Often praised as a stepping stone for comedic talent, Chicago will become the capital of the comedy world this week.
The Second City is the first American location to host the Just for Laughs festival, a comedy celebration that’s been rooted in Montreal since 1983 and Toronto since 2007. The Montreal edition has launched the careers of many comedians and has included performances by almost every active comic superstar from John Cleese to Bill Cosby.
The Chicago version – which began Tuesday with a screening of “Year One” and continued Wednesday with stand-up comedy by Ellen Degeneres – will feature hundreds of comedians and dozens of performances at Chicago-area venues through Sunday.
George Lopez will perform four shows at the Rosemont Theatre, Lisa Lampanelli and Mike Epps will do stand-up at the Chicago Theatre, Martin Short, Bill Engvall and David Alan Grier will take turns at the Vic while up-and-comers will share spotlight time at the IO, Zanies and other locations. It’s the biggest comedy celebration the city has ever seen.
Two performances starring Naperville native Bob Odenkirk and his “Mr. Show” collaborator David Cross were among the first to sell out, likely due to the ’90s comedy series’ cult following. In addition to the Lakeshore Theatre shows, Odenkirk will be hosting late-night sketch comedy performances.
Comedy fans unfamiliar with his influential HBO show might know Odenkirk as Ben the medical student on “Seinfeld,” Gil Bang the porn star on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” or for many roles on “Tom Goes to the Mayor” and “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. Odenkirk also has produced those last two, directed three feature films (including 2007’s “The Brothers Solomon”) and has a long writing resumé that includes “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”
Odenkirk worked with O’Brien while living in Chicago in the late ’80s, writing and performing in “Happy Happy Good Show” with Robert Smigel (Triumph the Insult Comic Dog) and others. The former Chicagoan recently talked about why Just for Laughs: Chicago should have happened years ago, what makes Windy City comedy audiences ideal and what he and Cross have in store this weekend.
How did you get involved the festival?
Well, I’ve been involved with the festival in Montreal for years. It was the first place David Cross and I worked together 14 years ... no, 15 or 16 years ago. He was up there to write bits for a host on the Comedy Channel and we shared a hotel room and wrote together. Then we did bits at the late-night sketch shows at the fest. That led to “Mr. Show.”
In the past few years, I’ve hosted the sketch comedy shows at Montreal, because they’re trying to bring more of that in. It’s something I’ve done with David and also Bill Hader.
But years ago, we all used to say that we should bring it to Chicago that this is something that would go over so big there. HBO does this comedy festival in Aspen. But it’s like an imposition to them. They’re there to ski, not watch comedy. They’re all rich, old jerks and they hate having these drunken comics around. It’s a hassle for them.
Why is Chicago a good fit?
The support that Montreal has given this festival it reminds me of Chicago. People can enjoy theater and interesting stuff, but it’s not limited to hipsters. I think this festival is going to be a huge hit. It’s going to be the biggest comedy festival in ... three years.
That’s because Chicagoans are open to it. It won’t stay with one small audience. Like in Montreal, people will buy tickets for six different shows. They’ll buy some for famous comedians that they love, but also try some new stuff out. I’m thrilled that this is coming to Chicago.
And you grew up in the area, in Naperville. How did Chicago shape your humor?
I grew up in Naperville and I also lived in Wrigleyville for five years. Chicago gave me an opportunity to write and perform. I do offbeat stuff and a lot of audiences wouldn’t have been interested, but Chicago gave me a chance.
The people are open to a dry sensibility, it’s a Midwest thing. Look at Bob Newhart, you can’t get much drier than that. That’s a Midwest voice.
You talked about how you and David Cross first began working together. Why does that partnership continue to work so well?
I don’t know. He just sent me a script. It was a script that I originally wrote for the shows we’re doing and then he added to. And I was just laughing out loud reading it. So I don’t know, it just works. It’s like a marriage. I work with other people. I’ve written for movies and TV with other people because I love collaboration.
But David and I are just really good together. We balance each other, I think. He takes things farther than I normally would and I see more structure in the situations. Then, I’m pretty silly and out there and he provides the structure. Our brains work together.
You’re doing these two shows, would you ever expand that to a tour?
We would love to, but I have two kids. They’re 8 and 10, so maybe in, like, four years. Then they could come along and enjoy it. It’d be great. I’d also like to do another TV show with David. It’s tough right now because he’s in Britain, working on a pilot for British TV. But, I think it could happen and I think shows like these could help make it happen.
What should fans expect of these performances?
We’re putting together all new scenes for these shows. If you’re a fan of ours, you should see it. We have limited time to rehearse though, only two days.
Will there be some improv involved because of that?
No, I wouldn’t call it improv. It’s more like there are bullet points for the scene and we know where we have to go. It’s not going to be some sloppy thing. I’m going to memorize this script because I think it’s really, really great. I can’t say the same for David.
JUST FOR LAUGHS NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Just for Laughs: Chicago runs through Sunday at many Chicago-area venues. For tickets and information about all events, visit www.justforlaughschicago.com.
Here’s a sampling of the festival’s most notable performances.
George Lopez: Tall, Dark and Chicano
When: 8 p.m. today through Sunday
Where: The Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont
Comedy Blowout Hits Chi-Town
Hosted by Mike Epps with Kevin Hart, Aries Spears, others
When: 8 p.m. today
Where: The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago
Let Freedom Hum
Hosted by Martin Short with Greg Giraldo, Kathleen Madigan, others
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago
Andy Dick
When: 10:30 p.m. today
Where: Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway, Chicago
David Alan Grier: Comedy You Can Believe In
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago
Double Threat: Jim Breuer and Danny Bhoy
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway, Chicago
Bill Engvall: Aged and Confused
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago
Lisa Lampanelli
When: 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago
Jimmy Fallon: Live in Concert
When: 9:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago
