The North Side has long reigned as the cradle of Chicago comedy. Stand-ups flock to Zanies or The Laugh Factory, and improvisers and sketch comics flit between The Annoyance, The Second City and iO.

This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here. See more from the L.A. Times in Google Search. Set us as preferred Wow, 2025 — in the race to dismantle ...

Late-night came roaring back to life, Roy Wood Jr. delivered a must-see special and Amy Poehler made a must-listen podcast. By Jason Zinoman Many savvy observers declared the death of the late-night ...

Nate Bargatze, Leanne Morgan and Dusty Slay are leading a family-friendly scene. Unlike earlier stand-ups, they don’t look down at their cursing peers. By Jason Zinoman Reporting from Nashville The ...