NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 12/28/09
Jason Sudeikis (Gravid Water), and stand-up auditions for The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien...
...and Sandra Bernhard (Performing at Joe's Pub), and Jon Daly (Whiplash)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
6:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm ($42 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up comedy superstar headlining through Wednesday (with Amy Schumer) at Carolines: Dave Attell
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Saturday Night Live star Jason Sudeikis, and Broadway & off-Broadway stars Kevin Carolan (Chicago, Pardon My English!, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm), Kate Meister (The Clean House, Picnic), Sandy Rustin (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Comedy Central's The Scariest Show on TV), and Julie Sharbutt (Shakespeare In The Park: Twelfth Night), mixing it up with some of the best improvisors in the world—Michael Delaney, Becky Drysdale, and Andy Secunda—as they crash improv into classic theatre scenes at actor/director Stephen Ruddy's Gravid Water
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($5 & 2-item min.): NYC stand-ups—who tentatively include such brilliant comics as Anthony Jeselnik, Reggie Watts, Kumail Nanjiani, and Wyatt Cenac—auditioning before an NBC late-night booker for a gig that would give any one of them a bright, shining credit for the rest of their comedy careers: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien Auditions
[TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($50 ticket; plus $12 min. if you sit at a table): A comic who's been a movie star, a singer, and lived a roller coaster career, but remains a performer unlike anyone else, doing a new show with her band at Joe's Pub through New Year's Eve: Sandra Bernhard
[$] 9:30 pm ($29 & 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
9:30 pm ($5): A small army of UCBT comics looking back at what was awful in 2009—in an annual show that, as if infected by its topic, is traditionally none-too-great itself, but hope springs eternal: The 6th Annual It Sucked! Awards
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: A blowout gathering of some of the finest comics in the country—tonight including the brilliant & hilarious Jessi Klein, Christian Finnegan, Sean Conroy, and Jon Daly—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 12/29/09
The Daily Show co-stars Wyatt Cenac and Aasif Mandvi (Sweet)...
...and Dave Attell (Headlining at Carolines) and Sandra Bernhard (Performing at Joe's Pub)
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 ($5): Star Trek episodes made up on the spot at the new PIT improv show Start-Trekkin' New York
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm ($42 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up comedy superstar headlining through Wednesday (with Amy Schumer) at Carolines: Dave Attell
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Sharp stand-ups Jena Friedman, Claudia Cogan, Elon James White, Anthony DeVito, and H. Alan Scott performing roughly 140 recent literary achievements at this unique new reading event hosted by Jackie Monahan and Shawn Hollenbach: The Twitter Reading Series
8:00 pm to midnight
($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight
featuring UCBT house troupes The Bishop, Scootch, Robber Baron, Ragnaröck,
and People People,
and (the probable highlight) UCBT troupe Wildhorn! performing two entirely
improvised musicals—all
at Harold Night
8:30 pm ($5): John O'Donnell tells lots of comedic stories in his long-running one-man show The O'Donnellogues
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Musical improv beatbox genius Reggie Watts, The Daily Show correspondents Wyatt Cenac and Aasif Mandvi, and Greg Barris (host of Heart of Darkness) performing at The Slipper Room for this LES weekly show hosted by the wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet
[TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($50 ticket; plus $12 min. if you sit at a table): A comic who's been a movie star, a singer, and lived a roller coaster career, but remains a performer unlike anyone else, doing a new show with her band at Joe's Pub through New Year's Eve: Sandra Bernhard
[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 12/30/09
Reggie Watts (Big Terrific and ComedyJuice), and Jenny Slate & Gabe Liedman (Totally J/K and Big Terrific)...
...and Curtis Gwinn (The Nights of Our Lives), and Sean Patton (ComedyJuice)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 7:00 pm to midnight: Five free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm ($42 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up comedy superstar completing his headlining run tonight (with Amy Schumer) at Carolines: Dave Attell
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Saturday Night Live's Jenny Slate & her comedy partner Gabe Liedman, always inventive & surreal Jon Daly (Cracked Out, Mystery Team), and Gabe Delahaye (writer/editor of Videogum.com) joining hilarious hosts Joe Mande and Noah Garfinkel at Totally J/K
[FREE] 8:00: NYC stand-ups Bruce Cherry, Colin Dempsey, Vicki Ferentinos, Rob Gorden, Pat O'Shea, and Gerard Mignone performing at this free weekly show hosted by Sharon Spell and Emmy Rivera: Shrink
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: Saturday Night Live's Jenny Slate, musical improv beatbox genius Reggie Watts (Jimmy Fallon, The Electric Company), Kumail Nanjiani (David Letterman, Comedy Central), Rory Scovel, and Andy Haynes 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 ($5): One of the finest comedic storytelling shows in the country, in which brilliant writer/performers—who tonight are Curtis Gwinn, Chris Gethard, Anthony Atamanuik, Brian Finkelstein, and wonderful host David Martin—tell tales that are brutally honest and utterly hilarious, with tonight's special theme a farewell to comedy genius Curtis Gwinn (Death by Roo Roo, Adult Swim), who's leaving us to pursue fame and fortune in LA: The Nights of Our Lives
[TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($50 ticket; plus $12 min. if you sit at a table): A comic who's been a movie star and singer, and has experienced a roller coaster career but remains a performer unlike any other, doing a new show with her band at Joe's Pub through New Year's Eve: Sandra Bernhard
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 10:00 pm ($10 online using code DEAL, plus 2-item min.): A monthly gathering of top comedy talent—tonight including musical improv beatbox genius Reggie Watts (Jimmy Fallon, The Electric Company), Christian Finnegan (three Comedy Central specials, commentator on MNBC's Countdown with Keith Oberman and VH1's Best Week Ever; Chappelle's Show, The Today Show), Wyatt Cenac (correspondent for The Daily Show), Sean Patton, James Harris, and Rob O'Reilly—performing at ComedyJuice
[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 12/31/09
The recommendations for the best in New York City comedy on New Year's Eve are:
New Year's Eve with Greg Giraldo
Greg Giraldo's numerous credits on Comedy Central include his own Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, hosting The Stand-Up Show with Greg Giraldo, being a regular on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and The Root of All Evil, and performing on Comedy Central Roasts of such celebrities as William Shatner, Pamela Anderson, Howard Stern, Jeff Foxworthy, and Flavor Flav.
In addition, Greg has been a frequent guest on Conan O'Brien, David Letterman, and Carson Daly, and has released a comedy album titled Good Day to Cross a River.
There will be an early 7:30 show ($45); and a 10:30 show ($65) that will take you through to the dropping of the ball at midnight. To order tickets, please click here.
Please note there's a two-item minimum;
with tax & tip, figure on spending an additional $13 or up.
7:30 pm ($45) & 10:30 pm ($65) plus two-item minimum at Comix,
353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues)
Or, if money is no object:
New Year's Eve with Sandra Bernhard
A comic who's been a movie star and singer, and has experienced a roller coaster career but remains a performer unlike any other, doing a new show with her band at Joe's Pub at 9:00 pm ($100) and 11:00 pm ($150). For details and/or to order tickets, please click here.
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 1/1/10
The recommendation for the best in New York City comedy on New Year's Day is
Paul Mooney: Headlining at Carolines
[$] 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, doing a special New Year's show tonight and Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney: Negrodamus Makes His Predictions for 2010
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 1/2/10
After a spectacular farewell performance last week, DBRR's Curtis
Gwinn has moved to LA;
but chances are one of the very finest troupes in the history
of improv will continue to be Death by Roo Roo
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 ($10): Improvisation from writers & performers at 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball
[$] 8:00 pm ($20 & 2-item min.): Live CD taping of the audience warm-up comic for The Colbert Report and the host for a daily show on Sirius Radio: Pete Dominick: Skull & Gums
8:00 pm ($10): In this unique monthly show, stand-up comics perform in the buff. A reviewer from The Boston Globe observed, "The dynamic of nude comedian and clothed audience added an extra dimension to self-deprecating material." For a New York Magazine review, please click here; or simply come see for yourself The Naked Comedy Showcase
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): The gutsiest comedy troupe in NYC, genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo
9:00 pm ($5): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!
[TOP PICK] [$] 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 trio troupe Trike
[TOP PICK] 12:00 am ($5): Andy Rocco's extravaganza of sketch comedy, music, dancing, free t-shirts, and special guests—who tonight include Streeter Seidell (CollegeHumor) & Corn Mo: The Hipster Show
[$] 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, doing a special New Year's show tonight and Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney: Negrodamus Makes His Predictions for 2010
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 1/3/10
Whitney Meers (I Do What I Want) and Helen Hong (Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour)
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): A one-woman show selected for the Hollywood Fringe Festival that defies categorization, with elements of sketch, stand-up and improv: Whitney Meers: I Do What I Want
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000
[FREE] 7:30ish pm: Stand-ups DC Benny, Danny Rouhier, Adam Newman, Dave Rosinsky, and more performing at a free weekly LES show at Pianos hosted by Greg Johnson: The Comedians
[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC comics Pat Stango, Ryan Middleton, Chris Laker, Matt Maragno, and Jordan Ferber performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up
[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC comics Brent Sullivan and more performing in the East Village's Beauty Bar at Vince Averill's & Jesse Popp's free weekly show Beauty Bar Comedy
[$] 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, doing a special New Year's show tonight at Carolines: Paul Mooney: Negrodamus Makes His Predictions for 2010
[FREE] 10:00 pm: Helen Hong (Oxygen, WE Network), Jena Friedman (VH1, Entertaining the Bartender), Cara Kilduff (Here! TV), and Dana Lovecchio (LA's Comedy Store) 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
