Just For Laughs Launch

By Matt Motyka in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 16, 2009 7:40PM

If you've not yet heard, today marks the beginning of TBS Presents a “Very Funny” Festival: Just for Laughs. The six-day comedic takeover lays seige to several of Chicago's finest venues and boasts 68 shows, ranging from movie screenings to local standup acts. The list of talent is ridiculous, so somewhere in between Ellen Degeneres and Patrice O'Neal you're bound to find an act that tickles your fancy. And to the delight of our sanity, the 68 shows are not all unique; many of the events will repeat over the course of the festival. In addition to alleviating personal schedule conflicts (thank you, organizers, for not forcing us to choose between Louis CK and David Cross), the repetition will allow us to review the first show of a run, giving you, the reader, an idea of whether or not you'd be interested in catching the encore performance.

Tonight, the comedy calendar will be reset with a special screening of Harold Ramis' film Year One at the Music Box Theatre. In addition to the epic tale of Jack Black and Michael Cera's journey through the anicent world, Ramis will be in attendance to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Martin Short, who will host a night of standup on Thursday at the Vic, is also slated to make an appearance and help kick off the festivities. So go stock up on sutures, because your sides will be splitting all week.

Image from TBS Presents A “Very Funny” Festival: Just For Laughs press release