Los Angeles has a wide range of comedy clubs to choose from—The Improv, The Laugh Factory, and The Comedy Store are known primarily for stand-up comedians. The club that I highly recommend is The Groundlings Theater on Melrose. This school and theater, which has an amazing reputation for improvisation and sketch comedy, has been around since 1974. Many of the familiar faces you see on film and television started on their stage, including, Paul Reubens (Pee Wee Herman) Kathy Griffin, Will Ferrell, Larraine Newman, Phil Hartman, Cheri Oteri, Lisa Kudrow and Jon Lovitz. Thursday is alumni night and you never know who’s 
going to pop up and perform. Tonight I’m heading over to watch two talented friends of mine, Michael McDonald from MADtv, and Tuc Watkins. Along with their fellow cast members, they’ll perform short sketches based on suggestions from the audience. Tuc can, and has done it all—from Desperate Housewives and The Mummy, to his long-running character on One Life to Live—and now improvisation. Also, keep your eyes open for Michael McDonald, for when he’s not acting, directing, writing and producing, he’s traveling the country doing stand-up comedy. He truly is an all-around amazing performer.
