COMEDY

Aug 23-29, 2002

Prices include taxes and fees and may change without notice. Shows are subject to change or cancellation without notice.

THE AMAZING JOHNATHAN
(A-) This edgy stand-up comedy act masquerading as an ill-fated magic show rides on the manic, belligerent personality of the star: Think of the late John Belushi fully wired, with sharp objects at his command. Some shock value is lost if you've seen him before, yet a long-term residency at the Golden Nugget has allowed Johnathan to break in new material as well. (M.W. 3/02/01) The Amazing Johnathan will perform at 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays in the Theatre Ballroom at the Golden Nugget. $40. 129 Fremont St. 386-8100.

BOOMERS HUMORS
Open-mike stand-up comedy will be presented at 8 p.m. Sundays at Boomers After Hours, 3200 Sirius Ave. One-drink minimum. 217-1679.

CAROLEE'S COMEDY CLUB
Carolee's Comedy Club features various comedians at 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in Carolee's Theatre at Buffalo Bill's. $13.89. Interstate 15 South at Primm. 382-1111.

CASABLANCA COMEDY
The weekend comedy shows at CasaBlanca (Mesquite) are held at 8 p.m. most Fridays and Saturdays and features three comedians each night. Rob Sherwood, Jan McGinnia and Larry Omaha will perform today. Admission is free. No one under 21 will be admitted. 950 W. Mesquite Blvd. (800) 459-7529.

CATCH A RISING STAR
Catch a Rising Star presents stand-up comedy at 10 p.m. Mondays through Sundays with an additional show at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Excalibur. Rocky Laporte and Karen Rontowski will perform today through Sunday. Tim Jones and Ron Kenney will perform Monday through Sept. 1. $18.95. 3850 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 597-7600.

THE COMEDY STOP
The Comedy Stop presents stand-up comedy at 8 and 10:30 p.m. daily at the Tropicana. Levent, Greg Vacarello and Tina Giorgi will perform through Sunday. John Fox and Scott Bruce will perform Monday through Sept. 1. $17.50, includes two drinks. Thursdays are two-for-one local appreciation nights. 3801 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 739-2714.

THE COMEDY STOP (LAUGHLIN)
The Comedy Stop presents stand-up comedy at 7 and 9 p.m. daily at the Flamingo Laughlin. Rich Ramirez, Sheila Kaye and Tim Walkoe will perform today through Sunday. Tina Giorgi, Greg Vaccarello and Michael Saccone will perform Monday through Sept. 1. $12.95. 1900 Casino Drive. (800) 435-8469.

THE COMEDY ZONE
The Comedy Zone presents stand-up comedy at 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; and 8 and 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at the Lady Luck. $17.50. 206 N. Third St. 477-3000. The Comedy Zone also presents stand-up comedy at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays at the Casino Royale. $30.75. 3411 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 735-9663.

DAVYO'S OPEN-MIKE COMEDY SHOWCASE
DavyO's Open-Mike Comedy Showcase will be presented at 10 p.m. Sundays at the Emergency Room Lounge, 3550 S. Decatur Blvd. Admission is free (227-6363).

DR. NAUGHTY
(D+) Dr. Naughty, the X-rated comedy hypnotist, is an intriguing performer whose show will appeal to people who enjoy watching entranced volunteers behave in bawdy fashion. He performs at 10:15 p.m. daily in the the Star Theater at Greek Isles. $32.95-$54.95. 305 Convention Center Drive. 737-5540.

'DR. SCOTT LEWIS: OUTRAGEOUS COMEDY HYPNOTIST'
(Not reviewed) "Dr. Scott Lewis: Outrageous Comedy Hypnotist" will be presented at 7 p.m. Mondays in the Le Bistro Theater at the Riviera. $19.75. 2901 Las Vegas Blvd. 794-9433.

GABE KAPLAN'S LAUGH TRAX
Gabe Kaplan's Laugh Trax presents stand-up comedy at 7:30 and 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 7:30 and 10 p.m. and midnight Fridays and Saturdays at Palace Station. Heath Hyche and Vince Morris will perform through Saturday. Kip Adotta and Vince Morris will perform Tuesday through Aug. 31. $14.25, and a one-drink minimum. 2411 W. Sahara Ave. 888-464-2468.

'HIP-NOSIS: PLAYIN' WITH YOUR HEAD'
(C+) Hypnotism is a nightclub art as old as stage magic, but has always been at the mercy of the audience volunteers. Quality control is left somewhat to chance here, though hypnotist Justin Tranz is a likable, earthy guy who talks to young people in today's language. His comic setups and orchestrated routines, however, failed to fully justify the time it took to thin his stageful of subjects and put them under his control. (6/23/00 M.W.) "Hip-Nosis: Playin' With Your Head" is performed at 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 8 p.m. Saturdays at O'Shea's Comedy Theater. $35. Must be at least 18. 3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 737-1343.

THE IMPROV
The Improv Comedy Club presents stand-up comedy at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. daily, except Mondays, at Harrah's Las Vegas. Vinnie Favorito, Michael Pace and Ant will perform through Sunday. $27.45. Jeremy Hotz, Russ T. Nailz and David Gee will perform Tuesday through Sept. 1. 3475 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 369-5111.

LAUGHS AT THE BEACH
Laughs at the Beach presents stand-up comedy hosted by Shelly McCarty at 8 p.m. Saturdays at the Beach. Lafitte and Gil Martinez will perform Saturday. Two-drink minimum. 365 Convention Center Drive. 731-1925.

RONN LUCAS
(B+) He's a ventriloquist working in the afternoon, but this veteran casino entertainer quickly establishes that cute sidekicks do not equal a kids show (though it's fine for any youngster old enough for "The Simpsons"). Lucas knows he's a master of a skill that isn't as valued as it used to be, and so he packs his act with as many punch lines and as much variety as possible. (11/23/01 M.W.) Lucas will perform at 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays in the Masquerade Showroom at the Rio. $21.95. Jeff Hobson is substituting for Ronn Lucas Saturday and Sunday. 3700 W. Flamingo Road. 777-7776.

THE RIVIERA COMEDY CLUB
The Riviera Comedy Club presents stand-up comedy at 8 and 10 p.m. daily at the Riviera. Bob Zany, Debi Guttierrez and Steve Strickland will perform today through Sunday. Dennis Blair, Russ Rivas and Chrissy Burns will perform Monday through Sept. 1. $23.05-$34.05. 2901 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 794-9433.

RITA RUDNER
(B+) After 11 years as a visiting headliner, the soft-spoken comedian is now a resident attraction in a Spartan theater built for her, offering the rare comedy act that's both inoffensive yet insightful. While the bulk of Rudner's material is slanted to women, any man who is married or domesticated will hear the truth in the couples humor that drives the set. (5/11/01 M.W.) Rudner will perform at 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 9 p.m. Fridays, and 7 and 9 p.m. Saturdays in the Cabaret Theatre at New York-New York. $46. The show will be closed Monday through Wednesday. 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 740-6815.
SANDY HACKETT'S COMEDY CLUB
(Not reviewed) Sandy Hackett's Comedy Club presents stand-up comedy at 9 p.m. daily at the Greek Isles. $15.35; $16.31 includes show and steak and shrimp dinner. 305 Convention Center Drive. 737-5540.

THE SECOND CITY
(A-) Chicago's classic comedy institution provides a fresh alternative to comedy clubs on the Strip and a real departure. The five-member troupe's seasoned blend of sketch comedy and improvisation brings a theatrical level of sophistication to the Strip, but isn't afraid to go for lowbrow belly laughs either. (3/23/01 M.W.) The Second City comedy troupe will perform at 8 p.m. Fridays through Wednesdays, and 10:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays in Bugsy's Celebrity Theatre at the Flamingo. $30.74. 3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 733-3333.

'TICKLE ME TUESDAYS' COMEDY JAM
The "Tickle Me Tuesdays" Comedy Jam will be presented at 8 p.m. Tuesdays in the Blue Note Las Vegas. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. 3663 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 256-3264.