Funny Business In The Windy City

Chi-Town is famous for many things – deep-dish pizza; Oprah; the Billy Goat Tavern (“Cheeseborger! Cheeseborger!”); Siskel & Ebert; Garrett’s popcorn; the Cubs, the White Sox, the Bears and the Blackhawks; Vienna Beef hot dogs; Blues music and, of course, comedy. But the city’s rep as a world-class destination for fans of the funny is about to get another big boost from “Just for Laughs Chicago.”

(First, a quick disclaimer: As a former long-time Chicago resident who still considers the city my home in a lot of ways, there’s a good chance I’m a little prejudiced about it.)

The latest “Very Funny” festival, presented by Just for Laughs and TBS, will take over some of Chicago’s most famed venues June 15-19 for a five-day yuk-fest featuring top-name comedians from across the country.

So far, the schedule, which will eventually include more than 70 shows, features Ellen DeGeneres (June 16 at the Chicago Theatre), Lucha Va Voom (June 16 at Park West), Aziz Ansari (June 17 at The Vic Theatre), The Nasty Show with Greg Giraldo and Jim Norton (June 18 at The Vic Theatre), Cedric The Entertainer’s Urban Circus (June 18 at the Chicago Theatre), Russell Peters (June 19 at the Rosemont Theatre) and Denis Leary (June 19 at the Chicago Theatre).

The second edition of JFLC will also include tapings for television and a host of homegrown comedy featuring some of the city’s best comics, sketch and improv performers and troupes.

Complete info on “Just For Laughs Chicago,” including how to get tickets, is available at JustForLaughsChicago.com.