Without the struggle to bring banned books to the world, this weekly would not be able to print the following words — tits, cock-and-balls, menstruation. Without Lawrence Ferlinghetti's fight in the Supreme Court over the publication of Allen Ginsberg's Howl, Family Guy probably wouldn't be able to show Peter and Lois Griffin dressed in leather ready to beat the orgasms out of each other. And certainly, without the freedom to walk into a library, breeze through Henry Miller and read about Parisian whores, well, Americans would be discussing tyranny and censorship far more than the goddamn debt ceiling. In celebration of Banned Book Week, PEN Center USA and Playboy will present “Love Bites: A Banned Exotica Showcase.” Jerry Stahl, author of Permanent Midnight and I, Fatty, will host the event. Actors from shows including Dexter and The Office will start breaking the hymens of the prudish and the puritanical by performing sultry selections from Tropic of Cancer, Madame Bovary, Lolita and other banned books. If reading doesn't quite get your blood pumping, then you'll love watching burlesque royalty La Cholita (pictured), Kitten Natividad and Penny Starr Jr. throw their curves around the stage. On a night filled with so much laughter and seduction, you might want to bring an extra pair of pants. The Comedy Store, 8433 Sunset Blvd., W. Hlywd.; Fri., Sept. 30, 7 p.m.; $10 and two-drink minimum; (323)656-6225, thecomedystore.com.

Fri., Sept. 30, 7 p.m., 2011

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