Sarah Silverman Hosts TBS JUST FOR LAUGHS Chicago Shows Tonight, 6/16

TBS and Just For Laughs are thrilled to announce that Emmy(R) Award-winning comedian Sarah Silverman will host two shows at The Chicago Theatre tonight, June 16. Sarah Silverman and Guests will feature some of her favorite comedians, with line-up details to be revealed shortly.

Among the Fest's other newly added events, Janeane Garofalo & Kyle Kinane will team up for a double-bill at UP Comedy Club, while the Comedy Bar will welcome the Team Coco Live variety show, the New Faces Of Chicago showcase hosted by Chicago native Lil Rel, and TBS LOL Lounge hosted by Julian McCullough.

For the first time at the Festival, cool indie rock venue The Hideout will host comedy-nerd revelries including The Eric Andre Show, master character-comic and impressionist James Adomian with friends in tow and in character for Conspiracy Theory Live with Jesse Ventura, and a super-top-secret multi-comic fundraiser presented by The AV Club benefitting the 826Chicago organization all Thursday night; The Delocated Witness Protection Program Variety Show with Jon Glaser and a solo stand-up show for Matt Braunger Friday night; and outspoken comic W. Kamau Bell with The W. Kamau Bell Curve: Ending Racism in About An Hour along with Pete Holmes' wildly popular You Made It Weird podcast Saturday night.

But wait... there's more!

Among the Fest's grassroots programming, improv haven iO will enjoy the return of 30 Rock's Scott Adsit playing with Adult Swim's Jon Glaserand CONAN's Kevin Dorff for four shows and local Jet Eveleth for one; plus the Pet Project Series, Alone: Chicago's Best Solo Acts and Sean Flannery's Never Been To Paris at Playground Theater; Paul Provenza and Troy Conrad's cult favorite Set List and Flannery's acclaimed Blackout Diaries at Lincoln Lodge; Chris D'Elia from NBC's Whitney, The Conan Writers Live, Deon Cole and Friends, and comedy vet Tom Dreesen all at the brand new Laugh Factory Comedy Club; Messing with a Friend with Chicago improv veteran Susan Messing and her guest Greg Hess at the Annoyance; an urban spread with Breakout Performers, 5-Star Leading Ladies, Starting 5, Best of the Midwest and Stage Time at Jokes and Notes; real-time sports commentary and shenanigans with Baseball, Hot Dogs & Schadenfreude at Lincoln Hall; and Chicago Underground Comedy presents: Secret Big-Time Local Comedy Showcase + Secreter Short Film Showcase over at the Beat Kitchen.

TBS JUST FOR LAUGHS CHICAGO and the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago are collaborating on three nights of the best independent comedic short and feature films from around the world. Screenings will take place Wednesday, June 13 to Friday, June 15, 2012. Additional details are available at www.siskelfilmcenter.org or www.justforlaughschicago.com.

The performances and events added to the TBS JUST FOR LAUGHS CHICAGO roster join a list that already includes stars like Conan O'Brien, Aziz Ansari, Vince Vaughn, Kevin Smith, John Oliver, Patton Oswalt, Nick Offerman, Bill Engvall, Billy Gardell, John Pinette, Stephen Merchant, Amy Schumer, Jeff Ross, Henson Alternative's Stuffed and Unstrung, Mike Birbiglia, The Dan Band, Kyle Kinane, Brian Posehn, TJ Miller and Kelly Carlin. A complete rundown of announced performances follows. Schedules and other festival information are available at www.justforlaughschicago.com.

Tickets for the newly added shows will go on sale Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m. CST.

For all the latest news on TBS JUST FOR LAUGHS CHICAGO, visit www.justforlaughschicago.com, become a fan of TBSveryfunny on Facebook, follow @TBSVeryFunny on Twitter, or search for hashtag #JFLChicago.

For the past three summers, the TBS JUST FOR LAUGHS comedy festival has been a landmark event for Chicago, which is home to a rich comedy heritage, from improv and sketch troupes to some of the most familiar names in the business. TBS and Just For Laughs are also working with one of the largest independent promoters in the United States - Chicago-based Jam Productions LTD, as well as Outback Concerts.

Festival Venue and Ticket Information

The 2012 edition of TBS JUST FOR LAUGHS CHICAGO will take place across 19 locations, including such high-profile Chicago venues as The Chicago Theatre, Akoo Theatre (formerly The Rosemont Theatre), Bank of America Theatre, Park West, The Vic Theatre and Victory Gardens. Festival information is available at www.justforlaughschicago.com.

· Tickets for The Chicago Theatre, Bank of America and Akoo Theatre will be available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000
· Tickets for The Vic Theatre and Park West will be available at www.etix.com or by phone at 800-514-etix
· Tickets for the Victory Gardens will be available at www.victorygardens.org or 773-871-3000
· Tickets for the UP Comedy Club will be available at www.upcomedyclub.com or 312-662-4562
· Tickets for most festival events will also be available at respective venue box offices
· Tickets for The Comedy Bar are available at www.comedybarchicago.com or at 773-387-8412
· Tickets for The Hideout are available at www.hideoutchicago.com or at 773-227-4433
· Tickets for iO Theater are available at iO Box Office or via TicketWeb at www.ticketweb.com or 866-468-3401
· Tickets for the Playground Theatre are available at www.the-playground.com or 773-871-3793
· Tickets for Lincoln Lodge are available at www.thelincolnlodge.com or 773-251-1539
· Tickets for Laugh Factory are available at www.laughfactory.com or at 773-327-3175 ext. 1
· Tickets for the Annoyance are available at www.annoyanceproductions.com or 773-561-4665
· Tickets for Lincoln Hall are available at www.lincolnhallchicago.com or 773-525-2501
· Tickets for the Beat Kitchen are available at www.beatkitchen.com or 866-468-3401
· Tickets for Jokes and Notes available at venue Box Office (Wednesday through Sunday as of 6:00 PM) or at 773-373-3390
· Tickets for Gene Siskel are available at venue Box Office or via Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or 800-982-2787

TBS JUST FOR LAUGHS CHICAGO

Tuesday, June 12, to Sunday, June 17, 2012

NEWLY ANNOUNCED SHOWS

THE CHICAGO THEATRE

Sarah Silverman and Guests - Saturday, June 16 at 7:30 & 10:30 p.m.

Sarah Silverman hosts a line-up of some of her favorite comedians, to be announced soon.

UP Comedy Club

Janeane Garofalo & Kyle Kinane - Wednesday, June 13 at 11:00 p.m.

Both opinionated and outspoken, Janeane Garofalo and Kyle Kinane present a double-bill you're not soon to forget. Their sets effortlessly weave politics, personal stories and social commentary into sets that make you feel like you're spending a night out with friends.

THE COMEDY BAR

Team Coco Live - Wednesday, June 13 at 9:00 p.m.

Join the folks from Conan O'Brien's website, TeamCoco.com, for Team Coco Live. This one-night-only event will be a hilarious evening of stand-up hosted by CONAN opening act Jimmy Pardo (Never Not Funny podcast), and will feature performances by writers Deon Cole, Andres du Bouchet, Brian Stack, Dan Cronin, Jesse Popp, Matt O'Brien, and Todd Levin, some behind-the-scenes goodness and other typical CONAN-flavored weirdness.

New Faces of Chicago - Thursday, June 14 at 9:00 p.m.

Chicago's very own Lil Rel hosts New Faces of Chicago - a show where managers, reps, casting agents and industry members will come to find the next big thing. This is a showcase of Chicago's newest and freshest comics, all wrapped up in a neat little show for the rest of the world to enjoy. They even have that new comedian smell! Come see which one of our New Faces will make you look really cool at parties for years to come when you can say "I saw them when..." Line-up includes Adam Burke, Cameron Esposito, Chastity Washington, CJ Toledano, Drew Michael, James Fritz, Mark Henderson, Mike Lebovitz, Mike Stanley and Russ Williamson.

TBS LOL Lounge - Friday, June 15, and Saturday, June 16 at 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.

The Comedy Bar will serve as home to the TBS LOL Lounge, with Julian McCullough from TBS's Very Funny News as host. Rising comedians will take to the stage over four shows. Each show will open with a finalist from the fifth annual TBS veryfunny presents: Rooftop Comedy's National College Comedy Competition . The performances will be filmed live and air on justforlaughschicago.com and tbs.com.

THE HIDEOUT

The Eric Andre Show - Thursday, June 14 at 7:00 p.m.

On Adult Swim, Eric Andre (Don't Trust The B- in Apartment 23) hosts a dingy, late-night public-access style talk show, creating a distorted pop culture universe by conducting interviews with an unpredictable mix of actual celebrities, 'fake' celebrities and real-life weirdos.

Conspiracy Theory Live with Jesse Ventura - Thursday, June 14 at 9:00 p.m.

Former Governor and wrestling legend Jesse Ventura is on the ground in Chicago and he's assembled a team of investigative experts to uncover some explosive information that will unravel the biggest conspiracy yet. A hit show at festivals around the country, Conspiracy Theory Live is heading for JFL Chicago in June. Featuring James Adomian as Jesse Ventura, and a panel of comedians in character as inside experts, you'll want to be at ringside for the action.

The AV Club/Hideout present: [REDACTED] - Thursday, June 14 at 11:00 p.m.

The A.V. Club and The Hideout will present SECRET SHOW, a stand-up showcase that will feature [REDACTED], [REDACTED], and a special appearance by [REDACTED]. So that should be pretty awesome, right? All proceeds will benefit 826Chicago. Tickets are probably gone already.

The Delocated Witness Protection Program Variety Show - Friday, June 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Join "Jon" from Adult Swim's Delocated as he hosts a night of anonymous and non-anonymous entertainment.

Matt Braunger - Friday, June 15 at 9:00 p.m.

An actor since childhood, Matt Braunger studied theatre in New York and improvisation in Chicago under such luminaries as Susan Messing and Del Close. His television credits include Chelsea Lately, NBC's Up All Night, John Oliver's New York Stand-up Show, MADtv, The United States of Tara, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and The Late Show with David Letterman. In 2009, he was named one of Variety's Top 10 Comics to Watch. His debut album Soak Up The Night was released by Comedy Central Records and named to the iTunes REWIND Top 20 Albums of 2009. In 2010, he recorded his half-hour Comedy Central special, and in 2011 recorded an hour-long special entitled Shovel Fighter. Braunger has also performed at a variety of prestigious comedy festivals including the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, the TBS Comedy Festival Las Vegas and Austin's South By Southwest.

The W. Kamau Bell Curve: Ending Racism in About An Hour - Saturday, June 16 at 7:00 p.m.

America has elected its first black president, and in response, some say racism has redoubled - no, re-quadrupled - its efforts. While the economy fails, racism is thriving. And meanwhile black people wonder if they elected a black president or a president who is black. And the country is bankrupt. We're still fighting wars in places where we have no business... or plan... or even a business plan. Lucky for us, W. Kamau Bell is here to make (non)sense of all of it all. The W. Kamau Bell Curve is a comedic exploration of the current state of America's racism, combined with a little (unknown) history, a little presentation, and a whole bunch of Kamau. And because racism is always attacking in new ways and from new angles, Kamau attacks back by constantly adding new material. The Curve is a seamless mix of stand-up comedy, video and audio clips, personal stories and solo theatrical performance.

Pete Holmes: You Made It Weird - Saturday, June 16 at 9:00 p.m.

Everybody has secret weirdness - Pete Holmes gets comedians to share theirs. You Made It Weird is a weekly podcast by comedian Pete Holmes where he interviews other comedians and actors and makes it weird.

iO THEATER

Scott Adsit, Jon Glaser and Kevin Dorff - Wednesday, June 13 and Thursday, June 14 at 8:00 & 10:30 p.m. nightly

Scott Adsit (Emmy award-winning 30 Rock), Jon Glaser (Adult Swim's Delocated) and Kevin Dorff (CONAN Delocated) performed together at iO and Second City back in the day... Watch as they gloriously reunite this week only, improvising fast and furiously. Try and keep up!

Scott Adsit & Jet Eveleth - Friday, June 15 at 11:59 p.m.

A special bonus performance with Scott Adsit and Jet Eveleth: two improv stalwarts with a knack for the absurd. Expect lovable characters and more than a little weirdness.

PLAYGROUND THEATER

The Pet Project Series - Wednesday, June 13 and Thursday, June 14

Some of the best acts get an hour to just do whatever the heck they want. The performers have free-reign to produce new and exciting comedy and frankly, things might get a little interesting. Don't worry, though -- we picked some good ones so things won't get too weird (we hope!).

· WiseSnatch - Wednesday, June 13, at 7:30 p.m.
· The Other Other Guys - Wednesday, June 13, at 8:30 p.m.
· Chris Condren - Wednesday, June 13, at 9:30 p.m.
· My Manns - Wednesday, June 13, at 10:30 p.m.
· NICE - Thursday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m.
· Hovdees - Thursday, June 14, at 8:30 p.m.
· Brian Babylon - Thursday, June 14, at 9:30 p.m.
· Seeder & Lee - Thursday, June 14, at 10:30 p.m.

ALONE: Chicago's Best Solo Acts - Friday, June 15 and Saturday, June 16 at 8:00 p.m.

For the fourth year running, ALONE unites the city's best solo artists and puts them up in one place. Their rich character work and silly sensibilities unite for one hilarious evening, a run-down of the great solo work happening all over the Windy City. Wendy Mateo will host the shows featuring Adam Cole, Antony Oberbeck, Barry Hite, Christine Tawfik, Conner O'Malley, Greg Hess, Hans Holsen, Katy Colloton and Timmy Mayse.

Never Been To Paris - Friday, June 15 and Saturday, June 16 at 10:00 p.m.

Never Been to Paris is Sean Flannery's one-man show about the last 12 or so times he nearly killed himself by accident. Flannery mixes wild, hilarious stories with photos from the events, voicemails and even some animation: "It's a bit like watching someone's vacation photos," Flannery explains, "if that person nearly killed himself 14 times during the vacation."

LINCOLN LODGE

The Blackout Diaries - Wednesday, June 13 at 8:30 p.m.

The Blackout Diaries is an interactive comedy show where people tell real stories, mostly about drinking. Then you, the audience, can ask the performers questions. It's a hilarious blend of stand-up, improv, multimedia (photos /videos from events are often displayed) and, most importantly, a combination of real people - cops, teachers, engineers - telling stories alongside some of the nation's most respected stand-up comics. The show is produced in conjunction with Chicago Underground Comedy and is regularly presented the final Saturday of every month at The Beat Kitchen.

Set List - Friday, June 15 and Saturday, June 16 at 9:30 & 11:30 p.m. nightly ?

From Paul Provenza and Troy Conrad - Set List is recently back from festivals in Melbourne and Sydney as well as a regular run in London. A huge hit among performers and audiences alike, comics are given a list of strange, challenging, and outrageous topics in the moment, while performing as if it is the act they normally do. As they improvise stand-up material from these never-before-seen topics, the audience follows their list on a projection screen.

LAUGH FACTORY

The Conan Writers Live - Tuesday, June 12 at 8:00 p.m.

The writers from TBS's CONAN have returned to Chicago for a special week of shows and will be coming to the Laugh Factory for a hilarious evening of stand-up. The event will be hosted by CONAN writer (and Chicago's own) Deon Cole, with performances by Brian Kiley, Laurie Kilmartin, Andres du Bouchet, Josh Comers, Todd Levin, Jesse Popp, Jimmy Pardo and more.

From CONAN: Deon Cole and Friends - Wednesday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.

CONAN writer and award-winning comedian Deon Cole (Def Comedy Jam, Comedy Central) is back in town and has invited some of his funniest friends out for a night of killer stand-up. Join Deon and his friends George Willborn (Def Comedy Jam, Showtime At The Apollo), Laurie Kilmartin (Last Comic Standing), Brian Kiley (The Late Show with David Letterman), Damon Williams (Martin Lawrence Presents First Amendment Stand-Up), Josh Comers (CONAN) and more.

Chris D'Elia

Thursday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, June 15 and Saturday, June 16 at 8:00 & 10:00 p.m.

A star of NBC's hit comedy Whitney, Chris D'Elia is becoming one of the most sought-after young comedians and actors in the comedy world. Recently named one of Variety's Top 10 Comics to Watch, D'Elia's other credits include TBS's Glory Daze and Showtime's Live Nude Comedy. He also released a half-hour Comedy Central Presents special in 2011.

Tom Dreesen: Should Comedians Pay to Perform - Friday, June 15 at 5:00 p.m.

Come and hear what Tom Dreesen has to say about this trend that is sweeping the country. Tom Dreesen is featured in the book I'm Dying Up Here written by William Knoedlseder. The book chronicles the famous strike against the Comedy Store in Los Angeles in 1979 that led to comics being paid across the country and as far away as London. Prior to the strike they were paid NOTHING. Dreesen organized a band of then-unknown stand-ups like David Letterman, Jay Leno, Gallagher, Elayne Boosler and many others and, after 8 weeks, won a victory that changed the course of comedy throughout the nation. You won't want to miss this historical story and the discussion with the audience that follows.

Tom Dreesen: The Joy Of Stand-Up Comedy And How To Get There - Saturday, June 16 at 5:00 p.m.

He brings his 40 years of stand-up expertise to his seminar The Joy Of Stand-Up Comedy And How To Get There. This fun-filled and inspirational hour is for aspiring as well as veteran comedians, teaching them to enjoy the journey as much as the audience enjoys their performances. Tom answers questions, but, even more importantly, helps comics recognize their gift and never give up their dream. This fast-paced and informative hour is beneficial to anyone in any endeavor and costs nothing because Tom believes in the healing power of laughter and especially the men and women who bring it to the stage.

ANNOYANCE THEATRE

Messing With A Friend - Thursday, June 14 at 10:30 p.m.

Venerable Chicago improv staple Susan Messing takes a special guest on a special journey for a night of uncomfortable, weird, filthy off-the-cuff comedy. Sometimes, the most fun stuff is the stuff that feels so... wrong. This year she is joined by Chicago improviser and Cook County Social Club regular Greg Hess.

JOKES AND NOTES

Breakout Performers - Friday, June 15 at 8:30 p.m.

See these fresh faces here before you see them on billboards and the sides of buses-the funniest up-and-comers in this town, hands down. Hosted by MarLon Mitchell and featuring Ben Hamilton, Brandon Glover (Hot Sauce), Cody Wilkins, Corey Calvert, Davey Boy, Jesnaira Baez, Rion Evans and T. Murph.

5-Star Leading Ladies - Friday, June 15 at 10:30 p.m.

This all-female show can get naughty, but you'll be laughing the entire time at the wit and charm of these women. Hosted by Kellye Howard and featuring Ali Clayton, Erica Clark, Erika Edwards, Heather Henderson, Kristin Clifford and Rashida Lucas (Buff Bay).

Starting 5 - Saturday, June 16 at 8:30 p.m.

Five funny guys with five distinct points of view; one stage. Hosted by Brian Babylon and featuring Calvin Evans, Clark Jones, Lem Slaughter, Quincy and Sean Monroe.

Best of the Midwest - Saturday, June 16 at 10:30 p.m.

It turns out that funny translates along state lines-these comics have been culled from all over the Midwest, and are ready to rock Chicago. Hosted by Baldhead Phillips and featuring Chastity Washington, Kendall Ferguson, Kevin Simpson (Damn Fool), Shawn Morgan, Vince Acevedo and Willie Lynch Jr.

Stage Time - Sunday, June 17 at 8:00 p.m.

The host of this show takes you to a funny place you've never been before, along with some amazing comics with raw and blue comedy. Hosted by J. Deep and featuring David Banks, Marvin Phipps, Mike Samp, Roy Johnson, Schmitty B., Shane Stay, Tara Terry, Tyson and BrIan Smith (Wildcat).

Lincoln Hall

Baseball, Hot Dogs & Schadenfreude - Wednesday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Join Schadenfreude, Chicago's premiere sketch comedy troupe, for a night of skewering America's favorite pastime. Schadenfreude will turn the sound down on live baseball games and invite the best and brightest comics in town to take an inning and shout at the games like your favorite, surly, unruly sports fan - MST3K style. Because, as we all know, there's nothing like watching sports with a bunch of smart-ass comedians.

BEAT KITCHEN

Chicago Underground Comedy presents: Secret Big-Time Local Comedy Showcase + Secreter Short Film Showcase - Tuesday, June 12 at 8:00 p.m.

This annual tradition kicks off the Festival with elongated sets from some of Chicago's best stand-ups. And if that weren't enough, this year we're expanding into Chicago's budding short comedy film scene, screening funn