Visitors in town: Sean Hayes and Scott Icenogle, Trailer Park Boys and Jimmy Carr. Conan O’Brien is here with Ron Funches, James Veitch, Taylor Tomlinson and Flula Borg. Jane Lynch returns to her hometown.
At Zanies: Kellye Howard (Chicago and Rosemont), Michael Issac (Chicago), Mark Normand (Chicago), Steve Rannazzisi (Chicago and Rosemont), Russ Williamson (Rosemont), Nate Craig (St. Charles).
At The Improv: Sal Vulcano and Mark Curry.
At Riddles: Taneshia “Just Nesh” Rice.
Following is this week’s comedy Spotlight. Please confirm all details before leaving home!
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26
3rd Annual Chicago Podcast Festival at venues around the city. Follow link for all details.
The Second City’s Improv Comedy Hour at Second City’s UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave., 8:00 p.m. Created by Mick Napier, one of the most innovative people in improv.
Judged: a night of story & song with Leah Judge and friends at iO, 1501 N. Kingsbury, 8:00 p.m. Stories and music about being judged, feeling judged and misjudging.
Best Night Ever at Gman Tavern, 3740 N. Clark, 9:00 p.m. With Dave Maher, Julia Loken, Lisa Chanoux, Sarah Vulpin and Sammy Arechar. Hosted By Mike O’Keefe, Mike Cronin, Zach Peterson and Sabeen Sadiq.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27
3rd Annual Chicago Podcast Festival at venues around the city. Follow link for all details.
Comedy Cocktail at House of Blues’ Foundation Room, 329 N. Dearborn, 6:00 p.m. Produced by James Allen Kamp, creator of the most excellent comedyofchicago.com. DJ Tone-Knee kicks off the evening at 6:00 p.m. Stand-up showcases at 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. RSVP for free admission. Early arrival recommended. Seats go fast! Always a great, diverse line-up of Chicago’s top comedians and surprise drop-ins.
7:30 p.m. Chris Trani hosts Pat Chase, Manny Acosta, Mickey Housley
9:00 p.m. Joe Kilgallon hosts Tim Smith, Ben Noble, Jeanie Doogan
Sean Hayes and Scott Icenogle at Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville, 7:00 p.m. The Will & Grace star is here with co-author and husband Scott Icenogle to discuss Plum, their new children’s book. Event includes book signing and photo opportunity. Tickets are required.
Meanwhile: I Hate You at Delilah’s, 2771 N Lincoln Ave, 7:00 p.m. The audience creates a zine to be released at the next show. Tonight’s performers: Danette Chavez, Dan Camponovo, Caro Macon and Arish Singh. Hosted by Catherine Eves and Megan Kirby
Chicago Underground Comedy at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont, 9:30 p.m. One of Chicago’s most famous stand-up showcases. Stephanie Weber hosts Kaitlyn Grissom, Joe Nudelman, Jarrell Scott Barnes, Sarah Squirm, Lisa Chanoux, Julia Loken, and ChUC debut by Connor King.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28
3rd Annual Chicago Podcast Festival at venues around the city. Follow link for all details.
You Joke Like a Girl at Volumes Bookcafé, 1474 N. Milwaukee, 7:00 p.m. Open mic sign-up: 7:00 p.m. All women’s open mic begins at 7:15 p.m. All women showcase at 8:45 p.m. hosted by Elyse Nylin and featuring Madeleine Midge Russell, Emily O’Meara Szaflarski, Naomi Spungen, Rachel Hall.
Home for Hanukkah with Bubbe at ComedySportz, 929 W. Belmont, 8:00 p.m. “An interactive holiday experience.”
Blake Burkhart Album Recording at Timothy O’Toole’s, 622 N. Fairbanks Ct., 7:00 and 9:30 p.m. Comedians You Should Know hosts another much anticipated album recording. Blake Burkhart is a nationally touring headliner based in Chicago.
Conan and Friends: An evening of stand-up and investment tips at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State, 8:00 p.m. Conan O’Brien, Ron Funches, James Veitch, Taylor Tomlinson, and Flula Borg. This is Conan’s first tour since 2010. Beginning in 2019, the Conan show will premiere in a new 30-minute format on TBS.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29
3rd Annual Chicago Podcast Festival at venues around the city. Follow link for all details.
The Comedy Nosh at Max & Benny’s, 461 Waukegan Rd., Northbrook, 7:00 p.m. Headliner: Jan Slavin, one of comedy’s fastest rising and funniest stand-ups. Hosted by Larry Bloom. Featuring Sonal Aggarwal and Ben Hamilton. Special Guest: Mike Hover.
Just Nesh at Astoria Lounge, 4400 W. Belmont, 7:30 and 9: 45 p.m. Taneshia (“Just Nesh”) Rice is in demand everywhere from hometown Chicago to around the country to Comedy Central where she has appeared on Kevin Hart’s Next Level and Hart of the City.
Throwing Shade at Park West, 322 W. Armitage, 9:00 p.m. “There’s No Place Like Condo” Tour. Comedians Bryan Safi and Erin Gibson bring their original perspectives on women’s issues, LGBTQ issues and pop culture.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30
3rd Annual Chicago Podcast Festival at venues around the city. Follow link for all details.
Trailer Park Boys at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State, 8:00 p.m. A Sunnyvale Christmas.
Jane Lynch at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph, 7:00 p.m. Jane Lynch’s annual musical Christmas bash. The Emmy and Golden Globe winner is a Second City and Annoyance Theatre alum and is known for her roles on Glee, Best In Show and A Mighty Wind, among many others. Her ensemble tonight includes Kate Flannery (The Office) and Tim Davis (music producer on Glee, The Goldbergs and Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl half time show). Sold out, but follow link to join wait list.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1
3rd Annual Chicago Podcast Festival at venues around the city. Follow link for all details.
The Customer is Always Right? Holiday Edition at Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont, 7:00 p.m. Retail professionals reveal their true customer-service horror stories.
Mike Toomey’s Christmas Special at Bourbon ‘N Brass, 1012 Church St., Evanston, 8:00 p.m. A Chicagoland holiday comedy tradition. Mike Toomey is a regular on WGN Morning News. He has been featured in concert with George Carlin, Wayne Newton, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Reba McIntyre, on MTV and A&E and at HBO’s U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen Colorado.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2
3rd Annual Chicago Podcast Festival at venues around the city. Tonight includes a special broadcast of WGN’s The Download with Justin Kaufmann. Justin and a roster of special guests will preside over the grand finale of the Best Chicago Accent Tournament. The grand prize is $333 (“the perfect amount of money for a Chicago accent”).
Jimmy Carr: The Best Of, Ultimate, Gold, Greatest Hits World Tour at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., 7:00 p.m. Jimmy Carr’s credits include over twenty television credits and multiple comedy specials in the U.K. where he is a household name, as well as Netflix specials and many U.S. late night appearances.
The KIKI at Transister, 5224 N. Clark, 7:00 p.m. A yuletide queer comedy with variety hosted by Scott Duff. Featuring Archy Jamjun, Corey Caldwell, Beckett Kenny, Izzy Salhani, Whitney Chitwood and KIKI producer Megan Brennan.
[LAST SHOW!] Ben Hollis: Sex, Booze and Candy Bars: A Wild Man’s Musical Memoir at Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont, 7:00 p.m. Why do we love behind-the-scenes stories about celebrity lives? Well, their secrets are intriguing and often their lives are a lot like ours and it’s possible to connect through both the hardships and joys. But how often are celebrities really that honest? Here’s one who is- Ben Hollis is 100% authentic, inspiring, and nothing is sugar-coated in this show about his life, his rocky adolescence, his early missteps, his Emmy Award-winning TV show Wild Chicago, his marriages – the wrong one and then the beautiful one – and his recent brain surgery. He’s been through a lot and isn’t hiding any of it. This is a chance to truly meet this beloved Chicago television personality.
32 Years of Quality Service at Emerald City Coffee, 1224 W. Wilson, 7:30 p.m. One of Chicago’s great stand-ups, Prateek Srivastava celebrates his birthday with an extended set. Line-up also includes: Shirley Blazen, Waleed Ismail, Tyler Ross, Derek Strong, Dan Cassilagio, Trevor Gertonson, Dylan Scott, Jerry Tran. Sketch from Marissa Chastain featuring Dave Winnyk, Liz Cohn, Ditto Jones, Duane Deering, Preston O’Fill. An abundance of comedy at an amazing price: free!
Stay up to date with Comedians Defying Gravity by typing your email address in the box and clicking the “create subscription” button. My list is completely spam, spam, spam, spam free, and you can opt out at any time.