CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Local comedians are making sure you don't go without laughs as we stay home and shelter in place.
Radio veteran and Chicago host Justin Kaufmann and improv stars T.J. Shanoff and Scott Goldstein teamed up to write a new comedic show appropriately called "The Pandemic Talk Show."
Its pilot episode debuted April 9 on YouTube and featured Abby McEnany, star and creator of Showtime's "Work In Progress," a performance by Old Town School of Folk Music's Bill Brickeyand a discussion of the pandemic with Dr. Rahul Khare, a Lakeview doctor on the frontlines.
"Comedy and creativity happens under the most difficult circumstances, as PTS includes sketches, guests and personal living rooms under the webcam's glare," according to the press release.
The show's first episode had comedic relief about Chicago, its politics, the CTA and how we are all dealing with this pandemic. The show, recorded all on video conferencing platform Zoom, will feature more Chicago guests from the art community and highlight the good happening in the city.
"The whole goal of the show is to reflect on life happening right now as we are sheltering in place," Kaufmann said in the first episode. "There also are heroes on the front lines fighting this virus every day and we want to take our part to recognize them."
Kaufmann, who was a longtime producer for WBEZ and last month signed off as the evening talk show host on WGN 720-AM, is the media man of the moment: He is also returning to more serious airwaves this weekend, going back to WBEZ for a live pandemic talk show, reported Rob Feder in his column. It will run for the next few weeks every Saturday at 1 p.m.
His more humorous show is sponsored by GrownIn, a cannabis industry newsletter, the West Town Bakery & Diner and The Fifty/50 sports bar, which is serving meals to anyone in need from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every day except Monday's.
