and Jay Harris. You still cranky? Well, it's not our damn fault.
Are you heading to the movie theaters this weekend to catch giant angry robots smashing puny humans and their puny infrastructure? Tribune Media Services humor columnist Mark Bazer, a friend of the Bastion via Schadenfreude, probably is not. He never got the hype the first time around, but then again, he admits he was a little distracted in the early 80's with some other, less-than-cool plaything obsessions.
"...to my ears, the name 'Optimus Prime' sounds like a character a third-grader might create for a fiction-writing assignment that he'll years later dig out of the closet and laugh with slight embarrassment. Unlike, say, the name Boba Fett, which clearly sprung from the mind of a fully grown genius.
"When the Transformers first hit it big, my friends and I were too busy playing with those troll dolls known as Norfins, even going so far as to dress them in clothes we ripped off stuffed Garfields and stole from Spencer's Gifts. But that's a story for another time. Suffice to say, if you're a boy playing dress-up with dolls, one way to save face is to shoplift the outfits.
If you want to see high energy sketch comedy in a theater that is different from the 3-4 usual Chicago sketch spots, you should probably take it upon yourself to go see Johnny's Regret's latest effort, "Lazy Susan" - now playing at The Bailiwick.
Let me sit you down and talk about the newest breakout phenomenon in Chicago - Nick Ehart. The dude gets it and nails it. His range of vocal inflections and physicality's is bigger than yours is - and that makes all his characters interesting and not stale. In a very funny and smart relationship scene involving co-workers who hooked up the night before, Nick drops what just might be the single funniest one-liner of 2007, maybe ever. And Nick's scene with energy-factory and cast mate, Jamie Hoggson, involving elegant men settling their differences in a sword fight is one of the most fun physicality's to watch in my mind right now. Other cast stand-outs include Tamara Nolte and the a-fore-mentioned love machine that is Jamie Hoggson. These two should be on your "Who's hot in '07" radar.
Oh, what's that? You think these three are the only good cast members - well guess what? The whole cast is solid - handle that. One of my favorite scenes involves a line by line shouting of one of the best scenes of one of my favorite movies (which I won't give away), but I remember thinking that the timing of the actors during that scene was completely perfect.
I'm told this show is the directorial debut for Shad Kunkle (Carl & The Passions, ComedySportz, The Reckoning), and I definitely enjoyed a lot of the transitions. The show also features tighter and more adventurous blocking than the typical Chicago sketch show - and it runs the gauntlet of musical scenes, relationship scenes, goofy scenes and high energy scenes. Speaking of music, the show boasts music composed and played by perhaps the most sought after musical director in the history of this city, Julie B. Nichols (Second City TourCo., 2 original Annoyance musicals, ThoseGuysFilms.com, etc. - it's a really long list, trust me.).
Admittedly some scenes hit a lot harder than others, and the ticket price is question
Team Submarine's Nate Fernald and Steve O'Brien skipped out of Chicago for a few days and did their comedy magic at the Montreal "Just For Laughs" Comedy Festival a little while back. Nate checked in with the Bastion and gave us some scoop on their recent performances in Canadia. Canadaland. Quebekiastan. Whatever the hell country Montreal is in. Following is Nate's account of Team Submarine's Montreal escapades.
Is it a boy? Is it a girl? It's something else altogether -- it's a Schadenfreude baby! Introducing 
Thanks to Jessica Joy for the tip: TJ Miller is making the press rounds on behalf of his ABC show "Carpoolers." Here he is on 
If you haven't left your dignity behind and wallowed in the mud with the rest of us pigs, there is a wonderfully inane comment thread war developing 
What's going to happen to comedy/sports radio extravaganza Visitors Locker Room after the loss of co-host Pat Brice? 
Chicago comedy did us proud last week by showing up to Pat's services in huge, huge numbers. The line of people waiting to visit with Pat's family wound around the block, and the service began about an hour and a half late to accommodate all of people who showed up to pay their respects. 
Special Bastion correspondent Robert Buscemi hit the 
In this Bastion exclusive, Chicago comic-gone LA 
The show was described by the New York Post as "relentlessly self-promoting," showcasing "vapid, condescending behavior" in a show portrayed as "an orgy of self-indulgence." According to 
What's it like trying to go through your workday in public with paparazzi all over the place?
Does she think 
From the 
The Bastion is very sad to report that Chicago stand-up comedian 
Are you heading to the movie theaters this weekend to catch giant angry robots smashing puny humans and their puny infrastructure? Tribune Media Services humor columnist 
If you want to see high energy sketch comedy in a theater that is different from the 3-4 usual Chicago sketch spots, you should probably take it upon yourself to go see