Early tonight (5:30 pm) at Second City‘s e.t.c. Theater there’s a showing of two sitcom pilots and a short film. It’s free and if you see these tonight, in a couple of years you’ll be able to say “oh yeah, that new really funny girl on that sitcom — I saw her two years ago at Second City.” Stick around at 8:30 for Second City Unhinged — two great acts of improvisation for $5.

Second City e.t.c.
1608 N Wells in Pipers Alley
5:30 pm, August 9
free

And tomorrow night there’s a smorgasbord of comedy at the Funny Ha-Ha 4-Ever reading at The Hideout from 8-10. There will be readings by Politically Correct Bedtime Stories author James Finn Garner, Redeye humor columnist Mark Bazer, Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life author Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and UR Chicago’s Leonard Pierce, and sketch comedy by Schadenfreude and a short film by Steve Delahoyde. Claire “Zulkey.com” Zulkey and Looking for Alaska author John Green co-host. It’ll be John’s last night in Chicago as he leaves for NYC Thursday morning. Maybe you should buy him a drink to make sure that his drive is realllly pleasant.

The Hideout
1354 W Wabansia
8-10 pm, August 10
$5 suggested donation