Lifestyle

TBS comedy festival aims for local laughs

Posted June 08, 2009 11:00 pm

By Jamie Sotonoff

Comedian Jo Koy

Yes, we know Blago is comedy gold. But are Chicago and the suburbs funny?

The area will be, starting next week, when TBS hosts its annual "Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs" at venues in Chicago and Rosemont.

Following a June 16 presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award for Chicago native Harold Ramis and the screening of Ramis' new film "Year One," five days full of stand-up and sketch performances are planned featuring some of the country's biggest comedy names, including George Lopez (doing three shows in Rosemont), Ellen DeGeneres, Jimmy Fallon, Bill Engvall and Martin Short.

We asked some of the comedians involved in the festival what's so funny about Chicago and the suburbs, and here's what they said:

Bob Odenkirk: "There is a lot that is funny about Chicago and its suburbs. A lot. The weather is funny, the layout of the streets is funny, the traffic is funny, the Cubs are a comedy gold mine ... anything painful and full of tension is funny."

Odenkirk, a Naperville native and the mastermind behind "Mr. Show," will do "Best of Sketchfest" shows Thursday and Friday, June 18 and 19, at io, 3541 N. Clark, Chicago, and also "Bob, Dave & Friends" shows Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20, at the Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway, Chicago.

Lisa Lampanelli: "There are so many funny things about Chicago that it's hard to narrow it down to just one. First of all, Chicago is home to the biggest and most influential talk show host in TV history - you know who I'm talking about - Jerry Springer. I also heard that Oprah tapes here, too.

"I also love Lake Michigan. In fact, Lake Michigan has more bacteria in it than the leftovers in Oprah's refrigerator."

Lampanelli will perform two shows on Saturday, June 20, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago.

Seth Weitberg: "Telling jokes in Chicago is easy. The only catch is that you're required to hire 40 union workers to do it, and it takes six months."

Weitberg is part of "The Late Night Late Show Reunion" on Saturday, June 20, at io, 3541 N. Clark St., Chicago.

Susan Messing: "What's IRONIC in Chicago and the suburbs is that there's so much comedy for a city that is always on the cusp of being dour. Go figure."

Her two shows, "Messing with a Friend," will be Thursday, June 18, at the Annoyance Theater, 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago.

Hannibal Buress: "The funniest thing about Chicago and the suburbs is the vague questions from the newspapers. Chicago is funny because parking meters get more attention than the public schools."

Buress, of Chicago, performs Wednesday and Thursday, June 17 and 18, at the Lincoln Lodge, 4008 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.

Comedian Hannibal Buress

Comedian Susan Messing

Martin Short is one of the draws for TBS' "Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs."

Comedian Mike Epps will host the "Comedy Blowout Hits Chi-Town" show, one of dozens of comedy shows scheduled this weekend at TBS' "Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs."

Naperville native Bob Odenkirk, one of the masterminds behind "Mr. Show," will be part of the TBS' "Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs" this weekend.

Comedian Seth Weitberg

Comedian Lisa Lampanelli

Comedian George Lopez has added an extra show to his Rosemont Theatre engagement.

Comedian Jon Lajoie will be part of the TBS "Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs" this weekend.

Canadian comedian Russell Peters will host the "All-Star Comedy Show" Friday, June 19, at the Chicago Theatre. The show is part of the TBS "Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs."

'A Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs' Locations: A variety of Chicago theaters and the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, in Rosemont Price: Varies by performance Information: <a href="http://www.justforlaughschicago.com" target="new">www.justforlaughschicago.com</a> Schedule Tuesday, June 16 "Year One" festival screening, Music Box Theatre, 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 17 "Ellen's Bigger Longer and Wider Show," The Chicago Theatre, 7 p.m. Jon Lajoie, The Lakeshore Theater, 7 p.m. The Unaired Bozo Circus Parody: The Original "TV Funhouse" Pilot, The Lakeshore Theater, 8:30 p.m. "Homecoming" (Chicago comics), Lincoln Lodge, 9 p.m. Thursday, June 18 Jon Lajoie, The Lakeshore Theater, 7 p.m. "Let Freedom Hum," an evening of comedy hosted by Martin Short, The Vic Theatre, 7 p.m. "Best of Sketchfest," iO, 8, 9, 10 and 11 p.m. "Comedy Blowout Hits Chi-Town," hosted by Mike Epps, The Chicago Theatre, 8 p.m. "George Lopez: Tall, Dark and Chicano," The Rosemont Theatre, 8 p.m. The Unaired Bozo Circus Parody: The Original "TV Funhouse" Pilot The Lakeshore Theater, 8:30 p.m. "Homecoming," Lincoln Lodge, 9 p.m. "Messing with a Friend," Annoyance Theater, 9 and 10:30 p.m. "The Nasty Show," The Vic Theatre, 9:30 p.m. Andy Dick, The Lakeshore Theater, 10:30 p.m. "Best of the Fest," The Lakeshore Theater, 11:59 p.m. "Bob Odenkirk's Best Of Sketchfest," iO, 11:59 p.m. Friday, June 19 "David Alan Grier: Comedy You Can Believe In," The Vic Theatre, 7 p.m. "Double Threat: Jim Breuer and Danny Bhoy," The Lakeshore Theater, 7 p.m. "Russell Peters Hosts an All-Star Comedy Show," The Chicago Theatre, 7 p.m. "Alone: Chicago's Best Solo Acts," The Playground Theater, 8 p.m. "Best of Sketchfest," iO, 8, 9, 10 and 11 p.m. "George Lopez: Tall, Dark and Chicano," The Rosemont Theatre, 8 p.m. "Sodomites!" Annoyance Theater, 8 p.m. "Bob, David and Friends," The Lakeshore Theater, 8:30 p.m. "The Very Funny Show," Zanies Comedy Club, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. "Chicago Stand-Up Run-Down," Lincoln Lodge, 9 p.m. "The Nasty Show," The Vic Theatre, 9:30 p.m. "Co-Ed Prison Sluts," Annoyance Theater, 10 p.m. "After Hours Reunion," The Playground Theater, 10:30 p.m. "Jim Jefferies: Hammered," The Lakeshore Theater, 10:30 p.m. "Best of the Fest," The Lakeshore Theater, 11:59 p.m. "Bob Odenkirk's Best Of Sketchfest," iO, 11:59 p.m. "Green Room with Paul Provenza," Annoyance Theater, 11:59 p.m. Saturday, June 20 "Bill Engvall: Aged and Confused," The Vic Theatre, 7 p.m. "Double Threat: Jim Breuer and Danny Bhoy," The Lakeshore Theater, 7 p.m. Lisa Lampanelli, The Chicago Theatre, 7 and 9:30 p.m. "The Very Funny Show," Zanies Comedy Club, 7:30, 9:15 and 11:30 p.m. "Chicagoland," Annoyance Theater, 8 p.m. "Don't Spit the Water," The Playground Theater, 8 and 10:30 p.m. "George Lopez: Tall, Dark and Chicano," The Rosemont Theatre, 8 p.m. "Whirled News Tonight," iO. 8 p.m. "Bob, David and Friends," The Lakeshore Theater, 8:30 p.m. "Chicago Stand-Up Run-Down," Lincoln Lodge, 9 p.m. "Jimmy Fallon: Live in Concert," The Vic Theatre, 9:30 p.m. "Schadenfreude Rent Party," Annoyance Theater, 10 p.m. "Patrice O'Neal: Positivity," The Lakeshore Theater, 10:30 p.m. "The Improvised Shakespeare Company," iO, 10:30 p.m. "Best of the Fest," The Lakeshore Theater, 11:59 p.m. "Green Room with Paul Provenza," Annoyance Theater, 11:59 p.m. "Late Night Late Show," iO, 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 21 "Best Church of God," Annoyance Theater, 1 p.m. Michael Showalter, The Lakeshore Theater, 7 p.m. "George Lopez: Tall, Dark and Chicano," The Rosemont Theatre, 8 p.m.

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