NYC Comedy Picks for Week of December 29, 2008

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 12/29/08

Marc Maron (Whiplash), Anthony Jeselnik (Entertaining the Bartender), and Brett Gelman (Whiplash)

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

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

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 Helen Hong, Vicky Kuperman,

Karen Batista, RG Daniels, Matt Ruby, Josh Comers, Blaine Perry, Sean Donnelly,

Aalap Patel, and John Morrison—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel (6:30 pm & 9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] stellar stand-ups including comedy genius Anthony Jeselnik (Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central), Liam McEneaney (Comedy Central, VH1), Bobby Miyamoto (Comedy Central, Craig Ferguson), Greg Barris (MTV2), Jeff Kreisler (Shoot the Messenger), and more at a free weekly comedy show in Brooklyn hosted by the razor-sharp Jena Friedman: Entertaining the Bartender (8:30 pm),

fun perspectives on 2008 from a small army of comics at The 5th Annual It Sucked! Awards (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] and a free weekly show featuring some of the finest comics in the country—tonight including Marc Maron (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central), Brett Gelman (Comedy Central), Kerri Lendo, and Sean O'Connor—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 sets of comics).

Tonight's 6:30 lineup includes fine stand-ups Helen Hong, Vicky Kuperman, Matt Ruby, Josh Comers, Gary Vider, John Clark, Gilad Foss, Blaine Perry, Sean Donnelly, and John Morrison.

And the 9:00 pm show includes talents Karen Batista, RG Daniels, Doug Adler, Phil O'Reilly, Danny Solomon, Dave Celestian, and Aalap Patel.

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)

Anthony Jeselnik (being lauded by Robin Williams), Jena Friedman, and Liam McEneaney

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's superb guests are

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

my favorite stand-ups ever; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, upcoming Comedy Central Presents 1/2-hour special, HBO, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, MTV's Most Valuable Players;

for stand-up videos, please click here and here),

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

former writer for Standup Nation with Greg Giraldo),

Bobby Miyamoto (Comedy Central's Premium Blend; Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson; for

stand-up about educational opportunities in Dallas and dating Tori Spelling, please click here),

Greg Barris (MTV2's All That Rocks, producer of Heart of Darkness),

Jeff Kreisler (Shoot the Messenger), and

musical guest Jefferson Hamer.

8:30 pm at Sound Fix Records, 110 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg Brooklyn; free

Take the L subway to Bedford Avenue and walk four blocks to N 11th Street

The 5th Annual It Sucked! Awards

A look back at 2008, UCBT style.

Hosted by Anthony King, Kate Spencer, and Charlie Todd,

three of the brilliantly funny members of Reuben Williams;

and starring a small army of sharp talent:

Jill Donnelly, Paul Downs, Eugene Cordero, Matt Fisher, Alden Ford, Dan Gurewitch, Nate Lang, Rob Lathan, Megan Neuringer, Gil Ozeri, Adam Pally, Ben Rodgers, Ben Schwartz, Mike Still, and Justin Tyler.

For this one-time show, a lot of the material will be hit or miss. But given that some of the participants are comedy geniuses, with luck this will be great fun overall.

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

Leo Allen and Marc Maron...

...and Kerri Lendo and Brett Gelman

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).

Visiting from LA for the holidays are tonight's thoroughly wonderful guests:

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; currently developing a killer set about his recent divorce that's as fine and rich as any theatrical production),

Brett Gelman (comedic chameleon who's currently ubiquitous as the Little Bit of Luck guy in New York Lottery ads; numerous credits include Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report, and ace improv troupe Death by Roo Roo; host of delightful weekly NYC live comedy show Gelmania, which just wrapped due to Brett moving to work in LA; for an interview, please click here; for samples of Brett's mind-blowing work with partner Jon Daly, please click here and here; please also explore their hip-hop parody album Fleetwood Cracked...and keep an eye out for their Cracked Out pilot for Comedy Central),

Kerri Lendo ("i hope to one day move to hollywood and become a big movie star playing such roles as best friend of attractive female lead or sister of attractive female lead"), and

Sean O'Connor (VH1, NPR's This American Life; for fun stand-up videos, please click here and here).

If you love comedy, make a habit of attending this stellar free weekly extravaganza.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 12/30/08

Lightning-quick comics Adam Pally, Ben Rodgers, and Gavin Speiller are among the members of

stellar improv troupe The Law Firm (Harold Night and The End of the Year Improv Jam)

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

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

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

and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours, who tonight include Karen Batista, Vicky Kuperman, Paola Dattner,

Chris Grace, Phil O'Reilly, and Dave Celestian—at John Morrison's Broadway Motel (6:00 pm),

three full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes

The Law Firm, Bangs, Ragnaröck, Bastian, and Whorenado—at Harold Night (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] superb comics Pete Holmes (one of the funniest stand-ups in the country; VH1,

Comedy Central, The New Yorker), Brett Gelman (always daring and often brilliant

experimental comic & character chameleon), Josh Spear (Conan O'Brien, Bravo),

and surprise guests at the wonderful Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm).

and a gala free opportunity for you to perform with world-class improvisors

at UCBT's final show of 2008, The End of The Year Improv Jam (11:00 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.

Tonight's lineup includes talents Karen Batista, Vicky Kuperman, Paola Dattner, Chris Grace, Phil O'Reilly, Dave Celestian, Mick Diflo, and Michael Saperstein..

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

Harold Night

The Harold is longform improv, pioneered by Del Close.

Tonight, five improv troupes—

The Law Firm, Bangs, Ragnaröck, Bastian, and Whorenado—

each give it a go for 30 minutes, with

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

Some of the groups are great; 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.

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

Pete Holmes and Josh Spear...

...and Seth Herzog and Brett Gelman

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 wonderful guests include

Pete Holmes (brilliant, lightning-fast stand-up; 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),

Josh Spear (Conan O'Brien, Bravo, has opened for Dave Attell and Arte Lange),

and some fun surprises.

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

The End of The Year Improv Jam

To perform improvisation at UCBT, you must spend years taking classes and carefully perfecting your craft...or you can come to this free extravaganza, UCBT's biggest and last open improv jam of the year, which allows audience members to jump on stage and participate!

Hosted by stellar improv troupe The Law Firm, which consists of brilliant comics Dominic Dierkes, Jonathan Gabrus, Sue Galloway, Nate Lang, Gil Ozeri, Adam Pally, Ben Rodgers, and Gavin Speiller.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 12/31/08

The recommendation for the best in New York City comedy on New Year's Eve is

[TOP PICK] a Comedy Central star, plus other superb NYC comics, at

New Year's Eve with Greg Giraldo (7:30 pm & 10:30 pm).

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, performing on Comedy Central Roasts of such celebrities as William Shatner, Pamela Anderson, Howard Stern, Jeff Foxworthy, and Flavor Flav, and his current role on Comedy Central's Root of All Evil.

In addition, Greg has been a frequent guest on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Late Show with David Letterman, regularly contributes to a "rant" segment to NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, and has released a comedy album titled Good Day to Cross a River.

Other comics scheduled to help you usher in the New Year include Baron Vaughn, Amy Schumer, Shane Mauss, and Al Jackson.

There will be an early 7:30 show, and a 10:30 show that will take you through to the dropping of the ball at midnight.

Save $5 off the $35 cover for the 7:30 show or $55 cover for the 10:30 show

(i.e., $30 or $50 per ticket) with discount code HYREVIEWS. To order, 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 & 10:30 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

$30 or $50 if ordering online with discount code HyReviews, plus two-item minimum

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 1/1/09

The recommendation for the best in New York City comedy on New Year's is

a former regular on Comedy Central's Tough Crowd and on Howard Stern,

Nick DiPaolo at Carolines (8:00 pm).

Nick DiPaolo

Nick DiPaolo has done stand-up on Late Show with David Letterman, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien; performed three of his own Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; was a regular on Comedy Central's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and Shorties Watchin' Shorties; is a frequent guest on The Howard Stern Show and the Opie and Anthony radio show; hosted his own radio program on NYC's 92.3 Free FM; and creates periodic Web-based free audio shows for Blog Talk Radio. Nick has also acted on such TV shows as HBO's The Sopranos and Lucky Louie, and was nominated twice for an Emmy award for his writing on The Chris Rock Show.

This is a comedy club show, and priced accordingly at $28.75

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

But if you're craving laughs, this is likely to be a fun way to celebrate New Years.

To order tickets, please click here.

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

$28.75 plus two-drink minimum

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 1/2/09

MC Chris (The BEATdown), Charlie Sanders (Minnesota Muslim), and Todd Barry

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

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

[TOP PICK] one of the funniest men in the world performing a deliciously long, wry set in his trademark deadpan style headlining at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Todd Barry (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] rising star Charlie Sanders performing one of the most vibrant and hilarious

autobiographical shows you'll ever see, plus comedic actor Nick Ross doing a show about

desperate characters, in the double-bill Minnesota Muslim and Cool Your J (8:00 pm),

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

[TOP PICK] a comedic freestyle rap contest, tonight including world-class musical improvisor

Glennis McMurray (I Eat Pandas), hilarious nerd rapper MC Chris, and stellar stand-up comics

Baron Vaughn, Matt McCarthy, and Michelle Collins, hosted by genius

comedic musical hosts Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan (Freestyle Love Supreme)

and Eliza Skinner (I Eat Pandas), at The BEATdown (11:00 pm),

and a free opportunity for you to perform sketch on the UCBT stage at Liquid Courage (12:20ish am).

Todd Barry

Todd Barry is a wryly brilliant stand-up who's one of the very best in the biz.

He's appeared numerous times on Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and performed a Comedy Central Presents half-hour special.

Todd's also appeared on HBO's Flight of the Conchords, Lucky Louie, and Sex in the City;

Comedy Central's Freak Show, Dr. Katz, and Shorties Watching Shorties;

Adult Swim's Space Ghost, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and Tom Goes To The Mayor;

and acted in the recent Darren Aronofsky film The Wrestler.

Todd has also created several comedy CDs; his most recent is From Heaven.

Don't miss this opportunity to catch one of the funniest guys in the country headlining at the elegant Comix showroom. Highly recommended.

Please Note: You can save $5 off the $25 cover tonight or $20 cover before day of show on Saturday (i.e., pay $20 or $15 per ticket) by ordering online with discount code HyReviews.

Please also note there's also a two-item minimum;

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

Tonight & Saturday at 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between

8th & 9th Avenues); $20 per ticket tonight or $15 for Saturday

if you order online today using discount code HyReviews

Charlie Sanders and Nick Ross

Charlie Sanders: Minnesota Muslim and Nick Ross: Cool Your J

A phenomenal storytelling event, and one-woman sketch comedy, for a mere 10 bucks.

Charlie Sanders is an extraordinarily dynamic and committed comic who's performed numerous sketch comedy routines on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and is a star member of world-class improv troupes Reuben Williams, Buffoons, and C, C + C Improv Factory (which won the 2008 Cage Match Improv Championship). Tonight, however, Charlie shows another side of his vast talents by telling jaw-dropping—and entirely true—tales of his experiences growing up white in midwestern suburbia...as a Muslim.

This is one of the most hilarious and brilliantly performed one-man shows you'll ever see—with definite theatrical potential—and has my highest recommendation. Don't miss rising star Charlie Sanders demonstrate what he can do when running on all gears.

The double-bill then continues with Cool Your J, a one-man show by Nick Philip Ross (improv troupes Wilder, Sidework, and T.R.U.C.K.S.), who performs a variety of characters linked by desperation. Directed by Nate Smith (sketch troupe Rogue Elephant).

8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10

Back: Will Hines, Zach Woods, Michael Delaney, and Bobby Moynihan

Front: Chris Gethard, Shannon O'Neill, and Silvija Ozols

The Stepfathers

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

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

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

With art and grace, these star talents will make you laugh—a lot.

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

The BEATdown

This lively show is a comedic freestyle rap competition.

(Think 8 Mile, only way funnier.)

It's hosted by two comedic musical geniuses:

Shockwave (Chris Sullivan, the amazing human beatbox of Freestyle Love Supreme;

The Age wrote he "uses his mouth like a sound effects program that

no computer could possibly match for depth of stored data or

instantaneous retrieval." And Seth Herzog wrote, "One of the most entertaining

sound effect/comedic artists you'll ever see. He stole the show at the

closing night of Mo Pitkins," referring to a 3-hour blowout that Seth hosted

and that featured such artists as Moby!), and

Eliza Skinner (member of the genius improv musical groups I Eat Pandas

and Baby Wants Candy; drummer and singer in comedic alt band Stickerbook;

MTV's Damage Control).

Tonight's contestants are some of the sharpest comics in NYC:

Glennis McMurray (half of genius award-winning musical improv group I Eat Pandas, with Eliza Skinner; performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; starred in the 2008 FringeNYC award-winning hit musical Gem!: A Truly Outrageous Parody; writes a popular blog; for samples of Glennis' sketch comedy, please click here and here),

MC Chris (a.k.a. Christopher Ward; combines his love of pop culture and hip hop as popular nerdcore rapper; animator, voice artist, writer, and/or producer of such Adult Swim shows as Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Sealab 2021, The Brak Show, and the upcoming Cheyenne Cinnamon and the Fantabulous Unicorn of Sugar Town Candy Fudge),

Baron Vaughn (MTV's The Gamekillers, VH1's Awesomely Oversexed and

Best Week Ever, co-star of weekly NYC live political comedy show Shoot the Messenger;

recently taped concert film The Awkward Kings of Comedy; for a radio interview, please click here),

Matt McCarthy (razor-sharp comic; Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; co-host of biweekly LIC live comedy extravaganza The Matt and Katina Show),

Michelle Collins (VH1's Best Week Ever and All Access, MTV U, The Al Franken Show, YouCantMakeItUp.org; for a memorable chat about the power of penises over vaginas, please click here),

and an audience volunteer!

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

Liquid Courage

The ultimate in audience participation: any group can submit a sketch and perform it!

If all you want is to be entertained, this show probably isn't a good choice.

But if you'd like to act on the UCBT stage, and/or have your sketch writing judged by an exceptionally savvy audience, this is a golden opportunity.

Sign-up begins at 10:30 pm and runs till 11:45 pm; sketches will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's wise to arrive early. For a complete list of the rules, please click here.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 1/3/09

Whether you love him for his deadpan style or unbearable cuteness,

don't miss the final night of Todd Barry headlining at Comix

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

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

[MEGA-TOP PICK] what's become one of my favorite traditions of the new year—an entirely free

show/party in which 50 of NYC's best comics gather to tell the first joke each of them

wrote in 2009 at the Third Annual 50 First Jokes (7:00 pm),

a sketch troupe taking simple premises to wild conclusions, tonight with an all-new show

about our country falling apart: The Impending Moustache Embraces the Madness (7:00 pm),

the NYC debut of a show developed at Chicago's legendary iO theatre in which

veteran improvisors create a play on the spot based on audience suggestions: New Play (7:30 pm),

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

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

[TOP PICK] one of the funniest men in the world performing a deliciously long, wry

headlining set at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Todd Barry (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

comics experiencing the rush of performing with no clothes on in The Naked Comedy Showcase (8:00 pm),

sharp NYC comics at a free stand-up comedy show hosted by star sketch/improv troupe Derrick in Queens' Long Island City: This Is New York (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] one of my all-time favorite improv troupes—which in 2008 broke the Cage Match record

for winning streaks with 18 triumphs in a row, and has now taken over UCBT's prestigious prime-time

Saturday night slot—the brilliant and daring members of Death by Roo Roo (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 TV shows about audience members via 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 at The Complete Performer (10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] and the debut of a comedy show about the advertising biz, tonight featuring

razor-sharp comics & national TV ad veterans Matt McCarthy (Comedy Central, VH1) and

Andrea Rosen (Comedy Central, Variety SHAC), and hosted by Greg Johnson (President Johnson)

and Sam Brown (The Whitest Kids U' Know): Ad Nauseam (midnight).

50 First Jokes: 2009 Edition

A gigantic laugh fest that's become an absolutely wonderful annual tradition...and it's free!

Fifty NYC comics gather to each tell the first joke he or she has written in 2009.

Expect an exuberant gathering of comedic talent...and wild partying afterwards.

The stellar participants include Pete Holmes (VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central), Victor Varnado (Adventures of Pluto Nash, The Awkward Kings of Comedy), Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents, Moonwork), Jon Friedman (The Rejection Show), Baron Vaughn (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, MTV, Shoot the Messenger), Jackie Monahan (Logo TV, Dykes on Mics), Michelle Buteau (Bumbershoot, MTV), Amy Schumer (Last Comic Standing), Joe Garden (The Onion), Myq Kaplan (Open Mic Fights), Matt McCarthy (Montreal Comedy Festival), Sam Brown (Whitest Kids You Know), and Sara Benincasa (MTV, CNN, 236.com, Family Hour).

This third annual extravaganza is produced and hosted by terrific comics John F. O'Donnell (wild man who will make you love him; Comedy Central's Fresh Faces), Claudia Cogan (MTV, Logo Network, here! TV, Sirius OutQ), and Jiwon Lee (Comedy Central's Root of All Evil, AMC).

6:30 doors, 7:00 pm show at The Studio at Webster Hall,

125 East 11th Street (between 3rd and 4th Avenues); free

The Impending Moustache Embraces the Madness

The Impending Moustache is a sketch comedy group consisting of Katie Hartman, Daniel Kelley, Gabriel Pacheco, and Leah Rudick: "We attack our material with a joyous and infectious theatricality. We send our audiences home shaken with laughter so constant, it gives them nightmares. Beautiful, vivid nightmares."

Tonight's show consists of all-new sketch material basely loosely around our country falling apart.

To get a feel for this troupe, please view a memorable sketch about prisoner abuse by clicking here and a tragic tale about Jews for Jesus by clicking here.

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

New Play: Improvised Theatre in One or Two Acts

Chicago's legendary iO Theatre developed an improv form called Play in which comics took an audience suggestion and then created "a play of two acts or less" on the spot. Bringing this exciting comedic game to NYC are Chicago-trained improv veterans Peter Grosz (writer for The Colbert Report, member of acclaimed Chicago improv troupe 4 Square, star of over 100 Sonic fast-food commercials), Deb Downing, Ed Herbstman, Katie Caussin, Melanie Hoopes, Jonathan Karpinos, and Kelly Haran, with direction by Sandy Marshall.

According to the official description, "the ensemble writes a play while they are performing it, streamlining the cumbersome and often wasteful 'process' traditionally used to develop scripts. Eliminating rewrites, readings, rehearsals, and other distractions, the cast of New Play harnesses the power of live theatre with no preparation, opening (and closing) a brand new play each week.

"New Play doesn't rehash the stereotypes of well-known theatrical styles or authors for easy laughs. Instead, the cast explores original stories and characters every show, as if in the voice of some yet undiscovered playwright. The results range from poignant to hilarious, and occasionally both at the same time.

"The show may contain strobe lights, loud explosions, nudity, objectionable themes, and gunfire. Or it may not."

If you love both improv and theatre, how can you resist?

7:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $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), Tami Sagher (writer for 30 Rock; writer and producer for Mad TV 2001-2006), and Dan Goor (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show).

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