--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.
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.
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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Klusterphuk, self-described as "high paced, fast energy, walls to the balls improv that feels good on your face, sandwich and some tile floors," will be performing Saturday at midnight at iO. We are familiar enough with some of the performers (Nick Vatterott, Mark Ratterman, Beau Golwitzer, Mort Burke and Ed Illades) to think this might end up being some good stuff.
There will be no March Globe Gong Idol, although the Globe open mic will continue. It seems the host hurt his back and won't be able to "dance around like an asshole" for several weeks (his words, not ours).
Chicago Comedy Awards begin tomorrow night, Saturday, March 1, at 7:30 at the Lakeshore Theater. "Fans and comics of the Chicago comedy scene will gather for the Chicago Comedy Awards - a two-night tribute to the city's finest emerging stand-up comedians. Culled from a nominating panel consisting of passionate comedy lovers patronizing weekly comedy showcases throughout the city." Of course this means the Chichahahago board is blowing up.
Second City has been working on some fun new web stuff related to their new show which is yet to be titled. Check out the New Show Journal, where they posted video interviews with each of the new show's cast members. They're also posting a Director's Journal from director Jim Carlson, all of which gives the reader a real sense of what it's really like to put together and stage a Second City show, including tidbits about everything from set design to determining the running order to the pains of deciding what to cut when shortening a show. Carlson also shares the golden rules of happy creative collaboration:
" * Try not to be an asshole.
* Work very hard.
* Communicate.
* Be fearless."
-Elizabeth McQuern
"Who’s the funniest comedian not enough people are aware of right now? Is it okay if I list three? I really like Larry Murphy, Greg Johnson and (recently departed Chicago comic) Kumail Nanjiani. They’re wonderful." So said Eugene Mirman in Gothamist. The Bastion interviewed Mirman back in '06.
The Chicago Comedy Awards are asking for submissions for their Funniest Video category. They ask that the creators of the video be in town on March 1st to accept their award should they win. Please e-mail a link to your submission to Jeb. More information on the awards can be found here.
The New York Times says that science has proved that double dipping is clinically disgusting. "...before you have some dip at a party, look around and ask yourself, would I be willing to kiss everyone here? Because (the double dippers) are sharing their saliva with you.”
Want to headline for Montreal Comedy Festival veterans Team Submarine but don't know how? Click this magical link and be redirected to information about the contest they're running. The lucky winner gets to make fliers, bring in an audience, put up money for a performance space that they might not make back, promote the show, be held responsible if the show doesn’t go well, and thank Team Submarine when it's all over.
The Tribune's Mary Schmich reports on "snow grumps." Do you count yourself among them? We're planning a Donner Party weekend, ourselves.
Metblogs Chicago informed us that our fair city's Ambre (who needs last names?), who was featured in the Blewt!-produced Timekeeper Willis Fitness DVD (currently in rotation at WGN), is also a contestant on this season's "Rock of Love." Yeah, that means the same chick who did liver squeezes with Earl LaRue and Kelly Paynes also likely did liver-soaking exercises with Poison's Bret Michaels. It would sort of make sense, if she were traveling backwards through time.
The deadlines for the Chicago Short Comedy Video & Film Festival entries are coming up, and if you get it together, you can show off your cinematic genius. The deadline for The 2008 Chicago Short Comedy Video and Film Festival is March 14, and the deadline for The 2008 Chicago Comedy TV Pilot Competition is March 7. The two events will be held in July of 2008. The TV Pilot event features a $5,000 prize (wow!). Chicago-area residents and Chicago area-based production companies may enter. More information available at witsendshorts.com.
You can check out the Lincoln Lodge's Comcast "Open Mic Comedy" clips on the idiot box. Check out Chicago stand-ups mugging for the camera by going to Comcast OnDemand, choosing "Get Local" and then choosing "Comedy Open Mic".
Chicago sketch duo kevInda were invited to perform at NBC's 2008 Nationwide Sketch Showdown. We don't know if this involved Wild West style shootouts for the love of saloon prostitutes with hearts of gold, or what, but we're glad kevInda gets to go somewhere warm and sunny for awhile.
Big Dog Eat Child's "Boozelegger's Ball" got a write-up in the Sun-Times today. The show, at the Gorilla Tango Theater, is described as "not Second City...not by a long shot," and is praised for its high energy, whereby "unbridled obnoxiousness becomes a minor art form."
And hey, while we're at it, TJ Miller on Letterman!:
Head to the Lakeshore Theater NEXT weekend for Biker VS Babe, featuring Illinois native Natasha Leggero, who we saw opening for Todd Barry not long ago. She has recently enjoyed spots on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, and Comedy Central’s Reno 911. The cute and hilarious Leggero will share the stage with the closest thing to her polar opposite, burly biker-type and Emmy award winning writer Wild Willy Parsons, whose credits include Last Comic Standing and Tracy Takes On. The pair will be at the Lakeshore Friday, January 18th and Saturday, January 19th at 8 & 10:30 PM and Sunday, January 20 at 8 PM.
J.J. Abrams' Cloverfield is preparing for its 1-18-08 release, and several set stills featuring Chicago comedy expat TJ MillerareonlineatHollywoodChicago.com. The trailer can be seen here.
Our friends at the Apiary are advising us that a don't-miss group at Sketchfest this weekend is The Apple Sisters, playing tonight at 9. They made this special commercial just for their Sketchfest performance:
P.S. Just for fun, terrible Olan Mills family photography through the years. Thanks to our friend Shannon for the link.
(EDIT: Yes indeed, the Leggero/Parsons show is next weekend at the Lakeshore Theater, not this weekend. The Bastion regrets the error, and apologizes for occasionally being dumb.)
Pimprov will be performing at Chemically Imbalanced Comedy's new theater space (1420 W. Irving Park Rd.) this Saturday, January 5, at 10:30, for a show that will be taped for NBC and and the Chicago Improv Festival.
Speaking of CIC, as of January 13, they're reviving Bad Review, the show that gives comics a chance to improvise a previously critically savaged comedy show in the way the performers imagine the worst critics would like to see it. Bad Review has been performed at the Toronto Improv Festival, LA Improv Festival, Chicago’s Looptopia at the Chase Auditorium, Second City’s Donny Skybox, and Lakeshore Theater. Catch the new season of Bad Review on Sundays at 8:00 PM starting on January 13.
Blewt!'s Don't Spit The Water is returning to Chicago after a series of shows in the wild badlands of the Chicago suburbs. They will launch season four of Chicago's wettest, spittiest game show on January 12 at 10:00 PM at the Playground Theater. Sasha and the Noob (pictured, in cartoon form, at left) will be on WGN's morning news program on January 8 to see what they can squeeze out of the morning news anchors. Earl LaRue, Sasha and Timekeeper Willis were also featured in this morning's Red Eye, in the "five on five" section, contributing wit to a discussion about sports.
In other Blewt! news, if any of you comedy kids out there are looking for a way to support your Second City, iO, and Annoyance habit (improv classes are expensive!), why not look the new Box Office Manager position? Make an extra $100 a month by manning the ticket booth, screening contestants, booking wacky bachelorette parties, and more. Send them an e-mail. Beats flipping burgers.
And, on a heartwarming note, Bastion contributor Rachael Mason is using her iO blog to tell the story of why aspiring stand-up comic Robert Brown, whose only income comes from selling Streetwise Magazine, is now taking classes free at iO. A few weeks ago, iO received an anonymous letter:
"I recently inherited $4,000 from a friend’s Mother who died of breast cancer. She was a wonderful woman and great philanthropist, and she requested that I donate the money to a performing arts organization(s) of my choice. I wanted to give a portion of the money to the iO Theater, so I have enclosed a money order for $1,000. I spent 10 years performing at iO Theater, and have a great deal of respect for it as an organization and a great deal of affection for the people there. I hope the theater continues to grow and thrive forever...I know Rachael Mason’s Mom died of the same illness as my friend’s Mom, so perhaps a portion of the money can be used for some event in Rachael’s Mom’s name."
Chicago comedy community, you continue to surprise and inspire us with the depth of your compassion. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Feel tough enough to brave another sleety, sloppy Chicago evening? Need some laughs and possibly some holiday weirdness?
Tonight at 9:00 at the Lincoln Lodge, the comedic talents of Steve O. Harvey, Mike Lee, Cameron Esposito (pictured at left), C.J. Sullivan, and the Oscar-nominated talents of Calabash Animation. Wonder if there will be less foot traffic than usual during the man on the street segment?
Catch the red line to the Lakeshore Theater for Freddy and Amy in How the Diva Stole Christmas. "The following holiday customs will not be featured in this show: cute children; staged nativity scenes involving real livestock; dancing Santas; figure skaters; elves; singing Santas; scenic backdrops of quaint villages and fake snow."
The Chicago History Museum is hosting a bunch of really cool comedy-related events in the next few weeks. Tuesday, November 6, NPR's Scott Simon talks to Chicago comedy legends Mike Hagerty, Tim Kazurinsky, Richard Kind, Mick Napier, Andrew Alexander, and Susan Messing. November 13 is the "Tuesday Night Live with The Second City" show, featuring Tim Meadows and Rachel Dratch. Plus, it's at the History Museum, so just being there, you get to feel all smart and stuff.
Punchline Magazine is kicking off a social networking feature on their site. You can share photos, audio, videos, and connect with other comedy nerds.
Chemically Imbalanced Comedy recently blogged about being at the New York Underground Comedy Festival, where there are something like 30 shows running at any given time. CIC's Angie McMahon and Pimprov's Marz Timms (pictured at left) got a little worn out keeping up the pace, but got some laughs on anyway.
Have you heard about Jokes Across America, based in Evanston? Apparently it's a combination comedy site, online blog of two friends' bike trek across America, and fodder for a forthcoming book "Why Did the Bicycle Cross the Country?"
Blerds will be at the Lakeshore tonight at 10:30. Prescott Tolk will host, and performers include Nick Vatterot, Mike Burns (visiting from New York), Brady Novak, and Nate Craig (visiting from Los Angeles). The show will feature new original videos, including the premiere of Hung, a pilot episode about the deliberations of the world's worst sequestered jury. You may remember that show was developed by the Blerds gang as a project for Warner Brothers 2.0. Blerds will also be at the Comedy Festival in Las Vegas in November, as part of the Broadband Theater offerings.
Speaking of the Lakeshore, don't forget, hop the El to 3175 N. Broadway this Sunday at 7 to vote for the "Funniest Person in Chicago" contest.
Warner Brothers is beginning the buzz about their deal with Blerds and their short film series, "Hung," about the world's worst sequestered jury. The pilot was written by Prescott Tolk and shot by Jordan Vogt-Roberts and features some Chicago and former Chicago talent, some actual Blerds, some talent pulled from outside the group, including Mike Bridenstine, Mike Holmes, Matt Braunger, Ryan Ridley, Renee Gauthier, Nick Vatterott, TJ Miller, Mike Burns, Jared Logan, CJ Sullivan, and Kyle Kinane. The shorts will either end up on the web or on the big old-fashioned tv itself, and should premiere at the Oct. 26 Blerds Lakeshore show.
In other WB news, apparently Warner Brothers doesn't want to make any more movies with women in the lead. "Looking purely at dollar signs and apparently not thinking logically, Warner Brothers president of production Jeff Robinov has apparently made himself a new favorite executive for people to love to hate. That’s because, according to Deadline Hollywood Daily, he has decreed that Warner Bros. is 'no longer doing movies with women in the lead'." Ouch! ThoseGuysFilms.com (that's Rachel Lewis, Jason Piazza, Jake Schneider, and Bastion contributor Jon DeWalt) are the #59th most watched user on Funny or Die. Here's the index of their stuff on FOD.
And, hey, if you didn't catch Chicago favorite Hannibal on the Craig Ferguson show last week, check out his clip:
What are you up to this weekend? No plans? Lame. Some suggestions:
Think Tank is staging "Time Clock," a new sketch comedy revue at Donny’s Skybox Fridays at midnight August 17 through September 14th. The show features a collection of sketches literally timed to the second, and is performed by Brent J. Bridwell, Kevin Carroll, and Paul Robinson, who among them have experience at The Apollo Theatre Chicago, Chicago Sketchfest, and The Manhattan Comedy Collective.
At 10:30 on Fridays in the Del Close Theater at iO, This Day in History. Featuring more O'Briens than you can possibly keep track of, it's been praised thusly by TimeOut Chicago: ""As intelligent as it is funny...Pat O’Brien and Meagan (O'Brien) Flanigan (brother-sister duo) nimbly take us through historical events that happened on the day of each show. It’s a mix of loose improv, obscure factoids and hearty laughs."
Friday and Saturday nights at 11:00 and 12:30, head to the Stage Left Theater and catch a pH mainstage show including the improvised sitcom "pHreedom pHalls," the improvised one act play "pHamily," and the improvised reality-game-show-spoof "pHrenzy." The Bastion caught their production of "Jerkology" not long ago and had a pretty swell time.
Friday nights at 8:00 and 10:30, catch Edge Comedy's stand-up at Kitty Moon (6237 N. Clark) and toddle across the street to Pressure (6318 N. Clark) Saturday nights at 8:30 and 11:00 for the Stand-Up Squeeze.
"Zombies From The Beyond" is playing at the Athenaeum Theatre. It's described as a Broadway take on "Plan 9 from Outer Space," and is set in 1955 Milwaukee, which is plagued with an invasion of zombies from outer space. The cast includes comedian Ken Barnard, Matt Gottlieb of the IO team "Emperor," and Jeff Award winner Rebekah Ward-Hays. It runs through September 1, 2007 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00, and Sundays at 3:00.
Something is a-brewin' between warring factions, we read recently. Will we know anymore after this Monday's Globe Gong Idol, featuring guest judge Kumail Nanjiani? The show will also mark the departure of "Limey Cow" (comedian Benny Harris), as he gets ready to wing out to the wilds of Los Angeles...
Speaking of goodbyes, 'tis the season! We'll be saying goodbye to quite a few friends, as leases expire without renewal and the winds are tinged with hints of the frost that's soon to be. Andy Ross (he of Flocked, Funny Ha-Ha, Chicago Underground Comedy, among many others) will be celebrating his move to New York at a local dive this Saturday evening. Uh, go say goodbye if you "know what's up."
Beer Shark Mice will be visiting i.O. tonight, and you really should get out there and see them. We would know; we were lucky enough to see them over at i.O. West last March, and even sort of kind of had a smoke break with Neil Flynn... sigh...
The AP announced on Wednesday that another viral video channel has just hit the 'Net, and will offer original programming unlike that found in the traditional television medium, working with both name-talent and up and coming talent to produce original content.
Our TJ has become a bona fide 'clue' in the ever-increasing Internet scramble to find out, "Just what IS Cloverfield?", the new JJ Abrams project. Some swear it's Voltron. Others say Godzilla. What we want to know is, "Just how much screen time will TJ have, and will he have to do a lot of high-pitched shrieking and running about? And will the red jumpsuit make an appearance?"
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.
The Lincoln Lodge is emceeing both stages at Ribfest this weekend (June 9 and 10) at Lincoln/Irving Park. Lodgeman Tom Lawler adds "Additionally, we'll be manning a booth of some sort offering something very fun and Lodgeworthy to Ribfest attendees." Ribfest is noon to 10 PM Saturday and Sunday. More info on Ribfest at Gapers Block.
TJ Miller has indeed flown away, to L.A., surely to be followed by more Chicago comedy talent. TimeOut Chicago bid him adieu, explaining that after a giant birthday bash, TJ hopped on a plane to work on a “super top secret film project" and see where his new ABC series "Carpoolers" might drop him off.
"Lil' Bush" premieres June 13 on Comedy Central. The funny thing is, "That's My Bush" was also a Comedy Central effort at presidential mockery (led by the South Park boys all those years ago), and even though it poked more fun at tired 70's and 80's sitcom cliches, it lost favor with the increasingly serious international political situation the US found itself in after 9/11. But now that 99.9% of Americans are gravely disappointed in their "commander guy," apparently it's time to make fun of him once again.
Very funny Chicago Underground Comedy producer and comic Tony Sam and equally chuckle-worthy Blerd CJ Sullivan spent some time in Las Vegas a few weeks ago shooting some hilarious commercials for Mickey's Throws Down Sweepstakes. Check out the videos here. CJ plays "Willie Jenkins," who is treated to a day of training with UFC fighter Forest Griffin. Tony plays his less-than-helpful friend and training partner. Did they get to drink a couple of big-mouthed bottles while shooting? Duh.
Tonight's Dollar Store, at the Hideout at 7 PM, features Neo-Futurists founder Greg Allen, Three Fallen Women author Amy Guth, and Emerson Dameron. Jonathan Messinger promises that if the weather cooperates, this might be the season's first Dollar Store that involves tamales and beer on the patio.
This Saturday's edition of Don't Spit The Water will be the first one featuring the whole cast in two months. That means Big Dummy up in the booth, Timekeeper Willis on the clock, and Sasha and the Noob charming the crowd. Be at the Playground at 10:30 to join the fun.
Tonight and tomorrow night are the last of the Lincoln Lodge Comedy and Variety shows, AKA Dwight Nights. "The Lodge's own Josh Cheney and Becky Garcia conjur up the spirit of Steve and Eydie as they play host to a comedic holy trinity in the form of the sparkplug stylings of Fay Canale, the topical musings of Mike Holmes and the always inventive TJ Miller. Plus one more round of 'Off the Eatin Path' as Monte takes you on a culinary trip around Chicago's best value for money eateries, followed by the ever-popular circulation of free samples." Free samples which, as we know, are nicely washed down by those legendary Lodge giganto mugs of the beer of your choice. The show starts at nine.
This weekend is Schadenfreude's final Rent Party (for this season) at the Gallery Cabaret in Bucktown. A recent e-mail invite explains: "We are taking the summer off so this weekend is our final show for a long time! Come on out, the show starts around 8ish. We have Mike and Duane, Jet and Holly, and an all out slam-slam tournament among the members of Chicago's alternative media." Free food and two dollar beers top off an evening that includes a rap battle style slam put-down tournament that features intimidating competitors from Chicagoist, Gapers Block, Time Out, and the Reader. Ink will be spilled.
--Well clearly, sometimes even we don't get the joke. Jena Friedman was actually kidding when she MySpaced about raising $7800. Darn our gullible little hearts. So what about that family in Bolivia that was going to eat for a year? Well, there's always Save the Children. Tell 'em The Bastion sent you.
-- Last night the Bastion caught Bootlegger's Ball in the Del Close Theater at i.O. and enjoyed the spirited improvised commentary from the (fake, of course) filmmakers (AKA improv team Quincy) behind the 1989 Patrick Swayze masterpiece Roadhouse. Patrick Swayze's mullet may have actually been exhuding more charisma than he was, and Kelly Lynch, well, let's just say she's lucky she's tall, blonde, and pretty, because the words "blank" and "vapid" are the only ones legally allowed to describe her performance. Abominable acting and ridiculously overchoreographed fight scenes aside, one thing we can heartily recommend is the macaroni and cheese wedges at the Salt & Pepper Diner next door. Those things rock. Oh, yeah, back to the show. According to their MySpace, next week Quincy plans to take on Full House. We don't know if that means the tv show or the movie, but either way it should be good for a chuckle.
--Doug Stanhope will be performing at the Lakeshore Theater this weekend. Stanhope has a reputation for being irreverent and rather glib. Exactly how mischievous is Stanhope? He's published a book called Fun With Pedophiles: the Best of Baiting, all about internet pranksterism at its very darkest. Sort of like "To Catch a Predator," but even more mean spirited toward the creeps.
--Hey, did you know that the Chicago Improv Festival is soon to delight audiences in venues across the city from April 23-29 with local and returning big name performers? Well, it's true. And when we say big names, we mean Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Tim Kazurinsky, Ike Barinholtz (and tons of other MadTV cast members), and other Upright Citizens Brigaders, including Matt Besser, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh. It's going to rock, and you should be there.
--Mosey on down to the Stage Left Theater at 3408 N. Sheffield this weekend for a pH Productions show described as "highly-interactive late night improv comedy." Take your pick of the 11 PM "pHamily" show or the 12:30 AM "pHrenzy pHucked" show, which is the R-rated version of their Friday night show.
--Feel like watching hapless contestants try to hold in a mouthful of water while comedians dance and sing and otherwise humiliate themselves in the name of comedy? Of course you do! Head on down to the Playground Theater Saturday at 10:30 for Don't Spit the Water! Special guest host will be - drumroll, please - Game Show Host, who you know and love from Blewt!'s Impress These Apes shows. But please don't stare at the bandage around his head, he's still a little self-conscious about his unwanted lobotomy. Also enjoy the comedy stylings of longtime show favorites Super Teen, Mildred Funderbunk, and the always lovely Pretty Olga.
Meatwad Loves You, Dollar Store Tonight, Doug Benson This Weekend
--Wanna win some awesome Aqua Teen Hunger Force swag? (And when we say awesome, we mean any combination of beach balls, koozies, stickers, posters, post cards, SOCKS, and CD samplers. Yeah, SOCKS.) Well, you can, if you send us a Photoshopped picture of yourself as your favorite ATHF character. We'll pick our favorite entry and bestow said prizes upon the winner, like copyrighted manna from heaven. This contest will end on April 13, the day that the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie opens in theaters.
--And if you're too cool to compete for a bucket o' cool prizes, at least send your girlfriend a Meatmail. Nothing melts a girl's heart faster than a greasy meatball delivering a customized message including her name and a mention of her favorite hobby.
--Tonight, the monthly Dollar Store series will say goodbye to co-host Jeremy Sosenko, who is moving away from us. They've lined up some of their all-time favorites, including writer James Kennedy, Second City TourCo member Sarah Haskins, and Neo-Futurist Diana Slickman, to bid Jeremy a fond adieu.
--Fresh off the very recent Marijuana-Logues run, Doug Benson reappears on the Lakeshore Theater stage tonight and tomorrow, along with Graham Elwood and our own TJ Miller, who's been seen out and about all over town this last week, home for a short stint from his recent pilot shoot.
--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. 
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
Our top level spy at the 
WTTW (Channel 11) is shooting a new comedy pilot, and you can be a part of the live studio audience. It's called "
You can check out the 
Head to the 
Speaking of 
Blewt!'s 
And, on a heartwarming note, Bastion contributor 
Tonight at 9:00 at the 
The 
Chemically Imbalanced Comedy recently 
Warner Brothers is beginning 
"
Very funny 
