When did speed bumps become speed humps?

FRIDAY, November 10

From the Why-Didn’t-I-Think-of-It department, we bring you SkyMaul. It’s a — fasten your seat belts — takeoff of the beloved in-flight catalog featuring things you didn’t know you couldn’t live without, like the chocolate fountain I proudly own. Such wisecrackers as Fred Willard, David Foster Wallace and Patton Oswalt have even praised it. SkyMaul is the brain-love-child of San Francisco comedy troupe The Kasper Hauser (they do brainy things where they’re from, like name their comedy troupe after mysterious 19th-century German foundlings). The foursome will “perform” such concepts as the Combination Baby Stroller/Lawn Mower; the DUI-Mask; the Adultery Detector; and Da Vinci Code Decoder Ring. Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, 5919 Franklin Ave., Hlywd.; Fri., Nov. 10, 9:30 p.m.; $5. (323) 908-8702.

SATURDAY, November 11

At last year’s L.A. Scavenger Hunt, foragers were sent off into the city in search of a half-empty bottle of absinthe, a life-size cutout of Eazy E or Freddie Mercury, a garden gnome and a photo of someone in their party hitchhiking naked on a busy street. Needless to say, none of those scavengers was ever heard from again. The rules are simple: Each team has six hours to get as many things on the list as they can; points are awarded based on . . . well, based on how difficult/time-consuming/preposterous/impossible the item is. The winner gets $5,000 worth of cool loot, and everybody is invited to an after party with bands at a downtown warehouse. Donations benefit the Union Rescue Mission. If anybody comes to my house, they can score a 1978 National Lampoon, a New York Mets bib, a stuffed Jerry Garcia doll or Evonne Goolagong’s autograph. Starts at north side of Echo Park Lake; Sat., Nov. 11, 1-7 p.m. For info: www.LAscavengerhunt.com.

What a lineup: Carol Channing, Jason Alexander, Nanette Fabray, Charlotte Rae, Cathy Rigby, Sally Struthers, Leslie Uggams, Bruce Vilanch, Jo Anne Worley. We know what you’re thinking: Where’s Bonnie Franklin? Another parade of stars comes out for Everything’s Coming Up Roses: The Jule Styne Centennial. Styne wrote the scores to Gypsy, Funny Girl, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Peter Pan and more, so there will be a lot of people needing people who are the luckiest people in the world. Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State L.A., 5151 State University Dr., L.A.; Sat., Nov. 11, 8 p.m.; $40-$150, VIP $250, includes reception with the cast; tickets benefit the Actors Fund. (323) 933-9266, Ext. 35.

SUNDAY, November 12

It was director Steven Soderbergh’s idea to pair up a screening of his new thriller that takes place in post–World War II Berlin, The Good German, with Casablanca, which he says was an inspiration. It takes a lot of nerve to follow your new movie up with what is widely considered one of the pinnacles of filmmaking. A lot of nerve. Aero Theater, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica; Sun., Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m.; $10. (323) 466-FILM.

MONDAY, November 13

Would you get up in front of total strangers and share your most embarrassing moment? What if, while you were telling your story, you had your fly down or parsley in your teeth? That’s the beauty of embarrassment; it can always get worse. And there’s nothing better than when it’s someone else’s. From a mild faux pas to full-blown public stupidity, you’ll hear all kinds of hilarious missteps at Mortified, Dave Nadelberg’s awful/genius idea to share things you swore you’d never mention again. King King, 6555 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Mon., Nov. 13, 8 p.m.; $15. (323) 960-9234.

TUESDAY, November 14

Welcome to The Grand Illusion. Writer Robert Towne (Chinatown, Shampoo) will discuss Jean Renoir’s 1937 World War I classic. Before he died in 1979, Renoir had been planning to screen Shampoo, and follow it with a Q&A, so this sort of makes up for it. Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., L.A.; Tues., Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m.; $10, $6 students. (866) 468-3399.

WEDNESDAY, November 15

About her dad, Richard Pryor, Rain Pryor writes, “He wasn’t a Cosby or a Leave It to Beaver dad. He was more like Ozzy Osbourne — and that was on a good day. But he was definitely my dad and there was no one like him. I loved him for all his parts, good and bad, and he loved me.” Pryor, who won acclaim for her one-woman show Fried Chicken and Latkes, presents and signs Jokes My Father Never Taught Me: Life, Love and Loss With Richard Pryor, which, if it’s anything like her Web site, could use a proofreader. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., W. Hlywd.; Wed., Nov. 15, 7:30 p.m.; free (book is $24.95). (310) 659-3110.

More weirdness from San Francisco: It’s this wacky and talented That1Guy. Mike Silverman (a.k.a. That1Guy) makes crazy virtuoso-tribal-punk sounds from an instrument he invented called the Magic Pipe. His bio lists his influences as “Dr. Seuss, Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa and Rube Goldberg” and tells us that he has a degree in music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Here’s the blurb we came up with: “I have seen the future of the one-man band, and it is That1Guy.” Knitting Factory, 7021 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Wed., Nov. 15, 7 p.m.; $10. (323) 463-0204.

THURSDAY, November 16

Take a trip to Africa — drive to Malibu to see Sierra Leone’s Refugee All-Stars. All 16 members met in a Sierra Leone refugee camp and are bringing attention to the plight of the world’s refugees through their joyful songs. Malibu Performing Arts Center, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu; Thurs., Nov. 16, 8:30 p.m.; $40. (310) 456-6722. See Music Pick.

But if you prefer your Africa Disneyfied and with valet parking, The Lion Kingreturns to the Pantages in all its majesty. The Pantages Theater, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Tues.-Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 & 8 p.m.; Sun., 1 & 6:30 p.m.; $15-$87. (213) 365-3500.

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