CHICAGO--Marlon Mitchell, host of Giovanni’s, located at 1131 E. Sibley Boulevard every Friday for the past eight years has been on the Oprah Winfrey Show, BET Comic View four times and appeared in videos with artists such as Do or Die, White Boy and Common Sense.

He started his comedian career professionally when he was tired of performing for his friends for free. "I cracked jokes and was silly all the time. I was class clown in grammar school and class idiot in high school. I was known for being funny," jokes Marlon.

Funny is an understatement. In 2003, Marlon won the Miller Genuine Draft Comedy Search, in 2004 Truth Magazine voted him "Comedian of the Year," in 2005, Bean Soup Times voted him "Next Comedian to Blow at the Bean Soup Times comedy Awards." Along with these notable , Mr Mitchell is in the movie The Lyric currently playing at the Los Angeles Film Festival. He is playing in a couple of B. Cole’s projects, "I am in Love with a Crack-head" and "A Get Together."

Marlon’s most memorable performance was in Miami on BET’s Comic View Caliente. The joke was about his father’s underwear. He portrayed how people can have the baddest outfit but yet the ugliest underwear. Who would have thought huh? When you have the opportunity to see Marlon Mitchell perform, expect to laugh at witty humor and his real-life funny stories. You never know what he is going to do nor say.

He humbly spoke about Chicago and how this city embraces local comedians. "Chicago should be more supportive. They need to ride with local comedians so we know who to ride with. It is about respect. Chicago is the third largest city and I don’t understand why we can’t get it together," explained Marlon.

And where does Marlon see himself in five years, "well hopefully through God, I will be wherever he places me. Wherever it is lucrative for my family," says Mitchell. "My family drives me on a daily basis.

Giovanni’s doors open at 9pm and show time is at 9:30 pm. It is $5 before 10 pm and $10 after 10pm. There are tickets available too. You may contact Marlon at 773.758.1115.