TBS Just for Laughs Chicago Comedy Fest is Baaaaack June 11-16 #JFLChicago @TBSVeryFunny #comedy

ChiIL out with ChiIL Live Shows this weekend, with the best medicine.   Yes, that would be laughter, and the Dr. is in the house.   The annual TBS Just for Laughs Chicago is baaaaaack in Chi, IL and this fest is a laugh riot.   Check out our TBS Just for Laughs Chicago coverage from 2012 here.

We're particularly stoked for Russell Brand, Bill Maher, and Seth Meyers, but laughter abounds at loads of our favorite venues all over town. 

We've adored Bill Maher since waaaaay back in the day.   Anyone seen him in Cannibal Women in The Avocado Jungle of Death from back in 1989?!   If not, check it out after the fest is over.   It's the good kind of cheese & one of our favs.  

A young Bill Maher stars with Shannon Tweed, Adrienne Barbeau and Karen Waldron.

The government hires a feminist at the local university to track down the Piranha Women living in the uncharted Avocado Jungle (westernmost outpost is San Bernardino) to convince them to move to a reservation condo in Malibu. She hires a guide at the edge of the jungle, a male chauvinist pig, and they have many arguments about men and women as they work their way in, and eventually confront the Piranha Women. Written by Ed Sutton 

The U.S. government, eager to protect the nation's avacado supplies, recruits feminist professor Margo Hunt to make contact with the Piranha Women, an all-female tribe who believe men are only good as a source of food. Accompanying Dr. Hunt on her trip are Jim, a guide of questionable competence, and Bunny, a student of unquestionable incompetence. Written by Jean-Marc Rocher

For the next 6 days, no Cannibal Women for YOU.   Get outta the house and laugh it up.   We've highlighted some of our top choices, but you can't go wrong... just follow the funny.   Some of the best shows are in the smaller venues, off the beaten path.   And like performers at music fests, famous comedians pop up unannounced, sit in with each other, and create some one of a kind mash ups.   TBS Just for Laughs Chicago is renowned for that.  Be there.

Here's what's happening:

June 11, 2013

6:30 PM - The Heat - FREE Advance Screening - ShowPlace ICON

7:00 PM - Double Threat: Junior Stopka & Mike Lebovitz - STAGE 773 - The Pro

7:00 PM - iO Theater presents TJ & Dave - STAGE 773 - The Box

8:00 PM - Pete Holmes - UP Comedy Club

8:30 PM - Double Threat: Kellye Howard & Brianna Baker (BEDE) - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

8:30 PM - Double Threat: Mike Stanley & Sean Flannery - STAGE 773 - The Pro

8:30 PM - Naked Sports Live Podcast - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

9:30 PM -Secret Big-Time Local Comedy Showcase - STAGE 773 - The Box

10:00 PM - The Shit Show - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

10:00 PM - Wrestling with Depression Podcast - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

10:30 PM - Pete Holmes - UP Comedy Club

June 12, 2013

7pm - Moshe Kasher - STAGE 773 - The Pro

7pm - The Comedy Bar Kickass Showcase - STAGE 773 - The Box

7pm - The Dailymotion Comedy Showcase - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

7:30pm - Anjelah Johnson - The Vic Theatre

7:30pm - Russell Brand - The Chicago Theatre 

7:30pm - The Whitest Kids U' Know - Park West

8pm - Second City Alumni - UP Comedy Club

8:30pm - The Todd Barry Podcast - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

9:30pm - The Annoyance Theatre presents Messing with a Friend - STAGE 773 - The Box (*Hilariously recommended!   We dig Susan Messing big time.)

10pm - @DadBoner and Friends, You Guys - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

10pm - Above Average presents: Tripp & Tyler and The Katydids - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

June 13, 2013

7pm - Moshe Kasher - STAGE 773 - The Pro

7pm - Team Coco Podcast - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

7pm - The Dailymotion Comedy Showcase - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

7pm - The Lincoln Lodge - STAGE 773 - The Box

7:30pm - David Cross & His Super Duper Pals - The Chicago Theatre

7:30pm - John Hodgman, Performing as Celebrated Humorist John Hodgman in: JOHN HODGMAN TONIGHT! - Park West

7:30pm - Nick Swardson - The Vic Theatre

8pm - Pete Holmes - UP Comedy Club

8:30pm - A Tight 60 - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

8:30pm - Chelsea Peretti - STAGE 773 - The Pro

8:30pm - Dancing Around the Shit Fire with Kyle Kinane - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

8:30pm - Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net - STAGE 773 - The Box

8:30pm - Stage Time - Jokes and Notes

10pm - @DadBoner and Friends, You Guys - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

10pm - Double Threat: Kumail Nanjiani & Friend - STAGE 773 - The Pro

10pm - Jokes and Notes Presents The Urban Comedy Hour - STAGE 773 - The Box

10pm - The Combo - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

10pm - Knuckleheads - UP Comedy Club

11:30pm - Above Average presents: Tripp & Tyler and The Katydids - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

11:30pm - The Super Serious Show - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

11:59pm - Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net - STAGE 773 - The Box

June 14, 2013

7pm - Doug Loves Movies Podcast - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

7pm - The Dailymotion Comedy Showcase - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

7pm - The Playground presents Alone: Chicago's Best Solo Acts - STAGE 773 - The Box

7:30pm - Dylan Moran - Yeah, Yeah - Park West

7:30pm - Nick Swardson - The Vic Theatre

7:30pm - Seth Meyers with Special Guests Al Madrigal & Hannibal Buress - The Chicago Theatre

8pm - Knuckleheads - UP Comedy Club

8:30pm - A Tight 60 - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

8:30pm - Chelsea Peretti - STAGE 773 - The Pro

8:30pm - Comics to Watch - Jokes and Notes

8:30pm - Dancing Around the Shit Fire with Kyle Kinane - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

8:30 - Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net - STAGE 773 - The Box

10pm - Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction - STAGE 773 - The Box

10pm - Double Threat: Kumail Nanjiani & Friend - STAGE 773 - The Pro

10pm - The Combo - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

10pm - The Sullivan & Son Comedy Tour - Park West

10pm - Todd Barry - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

10:30pm - Bad Boys of Comedy - Jokes and Notes

11pm - Knuckleheads - UP Comedy Club

11:30pm - The Blackout Diaries - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

11:59pm - The Super Serious Show - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

11:59pm - Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net - STAGE 773 - The Box

June 15, 2013

7pm - Bob Newhart Live - The Chicago Theatre

7pm - Chelsea Peretti - STAGE 773 - The Pro

7pm - Maria Bamford - Park West

7pm - Pete Holmes - You Made It Weird Podcast - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

7pm - The Dailymotion Comedy Showcase - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

7pm - The Playground presents Alone: Chicago's Best Solo Acts - STAGE 773 - The Box

7:30pm - Stars of truTV's Impractical Jokers - The Vic Theatre

8pm - Knuckleheads - UP Comedy Club

8:30pm - 5-Star Leading Ladies - Jokes and Notes 

8:30pm - A Tight 60 - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

8:30pm - Chelsea Peretti - STAGE 773 - The Pro

8:30pm - Dancing Around the Shit Fire with Kyle Kinane - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

8:30pm - Kill All Comedy - STAGE 773 - The Box\

9:30pm - Artie Lange - Park West

10pm - Double Threat: Kumail Nanjiani & Friend - STAGE 773 - The Pro

10pm - Stars of truTV's Impractical Jokers - The Vic Theatre

10pm - The Combo - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

10pm - Todd Barry - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

10:30pm - Best of Chicago - Jokes and Notes

10:30pm - The Playground presents The Tomkat Project - STAGE 773 - The Box

11pm - Knuckleheads - UP Comedy Club

11:30pm - The Blackout Diaries - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

11:30pm The Super Serious Show - STAGE 773 - The Thrust

11:59pm - Artie Lange - Park West

June 16, 2013 - Sunday

7:30pm - Bill Maher - The Chicago Theatre

8pm - The Lil Rel Show - Jokes and Notes

Here are the biggest shows broken down by venue:

Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.:

David Cross & His Super Duper Pals - Thursday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Seth Meyers, Al Madrigal and Hannibal Buress - Friday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Bob Newhart Live - Saturday, June 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Bill Maher - Sunday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m.

The Vic, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave.:

Anjelah Johnson - Wednesday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m

Nick Swardson - Thursday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Impractical Jokers - Saturday, June 15 at 7:30 and 10 p.m.

Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave.:

The Whitest Kids U’ Know - Wednesday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m.

John Hodgman -Thursday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Dylan Moran: “Yeah, Yeah” - Friday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Maria Bamford - Saturday, June 15 at 7 p.m.

Artie Lange - Saturday, June 15 at 9:30 and 11:59 p.m.