NYC Comedy Picks for Week of April 12, 2010

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 3/12/10

Judah Friedlander (performing at Comix) and Kristen Schaal (Tell Your Friends)

6:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): A monthly storytelling show from the wonderful Adam Wade (two-time Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Champion (2006 & 2009) and record-breaking 15-time StorySlam Champion; The New York Times Magazine; host of Real Tales of College; for Adam's award-winning tale of being an NBC page on Conan O'Brien, please click here) at Under St. Marks: The Adam Wade from New Hampshire Show: Tales of Life, Love, and Little League

[FREE] 7:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Mike Lawrence, Adam Newman, Calvin Cato, Ray Marshall, David Lee Nelson, and Beth McGregor performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub hosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($7.44 online if you use code VIPAPRIL, plus 2-item minimum): A gathering of superb stand-ups—Judah Friedlander, Amy Schumer, Godfrey, Nick DiPaolo, Brooke Van Poppelen, Russ Meneve, and Sherrod Small—performing at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Judah Friedlander, Amy Schumer, Godfrey, Nick DiPaolo, Brooke Van Poppelen, and More

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): TV & movie star Kristen Schaal (one of the funniest women alive; shining star correspondent on The Daily Show; co-star of HBO's Flight of the Conchords; Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; AMC's Mad Men; star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets), Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central, Whiplash), Dave Hill (alternative comedy genius; HBO, The New York Times, The Dave Hill Explosion), and Mike Doughty, plus musical guests Eden & John's East River String Band and A Brief View of the Hudson, all performing in the Lolita Bar at Liam McEneaney's Tell Your Friends

8:00 pm ($5): Two of UCBT's fine house sketch comedy troupes, Gramps' and Thunder Gulch, trying out new bits at Maude Night

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Superb sketch troupe Pangea 3000 performing material better than its show's title indicates, plus the wonderful Jon Friedman performing a smart & silly one-man show, in the double-bill Pangea 3000 Sucks and Bear With Me

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the country—tonight including Hannibal Buress (red-hot rising star; staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, Jimmy Fallon, Craig Ferguson, concert film The Awkward Comedy Show; 2010 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up) and Kumail Nanjiani (David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, Jimmy Kimmel, writer/performer for Comedy Central's Michael & Michael Have Issues; winner of the 2009 ECNY Awards for Best Male Stand-Up)—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash

NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 3/13/10

Comedy giants Anthony Jeselnik (Punch Up Your Life), Ben Rodgers (Outlook of the Poet), and Ben Schwartz (Sweet)

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

7:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Hilary Schwartz and Rachael Parenta hosting an intriguing show at Ochi's Lounge described as "emotionally inappropriate comedy:" Please, Someone Kill Me

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Industry guests Grace Randolph (Marvel's Her-Oes) and Jeffrey Rotter (The Unknown Knowns) join super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Wil Sylvince, Erik Bergstrom, Ash Louis, Kara Klenk, Calvin Cato, and JC Coccoli performing at Cellar 58 (58 Second Avenue) alongside delightful host Abbi Crutchfield and comedic rapster Andrew Singer: Positively Awesome

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm to midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Monstro, The Opera, Sandino, Bastian, and DeCoster; and at 11:00 pm a show with superb troupes Outlook of the Poet (improv geniuses Gavin Speiller of Death By Roo Roo, Ben Rodgers of Reuben Williams, and Jonathan Gabrus of The Law Firm) plus The Law Firm: The People's Court—all at Harold Night

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Kumail Nanjiani (David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, Jimmy Kimmel, writer/performer for Comedy Central's Michael & Michael Have Issues; winner of the 2009 ECNY Awards for Best Male Stand-Up), Kevin Allison (legendary sketch troupe The State, host of award-winning storytelling show Risk!), Ben Schwartz (writer for SNL and David Letterman, member of brilliant sketch/improv troupe Hot Sauce), and "a special guest" performing at The Slipper Room for the LES weekly show hosted by the wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Delightful stand-ups Leah Dubie and Amy Beckerman hosting a sneak peek of the first episode of the upcoming new season of The Big Gay Sketch Show in Ochi's Lounge at Dykes on Mics

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:30 pm ($5): Wonderful stand-ups Anthony Jeselnik (writer for Jimmy Fallon; Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central Presents), Leo Allen (former writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central Presents, Conan O'Brien, upcoming HBO series Funny or Die, host of top NYC comedy show Whiplash), Emily Flake (cartoonist for The New Yorker), Nick Offerman (NBC's Parks and Recreation), and Nick Stevens (host Of AMC’s Action Pack) performing at the Housingworks Bookstore Cafe for a free weekly show hosted by brilliant stand-up Pete Holmes (Comedy Central Presents, The Daily Show, John Oliver and Friends, VH1's Best Week Ever, The New Yorker) and razor-sharp Joe DeRosa (Comedy Central, Carson Daly, Insomniac Tour; for stand-up video about why Joe hates weddings, please click here): Punch Up Your Life

9:30 pm ($5): Superb stand-ups Rachel Feinstein (Comedy Central Presents), Claudia Cogan (Time Out New York's Best Joke winner), and more with host Shawn Hollenbach at Minty Fresh Comedy

[FREE] 11:00 pm: Free open mic stand-up show that's seldom much fun for audience members but is a nice opportunity if you want 4-5 minutes to test out your comedy material on stage: Bring It

NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 3/14/10

Dave Hill and Baron Vaughn perform stand-up at Totally J/K

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

7:00 pm ($5): Talented sketch comic John Phillips (Mace Bacon) performs a one-man show in which he plays a variety of diverse characters: An Evening with John Phillips

[FREE] 7:00 pm to midnight: Five free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Adam Wade (two-time Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Champion and record-breaking 10-time StorySlam Champion; for Adam's award-winning tale of being an NBC page on Conan O'Brien, please click here) hosts other superb yarn-spinners in Ochi's Lounge sharing their favorite real-life campus anecdotes at True Tales of College

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Dave Hill (one of the most original and hilariously sharp alternative comics in the country; HBO, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, star of The King of Miami, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Salon, The Dave Hill Explosion), Baron Vaughn (co-star of USA's Facing Kate and Comedy Central's The Awkward Comedy Show, MTV, VH1), and more join best bud hosts Noah Garfinkel & Joe Mande (author of Look At This F*cking Hipster) at Totally J/K

[FREE] 8:30: Bruce Cherry, Marian Rosin, Daniel Rockdale, Quenegonde de Saint Marie, Martin Morrow, Liz Simons, and Alison Grillo performing at this free weekly show hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: Hannibal Buress (red-hot rising star; staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, Jimmy Fallon, Craig Ferguson, concert film The Awkward Comedy Show; 2010 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up), Leo Allen (HBO, Saturday Night Live, Conan O'brien, Comedy Central Presents, host of top NYC comedy show Whiplash), Nick Offerman (NBC's Parks and Recreation), Patrick Borelli (long-time writer/performer for Conan O'Brien, author of Holy Headshot), and Julian Mccullough (Comedy Central Presents) performing at this free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn's Cameo (behind Lovin' Cup) hosted by Gabe Liedman and Max Silvestri: Big Terrific

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Theatrical scenes made up on the spot with breathtaking skill by brilliant and passionate improvisors who are becoming one of the best comedy duos in the biz—Scott Adsit (30 Rock, Moral Orel) and Christina Gausas (Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report), a.k.a. Adsit & Gausas

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) providing as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible—and don't forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 4/15/10

Spectacular comedic talents Adira Amram and Lennon Parham are among the stars joining Rob Lathan to help you Get Psyched!

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $12 marked with $) include:

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:00 pm ($12): A blowout gathering of some of the most talented and beloved comics in New York—Lennon Parham, Kate McKinnon, Adira Amram, and Zach Woods—joining co-authors Rob Lathan and Will Hines perform a live version of their book Get Psyched!

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:30 pm ($12.89 online if you use code VIPAPRIL, plus 2-item minimum): An irresistible comedic actor and stand-up—best known as the anti-FIOS guy in Verizon commercials—celebrates his first comedy album at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Matt McCarthy CD Release Party

7:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Lisa Levy psychoanalyzing comics in Ochi's Lounge at Stand Up, Lie Down

7:30 pm ($5): Sharp improvisors directed by James Eason "take an audience suggestion and break it into a million funny pieces," and veteran improvisors play with "elements of monoscene, deconstruction, and La Ronde," in the double-bill The Deconstruction and Sleepover

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): The delightful Andrée Vermeulen performing a one-woman show in which she applies for "The Greatest French Person in the World Award" only to discover a terrible family secret involving waffles—and while performance trumps material here, Andrée is a fresh young talent worth discovering (for a memorable show highlight, shot with Andrée's real-life boyfriend Thomas Middleditch, please click here); plus real-life married couple James Eason & Jessica Allen, who are both superb veteran improvisors, stretching themselves with a scripted sketch show directed by Rachel Hamilton, in the double-bill French Toast and D-Bags, A-Holes & Lovers

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($38.25 plus 2-drink minimum): A former Saturday Night Live star headlining tonight through Saturday at Carolines: Kevin Nealon

8:00 pm ($8): Elizabeth Blue performing a new one-woman show: Am I Blue

[TOP PICK] [$] 9:00 pm ($15): A comic excavation of teen angst artifacts (journals, letters, poems, lyrics, home movies, stories, and more) are shared by their original authors before total strangers at Mortified

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 9:30 pm ($19.33 online if you use code VIPAPRIL, plus 2-item minimum):Rory Albanese (Executive Producer of The Daily Show; recently aired fine Comedy Central Presents half-hour special) and Rachel Feinstein (hilarious stand-up; Comedy Central; opens for Sarah Silverman on tour) share the headlining spotlight at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: An Evening with Rachel Feinstein and Rory Albanese

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Two talented sketch comedy troupes and a sketch master—Sidecar, Two Fun Men, and Kurt Braunohler—each performing one of their most popular sketches and one of their personal favorites in a fun revue hosted by James Eason & Aaron Kheifets: A-Side/B-Side

[$] 10:00 pm ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Vibrant improv troupes Reuben Williams and Decoster compete for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 4/16/10

Lectures on Magneto vs. Jesus, Don Knotts: Reluctant Sex Object, the making of Monster's Ball, and much more
when superfan Kevin Maher invites his very special friends to entertain you at Kevin Geeks Out All-Stars

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): In this fun show, 16 musical performers turn an audience member's suggestion into two musical fairy tales that tell what happened from the viewpoint of first the hero and then the villain, with "all the music and magic of a Disney flick...plus the darkness of the Brothers Grimm:" Once Upon a Time

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Superfan Kevin Maher hosting a two-hour cultural cavalcade at 92Y Tribeca of trivia, prizes, free cookies, and guest speakers "presenting rare film footage and TV clips you won’t find on YouTube or Netflix." Tonight's blowout includes an analysis of whether Jesus would best Magneto in a fight; Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Will Rokos describing the rollercoaster ride of bringing Monster’s Ball from script to screen; a lecture on Don Knotts: Reluctant Sex Object; and much more. Don't miss one of the best shows in NYC, which consistently sells out in advance (buy your ticket online by clicking here): Kevin Geeks Out All-Stars

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Comedy dynamo Shannon O'Neill debuting her extravaganza about an annual talent show in "Charlie Sheen Prison, the only talent show starring the criminally retarded and insane," directed by the wonderful Will Hines; plus Kate McKinnon, Sarah Claspell, Nicole Drespel, Jocelyn Guest, Veronica Osorio, and Aaron Glaser perform a sketch show written by Leila Cohan and Caitlin Tegart about Smith, our nation's largest women's college, in the double-bill Prison Freaks: A Talent Show and This is About Smith

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($41.00 plus 2-drink minimum): A former Saturday Night Live star headlining tonight through Saturday at Carolines: Kevin Nealon

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): A beloved high-concept sketch troupe that delights in exploring silly ideas and wordplay (for example, demonstrating that a caveman and the Cookie Monster sound remarkably alike when saying such things as "Me have problem with subject/verb placement...") debuts an all-new show: Elephant Larry

10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Genius comedic actress Kate McKinnon, comedy dynamo Shannon O'Neill, and numerous other talents ask you to "join Dusty Springfield and your favorite dead singers from the 60's and 70's as they blow the pearly gate right off its hinges. The music is live, the performers are not, so come get rocked at the concert God himself wants you to see!": Dusty Springfield: Live in Heaven

[FREE] 12:20ish am: A free opportunity for you to perform sketch on the UCBT stage at Liquid Courage

[$] 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 4/17/10

Chris Gethard hosts a midnight comedy extravaganza in which anyone who laughs will be kicked out of the theatre (The Chris Gethard Show)
and a world-class improv troupe returns to NYC for another Saturday night run of making up musicals on the spot (Baby Wants Candy)

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisor Christina Gausas and friends she originally made in Chicago—which include writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors, all joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball

7:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): NY stand-ups (lineup haven't been announced) performing in Ochi's Lounge at Sean Donnelly's Lil' Seany Boy

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($41.00 plus 2-drink minimum): A former Saturday Night Live star headlining tonight through Saturday at Carolines: Kevin Nealon

8:00 pm ($5): Will Nunziata and Jerry Miller performing a two-man sketch show designed as a love letter to the dystopian films of the 70s, 80s, and 90s:" Dystopia Gardens

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—and the Cage Match Champion for two years in a row!—genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo

9:00 pm ($5): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Always fresh and imaginative world-class sketch troupe that uses song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about awkward goodbyes at the end of a party, please click here): The Harvard Sailing Team

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 10:30 pm ($15 both online and at the door using discount code PISANO, otherwise $20): A Chicago-based troupe that's wowed audiences around the world with their skill at creating a completely improvised hour-long musical. The plot and characters, the musical accompaniment; even the song lyrics and the "choreography" are made up on the spot, with no pre-planned structure. Come see why BWC won a FringeNYC Award last August for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Event at the magical Baby Wants Candy

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, quick-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): An all-star improv troupe led by brilliant UCBT artistic director Anthony King: Reuben Williams

10:30 pm ($5): Vibrant improv from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney (Statues of Liberty) and Leslie Korein as comedy trio Trike

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($10): Hilarious sketch duo Chris O'Neill and Paul Valenti describe themselves as "vaudeville gold for a 2010 crowd." Whatever. They're funny. Especially the bit with the nose. Come catch their latest material tonight at The Chris and Paul Show Presents: 1st Symphony

[TOP PICK] 12:00 am ($5): One of the most fascinating performers in comedy hosting his own extravaganza—which goes beyond a stage show to have the makings of a hit MTV series—with guests including Shannon O'Neill, Joe Mande, Will Hines, Bethany Hall, Don Fanelli, Hardcore Boris, and the Kung Fu Monkeys...with this special show forbidding anyone in the audience from laughing!: The Chris Gethard Show

NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 4/18/10

Improv geniuses, and occasionally comedy stars, perform every Sunday at ASSSCAT 3000

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($7): Moshe Kasher, Mike Drucker—plus who knows who might stop by—performing at Brooklyn's Union Hall hosted by comedy giant Eugene Mirman: Tearing the Veil of Maya

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Joe Derosa (Comedy Central Presents), Mike Drucker (freelance writer for SNL), Glennis McMurray (I Eat Pandas), Matt Ruby, and James Harris performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: Typically superb stand-ups (not yet announced) performing at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan) hosted by the wonderful Hannibal Buress: Comedy Night

[FREE] 9:00 pm: Typically sharp stand-ups (not yet announced) performing in the East Village's Beauty Bar at Vince Averill's & Jesse Popp's free weekly show Beauty Bar Comedy

[FREE] 10:00 pm: Bernadette Pauley (Comedy Central), Adrienne Iapalucci (VH1), and H. Alan Scott (comedy's finest snacks baker) performing at a free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour

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