Tonight: Face Time w/ Chip Chantry at Helium

Showing himself to once again be a man befitting many a venue, Philly comedian CHIP CHANTRY debuts his newest monthly show FACE TIME tonight at HELIUM COMEDY CLUB.

In what he’s billed as a “slightly skewed late-night format comedy variety show,” Chantry will feature local and national comedians presenting standup, sketch, video, music and anything else that might delight audiences.

In the premier show tonight, Chantry and his co-host / house band AMIR GOLLAN will welcome local standup fave AARON HERTZOG, TV’s MIKE VECCHIONE and what may well threaten to be the final swan song of beloved sketch duo MEG & ROB.

Do yourself a favor and check out this show now, so you can say you were a fan before it was cool (ETA: tomorrow morning).

FACE TIME w/ CHIP CHANTRY
TUESDAY, MARCH 15 @ 8PM
HELIUM COMEDY CLUB | 2031 SANSOM ST
TICKETS: JUST $5

Comedy for the Weekend Warrior

Here’s a look at comedy happening in the city this weekend…

 

FRIDAY

8:00pm – Comedy Month: Very Special Ladies & Gentlemen Christmas Special | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

8:00pm – Whipsuit | O’Neals Pub, 611 S Third St

8:00pm – The N Crowd | Actors Center, 257 N Third St

8:00pm – Greg Fitzsimmons | Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St

8:30pm – Michael Shawn | Laff House, 221 South St

10:00pm – Comedy Month: ComedySportz presents Game, Set, MATCH GAME! | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

10:30pm – Greg Fitzsimmons | Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St

10:45pm – Michael Shawn | Laff House, 221 South St

 

SATURDAY

12:00pm – Comedy Month: Natl College Improv Tournament Eastern Preliminary 1 | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

2:00pm – Comedy Month: Natl College Improv Tournament Eastern Preliminary 2 | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

4:00pm – Comedy Month: Natl College Improv Tournament Eastern Preliminary 3 | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

6:00pm – Comedy Month: Natl College Improv Tournament Eastern Preliminary 4 | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

7:30pm – ComedySportz | Playground @ Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St

8:00pm – Rosen & Milkshake w/ Pro B | Vesuvio, 736 S Eighth St

8:00pm – Greg Fitzsimmons | Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St

8:00pm – Michael Shawn | Laff House, 221 South St

9:00pm – Comedy Month: Natl College Improv Tournament Eastern Regional Finals | Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, 2111 Sansom St

10:00pm – ComedySportz | Playground @ Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St

10:00pm – Michael Shawn | Laff House, 221 South St

10:30pm – Greg Fitzsimmons | Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St

11:55pm – Michael Shawn | Laff House, 221 South St

 

SUNDAY

7:00pm – The Famous International Comedy Show | Q-Ba Lounge, 1176 N Third St

8:00pm – Comedy Hip-Nosis w/ Justin Tranz | Laff House, 221 South St

News In Brief

We’ve been out of the loop over here through most of the Fringe and beyond. Now that we’ve sufficiently recovered, regular posts will resume next week. In the meantime, here are a few tidbits to check out…

• Many have called the last few months the Summer of Doogie, and it’s sure felt that way, with Mr. Horner joking his way into America’s hearts on America’s Got Talent. And now fresh off his win over a Helium, the newly crowned Philly’s Phunniest looks to return to the stage tonight, as he resurrects his show The Ministry of Secret Jokes. Now at its new home at the Ruba Club, joining Doogie will be fellow former Phunniest winners Anton Shuford and Steve Gerben, as well as Amir Golan and Becca Trabin. It all starts at 8PM

• The ever-delightful Jaime Fountaine returns to The Dive tonight at 7PM with her show Toiling in Obscurity. Guests include Pat Kelly, Tom McCallister and Jesse Hale Moore

• Fans of Secret Pants are indeed no stranger to enjoying Brian Craig on stage. Well now, you can enjoy him on the small screen as well. Craig makes his television debut tonight at 10PM on TruTV’s Forensic Files

Comedy for the Weekend Warrior: Early Edition

Thursday

7:00pm – CSz World Championship: UK vs Philly & Milwaukee vs Portland | World Cafe Live

8:30pm – Laff Away Thursdays | Laff House

9:30pm – CSz World Championship: Indianapolis vs Austin & New York vs LA | World Cafe Live

10:00pm – King Friday + Boys Don’t Cry | Studio 34

Friday

7:00pm – CSz World Championship: Chicago vs Philly & Houston vs New York | World Cafe Live

7:00pm – Accidental Circus w/ Whipsuit | O’Neals Irish Pub

8:00pm – Sebastian Maniscalco | Helium

8:00pm – N Crowd | The Actor’s Center

8:30pm – Hamburger | Laff House

9:00pm – Accidental Circus w/ Whipsuit | O’Neals Irish Pub

9:30pm – CSz World Championship: Provo vs San Antonio & All Star East vs West | World Cafe Live

10:00pm – Sebastian Maniscalco | Helium

10:45pm – Hamburger | Laff House

Saturday

7:00pm – CSz World Championship: Buffalo vs Minneapolis & DC vs San Jose | World Cafe Live

8:00pm – Sebastian Maniscalco | Helium

8:00pm – Hamburger | Laff House

9:30pm – CSz World Championship: Championship Match – World Cafe Live

10:00pm – Sebastian Maniscalco | Helium

10:00pm – Hamburger | Laff House

11:55pm – Hamburger | Laff House

Sunday

7:00pm – Philly’s Phunniest | Helium

7:00pm – Improv Incubator | Community Education Center

One Night Only: The Lampshades at Helium

This Wednesday, hometown girl KATE FLANNERY (NBC’s The Office) and SCOT ROBINSON (Anchorman) bring their acclaimed fake lounge act, THE LAMPSHADES, from the stage at iO West here to Helium.

Featuring the song stylings of Hori (Robinson) and Kassie (Flannery), The Lampshades forgo the more classic showtune duet trappings, instead bringing you alcohol-fueled mashups like Doves In Your Soul – a hybrid of Prince’s When Doves Cry and TMBG’s Birdhouse In Your Soul. Or Obits – where Kassie croons out Donna Summer’s Last Dance while Hori recites the obituaries of recently departed celebrities.

After nearly a decade in LA and on the road, they’re their own little cottage industry… a favorite to open for The Dan Band and oddly finding themselves being the very thing they started out mocking. In town for one night, it’s an evening not to be missed!

THE LAMPSHADES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16TH @ 7PM
HELIUM COMEDY CLUB | 2031 SANSOM ST
TICKETS: $20-$25

Comedy for the Weekend Warrior

FRIDAY

• 8:00PM – Rodgers & Hammerstein Are Dead w/ The Musicians of Comedy | Latvian Society | $15-$20
• 8:00PM – The N Crowd bids farewell to The Buckleys | Actors Center | $10-$15
• 8:00PM – Catch improviser Rob Cutler in Gravedigger | Walking Fish | $12-$18
• 8:15PM – Whipsuit | O’Neals Irish Pub | $5
• 9:00PM – Leo Callahan w/ Dunk (NYC) | Arts Parlor | $5
• 9:00PM – Catch improviser Jessica Snow in Memorial Day | Avant Gentlemen’s Lodge | FREE

SATURDAY

• 7:30PM – ComedySportz Philadelphia | Playground at the Adrienne | $15
• 8:00PM – Rodgers & Hammerstein Are Dead w/ The Imposters (NYC) | Latvian Society | $15-$20
• 8:00PM – Catch improviser Rob Cutler in Gravedigger | Walking Fish | $12-$18
• 8:00PM – Standup from comedian Bobcat Goldthwait | Helium | $25-$30
• 9:00PM – Catch improviser Jessica Snow in Memorial Day | Cycle Studios | FREE
• 10:00PM – ComedySportz Philadelphia | Playground at the Adrienne | $15
• 10:30PM – Standup from comedian Bobcat Goldthwait | Helium | $25-$30

SUNDAY

• 7:00PM – Rodgers & Hammerstein Are Dead w/ The Imposters (NYC) | Latvian Society | $12-$15
• 7:00PM – Improv Incubator | Community Education Center | DONATIONS ACCEPTED

Comedy for the Weekend Warrior

There’s a lot going on this weekend for comedy fans… check it out:

- The 2009 PHILLY SKETCHFEST continues through the weekend at Plays & Players Theater

- RARE BIRD SHOW,  FLETCHER and LEO CALLAHAN anchor PHIT’s Shubin shows, with appearances by EVERYTHING MUST GO tonight and ANGRY PEOPLE BUILDING THINGS Saturday

- Celebrate the Bachelor Party Edition of the MINISTRY OF SECRET JOKES as host DOOGIE HORNER celebrates his final nights of singledom 8PM tonight at Fergies Pub.

- Bucks County Community College features EXPONENTIAL JOURNEY – improv directed by Bill McLaughlin this Friday and Saturday at 7PM in the BCCC Library

- Shortform improv by THE N CROWD rolls out 8PM tonight at the Actor’s Center

- Get your game on with a COMEDYSPORTZ double header Saturday 7:30 & 10PM at the Playground @ the Adrienne

- Scratch your standup itch with LOUIS RAMEY of NBC’s Last Comic Standing headling at Helium through Saturday.

Click This: Videos of Sketchfest Winners from Helium

A few weeks back, HELIUM hosted a competition to determine the final spot(s) for the PHILLY SKETCHFEST which kicks off tonight. Out of the ten groups that performed, two ended up making the cut… BAD CREATIONS and DEPENDABLE FELONS. To acclimate yourself with their work, head on over to Comic vs Audience for a couple of great videos.

Registration open for Philly’s Phunniest at Helium

HELIUM COMEDY CLUB has opened registration for Philadelphia’s largest comedy competition. For two weeks in late July / early August, 150 comics will compete for the title of PHILLY’S PHUNNIEST PERSON and a $1,000 grand prize. You may remember that last year the title went to local comedian Kent Haines.

Here’s a quick overview as provided by Helium:

• Contestants must be from Philadelphia or the surrounding area.
• You must perform 4:30 – 6 minutes during the preliminary rounds.
• Material must be original. If it is not, you will be disqualified.
• Registration will conclude July 1, 2009 or when we have reached 150 contestants.
• The preliminary rounds will take place July 28 – July 30, Aug 1 and Aug 4 – Aug 6, with Aug 7 being the semi-finals and Aug 8 the finals (dates subjects to change).
• Due to the number of no-shows last year, we have been forced to increase the registration fee and take payment at registration. Registration fee is $20 per person. This registration fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. The night of your preliminary round, you will receive a $15 Helium Comedy Club gift certificate at the conclusion of your performance.
• Comics for each show will be picked at random and judges along with audience votes will decide who advances.

Comics can register at Helium’s website

Tonight: Animosity Pierre presents IRS at Helium

Tonight, for one-night-only, local sketch duo ANIMOSITY PIERRE (Dave Terruso & Matt Lally) will be headlining Helium Comedy Club with their show, IRS (Intensely Ridiculous Sketch), hosted by Doogie Horner.

The nearly two hours of comic hijinks will be kicked off by Helium regular Andy Nolan.

Tickets are $12, along with a two-item minimum and are available in advance online or at the door.

ANIMOSITY PIERRE PRESENTS I.R.S.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15TH @ 8PM
HELIUM COMEDY CLUB | 2031 SANSOM ST
TICKETS $12 + TWO-ITEM MINIMUM