All you need in the world is love and laughter. That’s all anybody needs. To have love in one hand and laughter in the other.

—August Wilson

FRIDAY, September 1

There’s definitely something wrong here: Everything Wrong: The Knights of Shocking Difference just might be the thing we all need the most. Let’s let the press release do the talking: “The Enablers of the Round Table, Seema Dpoy Kapur, Lauren ‘Larry Knight’ Hartman and Madam H (a.k.a. Haruko Tanaka) . . . build a critical mass of communal wrongness, celebrating insecurity and difference in a hyperfriendly, come-as-you-really-are party environment with games, music, dance and food. Friday is ‘Missing Toof Night’ —± come with a missing tooth and get in free! Saturday is ‘Long Second Toe Night’ — take off your sock and show us that your second toe is longer than your first and get in for free.” Highways, 1651 18th St., Santa Monica; Fri.-Sat., Sept. 1-2, 8:30-10:30 p.m., though they warn, “This is a durational performance installation/party. Come any time. Leave any time”; $5, $7 students (huh?). (310) 315-1459.

SATURDAY, September 2

The Pasadena Playhouse is so jazzed about its production of Fences starring Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett that it’s proclaiming today August Wilson Day. Cobbler, ice cream and jazz by the top-notch Patrice Quinn and Her Trio kick things off at 1 p.m., followed by a speaker program featuring several cast members, titled “Building Fences: An Actor’s Perspective.” Pasadena Playhouse, 39. S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena; Sat., Sept. 2, 1 p.m.; free. (626) 356-PLAY.

SUNDAY, September 3

The Big Picture — AFI’s Greatest Movie Musicals is a lovely way to end the summer. It’s a full program — meaning one bottle of wine per person in your party — of John Mauceri leading the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra in excerpts from classic musicals paired with film clips. That means you only get to sing along with little bitty portions of each song, so pay attention to the ork. I will be dressing my five-year-old towhead in dirty rags in the hopes of an extended set from Oliver! The Hollywood Bowl, 2307 N. Highland Ave., Hlywd.; Sun., Sept. 3, 7:30 p.m.; $5-$111. (323) 850-2000.

Another fitting way to toast the end of summer is at Gladstone’s Malibu End of Summer Fireworks Extravaganza. Seafood + buffet + fireworks + sand = my idea of a good time, and it’s even better because it’s a benefit for the Wellness Community, which provides support groups and other help for people with cancer. Gladstone’s, 17300 Pacific Coast Hwy., Pacific Palisades; Sun., Sept. 3, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; $100, $50 children 10 & under.? (310) 454-3474.

With a belly full of shrimp and lobster and generosity, it’s straight to the couch for you for the 41st Annual Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, as synonymous with Labor Day as hurricanes. Jerry Lewis — you can’t kill this man! — will be sweating out another marathon for his kids. Check local listings.

MONDAY, September 4

School starts tomorrow, Hockney ends today. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; Mon., Sept. 4, noon-8 p.m.; $17. (323) 857-6000.

“The thing I fail to do is fully comprehend what’s given back to me by the audience. You would think you would be a performer partly so you could feel all the appreciation or adulation, but I haven’t quite managed that yet.” That Michelle Shocked has always been one perplexing gal — outspoken down-home punker folkie trend-bucker. But after all these years, she still doesn’t feel the crowd love? That’s just crazy talk. Shocked is part of the fun-loving lineup called The Joint Is Jumpin’ Tour ’06 along with Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks and Mary Lee’s Corvette. Hicks — Mr. Roots himself — is not to be missed, and with his stellar array of pals, the following sentence definitely applies: You never know who might show up for a song or two. Henry Fonda Theater, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hlywd.; Mon., Sept. 4, 7:45 p.m.; $25. (323) 464-0808.

TUESDAY, September 5

While the future of America trot off with their new lunch boxes and shiny shoes today, let’s not forget what my dad always said (besides “I’ll just have a half” as cocktail hour wound down): “Your education never ends.” Amy Wilentz presents and signs I Feel Earthquakes More Often Than They Happen: Coming to California in the Age of Schwarzenegger. Find out what happens when a former New Yorker and award-winning author pens a book about her new hometown, L.A., covering intellectual parties and the Huffington scene. Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., W. Hlywd.; Tues., Sept. 5, 7 p.m.; free. (310) 659-3110.

WEDNESDAY, September 6

Never be afraid to try something new. Avoid conformity. And always say yes to a cocktail no matter the time of day. These are just a few of things Auntie Mame teaches young Patrick Dennis. AFI at the ArcLight continues its “100 Years . . . 100 Movie Quotes” with this classic that features countless wonderful quotes, but we’re betting “Yes! Live! Life’s a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!” was the clincher. ArcLight Hollywood, 6360 Sunset Blvd., Hlywd.; Wed., Sept. 6, 8 p.m.; $11. (323) 464-4226.

THURSDAY, September 7

A regular Thursday comedy show for more than several weeks, this making it a staple, is the The Fake Show, hosted by Eddie Pepitone and Frank Conniff. Every week’s a different lineup (last week it was Blaine Capatch, Karen Kilgariff, Dana Gould, Andy Kindler and Patton Oswalt) doing what they do best, as quickly as possible. Says Fake Gallery owner Paul Kozlowski, “Eddie Pepitone and Frank Coniff are the best hosts I’ve ever seen. Like Regis and Kelly on crack. The comics really like the show so every week we have incredible lineups. There are also some great new guys. The show has a great vibe. Bob Goldthwait said it best: ‘It’s not bitter. It’s not snarky. It’s not kids dressed in American Apparel bitching about the work they didn’t get.’ ” The Fake Gallery, 4319 Melrose Ave., L.A.; Thurs., Sept. 7, 8:30 p.m.; $5. (323) 661-0786.

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