Conduct Your Own Star Search

With comedy clubs strewn from one end of Los Angeles County to the other, it’s easy to test your skills as a talent scout against the pros. Here’s where you can go to see and predict who will be the stars of the future:

Comedy and Magic Club, 1018 Hermosa Ave., Hermosa Beach, (310) 372-1193. A bit removed from the talent scout trail (Kato Kaelin was able to labor in relative obscurity there for a while) but a nice venue nonetheless. Occasional special shows.

Comedy Store, 8433 Sunset Blvd., (213) 656-6225. The club, owned and operated by Mitzi Shore of the Shore family comedy juggernaut, appeals in large part to tourists and specialized audiences (who else would pay $4.75 for a Budweiser?). But the specialized shows offer a wide variety of sensibilities. Roseanne was recently working on new material here on Wednesdays.

Ice House, 24 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena, (818) 577-1894. As opposed to most clubs, which bring on a string of comics who can either perform or tinker with their material for 15-30 minutes, the Ice House brings in headliners who really work for laughs. Reliably strong lineups, frequent special events with big names.

Igby’s, 11637 W. Pico Blvd., West Los Angeles, (310) 477-3553. The same comics who grace the Hollywood stages make life a little more convenient for Westside audiences.

Improvisation, 8162 Melrose Ave., (213) 651-2583. Impresario Budd Friedman’s franchise boasts some of the most consistently funny lineups in town, with occasional surprise appearances by the already celebrated.

Laugh Factory, 8001 Sunset Blvd., (213) 656-1336. Comedy with a human face--owner-operator Jamie Masada is routinely lauded for his community works and benefits. And his stage is filled with comics ranging from green to legendary (Rodney Dangerfield made a series of surprise appearances recently).