COMEDY FEST SCENE: Cook County, FUCT, All-Star Improv Jam

I camped out at a sold-out Theatre 99 to see shows from Cook County Social Club (City Paper cover boys), FUCT, and the All-Star Improv Jam.

Chicago improv group Cook County didn’t mind the Charleston cold — they’d left neg. 30 degree temps behind in Chi-town. The bromance between these four close friends was hard to miss — they played off of each other like people who know each other a little too well. With super fast-paced scenes, smart segues, and an ongoing painfully funny wedgie joke, they were easily the best act I’ve seen so far. My favorite scene involves a fat kid realizing that he’s stuck at a reverse fat camp … for anorexics. I spoke to the guys at the afterparty at Mellow, and they were pretty happy about being on the cover of the paper. It’ll definitely be hanging on the wall in iO Theatre in Chicago. Aww… CCSC performs again tonight at 9 p.m. at Theatre 99. Go order your tickets right now.

FUCT was up next, once again packing a sold-out house. But apparently, some people didn’t realize that the show might be a little risque, and by the end a few seats stood empty. As if the name isn’t a good enough indication. Don’t buy tickets to tonight’s show if you’re offended by Jackass-type humor (think severe pain inflicted for laughs), if you’re homophobic, or if you don’t like manginas. (And who doesn’t like those?) This NYC sketch group was definitely a little too edgy for some Charlestonians — including whoever called the cops in the lobby after the show — but for anyone with a hard-edged sense of humor, they’re gold. Oh, and the live guitarist between scenes was a nice touch. “I was completely revolted by your show,” my boyfriend said jovially to some of the guys at last night’s afterparty. He told them about the folks who left, and they said that was the idea. “The fewer people in the audience after the show, the better.” Hopefully Saturday night’s show will be filled with people ready to get FUCT. They go on at 9:30 at Theatre 99.

The All-Star Improv Jam rounded out the night at T99. Various performers from the improv marathons (Sid Viscous!, Elvis Meets Einstein, Best Friends, Rockola, etc.) met up with stand-up comedian Rory Scovel and T99 cast members for an hour of really random improv. Naturally, it wasn’t as cohesive as groups that perform together regularly, but it was cool to see the wide-ranging comics create something together. Below, everyone gets together for a game of Buttplug.

So far: 5 shows. 2 Mellow Mushroom pizzas. Too much $2 vodka. One night to go. —Erica Jackson