IN THE NEWS Chicago’s Sip of Hope Cafe is expanding from Fullerton Ave. to a screen near you! Mayim Bialik and Damon Wayans Jr. announced this week that they are producing a new comedy series based on the cafe, “the world’s first coffee shop where ‘it’s ok not to be ok’ and 100% of the profits go to mental health education.” More details here.
Pre-order Prateek Srivastava’s new album Nick and Sheila‘s Kid via itunes and you can get a personalized video message from the real life Nick and Sheila themselves! Order here and then email proof of purchase to Prateek at prateekcomedy@gmail.com. (Great gift idea!)
You can stream Vicki Quade’s Christmas Bingo: It’s a Ho-Ho-Holy Night through December 27. Funny for all and a celebration of laughter for all denominations! Tickets are $20 and support the Benedictine Sisters of Chicago. All info at ticketleap.com. Vicki’s new book Close Encounters of a Chicago Kind will be available in time for the holidays here. (Great gift idea!)
Paul Farahvar and Marty DeRosa just released the latest episode of Make Us a Mix Tape and it’s the Office Christmas Party Mix!
I can’t wait to listen to Josh Mills’ new podcast Rarified Heir: “Josh Mills & Co-host Jason Klamm bring together a wide variety of adult children of celebrities for a fun, funny, bizarre, jaw-dropping, strange and wonderful look behind celebrity by the people that know them best: their very own children.” Josh is the son of actor/singer/comedian Edie Adams and renowned photographer Martin Mills. Josh is also the world’s foremost expert on Ernie Kovacs. Ernie Kovacs was Edie Adams’ first husband. He was one of the most innovative comedians of all time and, tragically, died at age 42 in an auto accident.
Here are some sites where I’m finding great live online comedy: ComedySportz, Second City, The Annoyance, KO Comedy, The Comedy Bureau, Nowhere Comedy Club, Flappers Comedy Club, the 92Y, and of course from the Chicago production team of Denise Medina and Mark Klaber who have another one-of-a-kind standup showcase on Monday, December 14 (details below). What are your favorite online comedy sites? I’d love to hear.
Following is a sampling of online comedy in the next five days. Some require tickets and registration while others are free. Follow links for details and please confirm all times. I’m time-zone impaired, but I think I’ve calculated everything correctly-but check just in case! Thank you for dropping by. I hope this finds everything as well as can be. Don’t forget to laugh when possible!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10
Laurie Metcalf in Barbecue, 7:00 p.m. This “Spotlight on Plays” production also includes Colman Domingo, S. Epatha Merkerson, Tamberla Perry, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Heather Simms, Carrie Coon, David Morse, Kristine Nielsen and Annie McNamara.
Rabbis Telling Jokes (on Zoom) 7:00 p.m. Two Chabad rabbis, each with a great sense of humor, one great night of comedy. Follow link to pre-register.
Chris Gethard 8:00 p.m. Live at Le Poisson Rouge. Can also stream later.
Jessica Kirson: Disgusting Hawk 8:00 p.m. Stand-up and lots of comedy surprises from this very relatable, hilarious comedian who has over 30 million social media views.
Latkes and Applesauce 7:30 p.m. A Nichols & May experience from the Jewish Theatre of Oklahoma.
Ground Game LA Fundraiser 9:00 p.m. Surprise celebrity drop-ins and a great lineup including Nicole Byer, Rhea Butcher, D’arcy Carden, Ira Madison, Quinta Brunson, Adam Conover, Mal Blum.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11
True Colors United Music and comedy including Whoopi Goldberg, Judy Gold, and Harvey Fierstein. Cyndi Lauper’s event to raise money for homeless LGBTQ youth. December 11 on TikTok at 7:00 p.m. December 13 on Cyndi Lauper’s YouTube channel at 7:00p.m.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12
Dumb People Town Live 8:30 p.m. The podcast starring Daniel Van Kirk and the Sklar Brothers.
The Arts Hour International Comedy Show 8:30 p.m. “Some of the world’s funniest comedians in an online show recorded for BBC World Service Radio.”
Janeane Garofalo, Matthew Broussard and more! 7:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13
We’re Not Okay Comedy Show 7:30 p.m. An hour long interactive comedy show with Jessica Kirson and Rachel Feinstein, hosted by Periel Aschenbrand.
Myq Kaplan 7:00 p.m. “How to laugh at a time like this.” Livestream followed by a MYQ&A.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2020
Monday Night Funnies 7:00 p.m. This is the bi-weekly show that has people raving! A cross-country lineup of comedy’s best standups. Never the same show twice. Hosted by the incomparable Jessica Winther whose impossibly fast and funny mind keeps the show flying. Wonderful diverse comedic voices and this is the only place you can see them together! Brian Kiley, the award-winning Conan writer, closes the show out tonight. As a standup, he has appeared on Letterman, The Tonight Show, Conan and in his own special on Comedy Central. Monday Night Funnies is produced by Denise Medina and Mark Klaber. Free, but every show encourages donations for a cause. This week: American Heart Association.
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