Just for Laughs Chicago 2009: "The Nasty Show" - Review

June 18, 2009/The Vic Theater

Here we go. After sitting through a few engaging, reasonably funny shows during the 2009 Just for Laughs Chicago festival, I finally found the first real standout. I had predicted that "The Nasty Show" would be a highlight of the fest -- and place it high on my list of 10 shows to see -- and the show certainly didn't disappoint. With an incredible lineup and four distinct, very different comics, "The Nasty Show" would be tough to beat for sheer number of hard, spit-your-drink laughs.

"The Nasty Show" was hosted by Nick Di Paolo, who did several minutes of stand-up right up front. Di Paolo has always been a bit of a mixed bag for me; I know he's incredibly respected and beloved by most of my favorite comedians, but I've always found him a little inconsistent. He'll have a joke that will make me laughs as hard as anything has, but then there will be along stretch where he goes for shock value and political incorrectness that doesn't work for me. This was the Di Paolo that hosted "The Nasty Show;" several really good lines, but too much emphasis on pointing out just how rude and offensive his material is. I prefer when a comic lets me decide if he's being edgy, not to have it spelled out for me.

After his set, Di Paolo brought out Australian comic Jim Jeffries, a comic who's been on a pretty fast rise in the U.S. of late. This was my first exposure to Jeffries (I missed his recent HBO special), and I really liked him. He refrained from telling jokes or making observations, instead spinning very long, very elaborate stories that went to some incredibly dark and funny places. He may be as dark a comic as I've ever seen, but it didn't feel at all like a put-on; the darkness of Jeffries' act was utterly sincere. I can't wait to see where his career goes next.

Following Jeffries was Patrice O'Neal, who I knew a little from stand-up and from his role on The Office. He, too, was a fantastic surprise and caught me off guard. O'Neal mostly trafficked in observational comedy about men and women, with a major emphasis on sex. That may seem like well-worn territory, but O'Neal made it feel utterly fresh; his perspective on everything was unique and new -- not to mention obscenely funny.

Finishing out the show was one of my two favorite comics, Louis C.K. He did a full set (45 min to an hour) of all-new material, much of which I suspect he's still working out. For that reason, it wasn't necessarily the strongest set I've seen from the comedian (his stand-up specials represent him at his best, as they're designed to do). Still, he was brilliant and hilarious and really is one of the very best stand-up comedians working today. Combining the darkness and personal storytelling of Jeffries with the frankness of Patrice O'Neal, C.K.'s set was the ideal culmination to "The Nasty Show."

Just prior to "The Nasty Show," I sat in for the Martin Short-hosted "Let Freedom Hum." While that was entertaining in its own way, it wasn't exactly the kind of comedy I respond to; it had no real darkness or danger or honesty to it (save for a set by Greg Giraldo). "The Nasty Show" had all those things and more, and I have a hard time believing I'm going to see a funnier show during the Just for Laughs Chicago festival. "Let Freedom Hum" showcased comedians who perform stand-up for a living. "The Nasty Show" featured comedians who elevate stand-up to an art form.

Grade: A