You Can't Spell Obama With B-A-M-F-O-R-D

FRIDAY, September 5

The 2008 L.A. County Fair is in town — if your idea of “town” is 90 minutes away by freeway. It’s hot, it’s far ... but you will find more deep-fried food on a stick than anywhere else, plus real animals, rides, eco-crap, garden displays — you know, like a county fair. New this year is Spam — God bless America! Bands include War, the Bangles, Sugarland, the Doobie Brothers and loads more (tickets extra). Today, basic admission is just a buck from 1 to 5 p.m. Pomona Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona; Wed., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Thurs., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri., 11 a.m.-mid.; Sat., 10 a.m.-mid.; Sun., 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sept. 5-28; prices vary. (909) 623-3111.

 
SATURDAY, September 6

Eight bucks is a pretty good bargain for a show that promises to answer “What’s This Life For?” Mary Lynn Rajskub, who’s a new mom, shares her life in “I Have a Family Now.” And Melinda Hill digs into glamorous Tinseltown tales in “Stories of a Girl Who Was in a Creed Video.” Also on the bill, a bitter blurbist’s one-woman show about the highs and lows of the quip biz (not really, don’t worry). Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood; Sat., Sept. 6 & 13, 10 p.m.; $8. (323) 908-8702 or www.ucbtheatre.com/la.

SUNDAY, September 7

We’re off to see the lizard. And the snake. And the chameleon. If you enjoy talking reptile, or you are just looking for other people who enjoy frogs and snakes and such, you won’t want to miss the North American Reptile Breeders Conference & Trade Show, with 100 dealers and their 10,000 geckos, gators, iguanas, snakes, lizards and tortoises. Here’s one to share with your new friends: What would you get if you crossed a newborn snake with a basketball? A bouncing baby boa! Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim; Sat., Sept. 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 7, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; $15, $8 children. (708) 932-8044.

MONDAY, September 8

Why wait until the new fall season to start bemoaning how crappy TV is? You can get a sneak preview of many ballyhooed upcoming series by attending TV Preview Parties at the Paley Center for Media. Tonight features sneaks of My Own Worst Enemy, Kath & Kim, Crusoe and Knight Rider. The series of vile crap followed by a Q&A continues through next Wednesday. Then you can go home and rewatch every episode of The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, a show far too hilarious to ever be on network television. Paley Center for Media, 465 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills; Sept. 5-19; free admission, but RSVP at paleycenter.org ($10 donation suggested). (310) 786-1025.

TUESDAY, September 9

To be read in haughty yet bored cadence of KCRW DJ voice: Thanks for supporting Hoopla, a division of Village Voice Media. For this Tuesday blurbette, we’ve chosen an artist who has been compared to Fiona Apple and Edith Piaf. She’s been an actress in her native Mexico since the age of 4, and now, at just 22, she’s getting major acclaim for her sultry and poised voice. Ximena Sariñana performs at the Gibson Showroom. We have no tickets to give away, but see you there! Gibson Showroom, 9350 Civic Center Dr., Suite 130, Beverly Hills; Tues., Sept. 9, 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, September 10

Who said: “I love my country. Maybe that’s because I’m rich. I’m not technically rich, but I do have a lot of shit that I don’t need that I refuse to share with others. And that feels solid.” If you answered “Maria Bamford,” then you already have your tickets to Stand Up for Obama. The comics on the bill, along with Ms. Bamford, include host Vance Sanders, Natasha Leggero, Andy Kindler, Rick Overton, Melinda Hill (yes, her again) and Denise Munro Robb, who tells one of my jokes, but does it much funnier: “I have car insurance but no medical insurance, so whenever I get really sick I have to get in my car and smash it up.” Busby’s (above El Toro Cantina), 5364 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles; Wed., Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m.; $20, $10 for unemployed people. (323) 933-9156.

THURSDAY, September 11

September 11, 2001, has special significance to Sarah Silverman. On that date, she discovered that the soy chai latte at Starbucks was “like, 900 calories.” She’s come back from the devastation of that day, though she will never forget. She’ll be joined by some so-called “friends” for Sarah Silverman & Friends, where you can’t drink yet but you can imbibe at any of several expensive restaurants and strip clubs before and after the show. Largo at the Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles; Thurs., Sept. 11, 9 p.m.; $25. (310) 855-0350.