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Home / Is This Thing On? / Five (or six) for fighting … and laughing: April’s best bets for Wisconsin standup comedy

Five (or six) for fighting … and laughing: April’s best bets for Wisconsin standup comedy

By Peter Lindblad

Every April, the Easter Bunny comes around, acting like nothing’s wrong. Never mind that the lovable holiday character has a checkered past.

Hop, hop, hopping along, delivering basketfuls of chocolate and jellybeans, that fuzzy, cuddly little creature seems harmless enough, but even a casual internet search will turn up some pretty creepy vintage images of poorly costumed rabbits, who look completely terrifying, posing with crying children.

It’s the stuff of nightmares, frankly, and no amount of therapy can undo the damage. Laughing helps, though, and some great comics are coming to Wisconsin this month with the good, mood-lifting drugs.

Skyline Comedy Club – Appleton

Let’s give the Appleton venue five stars for its three-star April lineup. It’s an embarrassment of comic riches. Might as well just bring a sleeping bag and stay the entire month.

Jay Mohr (April 7-9) – The hate is strong with this one. Best known for his role in the romantic comedy “Jerry Maguire,” Mohr is a quadruple threat – actor, best-selling author, radio host, and, of course, comedian – and a “Saturday Night Live” alum, with a boyish charm that belies a quick, eviscerating wit. Anything and everything that’s pretentious, self-indulgent, and false is fair game. Nobody has better pace and timing. And he does a spot-on Christopher Walken to boot. Here’s a taste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VchO_2bbvB4

David Koechner (April 14-16) –

David Koechner

Out & About Wisconsin’s April cover boy, David Koechner is devilishly good as an actor playing rascals, like Todd Packer in “The Office” or Champ Kind from “Anchorman” and “Anchorman 2.” He has a background in improv, with a flair for creating unforgettably funny characters, but Koechner has been doing a raucous, rowdy brand of standup for about 10 years that’s utterly infectious and uproarious. Tickets are going fast. Hit the following link to learn more about Koechner – https://www.mirabelsmagazinecentral.com/digitaledition/index.html?id=4678fcb6-64d6-47f0-a444-651bde6bf328

Aries Spears (April 21-23) – Spears made a big splash on the long-running sketch comedy show “Mad TV,” becoming famous for bits such as “Talkin’ American” and his impersonations of Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Bill Cosby, James Brown, Shaquille O’Neal and Al Pacino, just to name a few. Like Mohr, Spears was also in “Jerry Maguire,” playing Cuba Gooding’s brother. He’s a regular on talk shows and has appeared in tons of movies. Edgy, irreverent, and raw, like his hero Eddie Murphy, the charismatic Spears takes no prisoners. Check him out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_x_yA2sy5A

Comedy on State – Madison

Pete Lee (April 7-9) – The effervescent, gleeful Lee is a Janesville, Wisconsin, native, who made history on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” by getting a standing ovation. That had never happened to a guest comedian on Fallon. Midwestern mirth and merriment are on the menu from Lee, memorable for his appearances on Comedy Central, TruTV and NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” Feast on his undeniably funny felicity. He is Fallon’s favorite after all. That’s enough alliteration for now. Just go here and get you some Pete Lee: https://petelee.net/videos/

Comedy on State – Madison

Chastity Washington (April 23 – Comedy on State) –

Chastity Washington

We’re hot for teacher … well, at least we’re here for Chastity Washington’s hilarious jokes about being one. Her students must adore her – that is if they haven’t heard her standup. Figuratively and humorously speaking, she takes a ruler to their knuckles onstage. The energetic, always smiling Milwaukee comedian is living proof that a class clown can actually get to the head of the class. Before heading to Comedy on State, Washington hosts “The Hangover Show” on Sunday, April 3, at the Laughing Tap. Here she is tearing it up at the Laugh Factory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdshpJRD_iA

*Bonus Pick – Milwaukee Improv

Michael Che (April 22-25) – Here’s a bonus pick. It doesn’t cost anything. The easygoing co-anchor of Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” is a wickedly funny, insightful, and topical. He’s also occasionally controversial, bringing New York City attitude and sophistication to the stage. Rolling Stone gave him its stamp of approval, listing him among its “50 Funniest People.” That’s a ringing endorsement, right? Catch “That Damn Michael Che” sketch comedy show on HBO Max – it’s been renewed for a second season – and take in this Michael Che moment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AhAi0NfWbs

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