Comedy

Bob Newhart

BOB NEWHART brings his button-down mind and, uh, uh,... that would be understated comic style to Austin for a special performance, this one to benefit the organization Any Baby Can, which provides care for families with critically ill children. For the past 25 years, Newhart's fans have enjoyed his trademark persona - offering choice observations on a wacky world through a low-key,... hesitating delivery - mostly through the forum of situation comedy. This visit offers us the delightful opportunity to enjoy him in the stand-up vein that made him a comedy favorite years earlier. The event includes a buffet dinner. Preceding Newhart's appearance will be Tish Hinojosa. ONE SHOW ONLY! (See Recommended by Ken Lieck) Mar 20, Thu, 8pm, at Austin Music Hall, 208 Nueces. Tickets: $60. 469-SHOW.

CAPITOL CITY COMEDY CLUB welcomes a comic who's not afraid to walk those mean streets, private eye Tommy Sledge. Sharing the bill are Eugene Kenney as feature and Jesse Pangelinan as emcee. Through Mar 16. Mon, local funny folk get their jokes in shape at another Comedy Gym Showcase. Mar 17 only, 8pm. Beginning Mar 18, the club features comic Marc Maron. Weekly schedule: Tue-Sun, 8pm, second shows Fri & Sat, 10:30pm, at 8120 Research Blvd. Tickets: $7 Tue/Wed/Thu/Sun; $10 Fri/Sat. 467-2333.

COMEDY GYM is an ongoing comedy workshop open to anyone interested in stand-up. Classes: Sundays, 7-10pm, at Comedy Defensive Driving School, 2700 W. Anderson, Ste 227. 467-0886.

COMEDYSPORTZ PLAYHOUSE is home to the ComedySportz Players, 10-year veterans of improvisational comedy. Their club-cafe boasts Electrolux vacuum light fixtures, real Dart Bowl tables, a bank vault lounge, full menu, and lots of improv, as the CSportzsters play weekly. Fri & Sat, 7:30 & 10pm, at ComedySportz Playhouse, 2525 W. Anderson. Tickets: $6-$10. 266-3397.

ESTHER'S FOLLIES welcomes spring with lots of laughs, spoofing singles cruising the Whole Foods aisles; World News Tonight; Star Wars; and coffee lovers quoting bad ads as they pitch woo across a cappuccino. Thu, 8pm, Fri & Sat, 8 & 10pm, at Esther's Pool, 525 E. Sixth. Tickets: $12 Thu & Fri/$14 Sat. 320-0553.

MONKS' NIGHT OUT is two years old, and the funny friars are having more fun than ever. They offer sketches, music, and improv every week at the Velveeta Room. And for 1997, they've added a third show at the Cheese Palace - Saturday, at the early-bird hour of 8pm - and a monthly gig at Borders Books & Music. Thu, 9pm, Fri, 9:30pm, Sat, 8pm, at the Velveeta Room, 521 E. Sixth. $5 Thu/$7 Fri/$9 Sat. 453-MONK.

ONLY 90% EFFECTIVE isn't just for campus anymore. The UT improv troupe, which has been performing at the Metro coffeehouse on the Drag, is now on Sixth Street, too, with a show at the Velveeta Room every Wednesday. The Percenters haven't abandoned the 40 Acres, though; you can see them at Metro every Saturday. Wed, 8pm, at the Velveeta Room, 521 E. Sixth. Tickets: $3. Sat, 8pm, at Metro Espresso Bar, 2222 Guadalupe. Free!

THE VELVEETA ROOM hosts a variety of comic fun every week. Wednesday, Only 90% Effective serves fresh, hot improv (see listing). Wed, 8pm. $3. Thursday, Monks' Night Out offers an energized mix of sketch comedy and improv (see listing). Thu, 9pm. $5. After the Monks, the Comedy Open Mike lets comics go wild with new material. Thu, 10:30pm. $3 (free for Esther's & Monks' patrons). Weekends offer the Monks again (Fri, 10pm; $7/Sat, 8pm; $9) and tops in stand-up. This week, West Coast madman Harmon Leon returns to slice up the Cheese Palace with his edgy yucks. Fri, 11:30pm; Sat, 9:30 & 11:30pm. $5. 521 E. Sixth. 469-9116.