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

Lineup for Philly Improv Theater at the Shubin

UPDATE: We neglected to include the Guilty Pleasures shows next week. Our apologies!

The time is upon us as this evening the PHILLY IMPROV THEATER takes up residence at the Shubin for the next two weeks (albeit with a slight hiatus this weekend as they take to the Del Close Marathon). They’ve got shows featuring all the house teams, a first glimpse at a new one, the anniversary of the Bully Pulpit, standup, sketch, rant-o-wheel, visitors from Pittsburgh and the big ticket… SUSAN MESSING & BECKY DRYSDALE!

Wednesday, July 28

8:00PM – The Bully Pulpit, $10
The monthly show celebrates one year with a special panel – all the members of Secret Pants

9:30PM – Rant-O-Wheel hosted by Jaime Fountaine, $10
The return of the infamous Rant-O-Wheel – you never know what you’re going to get

Thursday, July 29

8:00PM – King Friday + Friends, $10
9:30PM – Fletcher + Friends, $10
In a prelude to their DCM shows this weekend, it’s two of PHIT’s house teams in back-to-back shows

Friday – Sunday

PHIT at DCM
PHIT takes the show on the road to the Del Close Marathon in NYC

Tuesday, August 3

8:00PM – Guilty Pleasures: Free Taping
The best kept secret in Philadelphia comedy looks to create some Internet notoriety. A special free taping featuring Roger C. Snair, Chip Chantry, Rob Baniewicz, Meg Favreau and Chris Cotton

Wednesday, August 4

8:00PM – Guilty Pleasures, $10
Regular installment of the monthly show. If you haven’t seen this yet, for shame as you are missing out. Featuring Roger C. Snair, JP Boudwin, Patrick Foy, Dominic Moschitti, Sam Narisi and Kevin J. Kelly

Thursday, August 5

8:00PM – Hey Everybody! hosted by Aaron Hertzog, $10
An evening of stand-up featuring David James, Steve Gerben, Luke Giordano, Blake Wexler, Carolyn Busa, Christian Alsis and Matt McCusker

Friday, August 6

8:00PM – Stranger, Danger + Friends, $10
Double trouble from the comedic pair Sarah Cowdery & Alex Gross

11:00PM – “Stormcrow” sneak-peek, Free
A special free sneak-peek at one of the new house teams, tentatively titled Stormcrow

Saturday, August 7

8:00PM – Irony City + Activity Book, $10
Improvisers from the far west (Pittsburgh) share a bill with the original PHIT house team

9:30PM – Messing with a Friend, $15
The incomparable Susan Messing (iO, Annoyance) is joined by the always unpredictable Becky Drysdale (Second City, UCB). This is one amazing ticket!

11:00PM – Sketch Up or Shut Up, Free
Sketch comedy twist on the classic open mic hosted by Meg Favreau

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Advanced tickets for these shows don’t seem to be available yet, but we’ll be sure to let you know when they are.

Put a candle on it – Bully Pulpit turns 1

The BULLY PULPIT is turning one, and to commemorate the occasion, all seven members of sketch group SECRET PANTS will be joining this month’s panel. The septet of comedians will join host LUKE GIORDANO to discuss, debate and argue over a selection of topics

Rumors have also abound regarding free beer and boxed wine – which could only serve to make a great show even better. Add to that a $5 discount with the password “hoagie party” and you’ve got yourself a rock solid hump-day cure.

THE BULLY PULPIT ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW
FEATURING SECRET PANTS
WEDNESDAY, JULY 28TH @ 8PM
PHIT @ THE SHUBIN | 407 BAINBRIDGE ST

Camps Woods hosts PJI variety show this Saturday

In commemoration of the 1999 docking of Shuttle Discovery with the International Space Station, the PHILADELPHIA JOKE INITIATIVE presents 11 Years of Space Docking. The evening will feature a veritable laundry list of comedy acts, hosted by CAMP WOODS, who will be performing their new sketch show, Equus Rex.

In addition to Camp Woods, head on down to CONNIE’S RIC RAC Saturday night for improv from NYC’s CHESTER, sketches from SECRET PANTS & BARE HUG and standup from BRENDAN KENNEDY & DOOGIE HORNER.

PJI & CAMP WOODS PRESENT: 11 YEARS OF SPACE DOCKING
SATURDAY, MAY 29TH @ 8PM
CONNIE’S RIC RAC | 1132 S NINTH ST
$10 | BYOB w/ ID

Tonight: Anniversary of Chip Chantrys One-Man Show

Tonight marks the first anniversary of CHIP CHANTRY’S ONE-MAN SHOW.

In celebration, Chip welcomes comics Amir Gollan, James Hesky, Darryl Charles and Mykal Carter-Jackson and sketch group Secret Pants. The evening will also feature the Minuteman Challenge… where anyone in the room can win a $25 gift certificate for making everyone laugh in sixty seconds.

CHIP CHANTRY’S ONE MAN SHOW
MONDAY, JAN. 18TH @ 8:30PM
THE KHYBER | 56 S SECOND STREET

Sketch comedy dominates Philly with Sketchfest this weekend

The fellas of ANIMOSITY PIERRE are back this week with a bigger and more ambitious PHILLY SKETCHFEST. Originally launched in June of 2008 by BEN MAHER, MATT LALLY and DAVE TERRUSO, the festival is back this week with two additional producers, JESSICA CIARAMELLA and CATHLEEN COLLINS and an outstanding lineup of local sketch comedians.

The three day event runs this Thursday through Saturday at Plays & Players, with shows at 8PM & 10PM. Each night is hosted by a local comic and promises to not disappoint. Here’s a quick rundown:

THURSDAY 12/3 – hosted by CHIP CHANTRY
8PM: BAD CREATIONS, DEPENDABLE FELONS, BOY MEETS TRACTOR & GENTLEMEN’S ROTARY AUXILIARY
10PM: THE FEEKO BROTHERS, BING SUPERNOVA, THE SIXTH BOROUGH

FRIDAY 12/4 - hosted by STEVE GERBEN
8PM: THIS THING OF OURS, ANIMOSITY PIERRE
10PM: CHRIS & PAUL SHOW, SECRET PANTS

SATURDAY 12/5 – hosted by AARON HERTZOG
8PM: BETTER THAN THE MACHINE, THE WAITSTAFF
10PM: BETTER THAN THE MACHINE, BING SUPERNOVA, MEG & ROB

Additional details and tickets are available on their website

2009 PHILLY SKETCHFEST
PLAYS & PLAYERS THEATER | 1714 DELANCEY
DEC 3-5, 8PM & 10PM

Tonight: Welcome to the Terrordome 3

It’s upon us once again. The night when sketch groups converge onstage in an annual event knowing as the Terrordome.

WELCOME TO THE TERRORDOME 3, THE WRATH OF KHAN will feature sketch groups SECRET PANTS, the SIXTH BOROUGH, the ACTION SECTION as well as MEG & ROB. This year the show moves down the street from it’s usual haunt over at the M Room to it’s new home at Johnny Brendas, where it will be hosted by the master of powerpoint, JON GOFF.

WELCOME TO THE TERRORDOME 3
THE WRATH OF KHAN
FRIDAY, MAY 15TH @ 9PM | $10
JOHNNY BRENDAS, 1201 FRANKFORD AVE

Tonight: PHIT welcomes WAINF and Guilty Pleasures

PHIT Week continues tonight with two of my favorite shows in the city. A cool ten dollars will get you a whole night of comedy awesome…

8PM – WHY AM I NOT FAMOUS?!? WITH KENT HAINES
Philadelphia’s only live talk show explores the successes and failures of some of the city’s funniest comedians. This month Kent welcomes Steve Gerben and sketch group Secret Pants.

10PM – GUILTY PLEASURES WITH BRENDAN KENNEDY
The show that takes care to select only the worst of screenplays, shorts and various written fodder, and pairs them with only the best comedic talent. Brendan has his tongue planted so firmly in cheek with this show, it’ll make your cheeks hurt too.  This month’s parts will be played by Chris Cotton, Roger C Snair, Richie Redding and Sidney Gantt.

PHILLY IMPROV THEATER @ THE SHUBIN
407 BAINBRIDGE STREET

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6TH
8PM – WHY AM I NOT FAMOUS?!?
10PM – GUILTY PLEASURES
TICKETS $5/EA | BYOB

Tonight: Bedtime Stories

Nope, not the kind your mom and dad used to read to you… tonight Connie’s Ric Rac in the Italian Market will play host to Gregg Gethard’s highly praised comedy showcase, Bedtime Stories. Each monthly show has a central theme, and some of Philadelphia’s brightest and funniest take the stage with a mix of sketch, standup, video and other comedy segments.

Sometimes poignant, sometimes debaucherous; you never know what you might see at Bedtime Stories. This format and exciting unpredictability is what has keep the show fresh and growing… as it’s recently relocated to the Ric Rac after having outgrown capacity at it’s monthly slot in PHIT’s Shubin Week.

ABOVE DOES NOT APPLY TO TONIGHT'S SHOW OR TO ORPHANS

In addition to host Gregg Gethard, the show will also feature comedy from:

- Chris Cotton Crew Thick
- Meg and Rob
- Fabulous Feeko Brothers
- Secret Pants
- Jaimie Fountaine
- Dave Walk

Tonight’s show will focus on the Workplace. When asked about the theme, Gethard’s reply was succinctly simple… “Working sucks. Period.”

And with such an open landscape for the comedians to pull from, we can feel pretty good that even though working may suck, this show certainly won’t.

BEDTIME STORIES: THE WORKPLACE
TONIGHT (WED, 3/18) @ 8PM
CONNIE’S RIC RAC | 1132 S NINTH ST
$10, BYOB w/ ID

Monday: Chip Chantry’s One-Man Show at the Khyber

Monday night Chip Chantry’s One-Man Show is back at the Khyber with another stellar lineup that is sure to rock your socks. Slated to appear are Steve Gerben, Adrian DiGiovanni and Julie Smith, as well as sketch group Secret Pants. It’s also rumored that Chip and Johnny Goodtimes will be bringing back…

THE WHEEL OF TERRIFIC!

PROBABLY NOT THIS

CHIP CHANTRY’S ONE-MAN SHOW
MONDAY, MARCH 16TH, 8:30PM | $5
THE KHYBER, 56 S 2ND ST, PHILLY