COOL DRY PLACE
Finnegan’s take might make visit to Vu worthwhile

By PETE BLAND of the Tribune’s staff
Published Thursday, September 14, 2006

Historically, we haven’t given much attention to the schedule at Déjà Vu in these pages - and probably rightfully so. Even when their humor lies somewhere north of middling, comedians can still leave a nasty aftertaste.

Christian Finnegan is one of the rare visitors to the club on Cherry Street whose act occasionally makes a trip into that palatable territory. More notable, honestly, is that he actually has the potential to draw some new blood to the Vu.

Finnegan’s star has risen in the past couple of years thanks almost exclusively to a recurring spot on VH1 pop-culture wrap-up show "Best Week Ever." The program’s return to the airwaves this weekend conveniently coincides with Finnegan’s five-show Columbia run tonight through Saturday.

In addition to being instantly identifiable because of his "BWE" face time, Finnegan might be familiar to fans of Comedy Central’s "Chappelle’s Show" as Chad, the lone - and thusly thoroughly abused - white roommate in "The Mad Real World" sketch. He also has made numerous other television appearances, served as a staff writer on "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn" and founded the New York-based troupe The Non Prophets. And, as his Web site repeatedly makes clear, Finnegan takes pride in being able to "name every member of German heavy metal band The Scorpions and play ‘Shave and a Haircut’ by banging on the top of his skull with his fists."

Finnegan begins his stint at the Vu with a special engagement at 9:30 tonight. There will be a nonsmoking show at 8 p.m. tomorrow, followed by another special engagement at 10:15. And there will again be performances at 8 and 10:15 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $8 for tonight’s presentation and $10 for each set tomorrow and Saturday. Keith Terry is also featured on the bill.

"Best Week Ever," meanwhile, makes its comeback at 10 p.m. tomorrow and also can be seen at 12:30 and 10 a.m. and 5:30 and 11 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. and midnight Sunday, and 2 p.m. Monday.