Choice Comedy (week of March 13 to March 19)

Did you get out to see some comedy this past weekend, or were you, like so many, glued to your television as the horrors of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe visited Japan?  Sometimes, getting away for a couple of hours to laugh isn't a bad thing...especially when things all over the world are anything but funny.

I made that choice...and saw Greg Behrendt and Mike Drucker at Laughs AND Jim Short and Eddie Brill at the Comedy Underground, and still had time to be awed, angry, humbled, frightened, frustrated and paranoid by everything going on.

Not that it compares with the trouble in the world, but the Seattle comedy scene has a bit of sad news to report--the closing of the newest comedy club in town, Big City Comedy Club.  Evidently, a plug was pulled--and they've gone and canceled all of their advertised upcoming shows, including this weekend.  Sad news, especially for Tony Daniel & Marcus Absher who, I know, worked very hard for this opportunity--but, perhaps not entirely unexpected...the venue is in an awkward location with very little visibility or awareness, and for that to work, you need to be able to make a big splash to drive people somewhere unfamiliar...and there was no big splash. 

This isn't the last that we've heard from Big City Comedy and, certainly, everyone wishes them the best of luck with what they do in the future...

Meanwhile, there IS comedy happening this week...so, let's take a look!

And please remember that these are merely my own opinions and your mileage may certainly vary.

MARCH 13-MARCH 19 BEST BET:

Shane Mauss & Brian Moote @ Laughs Comedy Spot in Kirkland
Friday 3/18 & Saturday 3/19  8pm & 10pm shows
Four weeks in a row, Laughs Comedy Spot in Kirkland has earned our choice as the BEST BET for a stand-up comedy show this week.  Shane Mauss is a hot name in comedy, with a Comedy Central Presents under his belt and a lot of buzz about him.  Originally from Wisconsin, Shane developed his comedy in Boston and broke out after a successful run through the Boston Comedy Festival.  He's played Laughs before and those of you who saw him then should be bringing your friends to see him again--especially as a local favorite is returning to Seattle as his feature:  Brian Moote.  This is the best comedy show in town this week, shining a light on two comedians that you'll be proud to say that you saw them before they truly got huge...   (www.laughscomedy.com)

MARCH 13-MARCH 19 GREAT OPTIONS:

Graham Elwood @ Laff*Hole at Chop Suey in Seattle
Wednesday 3/16 9pm
Graham is Doug Benson's "perma-middle"--someone that Doug feels comfortable touring with...  He's a great opener for Doug, because they share so little in their comedic personas, making them quite complimentary.  Graham isn't a stoner, his comedy is active and clear-eyed observational...and Graham seems to tour war zones a great deal.  On this tour, he's the main event--touring behind a new documentary of his overseas comedy tours (titled "Laffghanistan"--it will be shown Tuesday night at NW Film Forum.)  I've had the chance to work with Graham a couple of times and he's a great comic...and any show that he's involved is a GREAT OPTION.  (www.prokomedy.org)

Kristin Key @ Comedy Underground in Seattle
Thursday 3/10 8pm and Friday 3/11 shows at 8pm and 10:30pm
You might recognize Kristin from NBC's Last Comic Standing--the year that Ty Barnett was the runner up.  She's a quality headliner and one that does a good job incorporating guitar-based comedy.  Note, she's only here for Thursday and Friday...as Saturday night at the Comedy Underground is John Wing...so, if you want to see Kristin...and I think you should, because I think she's a GREAT OPTION for comedy this week, make certain you go on either Thursday or Friday.   (www.comedyunderground.com)
Sebastian Maniscalco (w/Jennifer Murphy) @ Parlor-Live in Bellevue
Thursday 3/10 at 7:30pm, Friday 3/11 & Saturday 3/12  7:30pm & 10pm shows
Sebastian was one of the comedians on Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy tour.  I'm giving this show some bonus points for bringing Jen Murphy in as the featured performer.  She's a winning performer that I'm happy is coming to Seattle (as I'd wanted to get her into the Seattle International Comedy Competition last year.) (www.parlorlive.com) 

Owen Straw & Nancy Reed @ Comedy Underground, Tacoma
Friday 3/11 & Saturday 3/12 shows at 8pm & 10:30pm
I'm very proud of my good friend Owen Straw.  A local talent who made his way up during the start of the current Seattle alt-comedy scene getting a chance to co-headline (with the wonderful Nancy Reed) a comedy club in the area on the weekend.  He's got a wonderfully laconic style and a delightfully strange way of looking at things...always a good sign for a good night of comedy!  (www.comedyunderground.com/tacoma/)

Michael Malone (w/Xung Lam) @ Tacoma Comedy Club, Tacoma
Thursday 3/10 8pm, Friday 3/11 & Saturday 3/12 shows at 8pm & 10pm
 (www.tacomacomedyclub.com)   


There are also some interesting midweek items that you might want to take a chance on...with two shows by Children of the Atom at Comedy Underground.

Will Laughs earn a fifth-straight "BEST BET" next week?  Considering they're bringing in Last Comic Standing's "Roy Wood Jr."--it could very well be.