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We look forward to the TBS Just for Laughs Festival every year to get a week long dose of great comedy from dynamite Chicago locals and some of the best headliners in the business.

So when it was cancelled this year, we figured it might be nice to catch the one group of TBS comics on tour from the critically bashed TV show Sullivan and Son, where the whole gang was performing at Improv in Schaumburg. Atwww.BuzzNews.netwe are always hoping to show our support and possibly feature individual comics who might be talented but underutilized on their current project. 

Unfortunately, it was a huge waste of a night.  The entire set was nearly identical to last year’s Park West set at The TBS Festival. Right down to the closing "skit" where a female audience member gets a lap dance from the comics and some hapless audience members. Come on guys, how many huge and potentially comedic topical events have occurred in the last year? Yet, not one of you had written anything new, not one.

The normally smooth, funny and pleasant Steve Byrne had some awful aggressive rant in his material about his wife. Roy Woody Jr. went on and on about getting a "blowjob from a woman in a Walgreens' parking lot" until even his fellow cast members onstage were telling him to move on. Ahmed Ahmed gave his little bit of covert sexism to the night by apparently stealing one of John Leguizamo's funny transvestite voices AGAIN to portray women in his life who refuse to pick up the check.

Owen Benjamin, whom I can only describe as the "Master of Mediocrity" was so completely forgettable and bland that I couldn't roll my eyes hard enough to express the "blech" feeling his tired routine was causing. Benjamin proudly calls his vanilla brand of comedy "broad". Bill Cosby was broad, the late great Robin Williams was "broad", and unfortunately Owen Benjamin's comedy is just plain "shallow".

I feel sorry for the actually talented women on the TV show, including wonderful, adorable Christine Ebersole, Vivian Bang and tartly funny Jodi Long. 

If you are one of the few beer guzzling, simple minded fans of this show, which tries but fails miserably to recapture ANY of the warmth and edginess of 'Cheers" and "All in the Family",  I still recommend that you not take the time or spend the money to see these guys live.

Published in Theatre in Review

The Title Says it All in Conspirators Remarkable ‘Chicago Cop Macbeth’

20 May 2025 in Theatre in Review

It was a dark and stormy night as I motored to The Conspirators “Chicago Cop Macbeth,” with a fog of…

HAMILTON returns to Chicago in 2026

19 May 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Broadway In Chicago announced today that HAMILTON will return to Chicago for a multi-week engagement beginning March 4, 2026 through April 26,…

Hiplet Ballerinas: A Daring Dance Revolution at Auditorium Theatre

18 May 2025 in Dance in Review

An electrifying evening of artistic fusion unfolded at the Auditorium Theatre as Hiplet Ballerinas, the professional company of the Chicago…

Blank Theatre’s SWEET CHARITY Charms with Talented Cast and Standout Choreography

17 May 2025 in Theatre in Review

We are inside the Pompeii Club. From everything Charity has told us, the club is the place to be, and…

The Antiquities: A Thought-provoking Look at Today from the Future

13 May 2025 in Theatre in Review

With AI and other technological advancements continuing to change the landscape of how we work and interact with one another,…

Riots of Laughter Greet World Premiere of 'R.U.R. [Rossum’s Universal Robots]'

13 May 2025 in Theatre in Review

Riots of laughter greeted the City Lit Theater world premiere of “R.U.R. [Rossum’s Universal Robots]” Wait. Could this be the…

Paramount Theatre extends Million Dollar Quartet until January 4, 2026

12 May 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Paramount Theatre’s smash hit Million Dollar Quartet, a “roof-rattling…rapturous celebration of early rock ‘n’ roll” (Daily Herald), won’t stop rockin’ anytime…

See Chicago Dance Announces 2025 Chicago Dance Month Performers and FREE Events

12 May 2025 in Upcoming Dance

See Chicago Dance, the dance industry's nonprofit service organization celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, is proud to announce organizations…

Tickets for Disney's The Lion King On Sale Now

12 May 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Broadway In Chicago announced today that individual tickets for Disney’s The Lion King, are now on sale to the public. Tickets ranging…

Cats pounces onto the Paramount stage taking the legendary musical to soaring new heights

11 May 2025 in Theatre in Review

I’ll just say it - Cats is going to blow your mind. Now running at the Paramount Theatre, this spectacular…

Trap Door's 'Galileo,' Beautifully Produced, Is a Knowing Parable for Our Times

11 May 2025 in Theatre in Review

“Galileo” written in 1938 by German playwright Bertolt Brecht, tells the straightforward story of the 17th century physicist and astronomer’s…

Humble and Radiant: Charlotte's Web at Greenhouse Theatre

11 May 2025 in Theatre Reviews

The adage goes that you can’t choose your family but you can choose your friends. Throughout our lives, we meet…

Hell in a Handbag Productions Presents World Premiere of QUEEN FOR A DAY

09 May 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to conclude its 2024/25 Season with the world premiere of QUEEN FOR A DAY written by…

A Chicago May Must See: Time Is A Color And The Color Is Blue at Bramble Arts Loft

06 May 2025 in Theatre Reviews

If our day-to-day lives were a collective color, it would probably be the color blue. Whether you are feeling blue,…

Steppenwolf Theatre Presents YOU WILL GET SICK - June 5 – July 13, 2025 - Chicago Premiere!

06 May 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to present Noah Diaz's whimsical, wild, unpredictable and deeply moving Chicago…

Review: Remy Bumppo's 'Art' at Theatre Wit

06 May 2025 in Theatre in Review

A fool and their money are soon parted as the old expression goes, but what do you do when that…

BACK IN CHICAGO BY POPULAR DEMAND! TONY AND GRAMMY-WINNING BEST MUSICAL, HADESTOWN IS NOW PLAYING

06 May 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that HADESTOWN, the winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards® including Best New Musical and the…

Definition Theatre Presents World Premiere of Black Bone by Tina Fakhrid-Deen

05 May 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Definition Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Black Bone, a bold new satire by Chicago playwright Tina Fakhrid-Deen…

Hymn at Chicago Shakespeare Theater – A Soulful Exploration of Brotherhood

04 May 2025 in Theatre in Review

Stories that explore the emotional lives of men—especially Black men—are still far too rare on the American stage. Outside the…

Chicago Opera Theater presents world premiere of She Who Dared by Jasmine Arielle Barnes & Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton

02 May 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Chicago Opera Theater (COT), Chicago’s foremost producer of new and rarely staged  operas, proudly presents the world premiere of She Who Dared by…

Outrage Made Manifest in “Bust: An Afrocurrentist Play”

30 April 2025 in Theatre in Review

Something extraordinary happens on a street in Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. Woods (Keith Randolph Smith), a hard-working Black man in the…

THE DEN THEATRE ANNOUNCES JUNE COMEDY SHOWS

30 April 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

The Den Theatre today announced upcoming June 2025 shows at the theatre's Wicker Park stages at 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., including "Anatomy…

Redtwist Theatre's GARY: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus: Who mops up after the royals' butchery?

29 April 2025 in Theatre in Review

I reviewed TITUS ANDRONICUS in mid-February, so I was eager to see the sequel! In TITUS, Shakespeare tells the story…

BrightSide Theatre announces cast and production team for season finale PIPPIN, June 13-29

29 April 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

BrightSide Theatre, Naperville’s professional theatre company, has announced the cast for the final show of its 13th season – the…

Chicago Puppet Lab Showcase culminates eight-month residency with experimental live shows by emerging puppet artists, May 31-June 1 at Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center

29 April 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Eight Chicago artists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines have spent the last eight months in residence at the Chicago Puppet…

Gusto Performances in ‘Spring Awakening,’ Vibrant Staging of 1906 Basis of Broadway Musical

28 April 2025 in Theatre in Review

“Spring Awakenings,” now playing at Chicago’s Greenhouse Theater Center, is not the Tony-winning 2006 Broadway musical “Spring Awakening,” but an…

Rosemont's Parkway Bank Park Announces 2025 Lineup for Rockin in the Park Free Summer Concert Series

28 April 2025 in Upcoming Theatre

Rosemont's Parkway Bank Park entertainment district (5501 Park Place, Rosemont) will turn up the volume this summer with the return of its…

‘Kairos’ Is One of the Most Enjoyable and Provocative Shows in Chicago

27 April 2025 in Theatre in Review

Lisa Sanaye Dring’s play “Kairos,” which just opened at The Edge Off Broadway theater, is one of the most thought-provoking…

A Half-Century in Harmony: Ryan Opera Center Shines in ‘Rising Stars in Concert’

27 April 2025 in Theatre in Review

It was a night of celebration, reflection, and breathtaking talent at the Civic Opera House. Fifty years of song echoed…

From Graphic Epic to Stage Triumph: Berlin at Court Theatre

27 April 2025 in Theatre in Review

Court Theatre’s world premiere of Berlin, adapted by Mickle Maher from Jason Lutes’ monumental graphic novel, is a breathtaking achievement.…

 

 

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