Here’s a funny story...

CL has never done a Comedy Issue!

Sure, we’ve covered a ton of shows, festivals, events, figures and the like, but we’ve never really taken a good look at some of the primary elements of the area’s local comedy scene in a single issue. And with comedy flourishing on a national level, we decided it was high time we did. What we found is as vibrant, creative and varied as what’s happening on a larger scale. All over Tampa Bay, individuals and groups are making local fans laugh in ways both classic and unheard of as recently as a decade ago. And so we’ve tried to offer a sample of the many flavors local comedy has to offer: A look at several stand-up comedians of different genders, styles and approaches, but with equal talent and passion; a preview of this weekend’s Tampa Improv Festival that includes some background on both the inspiring popularity of long-form improv here at home, and the people who helped make it that way; a primer on podcasts and their expoding popularity on the national comedy scene, along with info on some local pods for you to check out; some savvy tips on how to get yourself into the stand-up spotlight, from a man who knows; and, of course, a rundown of some of the best places to experience what’s going on.

There’s more where this came from at cltampa.com/comedy, too, including extended interviews and extra content, so please click by — you don’t even need to pay a two-drink minimum to enjoy it.

Thanks to the people — a few of whom are here in these pages — who suggested we do this, then asked pointedly for it, and finally demanded it (jokingly, of course). We hope everybody finds something to smile about (or disturb someone at the next table by snorting out loud), and gets the itch to go out and support some local talent. As we found, there’s a lot of it here.

—Scott Harrell