One of the more criminally underexposed standups in the edgy, personality-driven "alternative comedy" school (whatever the hell that means), former Floridian/current New Yorker Todd Barry possesses a smart, low-key style that can be both self-deprecating and smirkingly snide. He's probably best known for his utility-player role doing one-off voices for the bizarro 'toons that fill out Cartoon Network's revered Adult Swim late-night lineup — Barry's done Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Home Movies, Squidbillies, and his guest spot on Tom Goes to the Mayor airs Sept. 24 — but his profile as a flesh-and-blood performer was already high enough in 2003 to land him in Entertainment Weekly's annual cool-shit-you-should-know Hot List/It List/Must List/Whatever List issue. Fans of off-center comedy, pay attention — this guy is not to be missed. Aug. 17-20, 7:30 p.m. Thurs., 7:30 and 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 7 p.m. Sun., The Tampa Improv, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City, $14-$18, 813-864-4000, www.tampaimprov.com.
