People are more interested in catching waves than laughs in San Diego. But if you want a chuckle or two when the sun sets, check out National Comedy Theatre in Mission Hills, San Diego's longest-running show.

In the vein of ComedySportz, the 11-year-old improv troupe prides itself on clean, family-friendly shows with no cussing or lude language. If one of the players disobeys that No. 1 rule, like when one of the comedians did when he mentioned "oral," he has to put a paper bag over his head for a short time. A ref presides over the proceedings to make sure it's on the up and up. Though if you do like your humor dirty, the midnight show is anything-goes.]]> Jennifer Kester 2010-05-04T11:30:31-05:00 32.7432849 -117.18123 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/4/19/104044/313

When it comes to the comedy scene in Chicago, most of the love goes to the famous Second City troupe, which has turned out the likes of Date Night's Tina Fey and Steve Carell. But iO, a smaller comedy club/school in Chi-town, also has an alumni roster that boasts big names like Mike Meyers, Amy Poehler, Jack McBrayer, Andy Richter and Andy Dick. Ever the meticulous comedy student, Fey studied at iO as well.

Another thing that makes iO, formerly ImprovOlympic, stand out from the rest of the Chicago comedy clubs is that it's the birthplace of long-form improv. Basically, this means that a whole show is created on the spot from a single audience suggestion. Improv impresarios Del Close and Charna Halpern dubbed this form "the Harold" and began teaching it in their iO classes.]]> Jennifer Kester 2010-04-19T11:54:48-05:00 41.9467130 -87.655788 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2010/1/6/0234/47988

This is the only "decoration" in the joint.

In this economic slump, not everyone can shell out $100 for a ticket to see The Lion King on Broadway. But that doesn't mean you can't find good, cheap entertainment in New York City. For example, you can head over to the New York Comedy Club, where you can get tickets for only 10 smackers.

Granted, unlike The Lion King, these shows aren't G-rated. However, you may sit among a crowd of youngish faces, since the club is open to 16-year-olds and up. And to be clear, the $10 rate is for weekdays and $15 for weekends, and all shows have a two-beverage requirement. Of course, alcohol will only be available to those 21 and older. ]]> Jennifer Kester 2010-01-06T10:24:56-05:00 40.7389490 -73.980782 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/11/4/25132/1367

Almost every famous hilarious comic got his or her start at Chicago's Second City, a training center, theater and overall jokester factory. Its alumni includes John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, John Candy, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Chris Farley, Rachel Dratch. The list goes on forever because this marks the company's 50th year in the funny business. Of course, Second City has to throw itself a big birthday party to celebrate.

The company's illustrious alums will come back for a weekend-long bday party, December 11 to 13. Although it's only three days, there are a ton of events. Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis, Martin Short and other cast members from the cult hit television show SCTV will return for two special reunion performances December 11. There will be a panel on the Colbert Report on December 12, and a Saturday Night Live panel with former players Tim Kazurinsky, Horatio Sanz and Rachel Dratch as well as current staff writer John Lutz will be December 13.]]> Jennifer Kester 2009-11-04T12:40:13-05:00 41.9115250 -87.634917 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/7/31/94056/5885

Judd Apatow’s latest film, Funny People, opens today with a pretty sure bet at dominating the weekend box office (did you read ‘Judd Apatow’s latest film’?) Unfortunately, the tale of two LA-based comedians played by Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen is getting mostly less-than-stellar reviews. But whether or not the movie and its parade of comic cameos (Sarah Silverman, Eminem, James Taylor) delivers the laughs, we’ve got stand-up on our minds and figured we’d take a look at LA’s best bets for live comedy. ]]> BS 2009-07-31T11:41:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/18/11303/4810

Ivan and Jason Reitman opened the final weekend of Montreal's comedy festival last night with reminiscences of working with Bill Murray (Reitman the elder) and turning down "Dude, Where's My Car?" (Reitman the younger).

Our picks for this weekend may not be as funny as "Ghostbusters," but they will make you laugh more than Ashton Kutcher:

Russell Brand: US audiences know him as Kristen Bell's new boyfriend in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" but the British comic, currently filming a movie with Adam Sandler, is poised to hit it big over here any minute now. Fri. and Sat., 9:30 pm, Centaur Theatre

Patrice O'Neal: Some call the former "Best Week Ever" comic confrontational; maybe in his solo show he'll do it in a sweet way. Fri. and Sat. at 11 pm, Theatre Ste-Catherine

Apatow for Destruction: Speaking of "...Sarah Marshall," producer Judd Apatow drags Canuck buddy Seth Rogen for--well, we're not sure exactly, but it's bound to be hilarious. Sat., midnight, Metropolis

Related Stories:
· Just for Laughs Festival [Official Site]
· Remembering George Carlin Travel [Jaunted]
· Comedy Clubs coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of Greg Proops and Ryan Stiles at Just For Laughs: anirudhkoul]]]> egw 2008-07-18T15:05:19-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/3/23848/21277

We here at Jaunted love to laugh, so we were saddened to read of the passing of Paul Sills, a founder of Chicago's venerable sketch-comedy institution The Second City. Sills may not have been a household name, but he worked with some of the most famous names in American comedy, from Nichols and May to John Belushi, Bill Murray, Stephen Colbert and Tina Fey in classes and nightly topical performances.

In the Chicago sanctum, anything goes--and often does at the adults-only shows. The drinks are great, too!

Catch a Second City show at permanent theaters in Chi-town, Detroit, Las Vegas (inside the Flamingo), Toronto and LA, or on tour.

Related Stories:
· The Second City [Official Site]
· Paul Sills, Founder of Second City Improv, Dies at 80 [Playbill]
· Comedy Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: johnlutes]]]> egw 2008-06-04T12:30:01-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/