Class clowns

Matt Braunger
Appearing in The Very Funny Show at Zanies, Saturday 20 at 9:15pm
Active in Chicago 1997–2002 at Lincoln Lodge, Lyon’s Den and Quenchers
Best joke “I lost some weight over the past couple of months. It was easy. I just cut out bed calzones.”
In 2010 I hope to “Be doing what I’m doing now, actually. Oh, and I’d also like to own a castle with a moat and the state of Oregon.”
Fondest Chicago memory “The Lyon’s Den on Mondays for their open mike. You’d sign up for a five-minute set, grab a beer and watch the magic unfold. One minute it was a carnival, the next a garbage fire.”

Hannibal Buress
Appearing in Homecoming at Lincoln Lodge, Thursday 18 at 9pm; The Very Funny Show at Zanies, Friday 19 at 10:30pm
Active in Chicago 2002–08 at Chicago Underground Comedy, Zanies, Lakeshore Theater and Lincoln Lodge
Best joke “I had a second job interview. I don’t think they wanted to interview me twice; I think they wanted to see if I have two suits.”
By 2010 I hope to “Be in a random parking lot in the Midwest doing doughnuts while eating doughnuts.”
Fondest Chicago memory “Going to Diner Grill (or Dinner Grill, depending on which side you approached it from). The omelettes there are great.”
Philosophy “Kick that dude in the face before he kicks you in the face.”

Nate Fernald
Appearing in Homecoming at Lincoln Lodge; Best of Sketchfest at iO, Friday 19 at 9pm
Active in Chicago 2004–08 with Team Submarine
Best bit “Giving someone what appears to be a regular can of peanuts but is actually a can filled with live, venomous snakes.”
Most likely to “Open a Roth IRA.”
In 2010 I hope to “Be reading this very article to my grandchildren.”
Fondest Chicago memory “Reasonable rent.”
Philosophy “Money, sluts and doughnuts.”

Marina Franklin
Appearing in Homecoming at the Lincoln Lodge; Comedy You Can Believe In at the Vic Theatre, Friday 19 at 7pm
Active in Chicago “Birth until 1993” at Park West, Riddles in Orland Park
Best bit “It’s called ‘woman on the street,’ about a woman yelling at her child. The rest you have to come out and see for yourself.”
Most likely to “Be inappropriate on stage in the White House.”
In 2010 I hope to “Get a hot man with my rising career, like in the NBA. Does it work like that for women?”
Fondest Chicago memory “Hanging out late and dancing hard to house music at the old Warehouse (now a bike shop), then going to the Golden Nugget after and wondering why no one was hitting on me.”

Sarah Haskins
Appearing in American Dream at Playground Theater, Friday 19 at 10:30pm; The Late Night Late Show at iO, Saturday 20 at midnight
Active in Chicago 2001–07 with American Dream, Late Night Late Show and Whirled News Tonight
Most likely to “Break character on stage.”
In 2010 I hope to “Finally travel to the outer reaches of space and visit the moon colony. 2010 is going to be awesome. ”
Fondest Chicago memory “Hot Chicago summer nights—[having] beers after a show at a patio bar, walking to the lake [and] playing drunk soccer in the park. And my life of crime, gentle crime.”
Favorite quote “Stop touching your face. That’s how you get germs in your mouth.”

Megan Kellie
Appearing in Best of Sketchfest at iO, Thursday 18 and Friday 19 at 8pm
Active in Chicago 1998–2004 with Brick
Best bit “My opinion: a chicken’s existential crisis. Crowd’s opinion: acting like a cat.”
Most likely to “Repeat, explain, provide drawing [and] suggest puppet.”
In 2010 I hope to “Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!”
Fondest Chicago memory “The euphoria when the Cubs won the postseason playoff game in 2003 and the misery when they lost—so serious that three Jewel cashiers and I comforted each other (and I don’t even follow sports).”

Kyle Kinane
Appearing in Homecoming at Lincoln Lodge
Active in Chicago 1999–2003 at the Red Lion, Lyon’s Den and Lincoln Lodge
Best joke “Ever get so lonely you sleep on your couch instead of in your own bed because at least that way it feels like you’re lying next to someone?”
Most likely to “Not finish watching Into the Wild before saying something stupid like, ‘Now that guy’s got the right idea.’”
By 2010 I hope to “Do more Twitter updates about what I’m having for lunch!”
Fondest Chicago memory “The Lyon’s Den open mike, every Monday night. That’s where I learned how to be a comedian.”

T.J. Miller
Appearing in Homecoming at Lincoln Lodge
Active in Chicago 2003–07 with Chuckle Sandwich, Heavy Weight, Sturgis and Bullet Lounge
Most likely to “Be voted ‘Hollywood’s Sad Boy.’ Or end up in a canceled sitcom.”
In 2010 I hope to “Buy a new Ford Focus with bigger rims.”
Fondest Chicago memory “Doing comedy with [deceased comic] Pat Brice, watching Pat Brice [and] drinking with Pat Brice.”
Philosophy “Absurdity is life. And vice versa.”

Steve O’Brien
Appearing in Homecoming at Lincoln Lodge; Best of Sketchfest at iO, Friday 19 at 9pm
Active in Chicago 2004–08 with Team Submarine, Tentacles
Best bit “Pointing to any audience member with my thumb and saying, ‘What’s this guy’s problem?’ Kills every time, even if they don’t actually have a problem. But believe me, they usually do, and I usually help them find the solution: Dianetics!”
Most likely to “Apologize for having wet hands.”
In 2010 I hope to “Get this thing on my leg checked out.”
Fondest Chicago memory “One time this guy confused me for somebody else, and I ended up playing for the White Sox for seven glorious seasons.”

Bob Odenkirk
Appearing in Bob Odenkirk’s Best of Sketchfest at iO, Thursday 18, Friday 19 at midnight; Bob, David and Friends at Lakeshore Theater, Friday 19, Saturday 20 at 8:30pm
Active in Chicago 1985–90 at Zanies, the Comedy Womb and Victory Gardens
Best joke “I was raised Catholic, which means I’m an atheist now.”
Most likely to “Stay under the radar forever.”
By 2010 I hope to “Shoot a film I wrote this past year. It’s set in Chicago, so I hope I’ll be shooting it here.”
Fondest Chicago memory “Walking around Wells Street with Chris Farley making me laugh.”
Philosophy “Life is like a bowl of cherries. If you don’t like cherries, you’re shit out of luck.”

Just for Laughs finds funny all over town through Sunday 21.

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