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There's a bunch of great benefit shows all over the land this week, so now's your chance to be philanthropical and giggly at the same time. There's also some big names on the horizon, with Russell Brand, Janeane Garofalo, and Elephant Larry all putting up some limited engagements around town. Combine that with regular show stalwarts like Harold Night at UCB, Worst Laid Plans, and the opening of the LA Comedy Festival AND the iO West Harold Competition, and there's no reason not to see something this week.
As always, let me know if you've got a show you'd like to promote, and we'll try to get it up.
MONDAY 5/3
Jo Koy LLS Benefit, 8p Irvine Improv. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are getting some help from Jo Koy. All proceeds benefit LLS.
TUESDAY 5/4
Upstate v. USS Rock N’ Roll, 9p iO West. The annual Harold Competition is upon us again. Actually, it started on Monday, but this is the first really great (and tough) matchup. Go support!
Russell Brand, 11p UCB. A not-so-secret drop in by Brand on Tuesday night means you better get to the theater early to stand in line.
WEDNESDAY 5/5
In The Land..., 8p Comedy Central Stage. Jason Nash revisits his true (and truly funny) one man show: In The Land of Tall Buildings & Red Fire Engines. Raising a child has never been so memorable (for him).
Janeane Garofalo, 8p Largo. Janeane takes the stage of a night of stand up and storytelling at Largo.
THURSDAY 5/6
LA Comedy Festival, 7:30p ACME. Most of May is dedicated to the LA Comedy Festival, running from the 6th to the 23rd. Features include stand up, sketch, improv, and short films.
Elephant Larry's Treehouse, 8p Comedy Central Stage. The amazing Elephant Larry sketch comedy group is dipping into LA for one show at the Comedy Central Stage. The NYC powerhouse sketch comedy group fellas present: Elephant Larry’s Treehouse.
FRIDAY 5/7
You Fascinate Me, 8p UCB. Jimmy Pardo does some stand up, chat up some celebrities, and play a pretty great gameshow of the same name. This month: Mike Sweeney, longtime head writer (most recently for Conan).
Bring The Rock, 9p Largo. Ben Stiller, Josh Homme, Greg Behrendt, Al Madrigal and others all team up to raise money for Ben’s STILLERSTRONG movement.
SATURDAY 5/8
Wilt Chamberlain’s Kids, 8p iO West. A crazy improv / sketch show where a portion of the proceeds go to Help The Children. Literally.
Worst Laid Plans Book Show, 10p UCB. The good news is Worst Laid Plans, the bad sex storytelling show, got a book deal. The better news is they’re launching / showing it off / telling even more stories at UCB on Saturday.
SUNDAY 5/9
John Pinette, 7p Ontario Improv. Head East, young man, to see the wonderful stand up stylings of John Pinette.
But I Digress..., 8:30p Improv Comedy Lab. Next to the Improv on Melrose, Bert Hilkes talks about every comic’s one man show: almost making it.
That guy's loud in more ways than one. Photo via ruggybear for LAist Flickr pool.
