BEST BETS Friday 11/24

SANTA ANA

8pm

Pop Music

It’s a night of ambient electronic explorations from England with Juno Reactor and The Orb at the Galaxy in Santa Ana. Juno Reactor mainstay Ben Watkins is on the mend after breaking his leg earlier this month during a tour in Japan. Alex Paterson, meanwhile, has fired up his ever-danceable outfit for one of its rare Southland appearances.

* Juno Reactor, The Orb, Galaxy Concert Theatre, 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. 8 p.m. $17.50 to $19.50. (714) 957-0600.

IRVINE

8:30pm

Comedy

Louie Anderson, who hosts TV’s “Family Feud,” grew up in a family of 11 children in Minnesota, so it’s not surprising that much of his comedy material deals with family life. “My mom treated everybody very equal,” he told a reporter recently. “She was pregnant for 16 years of her life. She’d have a kid just to go to the hospital to get a vacation.”

* Louie Anderson, Irvine Improv, 71 Fortune Drive. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, 7, 9 and 11 p.m. $27. (949) 854-5455.

COSTA MESA

2pm

Signing

By now everyone must know that the voice of the irrepressible Bart Simpson is supplied by a woman: Nancy Cartwright. In her book “My Life As a 10-Year-Old Boy,” Cartwright provides a behind-the-scenes look at “The Simpsons.” When Cartwright was first asked to audition for the animated series, she was asked to read for the role of Bart’s sister, Lisa. But Bart, described as devious, underachieving, school-hating, irreverent and clever, sounded much more interesting. So she read for the part of Bart and was offered the role on the spot.

* Nancy Cartwright, Borders Books & Music, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa. 2 p.m. Free. (714) 432-7854.

IRVINE

8pm

Dance

Founded in 1988 by Walson Botelho and Ninho Reis, Bale Folclorico da Bahia is the only professional folk dance company in Brazil. The 25 dancers, musicians and singers appeared here in 1996 on their first U.S. tour. They return with a “Carnaval 2000” program reflecting the diverse West African-influenced traditions of the northeastern state of Bahia. The troupe’s engagement is jointly sponsored by the Irvine Barclay Theatre and the Philharmonic Society of Orange County as part of the Eclectic Orange Festival.

* Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive. 8 p.m. Also Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m. $32 to $36. (949) 854-4646.