Yesterday the Melbourne International Comedy Festival announced that it was taking over management of Trades Hall from independent producer Bella Union. Is this a good or bad thing for local comedy?

News of an impending guide to making cakes in the shape of popular ABC TV children's characters had us thinking… why leave it at the kiddie programming?

Nick Caddaye brings his uniquely jaundiced take on life to Trades Hall for two more shows only. There's only so much more ultra-cheap champagne he can handle.

The laughter dies down in six days and we all have to return to lives of thankless toil. Here is what The Enthusiast has seen so far. Take it as a call to arms. Or a warning.

Longtime comedy collaborators Andrew McClelland and Lawrence Leung step out of their comfort zone in their time-travelling show, with rewardingly hilarious results.

Apparently there's some dumb car race on this weekend, but luckily there's some decent stuff on the teev too, including opera, nerd comedy, top-notch Aussie drama, Monty Python side projects, and clitorises.

Delightfully dorky comedian Lawrence Leung spent two years fulfilling all his childhood dreams. We caught up with him as the resulting TV show, Choose Your Own Adventure, prepares to screen on ABC1.