Chris Condren at Chicago Underground Comedy October 6, 2009

The adorable, barely 21-years old and already hilarious Chris Condren, last Tuesday night at Chicago Underground Comedy.

The Onion editor Joe Randazzo at Chicago Underground Comedy Sept. 8, 2009

We were thrilled when The Onion editor Joe Randazzo performed stand-up at Chicago Underground Comedy two weeks ago. Surprise, his comedy was extremely well-written, conceptual, and hilarious. Nnnnjoy.

Chicago Underground Comedy Highlight Reel May-Sept 2009

Woot! Here's a recent video project. Two minutes of hilarity from the last few months' shows.



Featuring Cameron Esposito, Sean Flannery, James Asmus, Mike Stanley, Beth Stelling, James Fritz, John Roy, Ricky Carmona, Chad Briggs, Allison Leber, Prescott Tolk, Joe Zimmerman, and Lola Balatro (Paul Thomas, Jeff Madden, Cork Kangas).

Ten seconds that took up my whole day: Beth Stelling title

Today I taught myself to layer multiple video tracks with Final Cut Pro (and how to cool my MacBook down with a frozen bag of edamame). Check out this cool little ditty:

Beth Stelling at Chicago Underground Comedy Aug. 25, 2009

MegaBeth (the nickname I have now given both her and myself) is our newest ChUC cast member and is simply wonderful. Incredibly naturally funny - not that she doesn't write great jokes and constantly work things out on stage - and warm and sweet to boot. And she's only 25 (I think...maybe even 24?). Anyway, she's awesome, check out this clip from last week's show.

Tomorrow night I will arrive at ChUC with fresh 9-volt batteries, which means I can actually use the amazing new mic I bought, and not rely on the internal mic, which is a little blarey and fuzzy (as in this clip). So forthcoming ChUC clips will just get better and better, folks.

Chicago Underground Comedy past and present! 40 hours of editing - 4 years of photos, video, and audio in 4 minutes

My wrists are throbbing and my eyeballs are dry. I've officially been editing for 16 hours straight and I might have forgotten how to talk. BUT! Check out this frigging kick ass video, featuring all of our past and current Chicago Underground Comedy cast members, plus several favorite guests.

I'd add more commentary but I'm seriously, seriously brain dead right now, plus, if I've done my job, the video will speak for itself. This represents four years of awesome comedy in four minutes. And, hopefully, the beginning of my real filmmaking career! (No, I'm not going to say "reel." That's just stupid.) But yes, I'm going to use this clip to shop myself around for more paid editing work. I love, love, obsessively love Final Cut Pro. Obviously.

Oh, and P.S., though I've been on hiatus from performing stand-up for over a year, one of my old jokes is included here - the ever-so-classy "Cheetos or dick" joke at the one minute mark. I really had very little audio of female comics that as usable for this project (I've learned a lot about mics and better sound in the last few months) so I threw that snippet in. Ennnnnnjoy.



Chicago Underground Comedy is produced by Dan Telfer and Elizabeth McQuern every Tuesday at the Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont. Our producer emeritus is Tony Sam.

Editing and original music by Elizabeth McQuern.

Photography by Elizabeth McQuern (color photos) and Kristy Mangel (black and white) except as noted (additional photos kindly shared by Katie Moore, Krystle Gemnich, Abbi Crutchfield and m. berru).

Chicago Underground is produced by Dan Telfer and Elizabeth McQuern every Tuesday at the Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont. Our producer emeritus is Tony Sam.

Featuring Pat Brice, Aaron Foster, Adam Burke, Allison Leber, Andrew Rollins DeWitt, Becky Garcia, Beth Stelling, Bill Cruz, Brendan McGowan, Brooke Van Poppelen, Bryan Bowden, C.J. Sullivan, Cameron Esposito, Chad Briggs, Dan Telfer, David Angelo, Duane Freeman, Elizabeth McQuern, Hannah Gansen, Hannibal Buress, James Fritz, Jared Logan, John Roy, Joe Fernandez, Kara Buller, Ken Barnard, Kumail Nanjiani, Kyle Kinane, Lauren Ashley Bishop, Matt Braunger, Matt Ruby, Michael Lebovitz, Mike Bridenstine, Mike Ferbrache, Mike Holmes, Mike Olson, Mike Wiley, Nate Craig, Nate Fernald, Paul Thomas, Prescott Tolk, Puterbaugh Sisterz, Ranjit Souri, Renee Gauthier, Ricky Carmona, Robert Buscemi, Sean Flannery, Steve O'Brien, Tony Sam, Faye Canale, Mike Holmes, and Josh Cheney.

My latest Outworld.TV clip: Sarcastic Squad reunion at Berlin

My latest Sarcastic Squad clip for Outworld.TV! Featuring Adam Guerino, Beth Stelling, The Puterbaugh Sisters, Candy Lawrence, Matt Drufke, Eric Lutz, and Cameron Esposito! I put in a little something special in my credit at the end this time. Take a peep.

My magnum opus (so far): 2 minute commercial for Chicago Underground Comedy

Video, editing and music by moi, featuring all of our current cast, some alum, plus a couple of guests!

Chicago Underground Comedy is every Tuesday at 9:30 at the Beat Kitchen, produced by me and Dan Telfer.

Video featuring Beth Stelling, Nick Vatterott, Cameron Esposito, Allison Leber, Ken Barnard, Michael Stanley, Chad Briggs, Prescott Tolk, James Fritz, Dan Telfer, Lauren Ashley Bishop, Carrie Callahan, Mike Bridenstine, Renee Gauthier, Jeff Hansen, Adam Burke, Sean Flannery, Paul Thomas, Ricky Carmona, Dan Polydoris, Brendan McGowan, Steve O'Brien, Duane Freeman, and Mike Ferbrache.

Split Screen Magic!

Using some new tricks on some current projects:

My first video and editing gig for Outworld.tv!

Chicago Underground Comedy Promo Video!

Less than two minutes, and this represents the most complicated editing project I've done so far. Starring ALL of our current cast members. It took me untold hours, searching through hours and hours of footage.

Featuring Jeff Hansen, Carrie Callahan, Prescott Tolk, Dan Telfer, Brendan McGowan, Robert Buscemi, Bryan Bowden, Beth Stelling, Nick Vatterott, Adam Burke, Allison Leber, Dan Polydoris, Paul Thomas, Ricky Carmona, James Fritz, Chad Briggs, Steve O'Brien, Sean Flannery, and Mike & Duane.

Connor del Rio at a teen stand up show at Pressure April 3, 2009

Another one of Bryan's students, Connor del Rio, performing at Pressure night before last. The rest of the kids' videos from that night are here.

Drew Landry at Second City Training Center Teen Stand-up Student Show April 2009

Last video for tonight! 16 year old Drew Landry already runs an open mic, and liked Bryan's class so much he took it twice!

Tony Grayson at the Second City Training Center's teen stand up student show April 2, 2009

Two more videos ...Tony Grayson, who is only 17 but already published jokes in Time Out Chicago!

Lou Engleman at Second City Training Center Teen Stand-up Student Show April 2009

Bryan's student Lou Engleman, who is all over the kids' classes at Second City, from improv to stand-up. Pretty great.

Sydney Davis at Second City Training Center Teen Stand-up Student Show April 2009

Another new vid I just finished for Bryan - 16 year old Sydney Davis' sassy and sharp stand-up at Second City.

Kristan Williams at Second City Training Center Teen Stand-up Student Show April 2009

One of Bryan's stand-up students tells a true tale of sneaking into the alligator cage at the zoo. So cute!

My Videos From Come Out For Change Gay-La For Equality Illinois

Incredibly strong sets from everyone - and why not? The room was packed full of happy fans ready for a great night. Nellie raised almost $1000 for Equality Illinois. Check out my fancy new editing moves, courtesy of Final Cut.

Cameron Esposito:


Ben Lerman:


Allison Leber:


Bill Cruz:


James Fritz:


Seth Dodson:

Bryan Bowden Test Test Reel (You Read That Right)

Ha ha. Poor Bryan is off performing in the last night of Soiree Dada's Schmuck Der Hallen and he has no idea I'm making him my Final Cut guinea pig. Here's a test I did of pulling clips from different projects, using new transitions, etc.

James Fritz Nov 2008 at ChUC - Barack and the Gays

James Fritz' generational Southern white guilt makes him uncomfortable with a website called "MyBarackObama," and he has parsed every bit of stupidity from the most popular arguments against the gays. Video, music, and editing by me.