NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 12/21/09
Stand-up star Colin Quinn (Whiplash) and John Morrison's Morrison Motel...
...and stand-ups Tony Woods (Tell Your Friends) and Joe DeRosa (CD Release Party)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
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
[FREE] 7:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Jamie Lee, Mike Recine, TJ Del Reno, Danny Rouhier, and Simeon Goodson performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub hosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Tony Woods (Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents), Hannibal Buress (staff writer for SNL), Bobby Miyamoto (Comedy Central), Amanda Melson (Comedy Central), and guitar comic Rob Paravonian (recently opened for Lily Tomlin in Vegas) performing in the Lolita Bar with guest hosts Team Submarine and producer Liam McEneaney at Tell Your Friends
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Musical improv beatbox genius Reggie Watts, and conceptual comics Gabe Liedman and Rob Lathan, performing at Brooklyn's Union Pool for a new weekly comedy show hosted by Kurt Braunohler: The Inevitable
8:00 pm ($5): The talented young writer/performers of UCBT scripted comedy house troupes High Treason and Slow Burn trying out their newest sketch material at Maude Night
[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] 8:30 pm ($5 cover if you mention HyReviews.com [otherwise $10], plus $7 drink minimum; call 212.989.9319 to reserve seats): Superb stand-ups Hannibal Buress, Kumail Nanjiani, Moody McCarthy, Maureen Langan, Jared Logan, Dan St. Germain, Liam McEneaney, and Larry MacPhee performing at the Cornelia Street Cafe for the 6th year anniversary of John Morrison's Morrison Motel
9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): A celebration of a razor-sharp stand-up's comedy album at Ochi's Lounge: Joe DeRosa's CD Release Party
9:30 pm ($5): Michael O'Brien (Saturday Night Live) and Peter Grosz (The Colbert Report) performing the latest version of their acclaimed 2-man sketch show: Misled
[FREE] 9:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Hilary Schwartz, Sheng Wang, Kate Riffey, Jason Verlaine, Dan Rouhier, and Kate Berlant performing at Pat O'Shea's free weekly Brooklyn showcase at Freddy's Backroom: Ed Sullivan on Acid
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: A blowout gathering of some of the finest comics in the country—tonight including star Colin Quinn, star Christian Finnegan, and acclaimed stand-up and Jimmy Fallon staff writer Morgan Murphy—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 12/22/09
Seth Herzog and God's Pottery rule tonight at 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:
7:00 pm ($5): "Where there is a stage and a piano, she will be there. Where there are strangers with embarrassing stories, she will be there. Where there is a group of people willing to sit and watch someone make up songs, she will be there. A one-woman musical improv journey through the lives of the audience. You tell the story, Rebecca Vigil sings the soundtrack:" The Vigilante
7:00 pm ($5): John O'Donnell tells lots of comedic stories in his long-running one-man show The O'Donnellogues
[$] 8:00 pm ($20 & 2-item min.): Musical improv beatbox genius Reggie Watts is among the guests for this comedic holiday celebration at the elegant Comix Comedy Club hosted by a YouTube star who enjoys playing oddball characters: John Roberts' Holiday Show
8:00 pm to midnight
($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight
featuring UCBT house troupes Bastian, DeCoster, Badman, The Law Firm, and Penthouse
Riot
followed by UCBT troupe Wildhorn! improvising a musical—all
at Harold Night
8:30 pm ($5): "Jon Bander has always believed himself great at something. These are the moments where he found out what that something wasn't. A one-show about being comfortable in your own skin by a guy who, despite glaring flaws, has always loved himself:" Delusions of Bander
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Star pseudo Christian acoustic duo God's Pottery (Last Comic Standing), Jon Friedman (Jimmy Fallon, The Rejection Show), Nick Stevens (VH1, Bravo, AMC, E!), and "special surprise guests" performing at The Slipper Room for this LES weekly show hosted by the wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet
9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Delightful stand-up comics Leah Dubie, Amy Beckerman, Jackie Monahan, and Gloria Bigelow performing and hosting guest comics Lisa Kaplan, Selena Coppock, Patricia Villetto, and Chewy in Ochi's Lounge at Dykes on Mics
9:30 pm ($8): "A 17-person middle school talent show created and performed by two people—Jo Firestone and Dylan Marron—who like themselves more now that they're older. A comedic tribute to the best three years of our lives, and a comedic play for anyone who ever thought it couldn't get any better than prank calls and slow-dancing:" Ridgefield Middle School Talent Nite
[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 12/23/09
Jenny Slate (Big Terrific), Kate McKinnon (Best Actress), and Jessi Klein (HEEB Storytelling)
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 ($15 ticket; plus $12 drink-food min. if you sit at a table): Tales of Jewishness from brilliant stand-up Jessi Klein (Comedy Central, Punch Up Your Life), Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling (Howard Stern), Jordan Carlos (Colbert Report), DC Benny (Comedy Central), Aaron Kheifets (The Onion), and Peter Hyman (The Reluctant Metrosexual) performing in Joe's Pub at HEEB Storytelling
[FREE] 7:00 pm to midnight: Five free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday
8:00 pm ($5): One of NYC's treasures, master sketch comic Kurt Braunohler, stretching himself by performing a one-man show that's a mix of stand-up, storytelling, and—the highlight—interacting with the audience at Autumn at the Chuckle Shack
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: Saturday Night Live's Jenny Slate, Joe Mande, Claudia Cogan, and Colin Jost performing at a 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 ($10): Brilliant character performer Kate McKinnon (co-star of Logo's Big Gay Sketch Show) playing five very different actresses waiting to hear which of them won an Oscar (keep an eye out for the old lady, who's one of the funniest characters you'll see this year, anywhere); and Greg Tuculescu playing five very different immigrants, in the double-bill Best Actress and F@#&ing Foreigners!
[$] 9:30 pm ($20 & 2-drink min.): Rich Vos starred on two seasons of Last Comic Standing; has performed a very popular Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; was a regular on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; was the first white comic on Def Jam; wrote for Chris Rock; played Lenny Bruce on NBC's American Dreams; was an unlikely guest on The View; is a regular on the Opie and Anthony radio show; and is headlining tonight at Carolines at Rich Vos & Friends
[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 12/24/09
Brilliant comedy stars Janeane Garofalo and Todd Barry headline a superb lineup of comics at The 12th Night of Chanukah
Most comedy venues are dark tonight for Christmas Eve (or to celebrate Senate passage of the health bill); but here's one show of special note:
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($12): Comedy stars Janeane Garofalo and Todd Barry, plus brilliant comics Sean Patton, Jon Glaser, Joe Mande, and Rob Paravonian, perform stand-up at 92Y Tribeca's Comedy Below Canal for a show with a playful attitude: The 12th Night of Chanukah
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 12/25/09
There are no NYC comedy recommendations for Christmas;
most of the usual suspects are closed, and the rest are running less-than-stellar shows.
But please tune in here again on Saturday for the resumption of top comedy picks.
Meanwhile, consider seeing a funny and/or musical Broadway,
off-Broadway,
or off-off-Broadway show.
To learn how theatre tickets can be purchased for around 50% off—
or, in some cases, for as little as $3.50 each—
please read Hy on Theatre Discounts.
And one more thing:
Hope you enjoy thoroughly happy holidays.
Warmest regards,
Hy
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 12/26/09
Brilliant improvisors Andy Secunda, Sean Conroy, and Michael Delaney make a rare appearance tonight as Omelette Vision...
...while The Raspberry Brothers deconstruct Home Alone, and Dave Attell headlines at Carolines
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 ($10): Genius improvisors Michael Delaney, Sean Conroy, and Andy Secunda (who are all members of legendary troupe The Swarm) make a rare appearance tonight as their own mini-troupe Omelette Vision
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($42 & 2-item min.): A stand-up comedy superstar who's already sold out tonight's performances, but is headlining through Wednesday (with Amy Schumer) at Carolines: Dave Attell
[$] 8:00 pm ($15 & 2-item min.): The Raspberry Brothers continuing the tradition of Mystery Science Theater 3000 by providing live comedic commentary on films at the elegant Comix Comedy Club, with tonight's victim a modern holiday classic: Home Alone
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): The gutsiest comedy troupe in NYC, genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo
[TOP PICK] [$] 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
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 12/27/09
Jessimae Peluso and Adam Lehman (Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour) and Dave Attell (Headlining at Carolines)
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 ($42 & 2-item min.): A stand-up comedy superstar headlining through Wednesday (with Amy Schumer) at Carolines: Dave Attell
[FREE] 10:00 pm: Jessimae Peluso (The Tyra Banks Show, TruTV), Yamaneika (BET), and Adam Lehman (Here! TV's Hot Gay Comics) performing stand-up at a free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour
Copyright © 2009 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
