Just for Laughs Chicago 2009: "Let Freedom Hum" - Review

June 18, 2009/The Vic Theater

It's hard to determine how successful "Let Freedom Hum: An Evening of Comedy Hosted by Martin Short" (part of the 2009 Just for Laughs Chicago Festival) was as a comedy show, because so much of the focus was on it being a TV show. What was designed as a stand-up showcase for five comics became something else once TBS (the cable network sponsoring the festival) decided to turn "Let Freedom Hum" into a TV special. The result felt more like a taping than a night of comedy.

That's not to say that "Let Freedom Hum" didn't feature some fine stand-up and several laughs. It did. Tom Papa, Greg Giraldo and John Pinette all turned in excellent sets, and Martin Short made for a fun host -- though many of his best moments came between set-ups when the cameras weren't rolling and he was just goofing off with the audience. Perhaps the funniest moment of the entire night occured as Short, taking his first sips of champagne, hurled vulgar, drunken insults at the crowd. It was a truly spontaneous moment in a show lacking spontaneity. There's also no way it would make it on the TBS special.

Short opened the show with an amusing song paying tribute to his own mock vanity, followed by a round of somewhat stale jokes. His energy and star power carried him through, though, proving that -- as has often been the case in his career -- he can be funny enough to transcend material that's lacking. Unfortunately, due to a "technical problem," he had to reset and do the whole thing again. Short was a good sport about it and was able to make the situation funny, but the live experience suffered in favor of the TV taping. It wouldn't be the last time.

The first comedian to perform was Tom Papa, who did a funny routine on the recession and being a father. He was precise and workmanlike in the best possible sense, and got the show off to a strong start.

Next up was Kathleen Madigan, who I remembered liking from her days on Last Comic Standing. Her "Let Freedom Hum" set was uneven, focusing mostly on her elderly parents and her Irish ancestry. It wasn't a bad set, just a bit on the unremarkable side and felt better suited to a club than the big-scale, big-stakes "Just for Laughs" festival setting.

Canadian comic Jeremy Hotz performed third, and while the audience seemed to love him I felt he was pretty much on par with Madigan. He's clearly developed a comic persona, coupled with a whiny delivery that falls somewhere between Bobcat Goldthwait (minus the screaming) and Max Wright. I will say that his approach provided a nice change of pace, but between his set and Madigan's, "Let Freedom Hum" seemed to sag a bit in the middle.

Luckily, Greg Giraldo -- one of my favorite comics -- was brought out next. It wasn't the best set I've seen him perform; a lot of his material was recycled from his Good Day to Cross a River Album and he seemed to struggle a bit with the restraints put on him by TV. In watching his language, he more than once seemed to lose focus and his timing suffered some as a result. Still, he was easily the edgiest of the night, and I'm glad that an audience that probably wouldn't be exposed to him otherwise got to see him. Even on an off night, I'll take Giraldo over 90 percent of other comics.

I'll admit that I was a little concerned when I realized that John Pinette would be closing "Let Freedom Hum," only because I haven't seen him since the early '90s (when he was famous for his "You go now!" routine) and didn't know what to expect. Well, there's a reason comics like Pinette are able to sustain a career for as long as he has; the guy is a pro. His set, comprised largely of things he never wants to do again, was like a class in club comedy. Pinette made for an excellent clean-up batter, and provided a strong finish to the show.

"Let Freedom Hum" wasn't exactly the kind of comedy I'm most drawn to. It was largely club comedy -- albeit some very good club comedy -- that appeals to wide audiences but lacks some of the uniqueness I typically go for. The TV aspect didn't help; showcases need to build momentum, and while the placement of the comics would have taken care of that, the live show was somewhat done in by too many stops and starts, resets and do-overs. I laughed and had a pleasant enough time, but I'm not sure this is the show I'm going to remember when I look back at the Just for Laughs Chicago festival.

Grade: C+