Improv

The Second City semi-inadvertently raised more than $30,000 since its current mainstage show, The Second City 100th Revue: "Who Do We Think We Are?" debuted. They plan to donate the funds to planned parenthood.   Cast member Katie Rich explains the situation on the group's website: "We had to come in with political-themed pitches towards the end of our writing process and everyone in this cast is such a good improviser, so we had the idea for an improv scene where the audience 'lobbied' for the suggestion with money.

As the weather warms up and the Cubs' season rolls on, Wrigleyville residents will want to keep Black Sheep Beer Garden on their radars. The bar, which is located in the space formerly home to The Yard at 3441 N. Sheffield Ave., reopened last weekend after a 7-month hiatus. The 50-person beer garden, complete with TVs and cabana seating for 24, has beefed up its beer list, which now features 11 drafts from within 100 miles of Chicago. More upgrades are planned for the coming months, including a name change, the debut of a whiskey menu and the introduction of new food from former Goose Island Brewpub chef Mike Artel.

Chicago's comedy scene just got a little bit more serious this week after Columbia College announced Tuesday that it will be partnering with The Second City to offer a new four-year degree in comedy writing and performance. The new bachelor's degree, which will officially begin this fall, was inspired by Columbia's five-year-old Comedy Studies program that gives students the opportunity to "study abroad" at Second City for a semester and receive credit hours to take improv classes and workshops at the comedy club.

It can't be easy for an actor to step into a guest-starring role on a TV show, mixing it up with a cast that's been working together for weeks or even months. That wasn't an issue with Justin Long, who reprises his role of Paul Gunslinger on the Fox comedy "New Girl" in "Bad in Bed," airing at 8 p.m. Dec. 6. "The thing about Justin; we love him to death," cast member Lamorne Morris told me. "He came in and he brought that new energy to the set; it was absolutely incredible. " Chicago native Morris plays Winston, who lives with Nick (Jake Johnson)

With Fox reviving its 1990s sketch comedy series "In Living Color" for two specials in 2012, it's going to need some comics to make us laugh. What better place to find them then Chicago, home of the best improv comedy in the country? Jamie Masada, owner of the Laugh Factory, is teaming with Fox to host open casting calls for "In Living Color" at Chicago's new Laugh Factory, 3175 N. Broadway, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 20. The site doesn't open for business until mid-January, but people will be there accepting auditioners' tapes or for taping individual sets.

If you ride the train Sunday, you'll need a CTA pass but you won't need pants. The annual No Pants Subway Ride kicks off at noon Sunday at 1210 W. Arthur St. The ride, which is scheduled to last three hours, is the same day as New York's annual No Pants Subway Ride, which began 10 years ago as a prank by an improv group. Chicago's event has been held for more than five years. More than 285 people signed up on Facebook to participate, as of Tuesday afternoon. More than 200 CTA riders took the Red Line last year sans pants, according to news reports.

If the video above doesn't make you chuckle then you a) have no soul or b) take Batman waaaaaaay too seriously. I, for one, guffawed and am now really curious to see how else the folks of Octavarius plan on lampooning the Caped Crusader in their new show. Here are the details: "Chicago comedy group Octavarius is hosting a " Batman vs. Batman " themed show on Sunday, July 15 at 7pm at  The ComedySportz Theatre . Tickets are $10, or $7 for those who dress to the theme.

A map of Chicago' s “L” system just got a 16-bit upgrade. Comedian, blogger and video editor Robert Bacon followed up on his viral Super Mario Bros. 3 map Tuesday, releasing a Super Mario World version that mimics the Super Nintendo Entertainment System classic.   “Well now that I know I'm not the only one who really likes CTA maps in classic video game themes I decided to spend the time and make a proper Super Mario World "L" Map,” he said on his ChicagoNow blog, “Inside Chicago Improv.” The new version, which features Mario's cape feathers to represent airports and details the loop as Bowser's Castle, quickly rose to the top of Chicago subreddit r/Chicago . ChicagoNow is part of the Chicago Tribune Media Group, as is RedEye.

Looking for some geeky diversions that will also benefit a good cause? Well, this is the month for you! May will have two fun and funny events that will benefit Chicago Loot Drop , a geeky gaming group that works to help children in need. First up you have the Cinco De Bilbo celebration at the Public House Theater . Featuring the comedic talents of The Nerdologues , Cinco De Bilbo will also include a screening of Ralph Bakshi 's animated adaptation of " The Hobbit . " But Tolkien fans won't just be watching the film, they'll be singing along!

Sure, the weather has been a bit kind to us thus far, but don't expect that to stick around much longer. To avoid the typical hibernation you'll consider falling into again this year, dive into 2012 with a plan - a survival guide, even. Tack this list of freebies, festivals, pantsless stunts and more up on the fridge to remind yourself to dig yourself out of the couch once in a while throughout the month. See the full list of January events at chicago.metromix.com/events.