By Tamara Jenkins

Roller skaters, gymnasts, dancers, a contortionist and a man on stilts were the backdrop for Cedric the Entertainer’s Urban Circus. The adult themed circus was taped for television on June18^th at the Chicago Theatre as part of TBS’s Just for Laughs Comedy Festival held in Chicago June 15-19.

Chicago comedian Lil Rel warmed up the crowd with jokes about his family and poked fun at female in the audience by referencing her “Flavor Flav” sunglasses she bought from the beauty supply store.

A live band brought the noticeably slimmer “ringmaster” aka Cedric the Entertainer dancing to the stage and he went right into jokes about the current recession “American’s went from Gucci to Forever 21”.

The impressive circus talent line up included JB Smoove ( from the  HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm), Sommore ( The Original Queens of Comedy) and Russell Peters.

Standout moments included JB Smoove’s take on self protection by getting the “jump on people” and Sommore’s  desire to pimp the game Queen Latifah style-“who else has a Jenny Craig commercial and a Pizza Hut commercial at the same time?”

Surprise guest Jerry Seinfeld helped recreate Cedric’s driving a space shuttle skit from the Original Kings of Comedy tour. The evening also featured performances by Chicago dance group the Footwork Kingz, street performers Chicago Boys and steppers from the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. The circus will air June 23rd on TBS.

Photos by Dan Locke