Dozens of local and national acts hit the Chicago area for laugh fest
Sophisticated comedy is not something parents can share with their kids very often. But Naperville native Bob Odenkirk said it doesn't have to be that way.
"I wish there were more of a middle ground in entertainment in America," the comedian and actor said. "Now, it's like you either have porn, or fairy tales."
Odenkirk and his wife, Naomi, have put together a sketch-comedy show that addresses that middle ground. The "Not Inappropriate Show" will be part of next week's A Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs Chicago event, hosted by TBS.
All of the sketches in the show are suitable for kids 8 years old and up, but none of them were written specifically for children.
"These are sketches that were created for general audiences and performed in comedy clubs," said Odenkirk, a former "Saturday Night Live" writer and co-creator of the "Mr. Show with Bob and David" sketch-comedy series on HBO. "Adults will love them, but they also happen not to be blue or raunchy, and children will be able to understand them, too."
The second annual Just for Laughs Chicago event will bring more than 100 local and national comedians to a variety of comedy venues in Chicago and Rosemont next week. The headlining acts will include Ellen DeGeneres and Cedric the Entertainer, with a special appearance by Jerry Seinfeld.
The five day event, which runs June 15 to 19, is designed to celebrate comedy in all its forms, while maintaining a decidedly Chicago flavor.
"That's one of the keys, to give the local audience something unique that can't be seen anywhere else," said Dennis Adamovich, a TBS senior vice president and general manager of TBS comedy festivals.
One of the unique local attractions Adamovich cited is "Da Bears Movie Dat Wasn't," a live reading of a "Super Fans" movie script cowritten by Odenkirk and Robert Smigel. The script is based on a popular "Saturday Night Live" sketch that poked affectionate fun at die-hard Chicago sports fans.
Odenkirk will help perform the script, along with Smigel, George Wendt, Joe Mantegna and Richard Roeper.
"The script never made it past the first-draft stage, but there is some funny stuff in it," Odenkirk said. "I think the Chicago audience will love it."
The lineup includes group acts, solo shows, films and podcasts. Among the more unusual offerings is Lucha VaVoom, an adults-only mix of Mexican masked wrestling, comedy and burlesque.
Some of the comedy shows will be recorded and aired later on the TBS cable network, including "Ellen's Somewhat Special Special," hosted by DeGeneres, and "Cedric the Entertainer's Urban Circus," which will combine comedy and music.
"Basically, the show's a narrative of my point of view," said Cedric the Entertainer, a veteran stand-up comedian from St. Louis now known for his extensive television and film work. "Growing up in the 'hood, I saw life as a kind of circus, so I wanted to get all of the things that influenced me into the show."
In addition to the comedians and musicians Cedric has on tap, Jerry Seinfeld will make a special appearance during the show.
"That's going to be a fantastic moment," Cedric said.
Just for Laughs eventsA long list of comedians, sketch shows and films will be available during the festival. Russell Peters appears at the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont; all other events are in Chicago. For a complete list as well as addresses and ticket information, go to justforlaughschicago.com.The Chicago Theatrebull; Ellen's Somewhat Special Special, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 16bull; Cedric The Entertainer's Urban Circus, 8 p.m. Friday, June 18bull; The Rescue Me Comedy Tour with Denis Leary, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 19Rosemont Theatrebull; Russell Peters - The Green Card Tour, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 19Bank of America Theatrebull; Team Coco presents Conan's Writers Live, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Thursday, June 17The Vic Theatrebull; Aziz Ansari - The Dangerously Delicious Tour, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, and Thursday, June 17bull; The Nasty Show hosted by Greg Giraldo with special guest Jim Norton, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 18Alt Comedy, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 19Park Westbull; Lucha VaVOOM, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 16 (Must be 21 or older)bull; Rob Corddry's Childrens Hospital, 9:30 p.m. Thursday, June 17 bull; The Adam Carolla Podcast, 7 p.m. Thursday, June 17, and Friday, June 18bull; An Evening with Leon Black and Friends, midnight Friday, June 18 bull; Da Bears Movie Dat Wasn't, 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday, June 19Mayne Stagebull; The Not Inappropriate Show, 4 p.m. Friday, June 18, and 1 and 4 p.m. Saturday, June 19bull; My Boys, 7 p.m. Thursday, June 17bull; Double Threat, 9 and 11 p.m. Thursday, June 17; 7 and 9 p.m. Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19Best of the Fest, 11 p.m. Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19Second Citybull; The Second City Alumni Reunion Show - Class of '79, 8 p.m. Thursday, June 17Studio Bebull; Sketch-travaganza: The Best of Sketchfest, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, June 18TBS LOL Lounge at The Red Bar Comedy Clubbull; Hosted by Jamie Kaler, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19Just For Laughs Films at the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicagobull; "Winnebago Man" Sneak Preview, 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16 bull; "I Am Comic," 8:45 p.m. Friday, June 18iO Theaterbull; Beer Shark Mice, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 16, and Thursday, June 17bull; The Improvised Shakespeare Co., 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 18bull; Memoirs of a Manchild, midnight Saturday, June 19The Annoyance Theatre Barbull; Comedy Death-Ray Podcast, 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 16bull; Messing with a Friend, 10:30 p.m. Thursday, June 17bull; 40 Whacks, 8 p.m. Friday, June 18bull; Uncle's Brother, 10 p.m. Friday, June 18Playground Theaterbull; The Tweet Life, 8 p.m. Thursday, June 17bull; Cook County Social Club, 8 p.m. Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19bull; Alone: Chicago's Best Solo Acts, 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19Lincoln Lodgebull; The Andy Kaufman Funhouse: Featuring Andy Kaufman Award Winners and Finalists, 8 p.m. Friday, June 18, and Saturday, June 19bull; Lights, Camera, Action, CUT: Comedic Short Films, 9 p.m. Thursday, June 17bull; Drinking Buddies with T.J. Miller, 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 16The Beat Kitchenbull; Chicago Underground Comedy presents: Secret Big-Time Local Comedy Showcase, 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 15Martyrs'bull; Schadenfreude Rent Party: The City that Works, 8 p.m. Thursday, June 17Jokes Notesbull; Breakout Performers, 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 18bull; Leading Ladies of Laughter, 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 18bull; Bad Boys of Comedy, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, June 19bull; Best of the Midwest, 10:30 p.m. Saturday, June 19False1400933One of the craziest events of the festival will be Lucha VaVoom, a high-energy mix of Mexican wrestling, comedy and burlesque. False <p class="factboxheadblack">"A Very Funny Festival: Just for Laughs Chicago"</p><p class="News"><b>Starring:</b> More than 100 local and national comedy acts, including Ellen DeGeneres, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter and the Conan O'Brien writers, Bob Odenkirk and Denis Leary.</p><p class="News"><b>When:</b> Tuesday, June 15, through Saturday, June 19</p><p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Various Chicago venues as well as the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont</p><p class="News"><b>Tickets:</b> Prices vary by performance. For information, go to <a href="http://justforlaughschicago.com" target="new">justforlaughschicago.com</a> or ticketmaster.com.</p>