At first glance, Pat Whalen is exactly what you’d expect from a late-night talk show host. The 29-year-old is a white man with thick-rimmed glasses who puts on a black suit and skinny tie for his monthly comedic talk show, Good Evening With Pat Whalen. The self-described “late-night talk-show news-alternative” is like the love child of Conan and The Daily Show: the bits are quick and silly, the coverage has a political bent, and there’s almost always a musical guest. What’s unexpected is the lineup of people Whalen has brought on during the last two years. The actor and comedian has interviewed members of Black Youth Project 100; Ra Joy, the executive director of CHANGE Illinois; and Debra Shore, a commissioner for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. It’s not exactly a group that screams laugh riot.
“We’re going to address what, unfortunately, some people associate with Uptown, which is violence and homelessness,” Whalen says. “How the hell are we going to talk about this without stepping on the alderman’s toes? Walk into his office and ask for his help.”
Sat 5/14, 7:30 PM, Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson, besteveningever.com
