Just for Laughs Chicago Festival

In honor of the Chicago Just for Laughs Festival starting today, here is one of my favorite articles I wrote for now-defunct Chicago satire site The Daily Blank:

Cubs, White Sox to perform at Just For Laughs Chicago Fest
By Tia Ayers

A last-minute addition to the Just for Laughs Chicago Comedy Festival has caused a boom in ticket sales.

According to the JFL website, the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox have agreed to participate in two shows for the festival. The Cubs and White Sox, two staples of the local comedy scene, will co-headline Wrigley Field on Wednesday and Thursday.

Just for Laughs Producer Leroy Haynard called the Cubs-White Sox interleague match-up the perfect addition to the festival.

“We started this festival to showcase the rich history of comedy in Chicago. And you can’t think of comedy in Chicago without thinking about their sports teams. They’re hilarious!” Haynard said.

According to the JFL website, Going Going Gaffe; The Cubs vs. The White Sox at Wrigley Field promises “nine innings of the best slapstick that modern comedy has to offer.”

From ball bobbles to pratfalls to on-field collisions, the two teams will showcase today’s best sports bloopers all for the enjoyment of comedy fans. Haynard hinted that there may even be some cameos by Ray Liotta (reprising his role as Shoeless Joe Jackson from Field of Dreams), Steve Bartman and the San Diego Chicken.

This is just one of several events planned for the five-day festival that starts on Wednesday. Over the next week, more than 70 shows in the Chicago area will feature every living comedy act known to man.

Just for Laughs has produced comedy festivals and events for nearly 30 years, but this is the first time they’re including sporting events in the lineup.

Those that think Going doesn’t fit in with the more traditional styles of comedy that will be featured at the festival, Haynard had this to say: “Sports is a huge category of comedy. If you go on amazon.com, you’ll find over 150 DVDs on sports bloopers. And that’s just the bloopers.”

The numbers agree with Haynard. Although JFL has booked such comedy legends as George Lopez and Jimmy Fallon, the producers anticipate that Going might be the biggest box office draw of the festival. Within hours of the announcement, ticket sales nearly doubled.

Outside of Wrigley Field, Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who looked weathered after a sleepless night of bedazzling costumes, told reporters he was honored that the team was finally getting recognition for their work in comedy.

“These guys have put everything into this dream – spending hours honing their craft, constantly on the road and away from loved ones, performing for unappreciative, drunken hecklers – fueled only by the hope that one day it’ll all pay off.” Piniella said.

At a nearby rehearsal, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillén said he believes Going has the potential to win “Best of the Fest” honors.

“Ever since I was a niño in Venezuela, I dreamed of having my own show just like Sábado Gigante. Finally, here’s the chance for the Hollywood bigwigs to see what– Hey, Pierzynski! You call that slipping on a banana peel?!” Guillén said, before cutting the interview short to re-choreograph a scene at home plate.

Tickets to the Cubs-Sox performances are available at www.chicagocubs.com.

Tickets for other Just for Laughs events are available at www.justforlaughschicago.com.