Arts Blog

You've still got a few days to catch Chicago's famed Second City comedy troupe (touring edition) at the Majestic Theatre, presented by the Dallas Summer Musicals. This is undoubtedly the most fun you'll have this week -- and they even have a two-for-one ticket deal going right now (see the DSM Web site for details). The show runs through Sunday.

On Tuesday, troupe members were in fine form, and there was a definite sense that we were seeing the comedy superstars of tomorrow (this is the same group that gave us the Belushis, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, ad infinitum). I confidently predict that Ross Bryant and Tara DeFrancisco will end up on Saturday Night Live, based solely on their spew-your-drink-hilarious sketch about two secret agents playing an absurd version of six (more like 60) degrees of separation. Their improv at the end of the bit was dazzling, and so funny I almost forgave the woman in front of me who didn't stop talking during the entire show. (Yes, you, on Row H in the left section!)

Other highlights included Brian Jack's conversation with a T-Mobile representative who asks an endless series of "identity-proving" questions -- most of the answers had to do with unicorns -- and the entire cast doing an improv that had them trying to guess, Charades-like, the words "symbiotic," "Nicaragua" and "adjudicate." They also did dead-on, sublimely hilarious sendups of Avenue Q and Riverdance.

Just get on down to the Majestic this week; you'll thank me. But don't wear a good shirt, because you're going to end up spewing your beer or wine on it. Go to the Dallas Summer Musicals or Ticketmaster Web site, or call 214-373-8000 for tickets.

Trust me on this: You don't have anything more fun to do on Saturday than heading to the McKinney Avenue Contemporary for an hour-and-a-half with Leslie Jordan. The impish scene-stealer from Will & Grace, Boston Legal, Reba and other shows is in town doing his hilarious one-man show, which is really much more than stand-up comedy; it's a full theatrical experience. He's touring in support of his new Logo TV show, Sordid Lives, and his book, My Trip Down the Pink Carpet. In keeping with that theme, the show is bathed in neon pink, with requisite pink carpet (he actually rolls himself up in it at one point), and at Friday's performance he was nattily attired in a suit that included a pink tie and cuff links.

The Emmy winner nails his own appeal spot-on when he declares, early in the show, that he's actually a "high-school cheerleader trapped in the body of a 53-year-old gay man. ... If someone cut me open, Hannah Montana would spill out." Mr. Jordan has so much infectious energy, coming right at you in the MAC's relatively small space, that I was gloriously exhausted just from watching him.

Other highlights include Mr. Jordan's tales of Hollywood crushes (the same as mine, really -- Mark Harmon, Robert Urich, George Clooney), his fearlessly hilarious depiction of the difference between "butch queen dancing" and "queen dancing" (it's mostly in the facial expressions) and the way he imitates Faye Dunaway imitating Tennessee Williams (just go with me on that one). He also tells a spew-your-drink-it's-so-funny story about Beverly D'Angelo and a trip to a Dallas Victoria's Secret for frilly underthings. I will divulge no more.

Really, go. Just go. You'll thank me later. Two shows on Saturday, at 2 and 7 p.m. At the MAC, 3120 McKinney Ave. $50. 214-953-1212. www.thelesliejordan.com.

Galleria Dallas has a cool new free series going for the kids called Showtime Saturdays, and you can expect a touch of humor, with the folks at Slappy's Puppet Playhouse helping to produce it. Darren Collins will do his comedy juggling act tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. adjacent to the Play Place on Level 3.

Actress and comedienne Wanda Sykes, observational, scathing, hilarious Wanda Sykes, has just been added to the TITAS 2008-2009 season. She is scheduled to perform at McFarlin Auditorium on Friday, Sept. 26, at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $25 to $75, and available at the TITAS Box Office, 3625 N. Hall Street, Suite 740. Or you can call 214-528-5576 or 800-462-7980, or go online. TITAS also offers a $5 Youth Ticket (K-12) that is available only at the McFarlin Auditorium box office on the day of the show. Group discounts are available, but you have to call the box office for more information.

Depending on your view of him, comedian George Carlin was either offensive or honest. What ended up being his final comedy album, It's Bad For Ya, was released today, a little more than a month after he died of a heart attack at 71. His site describes it as:

It's Bad For Ya features Carlin's noted irreverent observations on such taboo subjects as religion, death, patriotism and big business, as well as pungent examinations of modern language and the "decrepit state of the American culture."

Read the rest here.

Are you going to see Jerry Seinfeld Saturday night? If you went, how was the Jerry Seinfeld show?

Be part of the "supporting cast" in the new Jib Jab viral video. Follow the instructions at the end of the new presidential campaign spoof and paste your face on a cameo character in the video. Oh, the splendorous comic-relief that is Jib Jab. Those guys should get a Nobel Peace Prize for creating such a healing balm of laughter for our social and politcal anxieties.

Okay, I went and did the photo upload (see my video here). It's a little tricky. You want to use a fairly high resolution jpeg (mine was 281 kb - about 200 dpi). Don't worry if your head doesn't fit on the first step of the editing - you get a chance to fine tune on step two. Their editing page took me a long time to load. And you have to register with them to be able to send your customized video. Time waste factor: 1/2 hour. Fun factor: Worth it if you have the time. And you can then send the link to all your pals.