WEDNESDAY 10/5

LAFF HOLE

For his 16th birthday, Laff Hole host and founder Kevin Hyder was gifted "a rug that ended up in the entryway of our house and an alarm clock." From his mother. "That rug is still in her house," he says. "I'll never let her forget that." For his 38th birthday, Hyder handpicked a few of his favorite Seattle performers—including Adam Firestone, Edrease Peshtaz, and Tristan Devin of the sketch comedy group the Ashley Judd Comedy Hour—for a Laff Hole birthday extravaganza. "It's my birthday party, and I was like, I want to see these people perform for me," Hyder says. "That will be the best present ever." As his gift to Seattle, Hyder is also headlining the event for the first time in nearly two years. His humor is intelligent and self-mocking—he pairs stories of discovering masturbation at the age of 30 with slide shows depicting his evolution from buttrocker to middle-aged emo barista. And, since the gift of laughter is the cheapest, most worthwhile gift of all (excluding naps and orgasms), expect all the performers in this variety show to bring their very best skills to the stage—or risk being ranked below an entryway rug on the list of terrible gifts. Chop Suey, 8:30 pm, $10, 21+.

SUNDAY 10/9

CULT OF 8

Billed as Seattle's only "open mic for the pros," this new event pits four established comedians against four of Seattle's up-and-comers for a monthlong comedy residency. "I wanted to create an event where working comics could cultivate new material," explains comedian and creator Derek Sheen, who began hosting the residencies in June. "They don't get a chance to do that onstage, at paid shows—what if the material fails?" This month, Sheen invited comedians Jay Hollingsworth, Tony Daniel, Kermet Apio, and Elicia Sanchez (among others) to write, perform, and refine new sets. "It's very cool to watch the evolution of a joke," Sheen says. "We have a regular audience that returns week after week to see how they're progressing—to see the jokes gestate." I'd check out the event based on Sheen's recommendation alone—his stories of being sent to Scientology boarding school and befriending serial killer Ed Gein have, in my mind, earned him the title of America's Creepiest Uncle™. I have full faith that this event will be funny, fascinating, and (hopefully) a little horrifying. Comedy Underground, 8:30 pm, $10, all ages.