NYC Comedy Picks for Week of April 20, 2009

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 4/20/09

Former and current writers of Saturday Night Live perform stand-up tonight at Tell Your Friends

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows

the perfect show for short attention spans, open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set

and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—tonight including Sean Crespo, Chelsea White, Amy Beckerman, RG Daniels, Luke Cunningham, Julia Segal, Mark Normand, Matt Ruby, Sean Donnelly, Blaine Perry, Aalap Patel, and Matteson Perry—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel (6:30 pm & 9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] former and current writers of Saturday Night Live—including Leo Allen, Bryan Tucker, and Colin Jost, plus guest host Pete Holmes—performing stand-up at Liam McEneaney's Tell Your Friends (8:00ish pm),

a small mob of talented sketch comedy writer/performers doing bits about getting stoned at It's 4/20, Dude! (9:30 pm), and

[TOP PICK] [FREE] and a free weekly show typically featuring some of the finest comics in the country, hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central) at Whiplash (11:00 pm).

Ochi's Motel

Lottery-style open mic for stand-up comics trying out material,

with 4½ minutes per performer...in return for a $5 contribution to the weekly prize kitty.

In addition, Ochi's 1-item food or drink minimum applies to everyone.)

A breathtaking 25 comics perform in this 2½ hour show; producer

John Morrison (above) has described it as "comedy on crack."

If you're seeking consistent laughs, this might not be the best way to spend

your evening. But if you're patient and adventurous, it's a potentially wild ride.

And if you're a performer looking for some stage time, it's a nice opportunity.

Plus if you stick around till the show's end to support your fellow comics,

 you have a chance at winning the cash from the kitty, along with smaller prizes.

There are two shows, at 6:30 and 9:00 pm, with entirely different groups of stand-ups.

Tonight's 6:30 lineup include Sean Crespo, RG Daniels, Julia Segal, Beth McGregor, Mark Normand, Matt Ruby, Dan Cartwright, Mike Lawrence, Matt Maragno, Mike Payne, Dan Upham, Gilad Foss, Sean Donnelly, Blaine Perry, and John Morrison.

And the 9:00 pm lineup includes Chelsea White, Amy Beckerman, Luke Cunningham, Jacquetta Szathmari, Mike Recine, Don Weir, Jay Welch, Aalap Patel, and Matteson Perry.

Ochi's Motel is hosted at 6:30 by Sean Donnelly and Blaine Perry:

...and at 9:00 pm by Aalap Patel and Matteson Perry:

To be entered into the weekly random drawing for performers,

please send email to ochismotel@gmail.com.

6:30 pm & 9:00 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues)

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

Leo Allen, Liam McEneaney, and Bryan Tucker

Tell Your Friends

This free weekly comedy show is produced by Liam McEneaney

(VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Premium Blend,

former writer for Standup Nation with Greg Giraldo).

Tonight's stellar host is

Pete Holmes (one of the quickest & sharpest minds in comedy; VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Motherload; writer for CollegeHumor.com;

cartoonist for mags ranging from The New Yorker to Cosmo Girl;

host of UCBT's monthly open mic stand-up show Gutbucket;

co-host of smash hit new Tuesday night comedy show Punch Up Your Life;

for a hilarious range of videos, please click here).

And tonight's wonderful guests are

Leo Allen (one of the most sharp, honest, and likeable stand-ups working in NYC; writer for Saturday Night Live from 2002 through 2005; performed two Comedy Central Presents 1/2-hour specials (one by himself and one with his writing partner Eric Slovin); done stand-up on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.; acted on Ed and Sex and the City; host of NYC weekly live comedy show Whiplash),

Bryan Tucker (writer for Saturday Night Live 2005-2008; also wrote for Chappelle's Show, Mad TV, The Chris Rock Show, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; performed on Comedy Central's Premium Blend; for a stand-up video sample, please click here), and

Colin Jost (writer for Saturday Night Live from 2005 to the present),

plus musical guest The Fools.

8:00ish pm at Lolita Bar, 226 Broome Street (between Allen and Orchard Streets); tickets are $5

Nearest subway stops are Delancey Street via the F or Delancey-Essex via the J/M/Z

It's 4/20, Dude!

An evening of sketch comedy about getting high.

The superb writer/performers include Murderfist, Craig Rowin & Mike Still, Andy Rocco & Lee Rubenstein, Tricia McAlpin, Lance & Ray, and Aaron Glaser & John Frusciante. For a complete list, please click here.

9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Leo Allen and John Mulaney...

...and Jon Glaser

Whiplash with Leo Allen: The Finest in Stand-Up Comedy, Free

Leo Allen is one of the most sharp, honest, and likeable stand-ups working in NYC. Leo was a writer for Saturday Night Live from 2002 through 2005. He's also performed two Comedy Central Presents 1/2-hour specials (one by himself and one with his writing partner Eric Slovin); done stand-up on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.; and acted on Ed and Sex and the City. Leo has now taken over the Monday-at-11:00 pm UCBT spot made super-special by Aziz Ansari's Crash Test and Jeremy Levenbach's Cavalcade! (in fact, Whiplash is produced by Jeremy).

Tonight's guests haven't been announced (which is highly unusual...); but, as indicated by last week's guests (above), they're typically stellar comics.

11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free

NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 4/21/09

Will Forte (Sweet) and Curtis Gwinn of Death by Roo Roo (Harold Night)

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

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

the perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set

and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—and for tonight only on the East side, at John Morrison's Broadway Motel (6:00 pm),

comedians getting rid of their stuff by telling tales about the items and then selling to the highest bidder at the way fun Auction! (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] John Zito (The Black Cherry Bombshells) and Tak Toyashima (Secret Asian Man) joining in on a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes

DeCoster, The Law Firm, The Scam, Ragnaröck...and one of the finest groups in the history
of improv, Death by Roo Roo—plus a great troupe reshuffling at 11:00 pm
called The Blender, all at Harold Night (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] legendary comedy star Marc Maron (a comic's comic; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central, and numerous other impressive credits), Jamie Lee (VH1, producer of Diamonds in the Fluff), Charles Star (host of Adult Education), and more performing at this free show hosted by brilliant stand-ups Jessi Klein (Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, CNN, Adult Swim) and Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1's Best Week Ever, The New Yorker): Punch Up Your Life (8:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] and Will Forte (former cast member of Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, HBO), Kumail Nanjiani (Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report), Laura Krafft (The Colbert Report, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Jay Larson (Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central), and more at the wonderful Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm).

Broadway Motel

Lottery-style open mic for stand-up comics trying out material,

with 4½ minutes per performer...in return for a $5 contribution to the weekly prize kitty.

(In addition, Broadway's one-item food or drink minimum applies to everyone.)

A breathtaking 25 comics perform in this 2½ hour show; producer

John Morrison (above) has described it as "comedy on crack."

If you're seeking consistent laughs, this might not be the best way to spend

your evening. But if you're patient and adventurous, it's a potentially wild ride.

And if you're a performer looking for some stage time, it's a nice opportunity.

Plus if you stick around till the show's end to support your fellow comics,

 you have a chance at winning the cash from the kitty, along with smaller prizes.

Broadway Motel is hosted by Cory Jarvis and Doug Adler.

To be entered into the weekly random drawing for performers,

please send email to motelme@gmail.com.

6:00 pm at Broadway Comedy Club, 318 West 53rd Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

$5 cover plus one-item food or drink minimum

Auction!

This fun show hosted by Chris Sifflet and Kevin Tor "acts as an alternative to the impersonality of eBay and the seriousness of The Antiques Road Show. At Auction!, comedians bring hilarious stories along with their objects, and you bring riot gear and a few bucks for the bid wars that follow."

Expect to be given 25 cents for your kick-off bid. Most items sell for under $5; and they can range from hockey posters to drug paraphernalia.

7:30 pm at Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

Comic Book Club

Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,

who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.

Tonight's guests are John Zito (The Black Cherry Bombshells) and Tak Toyashima (Secret Asian Man).

To get a feel for the smart, playful vibe of Comic Book Club, please check out its podcasts—

that is, audio recordings of previous shows in their entirety—by clicking here.

(And for my two current faves, a delightful visit from Kevin "Batman" Conroy and a hilarious evening with Daily Show writer Eliot Kalan, please click here and here.) Please also check out the YouTube version of the show by clicking here.

Also be sure to watch a Penguin vs. Batman debate that uncannily predicted John McCain's campaign strategy by clicking here.

8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5

Harold Night

The Harold is longform improv, pioneered by Del Close.

Tonight, five improv troupes—

DeCoster, The Law Firm, The Scam, Death By Roo Roo, and Ragnaröck—

each give it a go for 30 minutes, with

short breaks in between, for a total of 3 hours.

And at 11:00 pm, members of these troupes are randomly mixed
together with each other and UCBT improv stars for a show titled The Blender.
For details on the latter, please click here.

Some of the groups are great (for example, Death by Roo Roo is one of the
finest improv troupes ever); some are less so. And this show is designed

more for students of improv than the general public.

But if you're interested, and patient, a mere $5 will buy you

a full evening's education...and periodic solid laughs.

Tonight's show is sold out of seats; but if you're okay with standing,
come and enjoy a packed house's worth of laughs.

8:00-midnight pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Marc Maron and Jamie Lee...

...and brilliantly funny hosts Pete Holmes and Jessi Klein

Punch Up Your Life

This free weekly stand-up show is a spectacular addition to NYC Tuesday night comedy. Its hosts are two of the finest comics in the country:

Jessi Klein (deliciously honest, brilliant, hilarious stand-up star—and now also proving to be, along with Pete, among the finest comedy hosts in NYC; Rolling Stones' comedy "Hot List;" Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; VH1's Best Week Ever; NBC's The Today Show; CNN; The Showbiz Show with David Spade; voice of Lucy on Adult Swim's Lucy the Daughter of the Devil; for a video stand-up sample about which celebrity would save the most Jews, and on email etiquette, please click here and here) and

Pete Holmes (one of the quickest & sharpest minds in comedy; VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Motherload; writer for CollegeHumor.com;

cartoonist for mags ranging from The New Yorker to Cosmo Girl;

host of UCBT's monthly open mic stand-up show Gutbucket;

for a hilarious range of videos, please click here).

Tonight's wonderful guests include

Marc Maron (exceptionally passionate and personally revealing star who's a comic's comic highly respected for his observations; frequent guest on Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien; performed solo comedy special for HBO Comedy Half-Hour and two solo specials for Comedy Central Presents; many other TV appearances include being a regular on Comedy Central's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; performed a popular off-Broadway one-man show, Jerusalem Syndrome, which he then turned into a 2001 book; co-hosted Morning Sedition on Air America Radio, and hosted The Marc Maron Show on LA's KTLK-AM; recently performed a killer one-man show about his divorce titled Scorching the Earth),

Jamie Lee (VH1.com's Best Night Ever; producer of monthly NYC live comedy show for shelter animals Diamonds in the Fluff; Archers of Ha, Collegehumor.com; writer for Life & Style Magazine's "Fashion Slip-ups"), and

Charles Star (Onion News Network, Stay Free! Daily blog, Laughing Liberally,

host of Brooklyn monthly comedic lecture show Adult Education at Union Hall).

Please note: This show virtually always delivers a great time. But if you don't want to stand through it, arrive way early; because it attracts a large crowd, the available chairs fill quickly...

8:30 pm at Housing Works’ Bookstore Café, 126 Crosby Street (bet. Prince & Houston); free

Nearest subway stops are Bleecker Street on the #6 and Broadway-Lafayette on the B/D/F/V

Laura Krafft and Kumail Nanjiani...

...and Seth Herzog and Jay Larson

Sweet

Hosted by the razor-sharp, dynamic, and hilarious Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).

Seth is one of the finest hosts around—and this is one of the best comedy shows in NYC.

Tonight's superb guests include

Will Forte (cast member of NBC's Saturday Night Live 2002-2007, NBC's 30 Rock,

HBO's Flight of the Conchords, and way too many other credits to mention),

Kumail Nanjiani (red-hot rising stand-up star; staff writer of upcoming Michael Black & Michael Showalter Comedy Central series Michael and Michael Have Issues; appeared on Saturday Night Live, and repeatedly on The Colbert Report; Comedy Central's The Hot List and Open Mic Fight; co-host of monthly NYC live comedy show Game Bros. Live!; winner of the 2009 ECNY Awards for both Best Male Stand-Up and Best One-Person Show (Unpronounceable; for my review, please click here); to get a feel for Kumail's style, please check out his very funny stand-up about the dark side of video games, odd memories, and the many ways cell phones are eliminated in horror films by clicking here),

Laura Krafft (superb stand-up comic who's also a former staff writer for The Colbert Report, former writer for Comedy Central's Crossballs, has acted on such shows as on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, hosts the monthly UCBT show Three-Piece!, and performs live comedy Saturday nights at UCBT's hit improv show Let's Have a Ball),

Jay Larson (Variety's "Comics to Watch;" Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, CBS' Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson; AMC's Date Night; Web series The Steamer; star of new film Nacho Mountain about underground competitive eating; for stand-up video about uncomfortable anniversaries, please kick here),

and more.

9:00 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street  (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5

NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 4/22/09

Marc Maron (Hold for the Laughs), Glennis McMurray & Eliza Skinner of I Eat Pandas, and Pete Holmes (Totally J/K)

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

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

[FREE] six free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday (6:00 pm-midnight),

[TOP PICK] Pete Holmes (one of the funniest stand-ups in the biz; VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central, The New Yorker, Punch Up Your Life), Donald Glover (30 Rock, Conan O'Brien, Derrick), Jesse Pop (Comedy Central, Beauty Bar Comedy), and "a very special guest" joining hilarious hosts Joe Mande & Noah Garfinkel at Totally J/K (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] Christian Finnegan (two Comedy Central specials and a third airing soon, commentator on MNBC's Countdown with Keith Oberman and VH1's Best Week Ever; Chappelle's Show, The Today Show), Ali Wong (The Onion), Luke Cunningham (The Colbert Report), and more at a free weekly comedy show hosted by Matt Maragno & the luminous Margie Kment: Now We're Talking (8:00 pm),

[FREE] Gabriel Delahaye (Editor of Videogum), Shane Mauss (Conan O'Brien), Julian McCullough (Comedy Central), Nick Packard (nu-cartoonist), and Reese Waters (Comics Unleashed) at a free weekly Brooklyn extravaganza hosted by Gabe Liedman, Jenny Slate, and Max Silvestri: Big Terrific (8:00ish pm),

[FREE] rising star Leslie Goshko, plus NYC stand-ups Dan Hirshon, Shawn Hollenbach, Tom Ragú, Myka Fox, and Tracy Marhal, at a free show hosted by Sharon "Mama" Spell: Shrink (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] legendary comic's comic Marc Maron (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, HBO special, two Comedy Central specials, Air America Radio) and other fine stand-ups performing a full-blown comedy show at 10:00 pm, preceded by a wonderful networking event mixing folks from the NYC theatre and comedy scenes—including an MTV casting director looking for fresh talent who'll be collecting resume/headshots from both actors and comics (no foolin')—plus intense free homemade chocolate chip cookies that have come to be known as "Stoner Cookies"—all from lovely & hilarious stand-up and cookie baker Margie Kment at Hold for the Laughs (9:30 pm party/networking/cookies, 10:00 pm show),

[TOP PICK] an entirely improvised musical from a genius comedy duo, and an improvised soap opera,

in the double-bill I Eat Pandas and Hot Lather: As the Diamond Burns (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] and a free, laid-back, and occasionally magical variety show where virtually anything can happen on a School Night (11:00).

Kurt Braunohler and Pat Shay

The PIT's Super Free Wednesday

For five hours every Wednesday, The PIT provides free shows featuring its improv house troupes. Party Lights and Ali Farahnakian kick things off at 6:00 pm; The Wilhelm and Tomahawk perform at 7:00 pm; Big Black Car and Mrs. Esterhouse go on at 8:00 pm; The Baldwins and Punch show their stuff at 9:00; and Halfbear and The Faculty (consisting of The PIT's superb improv instructors, including such talents as Ali Farahnakian, Kurt Braunohler, Ptolemy Slocum, Pat Shay, Kevin Scott, Chris Grace, and Rebekka Johnson) round out the evening at 10:00.

If you then feel sufficiently inspired, you can participate in the free show Improdome at 11:00 pm, which allows audience members to get on stage and improvise with each other in trios for 5-7 minute sets.

6:00 pm-midnight at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free

Totally J/K

Hosted by quick-witted best buds Noah Garfinkel and

Joe Mande, the 2008 ECNY Award winner for Best Emerging Comic.

(For dueling birthday videos, please click here and here; for their

recent appearance on The McLaughlin Group, please click here;

and for other videos, please click here and here.)

Tonight's superb guests are

Pete Holmes (one of the quickest & sharpest minds in comedy; VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Motherload; writer for CollegeHumor.com;

cartoonist for mags ranging from The New Yorker to Cosmo Girl;

host of UCBT's monthly open mic stand-up show Gutbucket;

co-host of smash hit new Tuesday night comedy show Punch Up Your Life;

for a hilarious range of videos, please click here),

Donald Glover (writer and performer for NBC's 30 Rock; appeared multiple times on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; member of three-man improv/sketch comedy troupe Derrick, which is a star both on stage at UCBT and on the Web via their wildly popular YouTube videos—

for samples, please click here and here and here and here; other notable Derrick accomplishments include wining the 2009 ECNY Award for Best Sketch Comedy Troupe; and writing, composing, and starring in an indie feature comedy film that recently premiered at Sundance—to view the trailer of Mystery Team, please click here),

Jesse Popp (Comedy Central's Premium Blend, co-host of weekly NYC live stand-up show Beauty Bar Comedy for 7 years running),

and "a very special guest."

8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Margie Kment, Christian Finnegan, and Ali Wong

Now We're Talking

This fun new weekly stand-up comedy show is hosted by luminous, enormously likeable, and razor-sharp Margie Kment, and character-based comic Matt Maragno.

Tonight's guests are

Christian Finnegan (Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; upcoming hour-long Comedy Central special Au Contraire; commentator on MNBC's Countdown with Keith Oberman and VH1's Best Week Ever; Chappelle's Show, The Today Show, host of TVLand's Game Time, former staff writer for Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; comedy CD Two For Flinching;  for stand-up videos on how to get rid of a boring  guy and what your movie choices say about you, please click here and here),

Ali Wong ("sass-filled San Franciscan comic;" comedy series for The Onion),

Luke Cunningham (The Colbert Report, FN MTV).

Clayton Fletcher (host of NYC stand-up show at the New York Comedy Club; 2004 FringeNYC hit musical All Good Things; national tours of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story and Hank Williams: Lost Highway), and

Zach Sims ("quite possibly the funniest person in his Financial Math class"), and

Alex Grubard (for stand-up video about drinking, please click here).

8:00 pm at Rodeo Bar, 375 Third Avenue (corner of 27th Street); free

Co-hosts Gabe Liedman and Jenny Slate

Big Terrific, hosted by Gabe Liedman, Jenny Slate, and Max Silvestri

Gabe Liedman & Jenny Slate (adorable and foul-mouthed comedy duo Gabe & Jenny; for hilarious Jenny video, please click here) and Max Silvestri (VH1's Best Week Ever, weekly podcast Best Night Ever, videos for 236.com) host this free weekly Brooklyn show.

Tonight's guests are

Gabriel Delahaye (Editor of Videogum),

Shane Mauss (three appearances on Conan O'Brien),

Julian McCullough (Comedy Central),

Nick Packard (nu-cartoonist), and

Reese Waters (Comics Unleashed).

8:00ish pm at Cameo, 93 North 6th Street (behind Lovin' Cup) in Williamsburg Brooklyn; free

Take the L subway to Bedford Avenue and walk two blocks; between Berry & Wythe

Leslie Goshko

Shrink

This free weekly show tonight features delightful rising star

Leslie Goshko (immensely talented comedic actress/storyteller/stand-up; 2008 Manhattan Monologue Slam Champion; host of superb monthly NYC live comedy show Sideshow Goshko; for award-winning comedy bit about Internet dating, please click here; for bit on "the End Times Awareness Carnival," please click here),

plus stand-ups Dan Hirshon, Shawn Hollenbach, Tom Ragú, Myka Fox, and Tracy Marhal.

Hosted by Sharon "Mama" Spell.

8:00 pm at Otto's Shrunken Head, 538 East 14th Street (between Avenues A and B); free

Marc Maron...

...and Margie Kment, Charlie Kasov, and Lauren Olson

Hold for the Laughs

This is an exciting attempt to bring NYC's vibrant comedy and theatre worlds together.

It opens at 9:30 pm with a networking party featuring free snacks (including addictively delicious homemade cookies) in which theatre and comedy folks can meet each other, and also get to know the artists involved in upcoming theatrical shows produced by the sponsor, Small Pond Entertainment. Come chat it up with producers, actors, comedians, technicians, theatre company reps, and other lovely folks who work in NYC's performing arts.

Please note the attendees tonight will include an MTV casting director who's actively seeking fresh talent—both actors and comics—so please bring copies of your resume/headshot!

The event then shifts at 10:00 pm into a full-blown comedy show hosted by the

lovely and hilarious Margie Kment—who also baked the intense and memorable free cookies the audience has come to refer to as "Stoner Cookies" (for stand-up video about dating a stoner, please click here).

Tonight's superb stand-ups and sketch performers are

Marc Maron (exceptionally passionate and personally revealing star who's a comic's comic highly respected for his observations; frequent guest on Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien; performed solo comedy special for HBO Comedy Half-Hour and two solo specials for Comedy Central Presents; many other TV appearances include being a regular on Comedy Central's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; performed a popular off-Broadway one-man show, Jerusalem Syndrome, which he then turned into a 2001 book; co-hosted Morning Sedition on Air America Radio, and hosted The Marc Maron Show on LA's KTLK-AM; recently performed a killer one-man show about his divorce titled Scorching the Earth),

Jesse Popp (Comedy Central's Premium Blend, co-host of weekly NYC live stand-up show Beauty Bar Comedy),

Lauren Olson (one-woman show about her mother's death titled Our Condolences), and

Charlie Kasov (New Orleans Comedy Festival).

Please Note: It's recommended that you reserve in advance by emailing holdforthelaughs@gmail.com. First, this will allow you to purchase tickets for $10 instead of $12. Second, this will give you the opportunity to fill out a short questionnaire about your role in the NYC comedy and/or theatre community; your answers will be included in an information packet emailed to everyone to enhance networking both before and after the show. And third, the show sometimes sells out, so it's wise to ensure seats at this superb party celebrating NYC's theatre & comedy scenes.

9:30 pm for networking, 10:00 pm for comedy show at the Sage Theatre,

711 Seventh Avenue, 2nd floor (between 47th & 48th Streets);

tickets are $10 if you reserve by emailing holdforthelaughs@gmail.com, $12 at the door

Glennis & Eliza: I Eat Pandas and Hot Lather: As the Diamond Burns

Two unique improvisation shows for a mere five bucks.

Glennis McMurray and Eliza Skinner are simply geniuses

at taking a suggestion from the audience and creating

an entire musical based around it, using only their imaginations,

immense talent, and the aid of their wonderful improv pianist

Frank Spitznagel. Each of these gals is a powerhouse performer;

what they manage to create together tends to be sheer magic.

You don't have to take my word for it, either:

the duo won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Improv Group; and they

recently starred in the Fringe festival hit Gem! A Truly Outrageous Parody,

which won two FringeNYC 2008 Awards.

Eliza will soon be moving to LA. Don't miss one of your final chances

to enjoy these comedic wizards at play on an NYC stage.

The double-bill then continues with Hot Lather, an improv group that specializes

in the soap opera format. Its members include some powerhouse performers:

Mike Cavanaugh, Matt Fisher,  Jon Gutierrez, Molly Lloyd, Anna Rubanova, Achilles Stamatelaky, Mike Still, Abra Tabak, Andree Vermeulen, and Paul Welsh,

with direction by Rob Webber.

9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Justin Purnell

School Night

Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) provides a mix of guests who perform 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.

Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises,

that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible.

Please note that while it costs nothing to get in, if you have a good time (which is likely), you should drop a dollar or two into the contribution bucket on your way out. It's the only way this beloved show—which has been running for over five years—can stay alive as a vibrant showcase.

11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 4/23/09

Brooke Van Poppelen & Joselyn Hughes are Macho!; and raunchy versions of tales by NYC schoolkids from Story Pirates After Dark

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

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

[TOP PICK] [$] a highly acclaimed theatrical comedy troupe that stages tales written by NYC schoolchildren after enhancing the details with adult content: Story Pirates After Dark (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] brilliant improvisors Tara Copeland and James Eason leading a semi-revival of legendary troupe Mother in this new Magnet show: Sleepover (8:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] Adira Amram (brilliant, hilarious singer/songwriter), Shayna Ferm (also brilliant, hilarious singer/songwriter; member of world-class sketch group Fearsome), Sean Crespo (Comedy Central, Shoot the Messenger, host of Drink at Work), Becky Yamamoto (Stickerbook), Sean Donnelly (co-host of Ochi's Motel, host of Lil Seany Boy), and more at a free weekly variety show in the East Village hosted by sharp dark comedy stand-up Jena Friedman: Entertaining the Bartender (8:30 pm),

[$] star comics Dave Attell, Greg Giraldo, Marina Franklin, Big Jay Oakerson, and more performing—though not all on the same lineups—at Comedy Cellar (9:00 pm & 11:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] two of the most beloved comics in NYC, Joselyn Hughes & Brooke Van Poppelen, performing their acclaimed sketch comedy show in which they transform from being real-life sex goddesses to Macho! (9:30 pm),

a very popular comedy site's talents coming out from behind the Net tonight, accompanied by sharp comics Jared Logan, Bryan Tucker, Shane Mauss, and "a special CollegeHumor surprise," at CollegeHumor.com, Live on Stage (9:30 pm),

[$] 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, tonight headlining at Carolines: Paul Mooney (10:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] and two vibrant (albeit doom-based) improv troupes, Death by Roo Roo and Ragnaröck, competing for audience laughs & votes at the raucous Cage Match (11:00 pm).

Story Pirates After Dark

The Story Pirates take stories written by New York City elementary schoolchildren, "enhance" them with adult language and themes, and them perform the heck out of them using music, puppets, and "a David Bowie-style tribute to a good Hebrew School education." With tales ranging from the shame of chronic bedwetting, to the tender love between the Devil and some guy she met at Starbucks, the Story Pirates have blown the minds of over 100,000 second graders (sans the narrative enhancements), and lots of adults in their "After Dark" version. You're next.

This comedy club show has a $20 cover and a two-item minimum

(with tax & tip, figure on spending an additional $13 or up).

For more info and/or to order tickets, please click here.

8:00 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues); $20 plus 2-item minimum

James Eason and Tara Copeland

Sleepover (Mother, Take 2)

A group of stellar improvisors, some of whom are former members of legendary improv troupe Mother, perform long-form improv based on an audience suggestion. This new group's members are Tara Copeland, James Eason, Jessica Allen, Paul W. Downs, Jesse Falcon, and Rachel Hamilton.

Please note: Paying $5 actually entitles you to see shows at The Magnet for the entire evening, which includes two improv shows following this one. For details, please click here and then scroll down to Thursday's listings.

8:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Sean Crespo, Adira Amram, Shayna Ferm, and Becky Yamamoto

Entertaining the Bartender with Jena Friedman

Razor-sharp and delightfully dark stand-up comic Jena Friedman (playwright of 2008 FringeNYC show Refugee Girls; for a stand-up video about sexual predators, eggs, and Tai food, please click here) hosts this entirely free weekly comedy show in Brooklyn. This is actually a version of an acclaimed show Jena used to do in a Chicago bar run by a gal named Tammy. When the bar started out it was often near-empty, so Jena began the show to entertain her friend and develop steady traffic. On both counts, it was a wild success...

Tonight Jena will be performing a set, so the show will be guest-hosted by the phenomenal

Adira Amram (brilliantly funny and sexy writer/singer; Jane Magazine Editor's Choice;

co-star of Get Psyched!, one-woman show Adira Amram is an American Idol; for sample songs & videos, please click here).

And tonight's terrific guests are

Shayna Ferm (brilliant, hilarious singer/songwriter; member of world-class sketch group Fearsome; comedic music album Blonde; for samples of Shay's songs, please click here),

Sean Crespo (Comedy Central, Shoot the Messenger; host of NYC live comedy show Drink at Work; also prolific comedy filmmaker—for samples, please click here & here & here), and

Becky Yamamoto (rave reviews from The New York Times, The New Yorker, etc.

for her recent performance in the play Songs of the Dragon Flying to Heaven;

member of all-female comedic rock band Stickerbook),

Sean Donnelly (co-host of weekly NYC open mic live comedy show Ochi's Motel and host of weekly NYC live comedy show Little Seany Boy; member of sketch comedy & funny short film troupe Don't Touch Me There; for a stand-up video, please click here),

Mike Weingartner (VH1, Sirius Satellite Radio), and

Isaac Ramon (Hug Life).

Please note this show is free if you arrive before 9:00 pm; if you're way late, expect to pay $5.

8:30 pm at The Pyramid Club, 101 Avenue A (between 6th & 7th Streets); free

Take the F subway to 2nd Avenue & Houston stop or the L subway to 1st Avenue & 14th Street stop

Big Jay Oakerson, Greg Giraldo, Dave Attell, and Marina Franklin

Colin Quinn, Dave Attell, Greg Giraldo, Jessica Kirson, and More at Comedy Cellar

Tonight's two lineups at the Comedy Cellar club feature some heavy-duty talent.

The 9:00 show includes Greg Giraldo and Marina Franklin.

And the 11:00 show includes Dave Attell and Big Jay Oakerson.

To see the complete lineups for the shows at 9:00 pm (doors at 8:30) and 11:00 pm (doors at 10:30), please click here, click the Lineup link near the top, click today's date, and click the Go button. To make an online reservation, please click here.

This comedy club show has a $12 cover and 2-item food or drink minimum (with tax & tip, figure on spending an additional $13 or up).

9:00 pm & 11:00 pm at Comedy Cellar, 117 MacDougal Street (between 3rd St. & Minetta Lane); $12 cover plus two-item minimum

Irresistible comedy duo Joselyn Hughes and Brooke Van Poppelen are...

Macho!

Macho! is a sketch comedy show by two delightful, razor-sharp, and (sans the fake mustaches) actually exceptionally sexy comics:

Joselyn Hughes (Comedysmack.com, Maxim radio; for video questioning the effectiveness of rape whistles, please click here) and

Brooke Van Poppelen (delightful stand-up; Carolines, Laugh Factory; former co-host of New Jacks Showcase and Slumber Party at Comix; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here).

This show was described in a Chicago review as follows: "Macho! dishes out sketch comedy with stand-up swagger, featuring bizarre characters who are likely to have you scratching your head right before you double over in laughter. Hughes and Van Poppelen both served time in the Chicago comedy scene, with resumés that include everything from Chicago Underground Comedy and Spitfire to Second City. This is the first collective show for these two vets, and it's a tag–team match in which the audience is laughed into submission."

This is likely to be a treat—from two of the most beloved comics in both Chicago and NYC.

9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5

CollegeHumor.com, Live on Stage

The folks behind highly popular Web site CollegeHumor.com get on stage tonight, along with terrific comics Jared Logan, Bryan Tucker, Shane Mauss, and "a special CollegeHumor surprise."

The comedy of CollegeHumor.com isn't for every taste. But the site clearly understands its audience; and if you're one of the folks it appeals to, this is a great opportunity to hear behind-the-scenes stories and watch material too raw even for the Web.

9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Paul Mooney: Headlining at Carolines

Fire-tongued comedy star Paul Mooney's numerous credits include writing for Richard Pryor, Saturday Night Live, and In Living Color, and performing on Late Show with David Letterman and Chappelle's Show. For video samples, please click here and here.

This New York comedy club show has a $31 cover plus two-drink minimum (with tax & tip, figure another $13 or up).

To order tickets, please click here and then click the Buy Now button for the evening you want. (Mooney is headlining at Carolines tonight through Sunday.)

10:00 pm at Carolines, 1626  Broadway (between 49th and 50th Streets);

$31 ticket plus two-drink minimum

vs.

Cage Match: Death by Roo Roo vs. Ragnaröck

This delightful show pits two improv teams against each other while creating the

atmosphere of a professional wrestling arena—and providing such side-shows

as a bout to the death between guys costumed as an alcoholic wolf and TV's Alf.

(For a spirited weekly report on the wrestling aspect of Cage Match, please click here.)

Tonight's defending troupe is arguably the gutsiest improv team in NYC—Death by Roo Roo, consisting of uniformly brilliant comics Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, Liz Cackowski, Jackie Clarke, Brett Gelman, John Gemberling, Curtis Gwinn, Adam Pally, and Gavin Speiller.

DBRR was by far the winning-est group last season, trouncing 17 troupes in a row—handily breaking the previous Cage Match winning streak record of 14 set by Optimist International in 2002! It went on to win last season's Cage Match Championship with breathtaking skill and comedic grace. And it's repeating history this season, steamrolling over opponents with apparent ease—for example, it won last week's bout 119-34.

Tonight's challenger is UCBT Harold Night troupe Ragnaröck, consisting of Emily Axford, Patrick Clair, Erik Dies, Jill Donnelly, Brian Glidewell, Morgan Grace Jarrett, Ben Rameaka, and Winston Noel.

Will Roo Roo rout Ragnaröck? Or will the audience prefer Apocalypse to a comedically uncomfortable Death?

There's no telling what'll happen...which is one of the great pleasures of this extravaganza.

11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 4/24/09

Anthony Jeselnik (Jimmy Fallon), Kevin Pollak (Headlining at Carolines), and Chris Gethard (Magic Box of Stories)

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

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

sharp stand-ups Desiree Burch (VH1's Best Night Ever, one-woman show 52 Man Pickup), Jiwon Lee (Comedy Central, NBC, AMC, ESPN, Air America), Dan Hirshon (Boston Comedy Festival), and more at Calvin S. Cato's show for our current economy: Nouveau Poor (7:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] a movie star demonstrating he's also a top stand-up comic and killer funny impersonator in a deliciously long set tonight and Saturday: Kevin Pollak Headlining at Carolines (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] one of the most razor-sharp and uproariously funny storytellers in the country performing a one-man show that should not be missed: Chris Gethard's Magic Box of Stories (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] clever wordplay, conceptual comedy, and relentless silliness—in an all-new show based around the already-goofy film Con Air—from sketch troupe Elephant Larry (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] brilliant stand-ups—who also happen to be staff writers for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon—Anthony Jeselnik (one of the finest comics in the biz; HBO, Comedy Central Presents), Morgan Murphy (former staff writer for Jimmy Kimmel and Crank Yankers), and more at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Writers of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

brilliant comedic storyteller Ophira Eisenberg (Comedy Central, VH1, Showtime), Margartet Dodge (drummer for Manson Family Singers), Danny Leary (MTV, here! TV), and more at a gay-themed comedy show hosted by Jenny Rubin: The Back Room (9:00 pm),

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

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

odd and unsettling dark comedy from—for better or worse—one of the most fearless sketch troupes in New York: Murderfist (11:00 pm),

Derrick hosting two sketch comedy troupes, Bleak! Comedy and Geek Dreams,

competing for audience laugh & votes at Backyard Brawl (11:00 pm),

five women performing an improvised, and possibly tipsy, parody of The View at Focus (11:30 pm),

[FREE] a free opportunity for you to perform improv with UCBT veterans at Jammin' with Ralph (12:20ish am).

[$] and 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 at Carolines: Paul Mooney (12:30 am).

Desiree Burch and Calvin S. Cato

Nouveau Poor

Calvin S. Cato (Game Show Network, Stand-Up New York, Naked Comedy Show) hosts a show, mixing comedy and music, whose title fits our current ecomony.

Tonight's fine stand-up guests are

Desiree Burch (sharp, hilarious stand-up; VH1's Best Night Ever, SMUT reading series

at Galapagos, one-woman show 52 Man Pickup at 2008 FringeNYC and Ars Nova),

Jiwon Li (Comedy Central's Root of All Evil, winner of NBC's Stand up for Diversity contest, AMC, ESPN, Air America, ImaginAsian TV, co-host of 50 First Jokes),

Dan Hirshon (Boston Comedy Festival, finalist in Carolines March Comedy Madness),

Kelly Dwyer (one-woman musical show Hysteri-Killy),

singer Adam Dunstan, 

Selena Coppock (Detroit Comedy & Texas’ Ladies Are Funny Festivals),

and stand-up Joe Pontillo.

7:00 pm at Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

Kevin Pollak

Kevin Pollak is a TV and movie star, and talented writer, who's also a superb stand-up comic. (He's been doing stand-up since age 10...)

Pollak has performed on scores of feature films, and done comedy on HBO, Saturday Night Live, Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and on and on.

Pollak is also known for his killer impersonations of Christopher Walken (please click here and here) and William Shatner (please click here and here).

This is a comedy club show, and priced accordingly at $32.75

plus a two-drink minimum (with tax & tip, figure another $13 or up).

To order tickets, please click here.

8:00 pm & 10:30 pm at Carolines, 1626  Broadway (between 49th and 50th Streets);

$28.75 plus two-drink minimum

Brilliant comedic storyteller Chris Gethard will shower us tonight with his magically hilarious tales

Chris Gethard's Magic Box of Stories

Chris Gethard is one of the most talented and brilliant storytellers and improvisors in New York. Chris can be seen every Friday night as a member of ace improv group The Stepfathers, and every month as a member of the razor-sharp storytelling show the The Nights of Our Lives. Chris is also the author of the book Weird New York.

And tonight Chris lets his storytelling prowess fully shine as he asks audience members to pick story titles out of a box filled with his wondrous, unforgettable, and jaw-droppingly funny tales. Since Chris has many more tales in the box than can be told during this 90-minute slot, every performance is fresh and unique.

Come catch this rising star demonstrate why he should be famous in a show that gets my highest recommendation.

8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Elephant Larry Presents Con Air

Elephant Larry (above) is a NYC-based sketch group consisting of Geoff Haggerty, Stefan Lawrence, Chris Principe, Jeff Solomon, and Alex Zalben (former artistic director of  The PIT, co-host of the fabulous Comic Book Club, and co-producer of the spectacular annual SketchFest NYC). The troupe specializes in conceptual humor, silliness, 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..." For videos about a sci-fi version of Beckett and using Adobe Photoshop, please click here and here.

Tonight's show revolves around an already-goofy movie: "This set of all-new sketches is about the 1997 Jerry Bruckheimer blockbuster Con Air, which asked the question, 'What would happen if you took the world's worst convicts and put them on one airplane? Wouldn't that be awesome?' Please contact Elephant Larry if you'd like to see the film beforehand. Seriously, they'll lend you a copy."

8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $10

Morgan Murphy and Anthony Jeselnik

The Writers of Late Night with Jimmy Falllon—Jeselnik, Murphy, and More—at Comix

Some of the best comics in the country are on the writing staff for NBC's new Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show. (To learn more about the latter, please click here.) And a bunch of them will be performing tonight at the elegant Comix Comedy Club. They include:

Anthony Jeselnik (phenomenal comic specializing in darkly shocking jokes and one of

my favorite stand-ups ever; staff writer for NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents 1/2-hour special, HBO's Down & Dirty, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live,  NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, MTV's Most Valuable Players; for hilarious stand-up videos, please click here),

 Morgan Murphy (acclaimed LA comic now moved to NYC to be staff writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon; Comedians of Comedy; Variety's 2007 "Top 10 Comics to Watch;" Comedy Central's Premium Blend; Last Call with Carson Daly; former long-time writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live, and for Crank Yankers; for sample stand-up videos, please click here and here and here), and more.

For the full lineup, please click here.

This comedy club show has a $25 cover plus two-item food or drink minimum (with tax & tip, figure another $13 or up).

If you'd like to save a few bucks, though, you can buy tickets for Saturday night for $20, as long as you do so today, by clicking here.

To learn more and/or to order tickets for tonight's show, please click here.

8:00 pm & 10:30 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

$25 ticket (or $20 if you buy today for Saturday), plus 2-item minimum

Jenny Rubin, Dave Rubin, Paul Case, and Shawn Hollenbach

The Back Room

Gay-themed comedy (with both gay & straight comics),

hosted by the charming Jenny Rubin (WE TV’s Cinematherapy and The Gutter).

Tonight's comics include

Ophira Eisenberg (sharp stand-up and brilliant storyteller; Comedy Central's Premium Blend, VH1's Best Week Ever, Showtime's Queer as Folk; The Guardian),

Margaret Dodge (drummer for Manson Family Singers), and

Danny Leary (MTV, here! TV's Hot Gay Comics),

plus

Back Room co-producer Paul Case (MTV, D-Listed Radio, here! TV's Bent),

Back Room co-producer Shawn Hollenbach (here! TV's Busted), and

Back Room co-producer Dave Rubin (here! TV's Dave Rubin Project and Hot Gay Comics).

9:00 pm at Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

Back: Zach Woods, Bobby Moynihan, Andy Secunda, Michael Delaney, and Shannon O'Neil

Front: Chris Gethard, Silvija Ozols, and Will Hines

The Stepfathers

Some of the smartest & finest improv comics in NYC—Michael Delaney,

Chris Gethard, Will Hines, Bobby Moynihan, Shannon O'Neill, Silvija Ozols,

Andy Secunda, and Zach Woods—make up a series of scenes from a one-word audience suggestion.

Just to give you a feel for the talent involved, Delaney and Secunda are members of legendary improv troupe The Swarm; Gethard is a storytelling genius; and Moynihan (who still comes by on Fridays when he can steal the time) since 2008 is a stellar cast member of Saturday Night Live.

With art and grace, these quick-witted comedy stars will make you laugh—a lot.

9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10

The Made-Up Musical

Veteran improvisor John O'Donnell is accompanied

by a rotating cast that might include such superb talents as

Tara Copeland, Scott Glover, Alex Marino, Louis Kornfeld,

 Jessica Allen, Robin Rothman, and Megan Gray

—and with Frank Spitznagel on piano—

turn an interview with an audience member

into a musical they make up on the spot.

10:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $7

Murderfist: Late and Dirty

Sketch group Murderfist creates dark comedy sketches that are unsettling, and may elicit more discomfort than laughs. (For example, to watch a somewhat grueling tale of an unlikely gay couple done in the style of a silent film, please click here.) But if you like East Village performance art, you'll probably like this troupe.

The official description of tonight's show:

"Moments after setting off on their quest for one thousand testicles, Murderfist slipped between the cracks of reality. Somewhere between Seventh Avenue and the gates Hell, late night comedy festered and boiled. Witness as the stars align on the last Friday of every month and brand new sketch material spews from the inter-dimension truck stop that is Late and Dirty with Murderfist."

11:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $10

vs.

Backyard Brawl: Bleak! Comedy vs. Geek Dreams

This show is a sketch comedy version of UCBT's wildly popular improv battles at Cage Match. However, in contrast to Cage Match's use of the best troupes in New York, it features relatively obscure groups. (Don't ask me why, I don't know...) Anyway, as in Cage Match, the teams compete for audience laughs & votes.

The brawl is hosted by Derrick: enormously appealing performers Dominic Dierkes, Donald Glover, and DC Pierson, who are sketch comedy stars via their wildly popular

YouTube videos (for some samples, please click here and here and here), and who won the 2009 ECNY Award for Best Sketch Group.

Tonight's contenders are Bleak! Comedy and Geek Dreams.

Just because I'm not familar with them doesn't mean they're not both great...

11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Focus

This show is a parody of The View that's mostly improvised by performers Brigid Boyle, Emily Bryan, Nicole Cascio, Caroline Ficksman, and Alexis Saarela. The official description:

"Hey, Darlings! Come sit down with a cup of coffee (or perhaps a martini) and join the panel

of five of New York's most talkative and opinionated women as they discuss the week's events, and interview alluring guests from the worlds of literature, politics, comedy, and more.

This show will keep you in Focus. Let's talk about issues, over drinks!"

11:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Jammin' With Ralph

To perform improvisation at UCBT, you must spend years taking classes and carefully perfecting your craft...or you can come to this monthly free show, which allows audience members to jump on stage and participate!

Hosted by popular long-form improv troupe The Law Firm, which consists of superb talents Dominic Dierkes, Jonathan Gabrus, Sue Galloway, Nate Lang, Gil Ozeri, Adam Pally, Ben Rodgers, and Gavin Speiller.

12:20ish am at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free

Paul Mooney: Headlining at Carolines

Fire-tongued comedy star Paul Mooney's numerous credits include writing for Richard Pryor, Saturday Night Live, and In Living Color, and performing on Late Show with David Letterman and Chappelle's Show. For video samples, please click here and here.

This New York comedy club show has a $31 cover plus two-drink minimum (with tax & tip, figure another $13 or up).

To order tickets, please click here and then click the Buy Now button for the evening you want. (Mooney is headlining at Carolines tonight through Sunday.)

12:30 am at Carolines, 1626  Broadway (between 49th and 50th Streets);

$31 ticket plus two-drink minimum

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 4/25/09

Anthony Jeselnik (Jimmy Fallon), Kevin Pollak (Headlining at Carolines), and comics in drag (House of Ladies)

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

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

sharp stand-ups Becky Donohue (Comedy Central's Premium Blend, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, Shorties Watchin' Shorties; TLC), Jiwon Lee (Comedy Central's Root of All Evil, NBC, AMC, ESPN, Air America), Jacqueline Novak (Comedy Central Live Tour, XM Radio, CollegeHumor.com), Luke Cunningham (The Colbert Report), and more at Sean Donnelly's Lil' Seany Boy (7:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] star improvisation from writers & performers at 30 Rock, The Colbert Report,

and The Daily Show joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball (7:30 pm),

Lauren Olson performing a one-woman show about the death of her mom that I hear is surprisingly funny in Our Condolences (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] a movie star demonstrating he's also a top stand-up comic and killer funny impersonator in a deliciously long set tonight and Sunday: Kevin Pollak Headlining at Carolines (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] brilliant stand-ups—who also happen to be staff writers for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon—Anthony Jeselnik (one of the finest comics in the biz; HBO, Comedy Central Presents), Morgan Murphy (former staff writer for Jimmy Kimmel and Crank Yankers), and more at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Writers of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] gay comics telling personal & funny "coming out" tales at Closet Cases (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] one of my all-time favorite improv troupes—which in 2008 broke the UCBT improv competition record for winning streaks with 17 triumphs in a row, and this year delivered a magnificent performance to capture the Cage Match Championship—the brilliant and daring members of Death by Roo Roo (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] superb stand-ups & comedic storytellers—Margot Leitman (Conan O'Brien, VH1, Stripped Stories), Mike Drucker (freelance writer for Saturday Night Live, The Onion, McSweeney's), Dan St. Germain (MTV), and many more—telling funny, poignant, and at times unforgettable tales about their relatives at a monthly show hosted by gorgeous rising star Sara Benincasa (CNN, MTV, The Sarah Palin Vlogs): Family Hour (9:00 pm),

organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track! (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] inventive & hilarious sketch comedy from The Harvard Sailing Team (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] improvised furious action from world-class troupe Reuben Williams (10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, quick-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer (10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] taking the prize for oddball event of the evening, popular masculine NYC comics—including Jared Logan,. John Morrison,and Sean Donnelly—perform comedy in drag at Madame Katie's House of Ladies (11:00 pm),

[$] star comics Dave Attell, Lynne Koplitz, and more performing late-night shows at Comedy Cellar (11:00 pm & 12:45 am),

improv troupes Bastian and The Scam (with such stellar talents as Jeff Hiller, Tara Copeland, Jesse Falcon, and Kevin Hines) snuggle up for laughs at Saturday Night Slumber Party (midnight),

[$] and 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 at Carolines: Paul Mooney (12:30 am).

Becky Donohue, Jiwon Lee, and Jacqueline Novak

Lil' Seany Boy

Sean Donnelly (XM Radio; co-host of weekly NYC open mic live comedy show Ochi's Motel; member of sketch comedy & funny short film troupe Don't Touch Me There; for a stand-up video, please click here) emcees this showcase for sharp stand-ups.

Tonight's fine guests include

Becky Donohue (Comedy Central's Premium Blend, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, and Shorties Watchin' Shorties; TLC's Trading Spaces; Fashion Police writer for US Weekly), and

Jiwon Lee (Comedy Central's Root of All Evil, winner of NBC's Stand up for Diversity contest, AMC, ESPN, Air America, ImaginAsian TV, co-host of 50 First Jokes),

Jacqueline Novak (Comedy Central Live Tour, XM Radio, CollegeHumor.com; for "response to heckler" video, please click here),

Luke Cunningham (The Colbert Report, FN MTV), and

Matt Maragno (co-host of new Wednesday night NYC live comedy show Now We're Talking).

7:00 pm at Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues)

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

Becky Drysdale, Anthony King, Christina Gausas, and Tami Sagher

Let's Have a Ball

Some of the sharpest writers and performers in NYC get together for long-form improv fun.

Among the players often performing are Scott Adsit (cast member of 30 Rock, and co-director & cast member of Adult Swim's brilliant & Emmy-winning Moral Orel), Kay Cannon (writer for 30 Rock), Becky Drysdale (acclaimed one-woman show One Woman in Several Pieces, Web video series Time Traveling Lesbian), Christina Gausas (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Stepfathers, Dorff & Gausas), Anthony King (UCBT-NY Artistic Director, Reuben Williams, Gutenberg! The Musical), Laura Krafft (writer for The Colbert Report), and Tami Sagher (writer for 30 Rock; writer and producer for Mad TV 2001-2006).

7:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10

Lauren Olson: Our Condolences

Lauren Olson performs a one-woman show about "the awkward, uncomfortable crap we all unavoidably experience when someone dies." In fact, it's about the death of Lauren's mom. And, somehow, it's funny.

At least, that's the word; I'm hoping to see Our Condolences tonight...

7:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Kevin Pollak

Kevin Pollak is a TV and movie star, and talented writer, who's also a superb stand-up comic. (He's been doing stand-up since age 10...)

Pollak has performed on scores of feature films, and done comedy on HBO, Saturday Night Live, Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and on and on.

Pollak is also known for his killer impersonations of Christopher Walken (please click here and here) and William Shatner (please click here and here).

This is a comedy club show, and priced accordingly at $32.75

plus a two-drink minimum (with tax & tip, figure another $13 or up).

To order tickets, please click here.

8:00 pm & 10:30 pm at Carolines, 1626  Broadway (between 49th and 50th Streets);

$32.75 plus two-drink minimum

Morgan Murphy and Anthony Jeselnik

The Writers of Late Night with Jimmy Falllon—Jeselnik, Murphy, and More—at Comix

Some of the best comics in the country are on the writing staff for NBC's new Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show. (To learn more about the latter, please click here.) And a bunch of them will be performing tonight at the elegant Comix Comedy Club. They include:

Anthony Jeselnik (phenomenal comic specializing in darkly shocking jokes and one of

my favorite stand-ups ever; staff writer for NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents 1/2-hour special, HBO's Down & Dirty, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live,  NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, MTV's Most Valuable Players; for hilarious stand-up videos, please click here),

Morgan Murphy (acclaimed LA comic now moved to NYC to be staff writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon; Comedians of Comedy; Variety's 2007 "Top 10 Comics to Watch;" Comedy Central's Premium Blend; Last Call with Carson Daly; former long-time writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live, and for Crank Yankers; for sample stand-up videos, please click here and here and here), and more.

For the full lineup, please click here.

This comedy club show has a $25 cover plus two-item food or drink minimum (with tax & tip, figure another $13 or up).

If you'd like to save a few bucks, though, you can buy tickets for Saturday night for $20, as long as you do so today, by clicking here.

To learn more and/or to order tickets for tonight's show, please click here.

8:00 pm & 10:30 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

$25 ticket (or $20 if you buy today for Saturday), plus 2-item minimum