comedy

If you love comedy, it’s a great weekend to be in Brew City, for this weekend marks the 12th anniversary of the Milwaukee Comedy Festival. And it gets even better, if you’re a fan of the Wet Hot American Summer film and Netflix series. For not only did the new season just start streaming, but one of its stars will be in town this Sunday, headlining the comedy festival: Michael Ian Black.

Susan Silver may have left Milwaukee to follow her dreams in Los Angeles, but she says she's back in full force to discuss her years as a TV comedy writer on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and her escapades in love. Her new memoir, Hot Pants in Hollywood: Sex, Secrets & Sitcoms details her encounters with people like Jim Morrison and Elvis in addition to dishing out advice for women pursuing their dreams. 

Lane Moore appreciates dating app blunders so much that she decided to make them happen live in her comedy show, Tinder LIVE! Ahead of Moore’s Friday Turner Hall show in Milwaukee, she joins Lake Effect to discuss how swiping left and right in real-time went from an inside joke to a comedy she says everyone can relate to.

From Congress to city hall, Americans are engaging in heated national discussions, picking apart topics from climate change and the economy to gun control and healthcare. Particularly at town halls, where politicians aim to connect with their constituents, tempers have flared.

Milwaukee-area musician Mike Mangione's podcast, called Time & The Mystery, is described as a series of artist-to-artist conversations with musicians, actors, comedians and others about the philosophy behind what they do and how they connect with their audience.

During the Presidential campaign and in the weeks following Donald Trump's election last fall, actor Alec Baldwin was responsible for the definitive - satirical - impression of the incoming President.  Baldwin's Trump routines on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" made headlines for poking fun at the headlines the President-elect himself was making.

For the last 25 years, The Onion has been the satirical newspaper of record. But as the lines between real and fake news are blurrier than ever, does that mean the end of satire? The paper's founding editor, Scott Dikkers, says this is an age-old question.

Comedian and Wisconsin native Shane Mauss makes a stop in Milwaukee Wednesday night, along his 80-city A Good Trip tour. He calls his show “part stand-up, part funny stories of experiences, and part Ted Talk.”

He takes audiences on a funny journey through the stigma, history, laws and science of psychedelics.

Milwaukee-area musician Mike Mangione's podcast, called Time & The Mystery, is described as a series of artist-to-artist conversations with musicians, actors, comedians and others about the philosophy behind what they do - and how they connect with their audience.

Magione joins Lake Effect for the first segment in our new monthly series to highlight some of his conversations.

Note, Dec. 1st: The Guy Branum show on Dec. 14th has been canceled.

Whether you enjoy holiday traditions, or find them stressful, there’s one thing most people can agree upon this time of the year: we could all use some comic relief.  Luckily for us, we have Comedy Contributor Matt Kemple to share his suggestions as to just where we might find that cup of cheer. 

Leading up to his retirement, there were many stories about David Letterman's 30-years in late night TV, which pointed to his skill at deconstructing the very concept he was a part of.

A year ago, Trevor Noah did not have an easy job ahead of him.  The South African comedian was just starting work replacing a television icon as the host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.”  For many loyalists of the satirical news show, the Daily Show and its former host, Jon Stewart, were inextricably linked.  And the reviews have invariably made comparisons between the styles of the two men.

Lake Effect is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and to celebrate we're bringing back some of our favorite interviews from that first year on air.

On the first day of Lake Effect 10 years ago, producer Bonnie North chatted with comedian Tommy Chong. Chong was in town to perform in a limited run of the Marijuanalogues, and had recently published his book, The I Chong, in which he reflects on his time in prison. 

The 11th annual Milwaukee Comedy Festival kicks off tonight at Lakefront Brewery, and this year’s headliner is stand-up comedian and best-selling author, Jen Kirkman. 

These could be said to be both the best and the worst of times for political comedy and for stand-up Hari Kondabolu, the worst has never felt closer to home. He's received more contentious reaction to his jokes and opinions on social media now than ever before and says he's witnessing a turning point in the U.S. political landscape.