In 2009, a quirk of the Minneapolis liquor code that required special licensing to perform standup comedy temporarily put a halt to the Comedy Corner Underground's Friday night open mic and threatened other comedy shows around town. After local comedians worked with the city government to amend the law, the room reopened with a renewed vigor and sense of purpose, now hosting multiple shows Thursday through Saturday. But the cornerstone of the CCUG remains its Friday night open mic, a consistently packed free show that draws its crowd from the nearby university and West Bank barhoppers. Each week three or four dozen comics vie for one of the 20 limited spots on the roster, which means audiences can expect lots of variety and a quick turnover in a show featuring some of the top acts and emerging talent in the Twin Cities. The cloistered basement room is also ideal for newcomers and first-timers trying their hand at standup, as the low ceiling and close confines keep the setting intimate and the laughs reverberating loudly — assuming you're getting laughs, that is.
