Matt Braunger is worried about the message Harry Potter is sending to kids ย— ย“that itย’s okay to own an owl for a pet ย— noooo,ย” says the comedian, whoย’s trained with the likes of Susan Messing and improv guru Del Close. ย“Owls are made of feathers, claws and hatred,ย” he says in one bit. A friend of Braun-gerย’s once found a baby owl in the woods and called the Humane Society to find out how to raise it. ย“Theyย’re like, ย‘Let it go, dick.ย’ The Humane Society called him a dick,ย” he says. ย“They told him an owl that you raise in captivity will never stop trying to attack you.ย” He goes on to describe the scenario of an owl doing prison exercises waiting for its chance to make a ย“Hannibal -Lecter-like escape wearing the face of another owl. ย“ย‘Surprise, itย’s me, Keith, your owl ย— Death.ย’ย”

Hear Braunger share other experiences, like trying to convince his family that comedy is a profession. Braunger performs at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. today and tomorrow, and at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, January 24. Laff Stop, 526 Waugh Drive. For tickets and information, call 713-524-2333 or visit www.laff-stop.com. $20 to $25.

Wed., Jan. 23, 8:30 p.m.; Thu., Jan. 24, 8:30 p.m.; Fri., Jan. 25, 8 & 10:30 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 26, 8 & 10:30 p.m., 2008

This article appears in Jan 24-30, 2008.