Poster illustration by JT Wilcox APRIL 29, 7:30PM and 9:30PM, The Hollywood Musicbox, 6216 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles : Reserve your free tickets now for Mash Up , a Comedy Central Presents live TV taping. Featuring stand-up by Matt Braunger, Hannibal Buress, TJ Miller , and Kumail Nanjiani , this show will be shot by Jordan Vogt-Roberts . Vogt-Roberts referenced this project in our recent interview with him here , citing that the final product will be a Blerds-style production, with sketches and shorts interspersed with live stand-up. As for this leg of the production, you would be remiss to not reserve your free tickets for what is going to be a rip-roaring stand-up comedy show starring four poised-to-explode comics.

-- Kristy Mangel

Photo courtesy of Time Out New York Two Chicago expats are up for Time Out New York 's Joke of the Year -- vote now for David Angelo or Kumail Nanjiani (or both!). They are joined by formidable competition in the form of Zach Galifianakis, Sean Patton, Chelsea Peretti, Taylor Williamson, Erik Bergstrom, Brent Weinbach and Aziz Ansari .

Speaking of Time Out , Chicago Time Out comedy editor Jason Heidemann gives his (mostly) tongue-in-cheek " Comedy Predictions for ". Do you have any predictions of your own?

Nick Vatterott has some pointers for people dreaming of standing up for the first time. Check out his detailed blog post , if you're one of these folks.

Paul F. Tompkins talks to Chicago Public Radio's WBEZ about using social media to convince him to perform at various cities in the country. The successful Chicago effort was headed by Chicago Underground Comedy co-producer Dan Telfer (Tompkins is still looking for the perfect venue here in CHI, and has not set a date yet.)

was a pretty good year for both Mike Bridenstine and Matt Braunger , judging from their recent " Round-Ups". Best of luck for everyone!

-- Kristy Mangel

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 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

We recently got a chance to chat with comedian Matt Braunger , currently co-starring in the Channel 101 hit IKEA Heights (when not performing on Conan O'Brien or recording a comedy CD), about their latest nefarious shoot in the Burbank, CA IKEA. The cast and crew has managed to pull off five filmed episodes, with a sixth in the works, inside the department store without having anyone arrested (yet). Recently, however, IKEA staff caught on and the crew was kindly escorted out the door. They're going back in, however, and we wait with bated breath to see if they'll be able to again pull off the heist.

Braunger had this to say: "We're shooting in the Burbank locale again. We were escorted out last time by the staff who were talking into their walkie-talkies going, 'It's them. Yeah, from the show--what is it? Yeah, IKEA Heights. Yeah, the guys we have pictures of in the office.'

"There's not only the director, cameraman, and actors who make the show work. There are also about five people who all they do is distract the staff. Basically ask them questions and for help while we shoot in the next room. Shoots take maybe three hours usually. Not a lot of reshoots, obviously.

Spence Strauss writing IKEA Heights | Photo: David Seger "We did one episode that was one huge long shot for the most part. We're all mic-ed. Near the end I handcuff Abed [Gheith] and drag him off-screen. He starts talking: 'Hey, sorry I fucked up that line...' and I had to shush him. Basically, you could hear someone talking while he wasn't on the screen. That one we reshot."

Provided they aren't hauled down to county, the sixth episode will screen at Channel 101, Los Angeles, Saturday, October 24. Watch the previous episodes on the Channel 101 site .

EDITED TO ADD : We just received word that the crew locked down the sixth episode, HOWEVER: "I just got back from taping the Halloween episode, and security walked us out with the admonishment that if we came back we'd be arrested on sight. BUT we got all our shots, so whatever. I've been thrown out of IKEA twice now. Not many people can say that!" said Braunger. WHEW!

• RELATED: Official Web site

-- Kristy Mangel