Comedy Notes : Margaret Cho’s Stand-Up Makes Her ‘Girl’ Next Door

Last week, comedian-actress Judy Gold, featured in ABC’s “All-American Girl,” starring stand-up comic Margaret Cho, performed at the Irvine Improv. Next Friday, series fans (at least those who don’t mind a little drive) can see the star take the stage.

Cho will be at Mandeville Auditorium on the UC San Diego campus in La Jolla. Show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are $15. (619) 220-8497.

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NOW, CLASS . . . : Closer to here and now, Bob Somerby, a former Baltimore schoolteacher turned comic, is holding court at the Irvine Improv.

Somerby eschews the lighter side of comedy, favoring instead the topical. His thought-provoking routine leans toward the serious side of life for its humor.

The former Harvard roomie of Vice President Al Gore performs through Feb. 12. $7-$10. (714) 854-5455.

(Also coming to Irvine in one of the best months the club has put together in a while are Rita Rudner, Bobby Slayton and Kathleen Madigan.)

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FIRST ANNIVERSARY: Elsewhere this month, Claudia Paris’ baby is having a birthday on the 25th.

To celebrate the first year of her “Comedie du Jour” at the intimate Midnight Java in Huntington Beach, the comedian-promoter is bringing together a group of comics boasting TV credits including Comedy Central, MTV and Showtime.

The talent includes Kenny Aabrey, Clay Heery and the Angry Mob improv troupe.

“With the shortage of comedy clubs and venues open for comedians these days, comedy that used to be limited to the major clubs is now being seen at the coffeehouse level,” Paris said.

The show starts at 9 p.m., and the only cost is a two-item minimum. (714) 842-5668.

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FUNNY LADIES: Coming to Midnight Java on Feb. 11 as part of an all-women show is Cindy Burns, a winner of the Northern California Comedy Competition and an Improv regular. “Being older, I know what men want,” Burns tells audiences. “What they want are younger women.”

The night, part of Paris’ “Comedie du Jour” series, also includes Gay Goodenough, Maddy St. Michael and Melanie Naff. Again, the laughs start at 9 p.m., and your only obligation is a two-item minimum. (714) 842-5668.