The Apiary

CJ Toledano and Jeff Garlin | Photo: Anna Knott, courtesy of Time Out Chicago

Current Second City cast members had a chance to interview Second City alum as part of Time Out Chicago's feature on the 50th anniversary of The Second City . Read interviews with Jeff Garlin, Brian Stack, Keegan-Michael Key, Pat O'Brien, Andy Cobb, and Stephanie Weir here .

Also, Brooklyn-based illustrator extraordinaire Jon Keegan ( Invisibleman.com ) provided the article's cover image . Keegan is a regular contributor to Time Out Chicago and is a big comedy fan. Get in touch with him if you want your show postcard/poster to truly sing.

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Comedian and Lincoln Lodge favorite Monte made his television debut November 18 with the new segment, " Off the Eatin' Path " on WCIU's morning program, "You & Me This Morning". Watch for new recommendations from Monte every Wednesday on the U, and see what he had to say about Lincoln Square's Pannenkoeken Cafe right here!

And hey, L.A.! Please do make it a point to attend the 2009 Channy Awards this Sunday, December 6, at the legendary Cinespace . CHI expat and golden boy Matt Braunger is set to host this raucous event celebrating all things short and hilarious (of the video variety).

-- Kristy Mangel

Second City has announced the full lineup of a series of panel discussions to take place December 12-13, in celebration of their fifty years ( via ). Included will be panels on The Colbert Report, SCTV, 30 Rock , and Saturday Night Live .

Monte Chicago's favorite comedy foodie, Monte , was recently featured in the Chicago Tribune , and we are awaiting confirmation on the hot rumor that he will be the 'food guy' for a certain local morning news show. Catch "Off the Eatin' Path" at the Lincoln Lodge TONIGHT.

Hometown pal and former Onion staff writer Andy Ross is staging his one-man show, Melancomedy, for one night only at the Annoyance Theater in Uptown this Sunday, October 25. This show was initially staged to sell out crowds at the People's Improv Theater in NYC this past summer; come see Andy hit it out of the park back home!

Chicago expat-now-Los Angeleno Mike Bridenstine grilled several of Chicago's current scenesters, producers, and fellow comedians to find out who was top of the top in CHI this year. Check out his list, along with photos and clips, of the 20 Top Stand-Up Comedians in Chicago . (Full disclosure: The author was interviewed for this piece. And ten out of thirteen names dropped made the list.)

Hannibal Buress | Photo by Erin Nekervis Chicago expat-now-New Yorker and current Saturday Night Live staff writer Hannibal Buress was back in town this past Tuesday, and local photographer Erin Nekervis snapped some photos during his Chicago Underground Comedy set. See the rest of her set here , featuring James Fritz, Jeb Cadwell, Jim Fath, Mike & Duane , and Brendan McGowan .

-- Kristy Mangel