Yesterday we gave you the first half of our condensed preview of the ambitious Just For Laughs comedy festival. Although we're already into the second day of the festival, there are still plenty of shows to check out before it all draws to a close this Sunday.
If you're a comedy contrarian and are proud of it
While some comedy snobs point their nose skyward at anything that isn't "indie" or "alternative," others at least know that a comedian's obscurity doesn't make them "better." So, when some people see SNL alumnus Jim Breuer's stoned demeanor and react as if it's nails on a blackboard, they fail to see him for what he is: a disciple of morning-zoo radio whose impression-heavy and frat-ready act is just as enjoyable to watch in person. Prove your friends wrong at his June 18, 19, and 20 shows at the Lakeshore.
And SNL's Jimmy Fallon didn't propel himself from the Weekend Update desk to the Late Night desk on just his boyish good looks. While pockets of people may whine about his tendency to giggle on SNL, the Brooklyn-born comedian has a strong background in improv and stand-up, making him not only an excellent candidate to host a talk show, but a worthy headliner for a June 20 show at the Vic Theatre. Similarly, Bill Engvall (June 20, Vic Theatre) and Andy Dick (June 18, 19, and 20, Lakeshore Theater) are lumped into the hate-them-because-they're-successful camp, but Engvall attracted the lovable Tim Meadows (June 19 and 20, hosting a series of taped showcases at Zanies) for TBS' The Bill Engvall Show, and Dick's performances were often one of the best parts of NBC's sorely underappreciated NewsRadio.
If you weep openly every time a talented local comic leaves to "make it" on the coasts
Just For Laughs might be a gigantic festival, but inside beats a tender, caring heart. While the city is invaded by loads of big-name touring comics, Just For Laughs is also giving plenty of sweet love to Chicago with a series of shows featuring formerly local comedians gracing their old stomping grounds.
First, the Homecoming show (June 17 and 18, Lincoln Lodge) features a bunch of former Chicago up-and-comers who left in pursuit of bigger fame. Among these prodigal entertainers: the nonchalant absurdist Hannibal Buress, the untiringly nerdy Jared Logan, the charmingly fearless Renne Gauthier, the wildly imaginative NIck Vatterott, and sketch-comedy goofballs Team Submarine (whose love of gay Dracula is unparalleled).
The festival also brings together some long-awaited reunions, like the return of the American Dream on June 19 at the Playground. The local improv-sketch troupe gained a sizable following earlier this decade thanks to its ambitious practice of executing a new "form" for all of its shows. (According to legend, these were usually determined a couple of minutes before going out onstage.)
The Late Late Show also reunites, bringing its magical lunacy back to iO on June 20. This long-running spoof of a talk show, which included Chicago celebrities and local bands as guests, attracted a solid following until the original cast suspended operations a few years back. So who's their special festival guest? Bob Odenkirk, who'll be making his sixth public appearance of the week.
If you're a staunch Chicago comedy supporter, plane tickets be damned
If you're more a steadfast devotee of local comedians who are still local, don't worry—the festival also offers plenty of that. As it's name suggests, Alone: Chicago's Best Solo Acts shines a spotlight on exceptionally funny individuals, like Nick Margolis (a Second City e.t.c. alumna and iO regular), Jet Eveleth (of iO's The Reckoning), plus Paul Brittain (another iO regular and creator of the grossly under-qualified and hilarious sex-ed teacher "Sex" Ed Vincent). They'll all be joined by lots of other great locals on June 19 at the Playground.
Then there's also the Best of Sketchfest, a collection of sketch troupes that previously shined at Chicago's annual Sketchfest. It's impossible to be at all the shows, which are at iO on June 18 and 19, but Hey You Millionaires (June 19), a troupe so influenced by The Kids In The Hall that they took their name from a KITH sketch, should outdo themselves with especially crazed and dark humor. The aggressively silly Kerpatty! is also worth catching on June 18.
Finally, Just For Laughs' last day gets an early start with Best Church of God (June 21, Annoyance), a local ensemble that holds mock church services. Its mix of scripted and improvised material—all on a common theme—isn't for everyone, but the troupe is ending its hiatus "to rescue Father's Day from the evil secularists," so you can see what all the hubbub was about from its free weekly Second City shows last year. In addition to Father's Day, it sounds like the group will riff on the sinning of fellow Just For Laughs performers, like Ellen DeGeneres, George Lopez, and Martin Short, so come prepared to have your sins washed away by the "satirical denomination."
