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Most will recognize Rob Riggle as “that one guy from The Daily Show,” the husky correspondent who showed up around the same time as John Oliver. But Riggle’s been all over the biz, the kind of guy  you start to notice after he’s popped up in humorous sketches over and over again, like on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Saturday Night Live,” “The Upright Citizen’s Brigade” and most recently in the bro-comedy smash hit “The Hangover.” But the most intriguing entry on Riggle’s resume? The U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. Amidst tours in Liberia, Kosovo and Afghanistan, Riggle managed to squeeze in time to foster a comedy career, becoming one of the few (if any) comedians whose day job is lieutenant colonel. Riggle’s not especially known for his stand-up routine, but his work on “The Daily Show” and other sketch troupes suggests a blend of political humor and a lot of off-the-cuff jabs. Between the military experience and the dirt he surely has on Jon Stewart, he probably has a thing or two to chat about. (Andy Seifert)

July 23 at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, (312)337-4027.

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Two is better than one, right? It seems like Randy and Jason Sklar understand this, because they’ve constructed a comedy routine that–like the old Abbott and Costello routines of the thirties–refuses to pause, one that uses their power in numbers to create a breathless, never-ending assault of dialogue. The St. Louis-born comedy duo are not just brothers, they’re also identical twins, a sight that lends itself remarkably well to the stage (it’ll also make you realize just how lucky we are Andrew Dice Clay never had a twin). As opposed to other comedy duos that featuring contrasting personas, the Sklar brothers are virtually the same, both in personality and appearance. Both come across as witty, intelligent and pop-culture savvy, but it’s their performance style that has carved a niche apart from other duos: where one stops, the other begins; when one asks a question, the other answers. Their indistinguishable voices create the sensation that you’re not watching two comedians work together; you’re witnessing some multi-voiced super-human comedian. (Andy Seifert)

July 24-25 at Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway, (773)472-3492. $20.

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At first, Atlantic City-based comic Butch Bradley seems like a poor man’s Lewis Black—lots of incredulous outrage, with arms flailing about and pointing angrily at hypothetical subjects. But give him a little more credit than that: many of Bradley’s outbursts are directed at such harmless topics that the punch lines include a hint of irresistible non-sequitur goofiness. “I don’t want to be killed by a first-time killer,” Bradley quips about his apparently inevitable homicide. “I want the guy to be good. They have to start somewhere. I don’t want any amateurs.” Bradley leaves to the imagination why he thinks he’s going to be murdered, and why he prefers a precise professional to kill him. It’s the same deal in a bit about spiders just showing up in his car when the doors are locked (“I don’t even mind if he wants a ride, just ask me,” he says)–Butch rarely explains why he’s ranting on the particular minutia of life he’s targeted. And it’s that lack of coherent logic that makes his routine pretty entertaining. (Andy Seifert)

July 21-26 at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, (312)337-4027.

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Yes, the title of comedian Arj Barker’s DVD is “Balls,” presumably so people will have to say “I’d really like to see Arj Barker’s ‘Balls.’” And sure, Barker also stars in a Web series called “Arj and Poopy,” in which a kitten talks to him through farts. But rest assured, Barker may be one of the more underrated stand-ups for social commentary in the biz, the type who will sprinkle in juvenile punchlines to disguise the fact that his comedy is chock full of substance. Take, for instance, Barker’s bit on how people don’t understand when he’s joking around over text messages: “It’s too hard to convey tone in digital communication. And we can solve this problem so easy; all we need are some new fonts,” he says, suggesting the creation of the “Sarcastica” and “Good Times Roman” fonts. For a little sampling of Barker’s best “ballsy” character, check out his portrayal of Dave, the hilariously insolent friend of Jermaine and Bret on HBO’s “Flight of the Conchords.” (Andy Seifert)

July 10-11 at Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway, (773)472-3492. $20.

Jessica Miller Tomlinson/Photo: Cheryl Mann

The Dance Center of Columbia College announced today that choreographer Jessica Miller Tomlinson is the winner of the first Chicago edition of The A.W.A.R.D Show! and took home the $10,000 first-place prize. Tomlinson is a member of Thodos Dance Chicago.

Runners-up Allyson Esposito and Megan Schneeberger (The Space/Movement Project) and Julia Rhoads (Lucky Plush Productions) each collected $1,000.

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If it’s the stand-up’s responsibility to uncover the overlooked humor in our ever-frantic daily lives, Owen Benjamin is fulfilling his obligations. The New York State-based stand-up has a knack for lightheartedly illuminating the peculiar situations in his life that reek of absurdity, like the “Peanuts” theme song being played the precise moment a friend starts to have a serious conversation with him, or the crushing letdown that ensues when people find out that, even with his six-foot-six stature, he sucks at basketball. His “Owen Benjamin Presents” series on Crackle.com takes that principle and applies it to several “how to” lessons, including “How to be ‘the man’ at a BBQ” (open beers without a bottle opener), “How to fake talent” (wear a beret) and “How to look rich” (use an umbrella when it’s not raining). Benjamin appears as part of the MySpace Secret Show series, so, um, don’t tell anyone I told you. (Andy Seifert)

July 8 at Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway, (773)472-3492.

“Guess what I’m going to say: Bears or Bulls,” quizzes comedian/veteran TV writer Robert Smigel, baiting the capacity crowd to shouts of “Bulls!”, “Bears!” and “Hawks!” while he holds a fifteen-second long note: “Daaaaaaaaaaa…Bulls.” An oblivious audience member whispers, “He really does kinda sound like one of the Superfans,” not knowing Smigel really was the guy sandwiched between Chris Farley and Mike Myers on SNL’s classic “Bill Swerski’s Superfans” skit. The same guy seems preoccupied, “When’s he gonna bust out the Triumph?”

Smigel and “Morel Orel” creator Dino Stamatopoulos stop by Lakeshore Theatre for one of the “Just for Laughs” festival’s most intriguing concepts: to show their original “TV Funhouse” pilot, a parody of the “Bozo the Clown” children’s show, specifically Chicago legend Bob Bell’s incarnation, who Smigel admired because “he was clearly not taking the job seriously.” Read the rest of this entry »

David Cross and Bob Odenkirk

By Andy Seifert

Chicago may be an improv town, but Chicago also likes a little one-on-one action every once in a while, as in the audience versus the entertainer, one guy or gal throwing out his or her material in the hopes that it will produce a moments worth of euphoria in a crowd of onlookers and they can reap all the glory. That’s stand-up comedy for you, and it’s the format that will dominate the “Just for Laughs” Festival, which makes its American debut after twenty-seven years in Canada.

Legitimate Hollywood stars, alt-comedy favorites, Comedy Central stand-bys, Chicago theater troupes, and fresh-looking up-and-comers (yet to be chewed up and spit out by the industry) will converge in the Second City between June 17-21, meaning a ton of talent and a number of borderline personality disorders will be on full display. Spanning twelve venues throughout the city and including a fluid, diverse lineup of about forty shows, the Just for Laughs festival should appeal to a wide range of audiences and, like any festival, has its share of both immensely exciting shows and left-field head-scratchers. Read the rest of this entry »

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You know how the saying goes, “when life gives you cerebral palsy, achieve fame as a comedian by poking fun at your disability.” At least that’s the proverb for Denver’s Josh Blue, the winner of Last Comic Standing Season 4, who has turned his lifelong cerebral palsy into an immensely likable stand-up act, one that lightheartedly narrates life with the disability while refuting any preconceived stereotypes. The Paralympic-soccer-player-turned-comedian uses his unconventional body movement as a starting off point for his quips, then, once the jokes bring the house down, tells his audience that “you’ll all be going to hell for laughing at me.” Blue’s material is more than novelty, his self-deprecation is creative, unique and—dare I say it—heartwarming. “I was walking downtown and the drunk-tank stopped and picked me up,” he says. “I was like, ‘uh-oh.’ I was like, ‘Wait a minute fellas, there’s a misunderstanding, I’m not drunk, I have cerebral palsy.’ They’re like, ‘That’s a pretty big word for a drunk ass.’” (Andy Seifert)

June 11 at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells, (312)337-4027, at 7:30pm and 9:30pm. $25.

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If there’s one thing L.A.-based stand-up comedienne Melinda Hill has mastered, it’s the art of humorous incongruity. Watch her act on TV with the sound off, and you’ll see an attractive blonde, sweetly speaking and constantly smiling. But her outward appearances are deceiving. Her actual material is anything but sweet and innocent—it’s slyly sarcastic, self-deprecating and downright scathing. “I just had a surprise birthday party,” she says in one of her prototypical jokes. “I have to say, it wasn’t much of a party, it was just everyone I know getting together to tell me I drink too much.” Never one to shriek or go “Andrew Dice Clay” on everyone, Hill maintains a steady deadpan delivery style while occasionally including a couple of clever subtle touches. “I never ever have sex on the first date, unless I am raped,” she quips, with a bounce in her voice, as if she was joking about candy and ice cream. (Andy Seifert)

June 4-6 at Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway, (773)472-3492. $15.