NYC Comedy Picks for Week of February 16, 2009

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 2/16/09

Comedy superstar Janeane Garofalo (Inside Joke)

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

[TOP PICK] TV & movie star Janeane Garofalo demonstrating why she's one of the most respected and beloved comedic performers in entertainment history as she chats with superb interviewer Carl Arnheiter at Inside Joke (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] brilliant, passionate comedy star Marc Maron (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, HBO and Comedy Central specials), Reggie Watts (genius comedic improv beatboxer, winner of 2007 Andy Kaufman award), Rob Cantrell (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), and more at Liam McEneaney's free Tell Your Friends (8:00ish pm),

[TOP PICK] Livia Scott (brilliant comedic chameleon; Conan O'Brien), Matt Mccarthy (Comedy Central, Verizon FIOS guy), Jared Logan (Comedy Central), Giulia Rozzi (VH1, Stripped Stories), Jiwon Lee (Root of All Evil), and musical group The Rich Kids performing at a free weekly variety show in Brooklyn hosted by the razor-sharp Jena Friedman: Entertaining the Bartender (8:30 pm),

two ace Chicago-trained improvisors, Peter Grosz (writer for The Colbert Report) and John Lutz (writer/actor for Saturday Night Live since 2004; 30 Rock), making up scenes as 2 Square (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] and a free weekly show featuring some of the finest comics in the country—who tonight include TV & movie star Paul F. Tompkins (host of VH1's Best Week Ever; Comedy Central Presents, The Daily Show, Root of All Evil, HBO), John Mulaney (one of the finest stand-ups in the biz; staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Conan O'Brien), and Andrea Rosen (fresh, razor-sharp stand-up; VH1, Comedy Central, Variety SHAC) —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).

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)

Marc Maron and Reggie Watts

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 host is Rob Cantrell (Last Comic Standing, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, CBS's Late Late Show, VH1; off-Broadway show The Marijuana-Logues).

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

Reggie Watts (musical improv comedy genius; winner of 2007 Andy Kaufman Award; cast member of the new Electric Company; scary talented vocalist, beatboxer, and musician whose unique skills will likely amaze you; to learn more, please visit ReggieWatts.com; for video samples of what Reggie does, please click here and here and here; and keep an eye out Reggie's upcoming new album),

plus musical band A Brief View of the Hudson.

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

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

Interviewer Carl Arnheiter, and comedy genius Janeane Garofalo

Inside Joke: Janeane Garofalo

Host Carl Arnheiter (writer for ABC News, The Discovery Channel,

People Magazine, Time Out New York, and a superb interviewer)

will tonight conduct a heavily-researched chat with one of

most influential and beloved comics of our time.

Janeane Garofalo is, quite simply, one of the most hilarious performers alive

(no matter how much she gripes or pretends otherwise...). Most recently, Janeane was co-host of The Majority Report on Air America Radio and co-star of the FOX's hit series 24. Sample quote: "I guess I just prefer to see the dark side of things. The glass is always half empty. And cracked. And I just cut my lip on it. And chipped a tooth." For two decades of impressive credits, please click here.

This show's seats are sold out, but if you're okay with standing

come and experience what's likely to be an amazing 90 minutes.

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

Livia Scott, Giulia Rozzi, and Jena Friedman

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

Livia Scott (brilliant comedic chameleon who's a stellar stand-up and sketch comic, and also an extraordinary actress; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, world-class sketch groups Meat and Dirty Jeans & Thunderchief, host of NYC comedy show Livia's Castle of Enchantment, 2008 ECNY Award-nominated one-woman show Goodnight, O.J.),

Matt McCarthy (razor-sharp comic; Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; co-host of biweekly LIC live comedy extravaganza The Matt and Katina Show; national TV ads for Verizon Fios, Guinness, etc.; for stand-up videos about unsolicited advice and measuring love, please click here and here),

Jared Logan (hilarious kinetic comic; Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; named Best Comedian by the Chicago Comedy Awards; won Detroit's contest for Comedy Idol; for stand-up video about fast food and comic books, please click here; for set on scary things, including toy ads for girls, please click here),

Giulia Rozzi (VH1's Best Night Ever podcasts; monthly video series The Message Board, which makes fun of brides, on ComedyNet.com; co-producer of East coast version of hit national show Mortified; co-host of red-hot comedy show Stripped Stories;

for a video sample, please click here),

Jiwon Lee (Comedy Central's Root of All Evil, AMC, ESPN, co-host of 50 First Jokes).

and musical group The New Rich Kids.

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

John Lutz and Peter Grosz

2 Square

Superb comics Peter Grosz (writer for The Colbert Report, star of over 100 Sonic fast-food commercials, co-writer & co-star of UCBT sketch show The Steve Miller Band and Other Annoying Monsters) and John Lutz (writer & occasional actor on SNL since 2004; recurring character on 30 Rock) perform a two-man improv show (a version of their previous long-running and acclaimed Chicago show 4 Square, which also included Dan Bakkedahl and Rob Janas).

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

Leo Allen and Paul F. Tompkins...

...and Andrea Rosen and John Mulaney

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 wonderful guests include

Paul F. Tompkins (host of VH1's Best Week Ever; Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, The Daily Show, and The Root of All Evil; HBO's Mr. Show, Tenacious D, and Real Time with Bill Maher; ABC's Pushing Daisies; feature films include Anchorman, Magnolia, and Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny; for stand-up video about dogs, please click here),

John Mulaney (one of the finest stand-up comics in the country; since August 2008 has been staff writer for Saturday Night Live; frequently appears on VH1's Best Week Ever; performed stand-up twice on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up Comedian; selected by Variety as among the 10 Comics to Watch for 2008; to check out videos of John's two Conan sets, please click here and here), and

Andrea Rosen (stellar stand-up who's appeared on VH1 and Comedy Central, is a member of comedy group Variety SHAC, and has performed in ads for the New York Lottery, Fig Newtons, Staples, and Hershey's).

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 2/17/09

Trinity co-writer Fabian Nicieza (Comic Book Club), Matt McCarthy (Auction!), and Marc Maron (Sweet)

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—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—with tonight's superb comics including Matt McCarthy and Jen Kwok—at the way fun Auction! (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] Marvel Comics editor and writer Fabian Nicieza (X-Men, Trinity) joining in on a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),

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

The F*cking Kennedys, Bastian, Ragnaröck, The Scam, and DeCoster—at Harold Night (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] and stellar comics Marc Maron (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, HBO and Comedy Central specials), Kurt Braunohler (world-class sketch comic & comedic storyteller, comedy partner of Kristen Schaal), Brent Sullivan (Funny.com), and more at the wonderful Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:30 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

Matt McCarthy and Jen Kwok

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.

The top bid in the show's history to date occurred two weeks ago: $12 for a "monkey in your pocket" palm-sized screechbox. The item & pitch were provided by supreme comedic salesperson Leslie Goshko (whose own stellar storytelling show, Sideshow Goshko, you should absolutely attend tomorrow night at 7:30...)

Tonight's comedic participants include

Matt McCarthy (razor-sharp comic; Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; co-host of biweekly LIC live comedy extravaganza The Matt and Katina Show; national TV ads for Verizon Fios, Guinness, etc.; for stand-up videos about unsolicited advice and measuring love, please click here and here),

Jen Kwok (ukulele-toting singer/songwriter; half of musical duo Jeneric),

Barry Rothbart (Comedy Central, Discovery Channel; for stand-up video about magic and break-ups, please click here), and

Sue Funke (for a stand-up video, please click here).

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 guest is Marvel comic book editor and writer Fabian Nicieza (X-Men, Trinity).

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.)

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—

The F*cking Kennedys, Bastian, Ragnaröck, The Scam, and DeCoster—

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

Marc Maron and Kurt Braunohler...

...and Seth Herzog and Brent Sullivan

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

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 performing a killer theatrical show about his recent divorce titled Scorching the Earth) and

Kurt Braunohler (frequent comedy partner of Kristen Schaal, performing  sketches that are hilariously indescribable; co-star of Web series Penelope, Princess of Pets, for which Kurt won the 2008 ECNY Award as Best Director; and Kurt's nominated for a 2009 ECNY Award for his one-man show A Meditation on Dum Dums and B-holes), and

Brent Sullivan (Funny.com; for video about crying while reading The Giving Tree, please click here).

9:30 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street  (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5

NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 2/18/09

Carolyn Castiglia (Hold for the Laughs), Leslie Goshko (Sideshow Goshko), 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:

[TOP PICK] a prime opportunity to experience a wide range of UCBT solo performers and sketch comedy groups, with performances appearing back-to-back and running for hours—and it's all free!—at UCBT's Second Winter Showcase (5:00 pm),

five free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday (7:00 pm-midnight),

[TOP PICK] a blow-out lineup—Tom Shillue (star storyteller; Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show), Shayna Ferm (brilliantly funny singer/songwriter), Carolyn Castiglia (stellar stand-up and VH1 White Rapper with amazing new show Brown Ambition), Margot Leitman (ace storyteller; Conan O'Brien, Stripped Stories), Mike Drucker (writer for Saturday Night Live and The Onion), and Paul Oddo (Funny.com)—at a show hosted by the vivacious and razor-sharp Leslie Goshko (Manhattan Monologue Champion) in which top comics and storytellers reveal odd aspects of themselves in a carnival atmosphere (complete with accordion player and alcoholic audience prizes): Sideshow Goshko (7:30 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),

NYC stand-ups Claudia Cogan, Chelsea White, Mike Lawrence, Vikki Stone, Pat Breslin, Brian Longwell, and Troy Bynam at the free Shrink (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] some of the finest stand-ups and sketch comics in NYC—national comedy stars Ted Alexandro and Paul F. Tompkins, plus adorably shocking comedy duo Gabe & Jenny, Michelle Collins, and Paul Oddo—performing in Brooklyn at a blow-out free show hosted by the hilarious Joe Mande & Noah Garfinkel: Totally J/K (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] a wonderful networking event mixing folks from the NYC theatre and comedy scenes—plus homemade cookies!—followed by a full-blown comedy show with Carolyn Castiglia (Last Comic Standing, VH1's White Rapper, tonight performing 20 minutes from her red-hot new one-woman show Brown Ambition), Sean Crespo (Comedy Central, co-host of Drink at Work), and Erin Judge (Comedy Central)—hosted by the lovely & hilarious Margie Kment at Hold for the Laughs (9:30 pm party/networking/cookies, 10:00 pm show),

[TOP PICK] an entirely improvised musical from genius improv duo Eliza Skinner

and Glennis McMurray, 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 typically stellar stand-up comics who perform their sets but are periodically interrupted by the host—one of the funniest men on the planet, Doug Benson—at a very special show called The Benson Interruption (11:00 pm).

Thomas Middleditch, Nick Kocher & Brian McElhaney of BriTANicK, and Alicia Levy (with her troupe Drop Six)

UCBT's Second Winter Showcase

A small mob of solo performers and sketch groups at UCBT

come together to show off their stuff and make you laugh in a multiple-hour

marathon...and admission is free! These talented writer/performers include

Thomas Middleditch (quick-witted organic talent and rising star who honed his improv skills at Second City and iO Chicago, and is a member of acclaimed improv troupes Baby Wants Candy, Improvised Shakespeare, and Broad Shoulders; one-man show Littlebitch; co-host of NYC comedy show about video games Game Bros. Live!; wildly popular character performer at Morrison Motel; for cartoon that prompted the comment "wow i think i actually feel  my intelligence melting away as i watch this," please click here),

Alicia Levy (member of world-class sketch troupe Drop Six, which is famed for its wonderful mix of physical comedy and music; one-woman show Totally Worth It, in which Alicia played such characters as a painfully clumsy stripper, an insanely cautious expert on child safety, and a splendorous fairy contemplating a wing reduction),

BriTANicK (sketch/improv duo Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher; to get a feel for these young performers, check out their videos about post-sex desires and drug cravings by clicking here and here),

and more.

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

Kurt Braunohler and Pat Shay

The PIT's Super Free Wednesday

For four hours every Wednesday, The PIT provides free shows featuring its improv house troupes. 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.

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

Tom Shillue, Leslie Goshko, and Carolyn Castiglia...

...and Margot Leitman, Shayna Ferm, and Mike Drucker

Sideshow Goshko

This delightful new show, which debuts tonight, asks some of the finest comics and storytellers in New York to reveal aspects of themselves that are odd and unusual.

It also includes such carnival elements as an accordion player and alcoholic audience prizes.

It's hosted by Leslie Goshko, who's an exceptionally sharp comedic actress/writer, and a 2008 Manhattan Monologue Slam Champion. (For Leslie's award-winning comedy bit about Internet dating, please click here; and for her bit on "the End Times Awareness Carnival," please click here.)

And tonight's thoroughly wonderful guest comics and storytellers are

Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; storytelling podcasts; host of acclaimed NYC monthly comedy show Moonwork; comedy CD Overconfident!; for stand-up samples, please click here and here),

Carolyn Castiglia (Last Comic Standing, VH1's White Rapper, stellar one-woman show Brown Ambition, HyReviews.com's Comedy Interview of the Month),

Margot Leitman (stellar storyteller, especially about sexual escapades; Late Night With Conan O'Brien, VH1, Spike TV; co-host of red-hot comedy show Stripped Stories; for Margot's fun reel, please click here),

Mike Drucker (freelance writer for Saturday Night Live, The Onion, McSweeney's, 23/6, Black20; winner of Disney's 2007 So You Think You're Funny competition and performer on Comedy Central's The Watchlist; for Drucker's explanation of how life is like video games and comic books, please click here; and to learn why Drucker's girlfriend wouldn't give him a gold star, please click here), and

Paul Oddo ("My girlfriend asked me what color bra she should buy. I said it didn't matter. Breasts go with everything;" Funny.com; for a video stand-up sample, please click here).

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)

Brilliant comedic storyteller Chris Gethard will shower the audience 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.

Please note this may be the last time Chris performs this show for a while. However, he'll be doing an all-day Chris Gethard's Magic BUS of Stories tour on March 7th, during which he'll take 48 lucky people to various spots in New Jersey where his most memorable adventures occurred and regale them with tales. This rare opportunity to live a day in Chris' shoes costs $30, and will most certainly sell out. To purchase your ticket, please click here.

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

Shrink

This free weekly show tonight features Claudia Cogan, Chelsea White, Mike Lawrence, Vikki Stone, Pat Breslin, Brian Longwell, and Troy Bynam.

8:00 pm at Otto's Shrunken Head, 538 East 14th Street (between Avenues A and B); 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 wonderful guests are star stand-ups Ted Alexandro, Paul F. Tompkins, and Michelle Collins, adorable & shocking comedy duo Gabe & Jenny, and comic Paul Oddo.

9:30 pm at Sound Fix Records, 110 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg Brooklyn; free

Carolyn Castiglia headlines tonight with a 20-minute excerpt from her hot new show Brown Ambition...

...joined by Sean Crespo, luminous host Margie Kment, Mike Drucker, and Erin Judge

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.

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 superb cookies (for stand-up video about dating a stoner, please click here).

Tonight's wonderful stand-ups and comedic performers are

Carolyn Castiglia (Last Comic Standing, VH1's White Rapper, HyReviews.com's Comedy Interview of the Month), who'll be performing 20 minutes from her red-hot new one-woman show Brown Ambition—which recently received a rousing standing ovation at Ars Nova,

Mike Drucker (freelance writer for Saturday Night Live, The Onion, McSweeney's, 23/6, Black20; winner of Disney's 2007 So You Think You're Funny competition and performer on Comedy Central's The Watchlist; for Drucker's explanation of how life is like video games and comic books, please click here; and to learn why Drucker's girlfriend wouldn't give him a gold star, 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

Erin Judge (Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham; for hilarious stand-up bit about being bisexual, please click here).

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

Doug Benson

The Benson Interruption

Doug Benson (finalist on Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, VH1's Best Week Ever) is one the sharpest stand-ups in the world.

In this superb show, he invites some of the funniest people he knows—who include some of the most sought-after comics in the country—to perform stand-up. And whenever he feels like it, Doug interrupts the act with a sharp observation to make the audience laugh even harder...and, with luck, crack up the comedian on stage as well.

Tonight's guests haven't been announced, but expect high-powered talent...and what promises to an unforgettable night of comedy.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 2/19/09

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:

hilarious sketch comedy performer Kate McKinnon (cast member of Logo TV's The Big Gay Sketch Show) and Ryan Karels (improv troupes Krompf and Decoster) each try out new solo shows on this double-bill of The Workout (6:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] lightning-fast & hilarious stand-up Pete Holmes, sexy & brilliant singer/songwriter Adira Amram, razor-sharp stand-ups Joselyn Hughes, Brooke Van Poppelen, and Giulia Rozzi, darkly odd sketch troupe Murderfist, and videos from Rob Lathan and BOF, all competing to be voted the best at this ECNY Nominee Showcase (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] a brilliant comedy superstar headlining at Carolines: Patton Oswalt (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$]  rising star stand-ups competing to be accepted in a prestigious Montreal festival: Just for Laughs Showcase (8:00 pm),

Dominic Dierkes (member of star comedy troupe Derrick) performing an inventive & fun one-man sketch show, and sharp sketch comedy duo Greg & Lou in a show about an art heist, in the double-bill Adventure River and Grand Theft Auto...Oh (8:00 pm),

top NYC comics at a free weekly Brooklyn extravaganza hosted by Gabe Liedman, Jenny Slate, and Max Silvestri: Big Terrific (8:00ish pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] stand-up giants Zach Galifianakis, Pete Holmes, Bobby Tisdale, Andrea Rosen, and Shane Mauss in Comedy Below Canal (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] three of the best sketch troupes in the country—magical duo Kristen Schaal (The Daily Show, HBO's Flight of the Conchords) & Kurt Braunohler (Penelope,
Princess of Pets; 2008 ECNY Award for Best Director); deliciously dark sketch duo Livia Scott & Biz Ellis as Dirty Jeans & Thunder Chief; and wonderfully inventive & hilarious sketch troupe Fearsome—each performing one of their most popular bits and one of their personal favorites in the wonderful sketch revue A-Side/B-Side (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] and two vibrant improv troupes, Bangs and Oscarbait, competing for audience laughs & votes at the raucous Cage Match (11:00 pm).

The Workout: Ryan Karels and Kate McKinnon

Kate McKinnon is a sharp, witty actress who "gets" both verbal and physical comedy down to her bones. Kate's a cast member of Logo TV's The Big Gay Sketch Show, and previously performed the delightful one-woman UCBT show Disenchanted: "Watch the beloved fairy princesses of your childhood pop a few Klonopins and eat themselves into a coma." Tonight Kate tries out a new show.

Also on this double-bill is Ryan Karels, who's a member of stellar improv troupe Krompf, performs on Harold Night with improv troupe Decoster, and has appeared on Conan O'Brien.

6:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

ECNY Nominee Showcase

The wonderful folks of the ECNY Awards, along with a large voting audience, have made their selections for this year's ECNY nominees. And you can check out a bunch of these stellar performers tonight in this show hosted by Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever and All Access, Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show, host of superb NYC weekly live comedy show Sweet).

The performers include genius stand-up Pete Holmes; awesome musical performer Adira Amram; sharp stand-ups Joselyn Hughes, Brooke Van Poppelen, and Giulia Rozzi; sketch troupe Murderfist; and videos from Rob Lathan and BOF.

This show may well sell out. To purchase tickets in advance, please click here.

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

Patton Oswalt: Headlining at Carolines

Patton Oswalt will be performing tonight through Sunday at Carolines.

And I can't describe him any better than Jane Borden did in Time Out New York: "Oswalt walks on stage and he’s funny. The way he talks is funny. The way he stands is funny. But his absurdist and very silly material trumps his stage presence. It’s impossible not to laugh when he has the mike, which is why his fans treat him like a rock star."

This is a comedy club show, and priced accordingly

at $31.00 plus a two-drink minimum.

But if you've got the cash, this is a good way to spend it.

To order tickets, please click here.

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

$31.00 plus two-drink minimum

Montreal Just For Laughs Showcase

The annual Montreal Just for Laughs Festival is one of the most prestigious in the comedy world. For some of the comedians who've participated, it's turned out to be a career-maker.

Tonight highly talented NYC stand-ups will do their very best to impress judges deciding who'll be invited to perform at this year's Festival. Come and watch these uniformly skilled up-and-comers give their all to make you laugh.

Please Note: You can save $5 off the $15 cover (i.e., pay $10 per ticket)

by ordering online with discount code HyReviews.

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

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

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

$10 per ticket if you order online using discount code HyReviews

Dominic Dierkes, and sketch duo Lou Perez & Greg Burke

Dominic Dierkes: Adventure River and Greg & Lou: Grand Theft Art...Oh

Two comedies from veteran comedic performers for a mere five bucks.

The evening kicks off with Dominic Dierkes, one of the three quick-witted and razor-sharp members of star improv/sketch troupe Derrick. (For a sample of the group's wildly popular YouTube videos, please click here and here and here; and to see the trailer for their feature film Mystery Team, which recently premiered at Sundance, please click here.) Tonight Dominic will performing a series of inventive solo comedy sketches about such odd characters as an interactive book author doing a reading, an MTV Real World editor, and a lip syncher. Directed by Dom's brilliant Derrick teammate DC Pierson. Expect fun.

The double-bill then continues with Greg & Lou, which is sharp, committed sketch comedy duo Greg Burke (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Law & Order, Guiding Light) and Lou Perez (co-star with Greg in sketch comedy group The Wicked Wicked Hammerkatz; also a talented short story writer & contributor to Fiction Magazine as Luis Amate Perez). For a video sample of the duo, please click here.

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

Matt McCarthy and Kurt Braunohler...

...and Greg Johnson, and the hosts

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 haven't been announced, but as indicated by last week's lineup (above), they're usually superb. To check for a last-minute update, please click here.

8:00ish 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

Pete Holmes and Zach Galifianakis

Comedy Below Canal

Some of the finest stand-ups in the country perform tonight at new venue 92YTribeca:

Zach Galifianakis (flat-out comedy genius, and one of the giants of the biz; numerous credits include Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel; film & tour Comedians of Comedy; Comedy Central's Dog Bites Man, Reno 911!, and The Sarah Silverman Program; Adult Swim's Tim and Eric Awesome Show and Tom Goes to the Mayor; FOX's Boston Common and Tru Calling; feature films include Out Cold and What Happens in Vegas..., and the upcoming G-Force, Little Fish, Strange Pond, and Hangover; for video samples, please click here),

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),

Bobby Tisdale (comedy giant who for five years co-hosted the seminal

NYC weekly live comedy show Invite Them Up with Eugene; Comedy Central album;

film Junebug; HBO's Hysterical Blindness; show on SuperDeluxe.com), and

Andrea Rosen (stellar stand-up who's appeared on VH1 and Comedy Central, is a member of comedy group Variety SHAC, and has performed in ads for the New York Lottery, Fig Newtons, Staples, and Hershey's),

and Shane Mauss (Conan O'Brien).

9:00 pm at 92YTribeca Mainstage, 200 Hudson Street (intersection of Canal & Hudson Streets);

tickets are $15; take the 1/6/E subway to Canal Street stop

Magical sketch duos Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler, and Biz Ellis & Livia Scott...

...and world-class sketch group Fearsome

Kurt & Kristen, Dirty Jeans & Thunderchief, and Fearsome: A-Side/B-Side

Three of the best sketch comedy groups in the country each shows off a bit that's most popular with audiences (A-Side) and then a personal oddball favorite (B-Side).

First up is star comedy duo Kurt & Kristen, consisting of

Kristen Schaal (lovely, brilliant, breathtakingly talented writer/actress/comic;

thoroughly delightful correspondent and shining star on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart;

co-star of HBO's Flight of the Conchords; writer for MTV's Human Giant;

AMC's Mad Men; upcoming feature film Cirque du Freak (with Salma Hayek);

co-star of Web video series Penelope: Princess of Pets; winner of numerous comedy awards, including the prestigious 2nd Annual Andy Kaufman Award and the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Female Stand-Up; to read about Kristen's killer set headlining at Comix, please click here) &

Kurt Braunohler (frequent comedy partner of Kristen Schaal, performing  sketches that are hilariously indescribable; co-star of Web series Penelope, Princess of Pets, for which Kurt won the 2008 ECNY Award as Best Director; and Kurt's nominated for a 2009 ECNY Award for his one-man show A Meditation on Dum Dums and B-holes).

The fun then continues with the wonderful Biz Ellis & Livia Scott, who are half of the world-class sketch group Meat and their own spin-off sketch duo Dirty Jeans & Thunderchief.

Livia is a brilliant comedic chameleon who's performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, is the host of NYC comedy show Livia's Castle of Enchantment, and performed the 2008 ECNY Award-nominated one-woman show Goodnight, O.J. Biz is also a powerhouse—and incredibly dear—comedic performer who is always worth catching.

And the triple-bill concludes with another of my favorite sketch troupes in the world—Fearsome, consisting of four hilarious performers who are each star-caliber and could carry a show on his/her own: Katherine Bryant (sexy, wry, and razor-sharp, with impeccable timing and a personality that's irresistible), Shayna Ferm (sexy, sly, one of the best poker-faces in the business, and a phenomenal comedic singer/songwriter), Alex Goldberg (brilliant comedic mind, stellar timing, perfect straight man, and award-winning playwright), and Chris O'Connor (thoroughly loveable chaotic force of nature who makes anything he appears in special).

The proceedings are hosted by delightful comedy duo—and real-life cousins—Aaron Kheifets (sketch troupe Classy) & James Eason (brilliant improvisor of beloved improv troupe Mother).

This is likely to be a very special show. Highly recommended.

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

vs.

Cage Match: Bangs vs. Oscarbait

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.)

Last week star group Hot Sauce was defeated by young & impetuous troupe Bangs, consisting of the invaluable Pat Baer, Jennifer Bartels, Chelsea Clarke, Sean Clements, good pennies Tricia McAlpin & Amber Petty, Craig Rowin, and super-powered but kind Mike Still.

Bangs will battle to retain the crown this week against Oscarbait, which "performs the improv form called The Movie, using the techniques of cinema—camera angles, special effects, lighting, oscar winning scores, oscarbaiting performances—to create a fully improvised film on stage that will make you want to regain your virginity just to lose it all over again."

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 2/20/09

Emo Philips (Headlining at Comix) and Charlie Sanders (Minnesota Muslim)

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] one of the finest improv duos to grace an NYC stage, reunited after a long hiatus: The Mantzoukas Brothers (7:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] rising star Charlie Sanders performing one of the most vibrant and hilarious autobiographical shows you'll ever see, plus sketch comedy duo Nick Kocher & Brian McElhaney performing a science fiction farce, in the double-bill Minnesota Muslim and The Infinity Prison (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] a star stand-up comic who's performed on David Letterman, Jay Leno, and his own HBO special, has been called one of the best joke writers in America, and is headlining tonight and Saturday at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Emo Philips (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] a brilliant comedy superstar headlining at Carolines: Patton Oswalt (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

terrific stand-ups Ophira Eisenberg, Kara Buller, Poppy Kramer, Anne Necyzpor, and Mike Singer 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),

ace sketch troupe Olde English—and unannounced guests—performing all-new material for a show that's Very Fresh (11:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] and awesome improv troupe Five Dudes (Eugene Cordero, Chris Gethard, Bobby Moynihan, Charlie Sanders, and Zach Woods) teaming up with troupe Thank You Robot for The Thank You Robot Second Anniversary Spectacular (12:20ish am).

The Mantzoukas Brothers

Jason Mantzoukas (We Used to Go Out, Mother: The Soundtrack, movie Baby Mama) and Ed Herbstman (co-founder of the Magnet Theater) show off how breathtakingly quick-witted and skillful they are at creating scenes from air. Time Out New York named these guys Best Improv Duo of 2006. Take advantage of a great opportunity to see these improvisation comedy stars shine in an intimate setting.

7:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Ace storyteller Charlie Sanders, and Nick Kocher & Brian McElhaney of BriTANicK

Charlie Sanders: Minnesota Muslim and BriTANick: The Infinity Prison

A phenomenal storytelling event, and two-man 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 fun then continues with BriTANicK, which is sketch/improv duo Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher. Tonight's all-new sketch show is "a science fiction farce that explores the intricacies of time travel, narcotics, René Barjavel's Grandfather Paradox, and friendship." To get a feel for these young performers, check out their videos about post-sex desires and drug cravings by clicking here and here.

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

Emo Philips

Emo Philips is an entertainment veteran and skilled comedy craftsman, with credits ranging from David Letterman to his own HBO special.

According to the official description, "Emo Philips started his stand-up career five thousand shows ago in the comedy clubs of Chicago. His big break came in 1984 with an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. In quick succession came an award-winning comedy album on the Epic label E=MO Squared, a half-hour Cinemax Comedy Experiment, and a one-hour HBO special, Emo Philips Live at the Hasty Pudding Theatre.

"Jay Leno has called Emo the best joke writer in America. In a comedy survey commissioned by GQ Magazine, three of Emo's jokes were judged, by a panel of his peers, to be among the best 75 of all time—and one of those three was voted, in a British poll, to be the funniest joke about religion ever."

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 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

Patton Oswalt: Headlining at Carolines

Patton Oswalt will be performing tonight through Sunday at Carolines.

And I can't describe him any better than Jane Borden did in Time Out New York: "Oswalt walks on stage and he’s funny. The way he talks is funny. The way he stands is funny. But his absurdist and very silly material trumps his stage presence. It’s impossible not to laugh when he has the mike, which is why his fans treat him like a rock star."

This is a comedy club show, and priced accordingly

at $32.75 plus a two-drink minimum.

But if you've got the cash, this is a good way to spend it.

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

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 terrific comics include

Ophira Eisenberg, Kara Buller, Poppy Kramer, Anne Necyzpor, and Mike Singer,

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

Very Fresh with Olde English

World-class sketch comedy group and prodigious generator of funny videos Olde English

(Caleb Bark, Ben Popik, David Segal, Adam Conover, and Raphael Bob-Waksberg)

host this extravaganza mixing sketch, stand-up, short films, and more—

and that asks comics to perform material that's all-new (i.e., Very Fresh).

Tonight's guests haven't been announced; to check for a last-minute update, please click here.

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

Charlie Sanders and Eugene Cordero

Bobby Moynihan

and Chris Gethard and Zach Woods as part of...

Thank You Robot and Five Dudes

Five of the funniest improvisors alive—Eugene Cordero, Chris Gethard,

Bobby Moynihan, Charlie Sanders, and Zach Woods—join forces as Five Dudes to help celebrate the two-year anniversary of another talented improv troupe, Thank You Robot.

12:20ish am at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 2/21/09

Marc Maron (Scorching the Earth), Patton Oswalt (Headlining at Carolines), and Kristen Schaal (Moonwork)

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] one of the best and most respected stand-up comics in the biz performing

a passionate one-man show about his recent second divorce: Marc Maron: Scorching the Earth (7:00 pm),

stand-ups and sketch comics at Sean Donnelly's Lil Seany Boy (7:00 pm),

an exciting new NYC 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] [$] a star stand-up comic who's performed on David Letterman, Jay Leno, and his own HBO special, has been called one of the best joke writers in America, and is headlining tonight at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Emo Philips (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] a brilliant comedy superstar headlining at Carolines tonight and Sunday: Patton Oswalt (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

sharp NYC comics—tonight including Carolyn Castiglia—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] stellar comics Kristen Schaal, Andres DuBouchet, Baron Vaughn, Rob Gorden, and more—plus free beer!—at Tom Shillue's acclaimed Moonwork (9:00 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 (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),

and a dozen NYC comedic performers, including Mindy Raf, Carolyn Castiglia, Rob Lathan, Shawn Hollenbach, and show creators Ilana & Eliot Glazer performing highly unusual acts at High School Talent Show (midnight).

Marc Maron: Scorching the Earth

Marc Maron is a star comic who's a frequent guest on Late Show with David Letterman

and Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Marc has performed a solo comedy special for

HBO Comedy Half-Hour, and two solo specials for Comedy Central Presents.

Marc's many other TV appearances include being a regular on

Comedy Central's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.

In addition, Marc performed a popular off-Broadway one-man show,

Jerusalem Syndrome, which he then turned into a 2001 book;

and he co-hosted Morning Sedition on Air America Radio, and hosted

The Marc Maron Show on LA's KTLK-AM.

Marc is a comic's comic, highly respected for his observations

about culture, politics, and life in general.

Tonight Marc performs a one-man show about his second divorce that's shockingly honest , passionate, funny, and unforgettable. Highly recommended...and way underpriced at $10. This may develop into an off-Broadway show; see it while it's still both raw and inexpensive.

7:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10

Little Seany Boy

Sean Donnelly (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 talented stand-ups.

Tonight's guests haven't been announced; but if you arrive early for Emo Philips' 8:00 pm extravaganza in the Comix main showroom, why not pop down here and check out the lineup?

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)

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

Emo Philips

Emo Philips is an entertainment veteran and skilled comedy craftsman, with credits ranging from David Letterman to his own HBO special.

According to the official description, "Emo Philips started his stand-up career five thousand shows ago in the comedy clubs of Chicago. His big break came in 1984 with an appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. In quick succession came an award-winning comedy album on the Epic label E=MO Squared, a half-hour Cinemax Comedy Experiment, and a one-hour HBO special, Emo Philips Live at the Hasty Pudding Theatre.

"Jay Leno has called Emo the best joke writer in America. In a comedy survey commissioned by GQ Magazine, three of Emo's jokes were judged, by a panel of his peers, to be among the best 75 of all time—and one of those three was voted, in a British poll, to be the funniest joke about religion ever."

Please Note: You can save $5 off the $25 cover (i.e., pay $20 per ticket)

by ordering online with discount code HyReviews.

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

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

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

$20 per ticket if you order online using discount code HyReviews

Patton Oswalt: Headlining at Carolines

Patton Oswalt will be performing tonight through Sunday at Carolines.

And I can't describe him any better than Jane Borden did in Time Out New York: "Oswalt walks on stage and he’s funny. The way he talks is funny. The way he stands is funny. But his absurdist and very silly material trumps his stage presence. It’s impossible not to laugh when he has the mike, which is why his fans treat him like a rock star."

This is a comedy club show, and priced accordingly

at $32.75 plus a two-drink minimum.

But if you've got the cash, this is a good way to spend it.

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

Donald Glover, DC Pierson, and Dominic Dierkes of Derrick

This Is New York

Derrick is three sharp and 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.

The guys also completed a comedy feature film, which they

wrote, composed, and star in—and which recently premiered at Sundance!

(To view the trailer of Mystery Team, please click here.)

In this weekly free show in Queens' Long Island City, these impressively

multi-talented comics host a comedy showcase featuring NYC stand-ups

...and also themselves performing both stand-up and sketch.

Tonight's guests include the hilarious dynamo Carolyn Castiglia.

8:00 pm at The Creek and The Cave, 10-93 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, Queens; free

From Manhattan, take the #7 subway to the Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue stop (one stop after Grand Central); exit on Jackson Avenue and walk one block north to 49th Avenue

Tom Shillue, Kristen Schaal, and Andres du Bouchet

Moonwork

Acclaimed monthly comedy show hosted by Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents,

Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, storytelling podcasts;

for stand-up samples, please click here and here), who demonstrates his storytelling prowess via an extended witty monologue at the end of the show.

Tonight's wonderful guests are Kristen Schaal, Andres DuBouchet, Baron Vaughn, Rob Gorden, and Julia Darling.

9:00 pm at Phil Coltoff Center, 219 Sullivan Street (bet. Bleecker & West 3rd);

tickets are $20...which includes free beer

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).

9:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10

4 Track!

Springboarding from a word suggested by the audience,

George Basil, Frank Campanella, Christian Capozzoli, and Matt Evans

perform organic & energetic long-form improv for about 40 minutes.

Basil is a stand-out, but they're all sharp, committed improvisors.

There's also a warm chemistry between the men, which is especially evident

if you arrive early to watch them getting ready on stage: They toss a ball

back and forth, and then toss each other back and forth...sending

a body message of "If you throw an improv concept at me, you can trust me

to not let it drop..." One of the Magnet's most popular shows.

9:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5