Funny business

People love to laugh, that's for sure.

Laughter is the reason we TiVo "Saturday Night Live" or "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." No one sadly and reluctantly buys a ticket for a Vince Vaughn movie. They're smiling with anticipation of his one-liners and lightning fast monologues.

It seems like the booking powers that be in Southeast Missouri have recognized it and decided to capitalize on our need for humor and distraction, and I am tickled pink.

It started in May when Mike Trainor came to perform at Whiskey River on Independence Street. Then the management of the Pink Galleon scheduled four weeks of comedy in July. And The Venue recently pulled up to the funny farm, announcing Pauly Shore will stand up to make you crack up Aug. 8.

Debbie Atchison, the director of events at The Venue, said she has been talking to an agent for several weeks about bringing in a comedian. The banquet hall had an open date. Pauly Shore was going to be in St. Louis. Ba-da-bing -- comedy!

Both Atchison and the agent said they hope to create a monthly comedy show with names like Shore and Gilbert Gottfried. My hope is that from those monthly events, more will be born -- or reborn.

The Pink Galleon has already announced another comedy series for October. The Mississippi Mud House has the perfect brick wall and intimate setting for amateur comics. The owners held one comedy night in 2009, but maybe this will prompt them and others to bring more laughter to the hearts of their friends and neighbors.