Broadway Comedy Club   

The Improv may be confused with other comedy clubs because of its popular name -- like Xerox, it's both a proper noun and a verb -- and because it's been franchised around the country. Open since the 1960s, this original joint is always jumping, albeit with large groups of tourists, largely because it's smack center in the Theater District. The dress is casual (jeans and sneakers) and there's usually a cover, but an in-house restaurant and cheap student rush tickets keep the natives calm. Like most top humor houses in New York, the small stage has seen its share of old school superstars -- like Bill Cosby, Jay Leno and Richard Pryor -- but the nightly roster keeps things fresh with themed sets like Latino and Sketch comedy. Now calling the Improv home is also Chicago City Limits, the hilarious and offbeat improvisational troupe that wanders the country in search of The Punchline.