The Boston Scene: Looking Back and Forward to 2009

Nick DiPaolo taping tonight with Aaron Karo
Those who were planning on going to the Aaron Karo show tonight at the Comedy Connection Wilbur Theatre may have a bit of a surprise waiting for them. Karo will be taping a special, and so will Danvers native Nick DiPaolo. The taping was set up quickly (the folks at the Connection told me they just found out this week). Each will do an hour or so of material. Boston's own Big Nezz will warm up the crowd.

RIP Kevin Knox
Veteran Boston comedian Kevin Knox passed away early this morning after a long battle with cancer. For those who knew Knox, or "Knoxie," as many called him, it's hard to believe there is something strong enough to beat him. If you saw him onstage, you know he never stopped moving. And his Gatling Gun delivery wasn't just a stage affectation. It was how he spoke, how he thought. And if you were a regular around Boston clubs for the past couple of decades, it was a voice you heard often, hosting showcases at Nick's Comedy Stop, The Comedy Connection, and, most recently, at Dick Doherty's Beantown Comedy Vault. It was a common refrain to hear a fellow Boston comic say that cancer

Stephen Lynch on the second leg of 3 Balloons and his upcoming special
Stephen Lynch kicked off the first leg of his 3 Balloons Tour in Boston in February. Now he’s on the second leg of the tour and heading to the Hanover Theatre in Worcester Saturday. Sometime next year, you can expect to see a few different versions of the tour on a Comedy Central special, on DVD, and as a concert film, if you happen to frequent film festivals. I caught up with Lynch by phone last week. How has the tour been going since you were here in February?The show is much funnier than it was when we were in Boston, I’m pleased to report. Even though it wa

Gavin, Rogerson, Sweeney, and Dunn play benefit for Kevin Knox tonight
Some of Boston's most tenured veteran comics are playing a benefit tonight for Kevin Knox. Don Gavin, Steve Sweeney, Kenny Rogerson, and Jimmy Dunn will top the bill for tonight's show at the theater that usually hosts Sheer Madness (a.k.a. The Cahrles Playhouse Stage II), organized by the folks at

2009 College Improv Tournament -- Prelim Results
The preliminary winners from this afternoon's 2009 Coolege Improv Tournament at ImprovBoston are in: Match A Winner - Cheap Sox (Tufts University) Match B Winner - Purple Crayon (Yale University)Match C Winner - DangerBox (New York Univeristy)Match D Winner - TBS (Brandeis University)Match E Winner - Seriously Bent (Suffolk University)These winners will face off at Improv Asylum tonight at 11PM, and the winner will go on to compete against other groups from around the country.