They're going to be at Steppenwolf April 14 with local sketch heavy hitters kevINda, who showcased at the HBO Comedy Festival in Aspen last year. This show is part of the theater's "Traffic" series, and will focus on race. The Schads promise all new material for this special event, and warn that tix are almost sold out. Get them here if you can.
The 2008 run of Rent Party begins April 19, and will happen every Saturday after that until May 24. Details about venues and line-ups can be found on Schad.net. We plan to be at all of 'em, since we can't pick just one or two out of all of these amazing-sounding line-ups.
We also learned via their electronic update to us this morning that Mark Bazer's Interview Show series at the Hideout this Friday will feature local rap star Rhymefest! The Schads teased that they just might be doing a bit with the rapper...
There's probably even more that we're forgetting to mention here. Basically, Schadenfreude is continuing to take over the known universe.
Vocalo/Chicago Public Radio's Call For Comedy (and Other) Talent
--WBEZ is producing a talent show on May 14, 2008, and all performers, comics, musicians, improvisers, poets, singers and entertainers are invited to audition. Presented by Chicago Public Radio, the unique event will happen online and in person at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts. "Performers upload their audition materials and let the public decide who will qualify for one of 12 opportunities to compete live at the May 14 event where the audience will select a winner."
How can you join in? Sign up for aVocalo.org account, and click "enter contest" at the bottom of the signup instructions. Your audio or video content must be new material, and must include the tag "The Talent Show." All performance finalists will receive Vocalo.org and Chicago Public Radio swag. The final winner will receive a prize pack that includes a personal digital recorder, tickets to Chicago Public Radio events, and more.
--The Bastion has started a Flickr group that we invite you to join, and share your photos of Chicago comedy. We're going to start including more photography in our posts and will be happy to give you credit when we use your snaps. Open mics, sketch, improv, showcases, tag your snaps and share them with our readership!
--Kumail Nanjiani is getting lots of press these days. His show "Unpronounceable," which debuted in Chicago at the Lakeshore Theater, is hitting the stage in New York. This is one of those very happy occasions where we're more than happy to say "I told you so." Time Out New York interviewed him. Gelf Magazine interviewed him. And the New York Post would like for its readers to go see him, too.
--Blewt! updates! Don't Spit The Water is heading to L.A. to perform one show on the Comedy Central stage. The show is on Wednesday, May 28th, 8pm, at the Comedy Central Stage at The Hudson.
--In other Blewt! news, a new monthly stand up showcase will launch tomorrow night, Saturday, March 29, at midnight, after Don't Spit the Water. The showcase, hosted by Bryan Bowden, is called Blewtenanny! and the first go-round will feature Mike Wiley, Neil Arsenty, Fuzzy Gerdes, and Chicago Comedy Award winner Ken Barnard. Tickets are free for the DSTW audience or $5.
Time Out Chicago Successfully Yanks Our Collective Chain
Time Out Chicago has proved they're as clever as the comedians they write about.
First, they fooled even the esteemed Chicago business publication Crain's with this fake story about TOC being bought up by everyone's favorite combed-over blowhard, Donald Trump. Check out his "Letter from the Publisher," buttoned up nicely with a comments section that features more angry "cancel my subscription" replies than we've seen in a long time. Seriously, dudes, "Trump" declared his intention to rename the publication "Trump On Chicago" and put us on notice that the price would rise to $9.99 per issue? Clearly shenanigans.
Then, improbably named TOC writer "John Schmoogly" wrote about Chicago's new stand-up venue, the improbably named "Jokeaholics Anonymous," set to open in the very unlikely location of Thompson Center, where it would charge $40 per ticket and require a 3-drink minimum (is that legal?). Undaunted by the ridiculousness of the story, Stage Time magazine reported on it like it was real. If the mention of featured performed Shane "Handsy" Butterscotch wasn't enough to tip folks off that this was all fake, fake, fake, well, then, we commend their credulity, which, in this day and age, is rather refreshing.
Well-played, TOC, well-played.
Edited to add link to interview with "revamped" TOC's Public Eye writer, 98-year old Bryce Wellesley (ahem), at right.
Done right, this review would be written on the inside of a bathroom stall in black marker: “for a good time call 1/800-Boozelegger’s Ball.”
Too many digits? That’s okay, the “drunks,” I mean, performers, will never notice. Their portrayal of bar moments with boozy boys is so on the money that during the rather catchy, opening sing-a-long, I found myself wondering, “no, but are they REALLY drunk?!” Sure at times the humor is so inane you're embarrassed to laugh, just do yourself a favor and go with it. This isn’t a thinking man’s show, what with the whole premise being drinking and getting drunk. And it’s easy to picture this group of seven guys hanging out in high school, sneaking beer in their parents’ den, making up these sketches, with declarations of “Yeah, and one day, we’ll do this in front of an audience and they’ll pay us to get loaded!” (Insert Beavis and Butthead chuckle here.) Funny enough, that’s pretty much the deal. If they’re earning money, then God bless’em! Clearly friends having a great time together, there’s a sampling fabulously choreographed dialogue and these sketch actors work their asses off.
The crowd eats them up, and speaking of food, it has to be noted that Jason Nisavic is a stand out performer. Anyone who can spray Reddi-Whip into a pie tin without saying a word and have the crowd doubled over in laughter is truly a gifted performer. There’s some evidence of clever writing, the martial arts video game bit, and the anime sketch verges on brilliance.
The Gorilla Tango Theatre (1919 N. Milwaukee Ave.) couldn’t be a more perfect venue, where you can buy a six pack, sit at a front table and be one of the guys. For $15, Boozelegger’s Ball is more than a show, it’s a whole experience and a damn fun night out. (Pardon my language but you might as well get used to it now.)
The run was extended once and apparently it’s true, you CAN’T get enough of a good thing. Boozelegger’s Ball can be seen every Friday Night at 11:30pm until April 25th. Who knows, maybe the guys: Erik Anderson, Pedro Castro, Ramiro Castro, Dan O’Dwyer, Jason Nisavic, Brian Skaj and Jim Gainer will be too drunk to drive home and stay on another month.
This Day in History: Albert Einstein, by Merchandise:
Hannibal Buress on Mark Bazer's "The Interview Show," monthly at the Hideout:
"Gimme a Minute," March 22, 2008. Storytellers edition. Mike Bridenstine, Mike Burns, Renee Gauthier, Kyle Kinane, Jordan Vogt-Roberts, Nate Craig, Jackie Kashian, Rob Delaney, Eric Acosta:
The Second City's 95th mainstage offering, "No Country For Old White Men," will hit the boards beginning April 13. "As the face of the American Presidency readies for a change, The Second City realizes that there are no clean getaways in No Country for Old White Men. From a You Tube electorate grabbing their 15 minutes of fame to a rare US visit by the British House of Commons, No Country for Old White Men is trading in its Cadillac and country club membership for some sweet, soul food and a side of girl power."
Interviews with Second City castmembers are a good watch. Here's one with Megan Grano.
Also, from Second City's website: "Check out Second City alums Jon Glaser and Tom Gianas in a new video that takes aim at the burgeoning political music video genre":
Just how big are these new Chicago comedy festivals aiming to get? From Dead Frog: "Just For Laughs, which is co-producing the Chicago Very Funny Festival, (has stated) frankly that they want to be on American TV. Add in that many stand-up specials are now independently produced and then marketed to networks (primarily Comedy Central, but also Showtime)."
iO's Charna Halpern is cleared to talk about having worked with the cast of the 20th season of the Real World. The show will start airing at 10:00 p.m. on April 16 on MTV, and Charna is brought in during the third episode (April 30). Visit her blog for info about a viewing party.
DMX doesn't know who Barack Obama is. "What the f*ck is a Barack?! Barack Obama. Where he from, Africa?...Ooh, we have a Black president now. They should’ve done that shit a long time ago, we wouldn’t be in the f*ckin’ position we in now. With world war coming up right now. They done f*cked this shit up then give it to the Black people, 'Here you take it. Take my mess.'"
From Gapers Block: "Those ubiquitous Sonic hamburger commercials may finally have some relevance to the Chicago area when the company opens their first regional outlet in Aurora. All of which mean the two guys in the commercials, Chicago improv giants TJ Jagodowski and Peter Grosz, may finally be able to purchase some of the food they've been shilling."
At 8:00 p.m. tonight at the Lakeshore Theater (3175 N. Broadway), MySpace's "Secret Stand Up" is putting Comedian of Comedy Brian Posehn in front of your face! No money need exchange hands. Simply bring in a printout of your MySpace profile, per these instructions, with one ticket available per person. The show is all ages and would be followed up nicely with a trip to Chipotle, which, unfortunately, is not giving away free MySpace burritos.
Ben Seeder and Chris Lee in "Teabagging," directed by Mike Balzer:
Steve Delahoyde and Schadenfreude are up to their usual tricks, with a series of topical political videos:
"We realize that it's sometimes difficult for the common man to understand the goings-ons in the political landscape. So in the interest of education, we sought to strip down the messages of the Hillary Clinton campaign into short parables, just like how the Bible does it. Thanks very much to Schadenfreude for volunteering to help spread this important political information."
The Logic of Hillary '08 #1:
The Logic of Hillary '08: #3:
The Logic of Hillary '08 #5:
Paul Thomas sticks it out in the Chicago stand-up scene, determined to improve at his craft, no matter how tough the audiences:
Boom Chicago's "Highly Dubious News 19 March 2008":
In heavy rotation on MTV, OneRepublic at Medieval Times (featuring Mackenzie Condon):
Are we going to be the reason stand-up will re-invade American television airwaves? Looks like the Just For Laughs folks picked Chicago for its upcoming annual festivals with some big overreaching goals in mind: "When our brand is well-known throughout Chicago, which I hope will happen within a couple of years, Just For Laughs is going to mean more as a stand-up franchise in the United States," says Bruce Hills, the company's chief operating officer, "maybe bringing us back to where we were when we were on HBO and Showtime all the time." (From the National Post, via Shecky Magazine.)
Vanity Fair: "Actually, women are funny." A few choice bits from the piece - Jerry Lewis: “I don’t like any female comedians.” Joan Rivers: "Men find funny women threatening. They ask me, ‘Are you going to be funny in bed?’ ”
From the CTA Tattler, an impressive tale of Chicago public service. CTA President Ron Huberman, true to his badass ex-cop self, threw an inappropriate jerk off the train at 7:30 in the morning. "Apparently, a misbehaving guy was making inappropriate comments to a woman...no one did anything and then out of nowhere Huberman stands up and gives the guy a glare and says, 'You're going to get off the train.' The guy talked back and Huberman kept repeating. The guy ended up getting out at Addison and Huberman followed him out."
-Elizabeth McQuern
Several former Chicago comedy kids are taking New York by storm, and some of them have popped up on the photoblog of our Apiary pal Keith Huang, who immortalized them in photograph on his Improv Is Good For You blog. Bastion interview subject Thomas Middleditch and our correspondent Mackenzie Condon are among them.
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Grafitti is beginning a new series of shows, Thursday Happy Hour, a workshop/showcase featuring comedic actors performing character monologues. Thursday Happy Hour has an open run at 6:00 p.m. beginning Thursday, April 3 at The Playground Theater, 3209 N. Halsted.
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Our top level spy at the Live at Gotham tapings tells us that several Chicago comics were mentioned by name as favorites of the execs. Our agent heard the names Michael Palascak, TJ Miller, Hannibal, and Matt Braunger in particular. Hoo wah!
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Starting March 13th, Comedy House will be putting on a bi-weekly stand-up showcase at Timothy O'tooles.
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Sarah King and Jena Friedman are running a show at Town Hall every Sunday night from 8:00-10:00 PM. It's called "Entertaining Julia: Comedy, Music and Fun," and, for all of you cheapskates, it's totally free.
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Dave Odd Productions is staging a new themed show, "Too Soon?" Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. at Sylvie's (1902 W. Irving). Audience members are promised "topical and offensive material, as well as offensive topical material." hosted by a rotating crew including Dave Odd, Junior Stopka, Danny Kallas, Drew Michael, and others.
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WTTW (Channel 11) is shooting a new comedy pilot, and you can be a part of the live studio audience. It's called "IL-Informed," and it stars Schadenfreude (Justin Kaufmann, Sandy Marshall, Kate James) and Ithamar Enriquez and Inda Craig-Galvin, with host Joe Canale. It will be shot March 24, 25, and 26 from 12:00 - 4:15 p.m. at WTTW Studios - 5400 N. St. Louis. E-mail rtlguest@wttw.com for free tickets.
--The Chicago Tribune published a piece about the stand-up scene in Chicago, entitled "Stand and Deliver." Writer Glenn Jeffers spoke to Jared Logan, Kumail Nanjiani, TJ Miller, ChUC producers Dan Telfer your dear editor (who is also a ChUC producer) as well as the Bastion's Kristy Mangel.
It mentions the most recent exodus of talent to the coasts and says Chicago's lack of industry is why this is a great place for talent to develop under the radar.
from the article:
"There's no money in the mix here, so it's not tainted," says Jared Logan, a local who is slated to appear on "Live at Gotham" on Comedy Central. "You can develop in a place where you can let your imagination run wild and no one's going to say, 'That's not going to make it on television.'"
--The Comic's Comic, run by a blogger we've known for years, is getting tons of good scoop on Live at Gotham. The new season of the Comedy Central show airs shortly after Memorial Day but the Comic's Comic is happy to treat you to lots of pre-air info. Recent Chicago Underground Comedy guest Myq Kaplan apparently killed, and former Chicagoan Matt Braunger had a ready musical gag when the lights inexplicably went out during his set.
Not a lot of comedy blogging going on these days, huh, Chicago comedians? Need we remind you that if you blog it, and it's funny and interesting, we might talk about it here? Or if you or someone you know is writing a blog about Chicago comedy that we're not linking to over there on the right, let us know, we're always happy to add to the blogroll.
This one gets filed in our head in the same folder as "Lost": everyone's talking about it, but we haven't bent yet. Should we watch "The Wire?" Your Sunday Best at Schubas producer and comic James Fritz is mourning the cancellation of the show. "Without hyperbole, it is the greatest television show ever made. If you haven't been watching, get the DVDs and start at Season 1: Episode 1."
iO's Jason Chin has some thoughts about lazy, shock value improv, and why rape, abortion, and racism as comedy topics are a little boring at this point. "My point is that in improv no one can make you/your character a victim without your permission. Be strong and fight back and use your wits to create an interesting scene. Just shouting 'no' won’t help, but adding some emotion and power will always help. Conversely, I have found that most scenes are present and good within four lines… profanity, racism, words for shock value are the first refuge of the incompetent improviser. Certainly, those things can and should be part of our lexicon but in their place and context, not thrown out for a 'free' laugh. If that’s all you got, you’re not fun to watch."
This past Saturday, Lakeshore Theater hosted the second annual Chicago Comedy Awards, with guest performances by Lil Rel, Lord of the Yum-Yum, the Windy City Rollers, and "house band" the Tallest. It was a jam-packed whirlwind affair, hosted by the affable and hilarious Steve O. Harvey and Allison Leber. "Knock-Knocks" were bestowed upon Fay Canale (Best Female Comedian), Ken Barnard (Mark Sinclair Memorial Award for Most Innovative Comedian), Carrie Callahan (Breakthrough Act), Hannibal Buress (Best Male Comedian), Paul Thomas (Best Short Film -- Tighty Whiteys), and Pat Brice (Comics' Choice). Lincoln Lodge Executive Producer Mark Geary was also honored as the first inductee into the new (and as of yet intangible) "Chicago Comedy Hall of Fame". We congratulate all of the winners again!
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In less joyous news (for us, but great news for the West Coast): Stand-up comedian Bradley Fojas is moving to LA tomorrow. He has been an integral part of the stand-up scene in Chicago for quite awhile now, and could be seen running tech for a number of showcases, open mics, and special events shows, is a core member of the group Comedy House, and was a co-producer of the current Your Sunday Best show along with James Fritz. The show started off at Bad Dog Tavern, where it picked up Prescott Tolk as a host, before moving early this winter to Schubas, where every Sunday night the room is packed to the gills (seriously, sometimes it's a sweatbox up there) with comedians eager for their five minutes during the always awesome open mic. Godspeed, little bro Fojas! We will miss you.
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Punchline Magazine is reporting that a new Mitch Hedberg album is being edited, according to Lynn Shawcroft, Hedberg’s widow. “The audio for the album was taken from a weekend of shows three months before Mitch died,” Shawcroft said recently. “He wasn’t recording these sets for release so there are mistakes in there. But I like that. Mitch was at the point where he was doing new and old material, so we’re going through it now trying to pick out the new stuff. I want it to be a new material CD — not a best of.”
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In the mood for a little music with your hilarity? Get down to the wonderful Cal's Liquors (400 S. Wells) tonight at 10 p.m. for a gig by the rocking Let's Get Out of This Terrible Sandwich Shop. We're told, "It'll be the last set as a four-piece for four months since our drummer got a gig on the Second City boats." Bon voyage!
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The Apes wanted to let us know that they're holding auditions for us puny humans again. Visit Impress These Apes for all of the information, if you think you've got what it takes to save the human race... or at least amuse a Lakeshore Theater house (and three particular apes) for eight weeks.
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The Montreal Just for Laughs Festival folks are back in town and ready to see some great Chicago-style stand-up comedy! What does this mean for you as a person in Chicago who enjoys laughing? Well, we'll tell ya: not ONE, but TWO exemplary showcases of the best and brightest currently in this fair city of ours. Tonight, March 7, at 9 p.m., the Lincoln Lodge, 4008 N. Lincoln, plays host to a "rapid-fire showcase style format with a dozen of your favorite local comics doing their best stuff for 'Les Habitants'!"
Tomorrow, March 8, at 8:30 p.m., mosey down to the Edge Comedy Club at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, 777 N. Green St., for another jam-packed showcase, featuring Mike Cody, Michael Palascak, Jena Friedman, Brady Novak, Michael Sanchez, John Markham, Bryan Berrey, Shay Shay, Meechie, Joe Kilgallon, Dave Odd, and Mike Wiley. Free and all-ages! Stick around for the regularly scheduled 10:30 p.m. show at regular price, titled "The Most Diverse Comedy Show Ever!", featuring Prashanth Venkataramanujam, Mike Lee, Mark Nabong, Adam Guerino, Drew Michael, Jena Friedman, Meechie, Michelle Thompson, Dave Odd, Joe Fernandez, and Michael Sanchez.
As we've liked to do in the past here at the Bastion, today's post is brought to you by a traveling scribe, sent over the hundreds of miles, mountains, and plains, to reach you, dear readers, in the hope that you will find enlightenment and enjoyment from a few pithy words on the screen. It's the latest installment of Robert Buscemi's Report from the Road. He's been in Los Angeles for several weeks, taking in the scenery and entrenching himself out there, and we look forward to more stories when he finally returns to us in the crystalline Midwest.
I'm in LA for the month, and the Chicago comedy syndicate is entrenched. Old stand-up friends are putting me into their shows (Blerds at the UCB and a great new one: "Gimme a Minute" at the West Side Eclectic) and helping me plot to get on everyone else's shows as well.
My favorite new-to-me comics out here: Chris Fairbanks (whom I've mentioned before), Natasha Leggero, and Paul F. Tompkins (who just last night headlined the top alt-room out here, "Comedy Death Ray" at the UCB Theater). And of course Chicago's own turbo-charged madman Mike O'Connell, though he no longer counts as new-to-me. Oh and everyone's talking about the super-creative, baby-faced Johnny Pemberton, whom TJ Miller told me "is actually as smart as you try to act, Buscemi." Good old TJ, huh?
I'm running around with (or at least running into): Nate Craig, Becky Garcia, Renee Gauthier, Tony Sam, Mike Bridenstine, Mike Holmes, Jordan Vogt-Roberts, Hannah Gansen, Josh Cheney, Mike Burns, Adam Witt (from Schadenfreude), Matt Braunger, Kyle Kinane (who just last night got a near-capacity UCB crowd laughing its ass off with GREAT, all-new-to-me material -- Kyle headlined "See You Next Tuesday," the UCB late Tuesday alt-stand-up show), and TJ Miller, who continues to bum-rush every stage in town and dish out bone-deep, ludicrous stand-up jack-assery, and who just did several dates in NYC on a 3-man bill with Chicago greats Pete Holmes and Kumail Nanjiani.
Shows I've done or am booked to do: Maria Bamford, Natasha Leggero, and Melinda Hill's "Tiger Lilly," the El Cid avant-garde show "Garage Comedy," Josh Fadem's "Acid Reflux Hour," Brad Stewart's "No Name Comics," and "D & D" at Big Fish, and the World Cafe in Santa Monica.
For star sightings, I saw Louis CK and Mark Maron and Maria Bamford ignite "Tiger Lilly," and I'm almost sure I saw Martin Short duck into a high-end restaurant.
My two cents on the comedy scene out here is this, if anyone's interested: It's pleasingly DIY. My experience is that there is a very friendly, loose collective of people performing, and it takes no time at all to make friends and acquaintances and figure out what rooms will be most conducive to your style. The Chicago gang is infiltrating and ingratiating themselves exceedingly well, running rooms, getting representation and management and gigs. There are crap open-mikes that you can do to make your name among your peers, and the system will let you rise to better rooms if you do well and show your face out and about. And I almost always find that people will give you an initial booking out of curiosity alone if you can show them you've made your way around the scene or have decent press or past bookings or friends to recommend you with whom they are familiar. But even failing all that, just showing up every week, shaking hands with the bookers, and then emailing politely and regularly can get you on stage. Whether you get invited back depends of course on whether you're funny and original.
Blah blah. It's sunny and warm in winter and it's nice to feel like there's industry around, but you quickly realize how much your tastes and your act and your trajectory and your pals are defined by the bonds you forged in good old Chicago. I talked to Alana from the great improv duo Lannie and Emmy for like a half hour at the Improv recently. And watching Kinane or Miller or Burns or Holmes or Nate Craig on stage today means simultaneously seeing them in your mind four years ago, so your perspective is somehow just more rich and satisfying.
That's that. Could I be more gay and mushy? No offense, Bill and Cameron. I meant gay-gay, not GAY-gay. And no offense, Sheehan, I meant mushy-mushy, not MUSHY-mushy.
The Bastion has been fond of Claire Zulkey's Funny Ha-Ha shows since we attended our first one back in July of 2006, when it was so swelteringly hot that we hung out in front of the big freezer door at the back of the room to keep from fainting. (Hence the shaky and distant footage of the goings-on.)
This Thursday, March 6, from 6-8 at the Hideout (1354 W Wabansia Ave) is the next installment of Funny Ha-Ha, this one featuring readings and performances by Chicago Tribune blogger and columnist Eric Zorn, "Perfect From Now On" author John Sellers, sketch group Schadenfreude, columnist and "Interview Show" host Mark Bazer (clip of "Interview Show" here), as well as films by Steve Delahoyde. Your host, of course, is author, blogger, LA Times tv critic, and very creative person Claire Zulkey.
There is a $5 suggested donation, with proceeds to benefit the Neighborhood Writing Alliance.
Kumail Nanjiani is a stand-up comedian who recently made the leap from his comedy training ground in Chicago to New York City, where, according to the buzz, he's making all the right moves and finding his place in the comedy scene. (New York comedy linchpin Eugene Mirman called Kumail "one of the funniest comedians not enough people are aware of right now.") A native of Pakistan, he went to college in Iowa and then cut his teeth on comedy stages in Chicago, where he was one of the founding members of the Blerds collective. His Chicago comedy experience culminated with his triumphant one-man show "Unpronounceable" at the Lakeshore Theater, which he'll also be performing at the UCB Theater in New York on March 14th and 28th. As almost anyone in Chicago would tell you, Kumail is exactly the kind of guy everyone wants to see succeed -- he's friendly, sincere, hard-working, smart, creative, and funny as hell. In this interview, we hear from friends and fellow comics and the man himself.
We miss you in Chicago. There are lots of fresh faces on the scene, which is exciting, but we miss some of our dearly departed comedians. How are things in New York?
Great. I love it here. There are so many shows to do and so many shows to try and get into. I hear about new shows that I have never heard of all the time.
Kumail performing in New York's "Drink at Work" show a few weeks ago:
Do you think your one-man show, "Unpronounceable," has helped you gain traction in comedy in New York?
I actually have not performed that show in New York yet. (UCB March 14th and 28th. Come on out, friends!) It got me some decent press in Chicago, but I don't think anyone in New York read any of that stuff. What helped me here has been Chicago folks who have vouched for me and recommended me for shows, like Brooke Van Poppelen, Pete Holmes, Joselyn Hughes, and Mike Burns. All these guys were the reason that I was able to start doing shows so quickly here.
Promo for "Unpronounceable":
What's a typical week of comedy like for you right now? Where are your favorite places to perform and see others?
I try and do shows every night. I do open mics if I am not booked. The great thing about NY is you can do an open mic at 6:00 pm, by done by 7:00 and just go about your night. I like performing at Rififi, although that place closes soon. I love both the upstairs and downstairs at Comix. Piano's is a great place to perform. The Creek and the Cave has kickass shows on Wednesdays. And Kabin, also, is awesome. The UCB, of course, is sort of a magical place. Eugene Mirman runs a really great room in Park Slope by where I live, at a bar called Union Hall. I try and watch that show as often as I can. The cool thing is that so many bars in NY have dedicated performance spaces, so the people who come to the shows are people who wanna watch the shows. My first month in NY, I would try and do a show, and then watch a show every night. I went to see Sweet, Invite Them Up, and the Union Hall show every week, I think.
Kumail's girlfriend Emily Gordon, who made the move to New York with him, can attest to his progress. "I've definitely seen Kumail gain more passion for stand-up since we moved to the city," she says. "He's able to devote himself to comedy full time for the first time, and he is treating it like a full time job, which is a wise choice. Rather it being a hobby or an excuse to hang out with people or a means to get famous, this is just genuinely what he wants to do. He writes every day, whether he thinks the bits will turn out well or not, and he performs at least 5 or 6 days out of the week. When I say performs, I mean that he goes to open mics and does booked shows. No show is too large or too small. Any chance to perform is the chance to get better."
Who are some of your favorite new people that you see performing in New York?
Too many to name. The number of talented people in NY is staggering and humbling. And its at all levels. You see super funny guys at open mics, at booked shows, and then the really "A" shows like Invite and Sweet and Union Hall as well. What was cool for me was going to watch these shows every week. For $5, you could see a show with Michael Showalter and Mike Birbiglia and Demetri Martin and Eugene Mirman and... it's kind of ridiculous. It was cool for me to see all these guys, who are clearly very successful, doing shows in bars and trying out new stuff. You get to see the process that these guys use to write jokes that they then use on tv. Cool to see them working out material.
Do you see Chicago people out on the scene? Was there a welcoming committee when you arrived?
As I said, those Chicago guys really really helped me out. I see Brooke, Pete and Joselyn all the time. (Pete and I are Call of Duty teammates. For those who don't know what that is, its something really cool that very un-nerdy people do.) Burns is now in LA, so I obviously don't see him around.
Fellow comedian and Chicagoan-turned-New-Yorker Andy Ross confirms Kumail's continued hard work and smooth transition to the Big Apple. "Kumail is thriving in New York. Instead of coasting on his great material from Chicago, he's constantly writing new, even funnier bits. I think the big names in NYC have noticed that he's not just funny but also more and more creative and charismatic on stage. I know that 'kicking it into high gear' is a cliche, but so is 'hit the ground running' and 'planting his flag,' and Kumail has been doing all those things here. He must love cliches."
What's up with Blerds lately? Are you doing shows with them?
Blerds is going great. (Director) Jordan Vogt-Roberts and a bunch of the LA guys just finished a 5 minute pilot for this website. And this thing is so great. It's funny and very very pretty. I'm sure the world will see it soon. I don't get to work with those guys as much anymore, since they are all in Chicago and LA. I hope to visit LA and do another Blerds show at the UCB.
Kumail in the Blerds video "He-Man":
By some people's accounts, you are doing "all the right things" in New York to lay the foundation for a solid comedy career. We assume this means the obvious: doing lots of shows, meeting people, being your amazing self on stage, and then being your usual friendly self offstage. Are there other secret strategies you'd like to confess to us now? Drugging show bookers, hypnosis, subliminal suggestion?
I have voodoo dolls of all the bookers. Each night before I go to bed I whisper to them. "Kumail Nanjiani is the funniest." Invariably, the doll will respond with "who?"
Fellow Blerd Mike Burns, who recently moved from New York to Los Angeles, has also witnessed Kumail's ascent. "From the perspective of someone who started stand-up in Chicago, I think it's all coming down to exposure for Kumail," Burns explains. "He's always been nothing less than a fantastic comedian, although he may be more comfortable on stage now. When I first went to the Lyon's Den open mic, comedians like Kumail, Robert Buscemi, Pete Holmes, and Kyle Kinane were the reasons I came back."
Eugene Mirman recently said nice things about you. He said that you're one of the funniest comedians people haven't heard of...yet. Do you feel like you have the nod of approval from arbiters of taste on the scene in New York, and generally that you're being well-received?
Eh, I don't really try to think about how I am received, except by the audience who is present at a certain show at a certain time. Although it is nice to see that the people i look up to and respect so much seem to think I am on the right track.
Apiary contributor Keith Huang has been a fan of Kumail's for years, and recently got a chance to finally see him perform in person in New York. "It was quite clear that he brought years of experience, but more importantly, a much fresher voice to the stage," Huang observed. "From what I saw, I'm assuming that Kumail's crowd work is always very friendly and genuinely inquisitive in nature -- there's no cheap, reverse heckling by the comic with the mic."
What are your long-term goals for comedy, when you're dreaming big? Movies, books, bobbleheads?
I wanna have congregations of people, couple thousand mayhaps, reciting my bits for hours on end. And then I want them to mail me a royalty fee. That way I get paid for shows I don't even show up to.
What do you miss most about Chicago?
Of course I miss my friends and I miss my favorite shows. I miss knowing where everything is, not having to look up directions to any place. I lived there for close to 6 years, so it had become my home. And food! I miss Hot Doug's! And that shiny bean in Mill Park! Oh my God, that bean and I had such good times.
Dan Telfer, a producer at Chicago Underground Comedy (the writer of this article is also a producer there), where Kumail was a founding castmember, is keeping the door open for Kumail anytime he pops back into Chicago. "I've considered constructing an elaborate, Mission-Impossible-quality Eugene Mirman or Zach Galifianakis disguise to lure Kumail back to Chicago," Telfer said. "Sadly, I am just jealous of those two because they're doing shows with Kumail now, and that plan makes no sense. I have already pestered Kumail to let me know when he's coming back to town, and I will be flattered and excited to have him back."
What are some of your favorite things about living in New York?
Knishes. They have no flavor and an overabundance of texture. Its like deep fried/crispy/mushy air. You can flavor them with anything! Hot sauce, chili, cotton candy. Anything! Also, I love that I get to perform so much. I love performing so that's nice.
Having successfully navigated the Chicago comedy scene, what would you say to the up-and-coming newbies in Chicago about how to progress and do well there?
Um, just go up and write as much as you can. Try not to play to the back of the room. (back of the room = the other comics in the room.) Even if there are only 2 civilians in a room, play to them and not your friends who are waiting to go up. Try and do well in every single situation, and believe that you can make any crowd laugh.
--WBEZ is producing a talent show on May 14, 2008, and all performers, comics, musicians, improvisers, poets, singers and entertainers are invited to audition. Presented by Chicago Public Radio, the unique event will happen online and in person at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts. "Performers upload their audition materials and let the public decide who will qualify for one of 12 opportunities to compete live at the May 14 event where the audience will select a winner." 
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--Blewt! updates! 
Time Out Chicago has proved they're as clever as the comedians they write about.
Edited to add 
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--The Chicago Tribune published a piece about the stand-up scene in Chicago, entitled "
Not a lot of comedy blogging going on these days, huh, Chicago comedians? Need we remind you that if you blog it, and it's funny and interesting, we might talk about it here? Or if you or someone you know is writing a blog about Chicago comedy that we're not linking to over there on the right, let us know, we're always happy to add to the blogroll. 
The Bastion has been fond of 
