On balance, director Karen Maruyama and the Groundlings' Sunday Company comics do a solid job of mining these 20-plus sketch routines for laughs. That's not to say that all of the material here is good; there are a handful of instances where the writing lacks the imaginative kick to be effective. “Colonial Penn” is a bad spoof on the insurance company's TV ad, with Nate Clark and Tom Fonss as ultra-satisfied customers, while “The Spirit,” a silly take on faith healing, is nothing more than a lot of flopping around onstage. But the improv segments that are standard with every Groundlings show were amazing, and there are more than enough knee-slappers in other sketches. “Chemical Attraction,” with Chris Eckert and Courtney Pauroso as highly educated, fussy lovers is hilarious. “Dublin Heights,” with plenty of Irish brogue, is a humorous twist on the murder mystery. Fonss and Matt Cook kick up laughs as a pair of fanatical gamers with issues in “Mark, Marty & Minecraft.” Also among the evening's best are “Closing Ceremonies,” where Navaris Darson and Keri Safran combine rap and opera for the Olympics, and “The Bachelor,” a bawdy take on the reality TV show, with Misty Monroe as a mouthy skank. Groundlings Theater, 7307 Melrose Ave., Fairfax. Sun., 7: 30 p.m.; runs indefinitely. (323) 934-4747, groundlings.com.

Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Starts: Aug. 5. Continues through Dec. 23, 2012

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