Satire is the name of the game for L.A.-based stand-up Mike Holmes, who may open his set by stating that, in fact, he had planned for each person in the audience to be there, because each one “represents the very best their field has to offer” (don’t be surprised if you’re introduced as a demolitions expert). Holmes seems to have a knack for parodying all the lovable clichés the audiences have come to crave in action movies, and his “Ocean’s 11” style introduction is so dead on that it may go over a few people’s heads. When it’s not satire, Holmes targets the trivial, honing in on subject matter few stand-ups dare to consider, like solving the insultingly easy crossword puzzles in People magazine, Michael Jordan prerecording phone messages for Make-a-Wish kids, getting the sudden urge to barrel-roll through closing garage doors and apocalyptic prognosticators. “What I love are people who predict the day [the end of the world] happens, ’cause when you think about it, whoever gets that right isn’t going to get a lot of credit on that one,” he jokes. “We’re not going to take time out for a pat on the back. ‘Oh God, this can’t be happening! River of blood, four horsemen, oh God forgive me! Oh hey, great call, Randy. Down to the minute, man. Unbelievable.’” (Andy Seifert)
April 16 & 17 at Lincoln Lodge, 4008 North Lincoln, (773)248-1820.
Hair of the Dog: A Preview of Sean Flannery at Lincoln Lodge The Chicago-based comedian and storyteller is the creator and host of the popular weekly comedy show “Blackout Diaries” which focuses on drinking stories and "hilarious misadventures" people have had.
Holiday Nostalgia: A Preview of “The Mike Toomey Christmas Special” at Zanies Mike Toomey grew up loving television, and his favorite shows each year were the special Christmas episodes of sitcoms and the wide array of Christmas specials starring celebrities. But the WGN Morning News announcer and local star stand-up comedian noticed as he grew older that those shows were dying off, and in 2013 he decided to do something about it.
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