Pittsburgh comics organize their own festival

When you think of great comedians to come out of Pittsburgh, whom do you think of?

There's not a long list, but the Steel City of Three Rivers has given us the likes of Dennis Miller, Charles Grodin, Michael Keaton and Frank Gorshin (the Riddler!). Among current stand-ups, you've got Billy Gardell, Jesse Joyce, Anthony Jeselnik and Melanie Malloy. But the locals who live in and around Pittsburgh are hoping to prove to their neighbors that there are more just like them, living in their midst. Which brings us to this week's Pittsburgh comedy festival. It's organized by the local comedians as an underground event — I say underground because it doesn't include any shows at the city's Improv or Funny Bone. FYI: Sebastian Maniscalco headlines the former this weekend; Dobie Maxwell is at the latter. And they just missed out on a chance to tie into their own Sen. Arlen Specter's brand of humor, which he displayed again last week at the Pittsburgh Improv:

Now that you've seen that, here's what the locals have been up to this week…

Mon Aug 24th: Paparazzi‚Äôs/South Side/9pm/$5: Chris Levkulich-Jeff Konkle-Josh Copen-and from the WDVE Morning Show Mike Wysocki.

Tues Aug 25th: The Smiling Moose/South Side/9pm/Free: See some of Pittsburghs best up and coming comics along with some scene regulars in the most unpredictable show of the week.

Wed Aug 26th: Bar 11/South Side/10pm/Free: Guest Comic Bartenders. Come have a drink with people funnier than you.

Thur Aug 27th: St.James Place/South Side/8:30pm/$4: Skittsburgh Comedy Troop. Standup not your style? Try a night of sketch comedy.

Thur Aug 27th: The Obey House/West End/9pm/$5: Brad Ryan-Tom Musial-Justin Markuss-Bret Pintado-and from Comedy Central‚Äôs ‚ÄúLive at Gotham‚Äù Jesse Joyce

Fri Aug 28th: Cefalo‚Äôs/Carnegie/9pm/$5: Greg Gurkin hosts a competition between five of the city‚Äôs best comics to see who will get a spot in the NYC Underground Comedy Festival. Contestants include Mitch Mekulsia-Blake Carter-Tom Henry-Tim Dimond-and Mo Mozuch. Closing the show will be Bill Scott from Satellite Radio.

Sat Aug 29th: The Corner Cafe/South Side/9pm/$5: Matt Light-Terry Jones-Nick Milton- and WDVE‚Äôs Bill Crawford."

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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