Jeff Nominees announced

PRODUCTION – REVUE
“The Absolute Best Friggin’ Time of Your Life” - The Second City e.t.c.

ACTOR IN A REVUE
Sam Richardson - “Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies” - The Second City

ACTRESS IN A REVUE
Christina Anthony – “The Absolute Best Friggin’ Time of Your Life” - The Second City e.t.c.

Improv(e) Humanity

This Thursday is a benefit for the American Cancer Society.

You can find more info at Facebook.

Have you ever had $12 and thought to yourself, "I could either donate this $12 to the American Cancer Society OR I could go see a comedy show..." What a dilemma! Now you can do both! Join us for an evening full of genius by Ken Barnard, high-energy improv from Fart City, music by Courageous Rue, and all hosted by the lovely and always quirky Cameron Esposito.

It takes place Thursday, September 2, 2010 at Gorilla Tango, located at 1919 N. Milwaukee.

Vanessa Bayer and Paul Brittain hired by SNL

Vanessa Bayer and Paul Brittain have been hired as a featured player for Saturday Night Live.

Joining them as a featured player is Groundlings' Sunday Company cast member Taran Killam.

Tom Flanigan to write for Saturday Night Live

Second City ETC veteran Tom Flanigan has been hired to write for the upcoming season of Saturday Night Live.

Flanigan joins a staff featuring his brother-in-law Pat O'Brien.

Tom's last show will be August 29th.

Way to go, Brendan!

Congrats to Brendan Jennings on his recent Tribune honor.

Brendan Jennings, 32
Second City has a lot of slick comics with savvy smarts. But in Brendan Jennings, it also has an emotional well. Jennings, making his debut on the Second City's e.t.c. stage, says that the new gig is “a dream come true” for this graduate of Xavier University in Cincinnati. He has paid his dues — touring with Second City for more than two years until it got too tough to match up with fatherhood. All this 32-year-old needs for discovery is an old-fashioned TV or movie executive to understand the deepest laughter needs risk and heart. We hope Jennings sticks around town. He's the latest in that long and distinguished Second City line of big, funny, needy men who are willing to risk everything at every moment — and thus become the souls of whatever revue they perform.

SNL called some back

Word has it that a few were asked to go to New York so if anything comes of it, we'll know soon..

SNL hires Shelly Gossmann

I will have a link up later but Shelly Gossman of Second City Mainstage has been hired as the newest writer of the long running sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live.

Lorne Michaels and several writers were in Chicago last week scouting for new cast and writers.

Shelly's last night on mainstage has beem set for August 18th.

Here is a blurb from Time Out Chicago:

In the wee hours of the morning O’Brien informed Gossman that she’s been tapped to join the writing team for the venerable sketch comedy show and have her final performance at Second City on August 18. We can’t imagine the current Mainstage revue Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies without Gossman’s outstanding contributions. Between her bit as a hapless and overbearing mom and a fully-improvised monologue based on accessories submitted by the audience, she’s one of the show’s driving forces and will be missed.

Congrats again, Shelly!