Alex Bellisle (from left), E.J. Cameron, Laurel Krabacher, Mark Campbell, Chuck Norment and Atra Asdou star in “The Best Decision You’ve Ever Made” at Second City e.t.c. | Timothy M. Schmidt

Each likable actor in ‘The Best Decision You’ve Ever Made’ establishes an identity amid the clever scenes and improv.

As the title of the new revue at Second City’s e.t.c. stage promises, “The Best Decision You’ve Ever Made” is about choices, and this show has made one: to play up its people above all else.

A lot of thought can go into the scenes and the jokes and the songs and the segues, but what Second City audiences remember are the actors and the thrill of discovering the irresistible appeal of an Amy Sedaris or a Chris Farley or a Keegan-Michael Key. So this show, directed by Frank Caeti (a former e.t.c. and “MADtv” performer) gives its stars an identity from the start.

They introduce themselves by name as though auditioning to play themselves, each offering specifics about ethnicity, gender and who comes off as “a human labradoodle.” Eschewing the suits and uniforms of past casts, they dress like individuals. Jean jacket? Houndstooth pants? Performance shorts? Whatever works.

Right off the bat, the audience is involved, polled on whether the opening improv should be one scene or three. The pleas for shouted suggestions keep coming (none of that texting they’re doing at the mainstage theater next door), and audience ideas guide the troupe through a first date and a funeral and some awkward sex talks by parents of generations past.

The suggestions are in good hands with these actors, who are quick to react and inspired in how they process the outbursts. This is the second e.t.c. show for most of them (not counting a pandemic-shortened production that didn’t get past previews), and they demonstrate supreme confidence and terrific rapport every moment they’re on.

Unlike the last e.t.c. show, “Grinning From Fear to Fear,” this one wades into political waters. Laurel Krabacher and E.J. Cameron have a wordless vignette about the different ways cops treat a white woman and a Black man driving while high. Cameron takes charge of another scene as a wokeness interrupter speaking truth to a white man (Mark Campbell) whose steps toward allyship aren’t cutting it.

Extending the idea of Joe Biden as a softspoken voice of calm after the chaos of the Trump years, Atra Asdou cleverly plays him as an ASMR practitioner, whispering soothing thoughts about his domestic agenda between lip smacks and paper crumples.

There are a few brief, edgy blackouts, too, including one at a gender reveal party with a gasp-inducing punchline.

A breakout moment for Campbell has him wrestling with his conscience while holding a door for a woman (Alex Bellisle). As she slowly, slowly makes her way toward him, Campbell rattles off his inner turmoil about manhood and chivalry and respect for the opposite sex.

Choices, right?

Also torn is a couple (Asdou and Cameron) unsure whether to befriend their landlord, played by resident goofball Krabacher as a shuffling pest with an unstable mustache.

Another burst of silliness casts Bellisle as a therapist helping delinquent teens find meaning in the rock they’re climbing.

The self-defining solo song by a cast member is a Second City trope, and “The Best Decision” opts to send up the concept. Bellisle’s ditty, initially about being Mexican but looking white, goes somewhere else. And when the Middle Eastern Asdou sings that she feels unheard, her point gets abruptly proven.

The personalizing of this show reaches an extreme when Norment plays an extended scene as themselves, showing their parents (Krabacher and Cameron) around the theater and then interrupting the action to explain why this is happening. It’s poignant but puts the humor on pause for a while.

Later, Norment, a funny and animated presence through most of the show, takes the lead in a pair of bafflers: singing about a certain fetish and playing an S&M dungeon master who leads a would-be audience dance party.

Some of the most exuberant moments in “The Best Decision” revel in this age of sexual openness. Bellisle plays a publicist advising celebrities that their misdeeds will be forgotten if they just come out as queer (whether or not they are).

And there’s some cheery blasphemy when the uptight angel Gabriel (Cameron) announces the Son of God, and free-thinking Mary (Asdou) and Joseph (Norment) are aghast to hear their child gendered.

Pinning a show on its personalities could have been risky, but it works when the players are so appealing — witty and expressive across the board, giving off that vibe of being stars in the making.

Swift pacing, nimble-minded actors and strong material all add up to some prime comedy.

Did I say prime? I meant choice.

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Kevin Cheveldayoff was an assistant general manager for the Blackhawks in 2010. | Sun-Times file photo

Cheveldayoff, formerly the Hawks’ assistant general manager and now the Jets GM, was determined to be only an “observer” in a May 2010 meeting

It appears former Blackhawks executive Kevin Cheveldayoff will remain general manager of the Jets moving forward despite his slight involvement in the Hawks’ sexual assault cover-up.

Cheveldayoff was a Hawks assistant GM and the lowest-ranking front-office member present at the May 2010 meeting where then-president John McDonough, then-GM Stan Bowman and then-coach Joel Quenneville, among others, decided not to take immediate action regarding then-video coach Brad Aldrich’s alleged assault of then-player Kyle Beach, an investigation found.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, one day after meeting with Quenneville and forcing him out of his Panthers coaching position, met Friday with Cheveldayoff and cleared him of any league discipline.

“While on some level, it would be easiest to paint everyone with any association to this terrible matter with the same broad brush, I believe that fundamental fairness requires a more in-depth analysis of the role of each person,” Bettman said in a statement. “Kevin Cheveldayoff was not a member of the Blackhawks senior leadership team in 2010, and I cannot, therefore, assign to him responsibility for the club’s actions, or inactions.”

The NHL determined Cheveldayoff was “essentially an observer” in the meeting and left it “believing that the matter was going to be investigated.” His AGM role “not only left him without authority” to make a decision on Aldrich but also without a way to access “sufficient information…whether or not the matter was being adequately addressed.”

Cheveldayoff, the Jets’ GM since 2011, will apparently be the only person present at the aforementioned meeting allowed to keep working in the NHL.

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Police work the scene after three teens were wounded in a shooting Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021, in Morgan Park. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

William Pemberton, 14, was standing on a sidewalk with a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy when someone walked up and opened fire.

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with killing a 14-year-old boy and wounding two other young teens in Morgan Park last month.

The 15-year-old is charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the Sept. 29 shooting in the 11000 block of South Bishop Street, Chicago police said.

William Pemberton, 14, was standing on a sidewalk about 7 p.m. with a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy when someone walked up and opened fire, police said.

Pemberton was struck in the head and was pronounced dead at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said.

The girl suffered a gunshot wound to the foot and the boy was struck in the leg, police said. Both were taken to a hospital in good condition.

The 15-year-old was arrested Thursday in Morgan Park. He was expected to appear in juvenile court Friday.

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Kenwood’s JJ Taylor (1) takes drives the ball past Clemente’s Terrell Taylor (33). | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

The state’s top junior is leaving for California.

The Chicago to California connection continues. Kenwood junior JJ Taylor has transferred to Donda Academy, Kanye West’s new prep school in Simi Valley, California. Taylor announced the move on his Instagram account Friday.

Nimari Burnett was the first local star to transfer to California. Burnett helped lead Morgan Park to a state title as a freshman in 2017 and then left for California.

Next up was Amari Bailey, who never even attended high school in Chicago. He left for Sierra Canyon, California after eighth grade.

The move worked out well for Burnett and Bailey, although they did head to more established schools. At this point, Donda Academy apparently doesn’t even have a building.

It does have basketball stars. Top 100 national talents Zion Cruz, Robert Dillingham, Jakhi Howard and Jalen Hooks all made the move to Donda before Taylor. All four players changed their Instagram profile pictures to black circles after announcing the move to Donda. Taylor’s Instagram picture is now a black circle.

Dillingham and Taylor both took official visits to Kentucky this past weekend. There’s speculation that’s where the Taylor to Donda spark first occurred.

Tayor, a 6-8 guard, started high school at Morgan Park and transferred to Kenwood after head coach Nick Irvin left to take a job at Western Illinois. Irvin’s brother Mike Irvin is the coach at Kenwood and runs the Mac Irvin Fire, the club basketball team Taylor plays with.

Rivals has ranked Taylor No. 4 in its Class of 2023 rankings. ESPN has Taylor No. 6 in the country while 247Sports has him ranked No. 8.

“It’s very important for me to be that player, to live up to it,” Taylor said in July of his top 10 national status. “It means something. There is some pressure that comes with that, and I know and expect people to come at me. But I am ready for it and want that. I have to keep working to maintain it, live up to it, to represent Chicago. I know I’m being watched.”

Kenwood, with Taylor, Darrin Ames, Davius Loury and Trey Pettigrew, was expected to be one of the top two teams in the preseason Super 25. That changes with Taylor out of the picture.

Donda Academy is apparently opening the season on Nov. 6 at the Target Center in Minneapolis against Minnesota Prep.

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The Chicago Bulls were off to a very nice start this season. That 4-0 start was one of the best that the team has ever had. Ahead of game five, they honored one of the best players that the team has had over the last 20 years and that is Joakim Noah. Not only did […] Chicago Bulls did an amazing job honoring Joakim Noah – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & MoreRead More

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US President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Pope Francis as they meet at the Vatican, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. President Joe Biden is set to meet with Pope Francis on Friday at the Vatican, where the world’s two most notable Roman Catholics plan to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and poverty. The president takes pride in his Catholic faith, using it as moral guidepost to shape many of his social and economic policies. | AP

President Joe Biden’s support for abortion rights and same-sex marriage has has put him at odds with many U.S. bishops, some of whom have suggested he should be denied Communion.

ROME — President Joe Biden said Pope Francis told him he should continue to receive Communion, as the world’s two most prominent Roman Catholics ran overtime in highly personal discussions on climate change, poverty and the coronavirus pandemic that also touched on the loss of president’s adult son and jokes about aging well.

Biden’s support for abortion rights and same-sex marriage has has put him at odds with many U.S. bishops, some of whom have suggested he should be denied Communion.

Biden said abortion did not come up in the meeting at the Vatican. “We just talked about the fact he was happy that I was a good Catholic and I should keep receiving communion,” Biden said.

Video released by the Vatican showed several warm, relaxed moments between Francis and Biden as they repeatedly shook hands and smiled. Francis often sports a dour look, especially in official photos, but he seemed in good spirits Friday. The private meeting lasted about 75 minutes, according to the Vatican, more than double the normal length of an audience with the pontiff

The pair sat across from one another at a desk in the papal library, accompanied by a translator. They then proceeded to an exchange of gifts and a broader meeting including the first lady and top officials. The lengthy session put Biden more than an hour behind schedule.

“Biden thanked His Holiness for his advocacy for the world’s poor and those suffering from hunger, conflict, and persecution,” the White House said. “He lauded Pope Francis’ leadership in fighting the climate crisis, as well as his advocacy to ensure the pandemic ends for everyone through vaccine sharing and an equitable global economic recovery.”

Biden takes pride in his Catholic faith, using it as moral guidepost to shape many of his social and economic policies. He wears a rosary and attends Mass weekly.

After leaving the Vatican, Biden said he had a “wonderful” and that the pope prayed for him and blessed his rosary beads. Asked what the prayer was about, Biden replied, “Peace.”

A dozen Swiss Guards in their blue and gold striped uniforms and red-plumed halberds stood at attention in the San Damaso courtyard as Biden and his wife, Jill, arrived. They were received by Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, who runs the papal household, and then greeted one by one the papal ushers, or papal gentlemen, who lined up in the courtyard.

“It’s good to be back,” Biden said as he shook the hand of one of them. “I’m Jill’s husband,” he told another before he was ushered into the frescoed Apostolic Palace and taken upstairs to the pope’s private library.

According to the Vatican, Biden presented Francis a woven chasuble, or liturgical vestment, made in 1930 by the famed papal tailor Gammarelli and used by the pope’s Jesuit order in the U.S., where it was held in the archives of Holy Trinity Church, Biden’s regular parish in Washington. The White House said it would make a donation to charity in the pope’s name.

Holy Trinity is steeped in American history and played a role in advocating for abolition, desegregation and civil rights since it was founded in 1787. President John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic U.S. president, also worshipped there.

Biden also slipped what’s known as a challenge coin into the pope’s palm during a handshake, and hailed Francis as “the most significant warrior for peace I’ve ever met.”

The personalized coin depicts Biden’s home state of Delaware and a reference to his late son Beau’s military unit, the 261st Theater Tactical Signal Brigade. Biden told Francis that Beau would have wanted him to present the coin to the pope.

“The tradition is, and I’m only kidding about this, but next time I see you, if you don’t have it, you have to buy the drinks,” Biden said, referring to the coin. He added: “I’m the only Irishman you’ve ever met who’s never had a drink.”

Francis laughed and responded: “The Irish brought whisky.”

Biden, 78, also relayed the story of American baseball player Satchel Paige, a Black pitcher who played late into his fifties, in a parable about aging. “‘How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you were,'” Biden quoted Paige as saying. “You’re 65, I’m 60,” Biden added, as Francis, 84, pointed to his head and laughed.

Francis presented Biden with a ceramic tile depicting the iconography of the pilgrim, as well as a collection of the pope’s main teaching documents, the Vatican said. In the Vatican video, he could be heard asking Jill Biden to “pray for me.”

The warm encounter stood in stark contrast to Donald Trump’s 2017 meeting with Francis, with whom the former president had a prickly relationship. Photos from that 30-minute meeting showed a stone-faced Francis standing beside a grinning Trump. Biden’s meeting also was longer than the 52 minutes Barack Obama spent with Francis in 2014.

Biden is visiting Rome and then Glasgow, Scotland, for back-to-back summits, first a gathering for leaders of Group of 20 leading and developing nations and then a global climate conference.

Biden and Francis have previously met three times but Friday’s encounter was their first since Biden became president.

Biden also met separately Friday with Group of 20 summit hosts Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

He will end the day by meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, part of an effort to mend relations with France after the U.S. and U.K. decided to provide nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, scotching an existing French contract.

Biden’s meeting with Pope Francis generated some controversy in advance as the Vatican on Thursday abruptly canceled plans to broadcast the meeting with Biden live and denied press access. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the revised television plan reflected the virus protocol for all heads of state audiences, though he didn’t say why more robust live TV coverage had been initially scheduled and then canceled.

The Vatican instead provide edited footage of the encounter to accredited media.

The visit came as U.S. bishops prepared to meet in roughly three weeks in Baltimore for their annual fall convention. Among the agenda items is an effort by conservatives to disqualify Biden from receiving Communion. Any document emerging from the event is unlikely to single out the president by name, but he still could face some form of rebuke.

Francis has stressed that he will not reject political leaders who support abortion rights, though Catholic policy allows individual bishops to choose whether to prevent people from taking Communion.

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