Contestant Neil Arsenty's prank video from this year's Impress These Apes more ›

We're big fans of the comedy show Impress These Apes. We're also fans of some of the stuff WGN's Pat Tomasulo pulls off. We were jazzed to hear that Tomasulo will be a guest judge at tomorrow night's installment of Apes. So how about one of our favorite Tomasulo bits to celebrate? Part 1 is below and Part 2 is after the jump. more ›

Our favorite eight-week talent competition judged by apes from the distant future is back and ready for a big summer run. Impress These Apes, one of the most consistently funny shows we regularly frequent, pits eight contestants against each other, trying to, well, impress the apes and be declared "Least Pitiful Human." Each week brings a difficult challenge and this year is sure to be no different. Before tonight's big debut - in which contestants had to create an anti-comedy routine to impress the apes and Andy Kaufmann's sister Carol Kerman - be sure to first catch up with this year's contestants, and their audition call-backs in which they had to spin a tall tale. While the contestants are talented, many times funny, sometimes zany, and always crazy, the highlights come from the banter amongst the Apes themselves as well as the contestants. Never dull, the show is worth catching, if not for just one night, then every night of its eight week run. more ›

It's been a funny seven weeks at ComedySportz where the eight contestants of Impress These Apes have given it their all in an effort to, well, impress the Apes. And it all comes to a head tonight as the eight contestants go all out. The challenge? Just impress the Apes. But that's not the easiest thing to do and if history is any judge, the contestants will pull out all the stops in order to wear the crown of "Least Pitiful Human." Be sure to swing by their site and spend the remainder of your afternoon catching up on the contestants' performances in preparation for tonight's finale. Only 12 points separates first place from last place and special fourth judge will be there tonight to add to the drama. more ›

One of our favorite local comedy acts, Impress These Apes, has reached the halfway point of its current season but that doesn't mean it's too late to get in on the fun. Be sure to swing by their site and spend the remainder of your afternoon catching up on the contestants' performances in preparation for tonight's show. It continues every Wednesday night through November 4th. What's up for the contestants this week? Find out after the jump (some of the language is a bit NSFW). more ›

One of our favorite local comedy troupes - Impress These Apes - is back for another go-around of fun-filled shenanigans. Eight new contestants are back to compete for the prize - being declared "least pitiful human" - by making three apes laugh which is no easy feat. Each week brings a difficult challenge and this year is sure to be no different. Before tonight's big debut, be sure to first catch up with this year's contestants. You can do this by checking out their auditions and then their audition call-backs in which they had to tell their life story in two minutes. All of this has hopefully prepared them for tonight's challenge: lyrical karaoke, in which each contestant has been given a song except they have to write and perform the song with new, original lyrics. more ›

Yes, we're totally in the tank for the comedic competition that is Impress These Apes. Tonight is the final performance of Season Three and several of the eight contestants still have a very realistic shot at bringing home the title of "Least Pitiful Human." This year's competition has featured a beauty pageant, someone spitting fire, live karaoke, and nudity. Lots and lots of unnecessary nudity. Which, to us, always equals fun, especially when booze is involved. So catch up on the performances at the Ape's site and make it down to the Lakeshore Theater for tonight's finale. more ›

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7 p.m., Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Free more ›

Impress These Apes: Season Three begins Monday, September 22, and this season's contestants have finally been revealed! James Asmus, Seth Dodson, Becky Eldridge, Peter Kremidas, Alan Metoskie, Eve Porcello, Danielle Puterbaugh, and Leigh Vandiver will face off in an arduous eight-week comedy talent contest, to be judged by super intelligent apes from the future. Best! more ›

A judge threw out Kevin Jones's confession in the case of Blair Holt's murder. According to the ruling, the state failed to demonstrate that Jones understood his Miranda rights. [S-T] more ›

Hotcha! One of our more beloved Chicago comedy shows is returning...eventually. Impress These Apes comes back September 22. Consider our calender marked. more ›

We know what we're doing Wednesday: Heading to The Annoyance to see three of our favorite local comedy all stars. Jared Logan, Robert Buscemi and our pal Steve Delahoyde (of grumpy-curing fame in these parts) have teamed up yet again for the third installment of "Three Dumb Men," a variety show that features stand-up and video and probably other stuff. Special guests include Brady Novak and Kristen Studdard, both of whom we adored last... more ›

To paraphrase an old Simpsons quote: In a way, all the Impress These Apes contestants were winners. But more accurately, Kristen Studard (pictured) was the champ, earning the accolades of primates and peers along with $250 in cold hard cash. The competition was fierce and the "anything goes" format yielded some of the contestants’ best work. But “Desperate Houseflower,” Kristen’s penetrating multi-media exploration of the secret lives of houseplants, brought the audience to its feet... more ›

After eight long weeks, we’ll all get the chance to see who will be taking home the big prize (a staggering $250!) in the final performance of this season of the talent/variety show, Impress These Apes. Each week of the show is dedicated to a different talent challenge, ranging from puppet skits to songwriting; from creating a music video to coming up with a sideshow character. Judged weekly by a panel of three Apes —... more ›

Here’s what we missed as we considered an Obama/Keyes rematch: Breathe a sigh of relief. In the eleventh hour, the Chicago Symphony and the Chicago Federation of Musicians reached a new multiyear contract. We can’t tell you more than that until the official announcement on Thursday. The Wall Street Journal’s Terry Teachout considers recent controversies involving Chicago theater critics reviewing (or not reviewing) “developmental” productions and wonders whether critics can or should be kept away... more ›

Here's what happened while a punk rock choir distracted us from Doomsday: Fall arts season preview season is here. If you didn’t pick up a Reader over the weekend, you can still bookmark their A & E preview online. The Trib’s writers chose their 10 most promising in theater, art, dance, music (rock and otherwise), comedy and architecture. The Bright One previews Broadway in Chicago and upcoming rock concerts and CDs (remember those?). New City... more ›

Here’s what you missed while you were gawking at fallen trees and the troubled lives of Michael Vick and Owen Wilson: The first signs that fall’s on the way: cooler temps, fading leaves and university gallery art openings. Two shows open today at Columbia College’s Glass Curtain Gallery and C33, and a new exhibit of Carol Jackson’s ‘signatureless’ work opens at UIC’s Gallery 400 tomorrow. When Thursday’s storms cut power to Belmont Avenue businesses, Bailiwick... more ›

Here's what happened while you were chasing The King: The Trib’s Chris Jones profiles local playwright Marisa Wegryzn, whose latest show Killing Women opens Friday night, and addresses larger concerns about whether young talent is being properly nurtured and how the economics of Chicago theater tend to drive talented playwrights to the coasts. A booth filled with Jack Nixon’s “super-realist” penciled renderings of Chicago landmarks was the most unexpected sight at Northhalsted Market Days (and... more ›

Note: This post has nothing to do with Lollapalooza. Tonight marks the return of Impress These Apes, the comedy octathalon demanding creativity, versatility and a wicked sense of humor. Eight contestants face eight different performance challenges over eight weeks. We missed last year's competition but, thanks to YouTube, are still getting a good chuckle from the dance routines, videos, and goofy spectacles it produced. Now eight new contestants are vying for the most impressive crown.... more ›

Chicagoist has said before (and will probably say again) that we love television. But it’s not often that we get to be on the other side of the box. Last night we got the chance to be the guest on “Talkin’ Funny,” the brainchild of Steve Gadlin, Paul Luikart and Blewt Productions. We’ve talked about these guys before; they produce one of the best comedy shows in town, Don’t Spit The Water, a show much... more ›