Are we becoming some sort of extradimensional epicenter of comedy? Another comedy festival is coming our way -- the Chicago Comedy Fest. For three days in the autumn of 2008, Chicago will be treated to 100 performers on three stages at Navy Pier, and two broadcast specials will be taped live as part of a comedy film series event with National Lampoon.

From the press release: "The Fest will celebrate the diversity of comedy by offering a variety of comedic voices and genres from stand-up and sketch to musical satire and improvisation. Specific headliner talent will be announced in subsequent releases, although a high-profile Blue Ribbon Advisory Board is already in place that includes such Chicago comedy luminaries as James Belushi, Bernadette Birkett, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Brad Hall, Tim Kazurinsky, Richard Kind, Tim Meadows, Harold Ramis and George Wendt."

EDIT: Time Out Chicago's comedy editor Steve Heisler has written an interesting blog about his thoughts on this comedy festival onslaught. Read on here. And, if you didn't already know, tonight kicks off the Lincoln Lodge's three-night Chicago Comedy Awards celebration at the Lincoln Restaurant, 4008 N. Lincoln.

-Elizabeth McQuern