Comedian Dave Helem has seen much more of his hometown, Chicago, than he planned to coming into this summer.

But unforeseen circumstances often make for good comedy and Helem himself knows a lot about making the best with what he has. After trying his hand at teaching in the Chicago Public Schools system, Helem put his all into stand-up and it's paying off -- he's maintained his role as a Chicago comedy fixture while also gradually establishing himself in Los Angeles as a writer (Comedy Central's "Hood Adjacent" is among his credits) and performer.

Bridging his West Coast life with his roots, Helem produces a continued comedy showcase called A Dope Ass Comedy Show both in L.A. and Chicago, doing it once a week out there and once a month here. But for the past month Helem has only been in Chicago, putting in some filmed gigs while getting in as much stage time as he can to the point of putting on impromptu Dope Ass Shows.

At a "pop-up" Dope Ass Show earlier this month at its home club, At North, Helem speaks to WARR Editorial Director Kyle Means about the two-year journey the Dope Ass Shows have had so far (Helem initially came to Chicago in July to celebrate the show's two-year anniversary), what moving to L.A. has meant to his career, how Chicago comics are killing it as well as avoiding the Chicago Bull(shit)and keeping from being only "Chicago famous."

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