"People don't fail," insists comedian Erik Griffin, "they quit." In 2003, Griffin left his job as a school administrator and teacher to pursue his dream of becoming a standup comedian. With the support of his family, his savings account, and hard work, he's now living that dream. "Ten years... More >>

It was a potentially risky gambit for the Joke Joint to relocate from its former spot at the Ramada Inn in Bloomington, near the high-traffic area of the MOA, but the move across the river to Lilydale near South St. Paul proved fortuitous. The new digs, in the old Diamond Jim's location with... More >>

There's a chance to slip in one more comedy show before the end of the week every Sunday at El Willy's Vive! Not only is this your last opportunity to catch a laugh before the start of the work week, it's also one of the metro's quirkiest open mics. Host Corey Adam has a wrestling promoter's... More >>

In 2009, a quirk of the Minneapolis liquor code that required special licensing to perform standup comedy temporarily put a halt to the Comedy Corner Underground's Friday night open mic and threatened other comedy shows around town. After local comedians worked with the city government to amend... More >>

If you've ever considered writing some jokes and giving standup comedy a try, know this: That first time is gonna be brutal. That being the case, you might as well test your mettle in the most brutal setting possible, which in Minneapolis means hitting up the Death Comedy Jam at the downtown... More >>

There's nothing funnier than a good impression, and nothing worse than a bad one. "Oh, I don't know about nothing," replies comedian and impressionist James Adomian, "there's warfare and all that." The veteran standup is widely known for his send-ups of Paul Giamatti, George W. Bush, Gary... More >>

Standup comedy is a lot like swimming: The only way to find out you're any good at it is to try it out yourself, and there's a significant chance of dying that first time. But if you think you're funny and want to give it a shot, a great place to jump in is at Hit or Miss Tuesdays at Rick... More >>

Acme's "Caught in the Act" open-mic night may well be the best free show in the Twin Cities. The lineup is a balanced blend of unpredictable and excitable first-timers, up-and-coming amateurs trying to impress, and the club's deep and versatile roster of house comics honing their acts. Acme's... More >>