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thursday

Lenny Bruce is often quoted as having said “satire is tragedy plus time.” It’s a good bit of advice, and one that stand-up comedian Ted Alexandro followed before looking for laughs from Hurricane Katrina. Only now can Alexandro comfortably relate his sorrow for the “Girls Gone Wild” program—with such devastation, he asks, “Where will all the girls go wild now?” Also suffering at the hands of Mother Nature: Jerry Lewis. The telethon’s airing after the worst natural disaster in U.S. history means that Jerry’s Kids “will probably have to wait another year for the cure,” according to Alexandro. But lest one get the idea that the former NYC music teacher is utterly callous, consider the rather thoughtful debate on the Michael Richards incident taking place on the comic’s MySpace page. Alexandro compares the outrage over his fellow comedian’s n-word-laden rant to the relative lack of outrage over the widespread disenfranchisement of blacks during the last two elections. But, seriously, don’t expect the man to get all C-Span on you when he takes the stage—just expect to laugh unexpectedly when Alexandro performs at 8:30 p.m. at the D.C. Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave. NW. $15. (202) 296-7008. (Dave Nuttycombe)