AARON KARO. Sat, 9 pm. $25. 18+. House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn. (312) 923-2000; www.hob.com.

ANDREW DICE CLAY. Fri, 8:30 pm. $54.50. Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield. (773) 472-0449.

BABY WANTS CANDY. An improvised musical. Fri, 10:30 pm. To May 30. $5-$10. Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln. (773) 935-6100; www.ticketmaster.com.

BAD REVIEW. Chemically Imbalanced Comedy takes the worst theatrical review from the Chicago Reader and improvises a show they feel the critic would rather see. Sun, 8 pm. $10. Open run. Chemically Imbalanced Theater, 1420 W. Irving Park. (800) 838-3006; www.cicomedy.com.

BARENAKED LADS. An upbeat and hilarious show featuring five guys who get naked at most every opportunity and one funny gal who does not. Fri, 8 pm; Sat, 10 pm. $25. Open run. Bailiwick Arts Center, 1229 W. Belmont. (773) 883-1090.

BARREL OF LAUGHS COMEDY CLUB. Various comedians appearing. Fri, 8 pm, 10 pm; Sat, 7:30 pm, 10 pm. $10. Sun, Thu, 7 pm. $7. 10345 S. Central, Oaklawn. (708) 499-2969.

BIG NEWS. A news-driven sketch comedy show. Tue, 8 pm. Open run. $5. i0 Theater, 3541 N. Clark. (773) 880-0199.

A CELEBRATION OF CHICAGO SKETCH COMEDY. Just in time for the 2008 Presidential race, Chicago's own kevINda and Schadenfreude team up for a night of edgy sketch comedy exploring politics, race, sex and modern life. Mon, 7 pm. $25. Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. (312) 335-1650; www.steppenwolf.org.

CHICAGO COMEDY COMPANY. Fri-Sun, 7:30 pm, 9:30 pm. $12-$18. Teen only show. Sun, 7:30 pm. Streets of Woodfield Mall, 601 N. Martingale, suite 171, Schaumburg. (847) 240-0380; www.chicagocomedyco.com.

CHICAGO IMPROV ANARCHY. "Fill in the __." Sat, 11 pm. $6-$9. Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway. (773) 419-4606.

CHICAGO IMPROV FESTIVAL PREVIEW. Fri, 8 pm: Whirled News Tonight. Fri, 9 pm: Revolver. $12. Fri, 10 pm: pHamily. $12. Fri, 11 pm: Pimprov. $12. Fri, midnight: Dirty Water. $10. Sat, 8 pm: Bassprov. $12. Sat, 9 pm: Cornwallis. $12. Sat, 10 pm: The Reckoning. $12. Sat, 11 pm: Wing Night. $12. Sat, midnight: Barinholtz & Belushi. $10. Second City Skybox, 1608 N. Wells, 4th floor. (312) 337-3992; www.secondcity.com.

CHICAGO IMPROV REBELLION. Fri, midnight. $5. iO Theater, 3541 N. Clark. (773) 880-0199; www.iochicago.net.

CHICAGO UNDERGROUND COMEDY. Chicago's best alternative stand-up. Tue, 9:30 pm. $5. Ongoing. Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont. www.chicagoundergroundcomedy.com.

CHICAGO ZOMBIE PUB CRAWL. Sat, 5 pm-8 pm. $10; $15 door. Begins at Simon's Tavern, Foster and Clark. www.chicagozombiepubcrawl.com.

CHICK SCHTICK. Thu, 8 pm. $8. To May 29. The Comedy Shrine, 22 E. Chicago, Naperville. (630) 355-2844.

COLIN MOCHRIE; BRAD SHERWOOD. Sat, 8 pm. $35. Star Plaza Theatre, I-65 and U.S. 30, Merrillville, Ind. (219) 769-6600.

COMEDYSPORTZ. Two teams of improvisers compete in games incorporating audience suggestions. The all-ages appropriate comedy show is new and different each time. Thu, 8 pm; Fri 8, 10 pm; Sat 6 pm, 8 pm, 10 pm. $19. Open run. ComedySportz Theatre, 929 W. Belmont. (773) 549-8080.

THE CUPID PLAYERS. Present "Cupid Has a Heart On: A Musical Guide to Relationships." Sat, 10:30 pm. $16; $5 iO students. Open run. ImprovOlympic, 3541 N. Clark. (773) 880-0199; www.thecupidplayers.com.

DIRTY WATER. Improvised comedy. Fri, 8 pm. $10. Town Hall Pub, 3340 N. Halsted. (773) 404-2555; www.dirtywaterimprov.com.

DONNY'S SKYBOX THEATER. Sat, 7:30 pm: "Uterus or Against Us." $12; $10 students. To May 10. No performance April 26. Sat, 9 pm: "Twisty--House Ensemble." $12; $10 students. Sat, midnight: "The Death of Phil Antropy." $10; $8 students. To May 10. No performance this Sat. 1608 N. Wells, Pipers Alley, 4th floor. (312) 337-3992.

DON'T SPIT THE WATER. Presented by Blewt! Productions. Sat, 10:30 pm. $12. Open run. The Playground Theater, 3209 N. Halsted. (866) 208-6296.

DOUG STANHOPE. Sat, 7:30 pm. $20. Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway. (773) 472-3492.

EDGE COMEDY CLUB. Fri-Sat, 8:30 pm: Bamboozle Music Festival Break Comedy Competition. $12. Fri, 10:30 pm: The Most Diverse Comedy Show Ever II. Sat, 10:30 pm: Crowd Work! $12; $10 students. Sat: Day Shift. Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, 777 N. Green. www.theedgecomedyclub.com.

GRAFITTI. Sketch comedy showcase. Fri, 10 pm. $10. The Playground Theater, 3209 N. Halsted. (773) 871-3793.

THE IMPROVISED MOVIE. Our Feature Presentation recreates a movie. Tue, Fri, 8 pm. Open run. $14. iO Theater, 3541 N. Clark. (773) 880-9993.

THE IMPROV MATCH GAME. A live version of the classic 1970s game show. Mon, 10:30 pm. Free. Open run. iO Theatre, 3541 N. Clark. (773) 880-0199.

IMPROVOLYMPIC. Sat, 8 pm: Whirled News Tonight. $14. Open run. Sat, midnight: "The Late Night Late Show with Mark Luge." $5. Open run. Mon, 8:30 pm: "The Armando Diaz Experience." $5. Open run. iO Theater, 3541 N. Clark. (773) 880-0199.

JIM SHORT. Fri, 8 pm, 10:15 pm; Sat, 7 pm, 9:15 pm; Sun, 7 pm. $17; $19. The Improv, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg. (847) 240-2001.

JOKES AND NOTES COMEDY NIGHT. Fri-Sat, 8:30 pm, 10:30 pm. Sun, 8 pm, 10 pm. $10-$20. 4641 S. King. (773) 373-3390.

THE JOY OF NEWS. Presented by Aaron Freeman. Thu, Sat, 8 pm; Sun, 3 pm. $30. The Prop Theater, 3502 N. Elston. (773) 539-7838.

LES MUSICAL, THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL COMEDY. Wed, 9 pm. $10. Open run. Improv Kitchen, 3419 N. Clark. (773) 868-6423.

THE LINCOLN LODGE. Stand-up comedy and variety showcase. Thu-Fri, 9 pm. Open run. $8. 4008 N. Lincoln. (773) 296-4029; www.thelincolnlodge.com.

LIVE AT LUV'N MUSIC. Wed, 9 pm. Hosted by Chon Aztek. 5428 S. Harlem.

MARGARET CHO. Sat, 8 pm. $28.50-$46. Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State. (312) 559-1212.

MERE FLUFF. The fun-tastic sketch comedy that laughs at the creamy nothingness of celebrity. Wed, 9:30 pm. $10. To May 7. Annoyance Theater, 4830 N. Broadway. $10. (773) 561-HONK.

NEVIN'S LIVE. Tue, 7:30 pm: Stand-up comedy open mic with Bill Zak. Open run. 1450 W. Sherman, Evanston. (847) 869-0450.

NEWSPEAK. The Argos Agency presents a satirical look at the news through the Whirled News Tonight team. Fri-Sat, 8 pm. $12. Open run. I.O. Theater, 3541 N. Clark. (773) 880-9993.

pH PRODUCTIONS. Fri, 11 pm: pHreedom pHalls. $10. Open run. Fri-Sat, 12:30 am: pHrenzy. $10. Sat, 11 pm: pHamily. $10. Open run. Sat, 12:30 am: pHrenzy pHucked. $10. Open run. Stage Left Theatre, 3408 N. Sheffield. (773) 732-5450; www.whatisph.com.

PIMPROV. Chemically Imbalanced Comedy presents a hilarious unscripted show. Sat, 8 pm. $10. To May 17. Chemically Imbalanced Theater, 1420 W. Irving Park. (800) 838-3006; www.pimprov.com.

RALPHIE MAY. Thu, 7:30 pm. $19; $22. The Improv, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg. (847) 240-2001.

THE REGULARS. An earth-quakingly tasty tale of love, war and soup that highlights the challenges of eight steakhouse waiters on a particulaly busy night. Fri-Sat, 8 pm; Sun, 7 pm. $12. To May 4. Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee. (773) 598-4549; www.gorillatango.com.

ROB BECKER'S DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN. With Kevin Burke. Fri-Sat, 8 pm; Sun, 3 pm. $45. Open run. Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway. (773) 472-3492.

SASSAFRASS PRODUCTIONS. Presents "Frassavision," a multimedia event of innovative comedy. Tue, 7 pm, 9 pm; Sat, 11 pm. $10. Open run. Improv Kitchen, 3419 N. Clark. (773) 868-6423.

SCHADENFREIDE RENT PARTY. Sat, 9 pm. $10. Silvies Lounge, 1902 W. Irving Park. (773) 576-6070.

THE SECOND CITY. Sat, 4 pm; Mon, 8 pm: "The Best of the Second City." $19. Open run. Tue-Thu, 8 pm; Fri-Sat, 8, 11 pm; Sun, 7 pm: "Between Barack and a New Show." $19-$24. Open run. Tue-Thu, 8 pm; Fri-Sat, 8 pm, 11 pm: "Between Barack and a Hard Place." $19-$24. Open run. Thu, 8 pm; Fri-Sat, 8, 11 pm; Sun, 7 pm: "Disposable Nation." $18, $24. Fri-Sat, 8 pm, 11 pm; Sun, 7 pm; Tue-Thu, 8 pm: "No Country For Old White Men." $19; $25. Open run. The Second City e.t.c., 1608 N. Wells. (312) 337-3992; www.secondcity.com.

SHOCK AND AWE REVIEW AND HOOTENANNY. Jamie Swise presents long-form improv. Thu, 9 pm. $8. iO Theater, 3541 N. Clark. (773) 880-0199; www.iochicago.net.

STRESS RELIEF SUNDAYS. Hosted by Miles Franlin. Sun, 8 pm. $10 before 8 pm; $12 after. Amphora Restaurant, 7547 N. Clark. (773) 301-5835.

TAG. A fast-paced, character driven improv show. Wed, 8 pm. $5. Open run. iO Theatre, 3541 N. Clark. (773) 880-0199.

THREE CAT THURSDAYS. Ongoing cabaret/variety show. Thu, 8 pm. To Aug. 28. $10. Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee. (773) 598-4549; www.gorillatango.com.

TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND. Presented by the Neo-Futurists. Fri-Sat, 11:30 pm; Sun, 7 pm. $5, plus the roll of a die ($1-$6). Ongoing. The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland. (773) 275-5255.

WALTER PAYTON'S ROUNDHOUSE. Fri-Sat, 8:30 pm. $15. 205 N. Broadway, Aurora. (630) 906-2277; www.comedycomedylive.com.

THE WIZARD OF US. Cease and Desist Productions presents a dark and hilarious sketch comedy revue tackling the culture of America and its obsession with the American dream. Fri, 11 pm. $12. Open run. Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway. (773) 472-3492; www.lakeshoretheater.com.

YOU ARE POOP. Most arguments, even among the most intelligent and well-meaning people will deteriorate into simple name calling. A multimedia exploration of this phenomenon. Fri-Sat, 10 pm. $15. To May 10. Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee. (773) 598-4559; www.gorillatango.com.

ZANIES. Fri, 8:30 pm, 10:30 pm: Mitch Fatel. $25. Sat, 7 pm, 9 pm, 11:15 pm: Paul Gilmartin. $23. Mon, 8 pm: Zaniest Doctor/Dentist in Chicago. $5. Wed-Thu, $25. 1548 N. Wells. (312) 337-4027.

ZANIES. Fri, 8 pm, 9:45 pm; Sat, 7:30 pm, 9:45 pm: Jo Koy. $23. Wed-Thu, 8 pm: Kevin Bozeman. $22. (630) 513-1761.

ZANIES. Fri, 8 pm, 9:45 pm: Paul Gilmartin. $23. Thu, 8 pm: Tim Clue. $22. 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills. (847) 549-6030.