Work's done for the day, the television news is turned off, the dog's fed, so it's time to interface with people who have no purpose but to amuse you.
So, go ahead —let them!
Atlanta comedy venues offer everything from super-awkward improv to smooth-but-racey stand up to the (very rare, but possible) squeaky clean set for family folk.
Big laughs come from a tiny stage at the 74-seat Laughing Skull. Catch famous, soon-to-be-famous and tells-jokes-like they're famous stand-up comics here. Try not to mind if they turn their razor-edge wits towards heckling the audience, just 'cause you're that close. Another plus: the Laughing Skull is inside the famous-for-burgers Vortex, so you can feed your face along with the belly laughs.
The Basement Theatre. 175 W Wieuca Road NE. 404-277-3071. www.thebasementtheatre.com. Most shows are $8 or $12.
Only the name isn't trying to be funny: the Basement Theatre really is in a basement. They're a little bit of everything improv: raucous adult, a family show Fridays, workshops for aspiring comics and corporate classes. Cheap treats, too, with $2 popcorn and adult drinks $4. Are they joking when they say they offer improv classes for people from the Hindi community?
The Punchline. 3652 Roswell Road NW.404-252-5233 www.punchline.com. Tickets $10-$75 This is how a big Southern city comedy club does things. James Gregory went first when this place opened more than two decades back. Since then, all manner of stars have sat on the stage, like Eddie Murphy, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Ron White, and Jeff Foxworthy. Lots of shows each and every week, so you can pick your laughs.
Oh, you zany comedians. These performers write original scripts and nothing's out of bounds, not even zombie apocalypse soap opera. Tasteful adult humor? Ummm...sort of.
Urban humor from top comedians at a hot bar, that's what goes down at Uptown. A few names to drop include Mo'Nique, Kevin Hart, Mike Epps and Steve Harvey. The open mic night Thursdays, that's laughable. Part of the every-night energy comes from the venue's "first come first served" policy, which applies to VIP and general public alike. And if you're patient, you just never know who might drop by to test some material. Two-item minimum purchase. Shows typically $15-$25
