Blog Chicago's lack of comedy knowledge

Chicago Reader released its second annual "Best Of Chicago" edition today, publishing the paper's critics' vote and the results of its online reader poll. This way, each category has two winners that represent the professional opinion and laymen consensus. The readers' pick for Best Improv Group—Second City—got me thinking: Most people in this town know squat about our comedy scene.

The vast majority of each Second City show is not improvised. Every production that goes up on its vaunted stage undergoes the same process. It begins with improv during rehearsal. The actors try out a variety of scenes, then take those with promise and write them out. Often improv is a part of that process, as a tool to workshop various endings or whatnot, but the final product is a script. Pure and simple. Sure, there is slight wiggle room (often during scenes with audience interaction), but the best improv in the city? Huh?

Now, I don't mean to knock against Second City or its incredibly talented cast. This mainstage roster, including the unwavering brilliance of Pat O'Brien and Brad Morris, is one of the strongest ensembles in recent history. And the mainstage show itself, America: All Better!, is really funny. A really funny sketch show.

Perhaps people don't recognize Second City for what it is—and lump all non stand-up under the "improv" category—because of lack of exposure. Until I joined The A.V. Club a few months ago, I served as the comedy editor over at Time Out Chicago for two and a half years—a position that had me seeing three or four comedy shows a week, if not more. And during all that time, roughly 99 percent of the conversations I had with people sounded like this, regardless of whether or not they were from Chicago:

Person: What do you do for a living?
Me: I'm the comedy editor at Time Out Chicago.
P: Oh, fun! There's a lot of comedy in Chicago.
M: Yes, there is.
P: Have you ever seen Second City?
M: Um, yeah, a bunch of times.
P: I just love Second City. I saw it [some number] months ago. What other shows have you seen that you like?
M: Well, there's Improvised Shakespeare Company.
P: Never heard of it.
M: Okay, what about Best Church Of God?
P: Um, no.
M: Messing With A Friend?
P: Who's-with-the-what-now?
M: TJ And Dave?
P: Well, nice talking to you.

Most Chicagoans are familiar with big daddy Second City, but not much else. So when I see its mainstage production winning for "Best Improv Group," I can't help but wonder if people are lumping sketch and improv together.

Of course, perhaps I'm totally wrong and they are talking about the portion of each evening that's 100 percent improvised: The late-night sets that take place after each show for the cast to workshop new scenes and hunt around for fresh ideas. But I doubt it. Those sets, while great, are not the focus of the show.

Somehow, though, I'm not that surprised. Chicagoans are seeing less comedy coverage in the press because of the unfortunate economic truth we media folk are facing. The Reader lumped comedy in with performing arts a few months ago, cutting all but new listings from its print publication. At my alma mater Time Out Chicago, the comedy section remains as a weekly fixture (as it is at The A.V. Club), but it's gradually shrinking. Meanwhile, our dailies, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, mostly cover comedy on a case-by-case basis. The only thing covered with any regularity is Second City.

As publications increasingly shift to an online-first model, as we have here at The A.V. Club, comedy listings can be, and are, more comprehensive. But until people start actually checking out more of our city's wonderful, inspiring live comedy, this misperception will persist. So, um, pay attention, Chicago.