NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 2/1/10
Sketch comedy celebrating tomorrow's season premiere of Lost: The Dharma Initiative Company Picnic
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
6:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel
[FREE] 7:45 pm: NYC stand-ups James Harris, Jared Logan, Sheng Wang, Mick DiFlo, Calise Hawkins, Michael Blaustein performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub hosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy
8:00 pm ($5): NYC stand-ups Rusty Ward, Craig Baldo, Vanessa Hollingshead, and Sager Bhatt, plus musical guest Ivan Ulz, all performing in the Lolita Bar with producer Liam McEneaney at Tell Your Friends
8:00 pm ($5): Two of UCBT's finest house sketch comedy troupes, Stone Cold Fox and Gorilla Gorilla, trying out new bits at Maude Night
8:00 pm ($5): A sketch troupe consisting of sharp comics Cathleen Carr, Michah Sherman, Leah Gotcsik, Jonathan Karpinos, and Mark Odlum: The Allegiance
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): "In anticipation of the Lost Season 6 premiere on Tuesday February 2nd, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre received the following letter: 'Greetings Dharma Employees! Tonight we will be having our mandatory yearly company picnic. We've turned off the sonic fence and locked up the polar bears for one hour so that we can all kick back, drink a couple Dharma brews, and talk about what a pain in the neck these hostiles have been lately! We’ve got special guests from all over the island: past, present, future, alternate timeline, and mysterious, vaguely Egyptian-like past. No nosebleeds this year, we promise!':" LOST: The Dharma Initiative Company Picnic
[FREE] 9:30 pm: Superb stand-ups Sean Patton, Dan St. Germain, Kevin Mccafrey, Carrie Gravensen, Kendra Cunningham, Jay Nog, Matt Rohr, and Pat Galante performing at Pat O'Shea's free weekly Brooklyn showcase at Freddy's Backroom: Ed Sullivan on Acid
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the country—tonight including Baron Vaughn (red-hot rising star), Moshe Kasher (from LA), Katie Crowne (from Toronto), and maybe Aziz Ansari—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 2/2/10
Baron Vaughn & Livia Scott (Sweet), Elna Baker (Comic Book Club), and Ben Lerman (Punch Up Your Life)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Elna Baker (brilliant storyteller, talented cartoonist, and bestselling author of the comedic book The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance), Ted Rall (The Year of Loving Dangerously), and Laura Hudson (ComicsAlliance) joining super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm (no cover, one drink min.): Craig Baldo, Liz Miele, Brent Sullivan, and John F. O'Donnell performing at Cellar 58 (58 Second Avenue) with delightful host Abbi Crutchfield and comedic rapster Andrew Singer: Positively Awesome
8:00 pm to midnight
($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight
featuring UCBT house troupes Ragnaröck, Badman, Robber Baron, Bastian,
and Penthouse Riot
followed by a powerhouse cast—Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, Rebecca
Drysdale, Christina Gausas, and Jim Santangeli—improvising the same scenes
over and over in honor of Groundhog
Day—all
at Harold Night
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm ($5): Storytelling star Tom Shillue, superb comedic singer/songwriter Ben Lerman, and LA stand-up Moshe Kaster performing at the Housingworks Bookstore Cafe for a free weekly show tonight guest-hosted by Jared Logan and Nick Vatterott: Punch Up Your Life
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Aasif Mandvi, Livia Scott, Baron Vaughn, Amy Schumer, and possibly a "surprise guest" performing at The Slipper Room for the LES weekly show hosted by the wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet
9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): NYC stand-ups Jay Hoskins, Jack Haley, Alexandra Kahanim, Mickey Corporon, David Carl, and Devin Sanchez telling tales about their first time doing something (subject is up to them) performing in Ochi's Lounge at Rachel Axelrod's & Evan Morgenstern's SNC: The Virgin Chronicles
9:30 pm ($5): "Where there is a stage and a piano, she will be there. Where there are strangers with embarrassing stories, she will be there. Where there is a group of people willing to sit and watch someone make up songs, she will be there. A one-woman musical improv journey through the lives of the audience. You tell the story, Rebecca Vigil sings the soundtrack:" The Vigilante
[FREE] 11:00 pm: Free open mic stand-up show that's seldom much fun for audience members but is a nice opportunity if you want 4-5 minutes to test out your comedy material on stage: Bring It
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 2/3/10
Comedy giants Aziz Ansari (Aziz Ansari and Friends) and Kristen Schaal (Big Terrific...and maybe Aziz Ansari and Friends)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 7:00 pm to midnight: Five free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($10): One of the highlights of FringeNYC 2008 was Hot Cripple, a superb and heartfelt one-woman show by Hogan Gorman about her experiences with the US health care system, legal system, and government programs for the down-but-not-out. (The performance I attended was especially memorable because a small fire broke out on the second floor of the venue. Hogan had to stop two-thirds into her monologue so the building could be evacuated; and she did so with a wry smile, telling a comforting audience member "Oh, I've been though a whole lot worse than this." Three fire trucks and 30 minutes later, the fire was out...and Hogan made a quick joke about the Hot in her show's title and then resumed performing as if nothing had happened...) Running through February, come see a New York hero in Hot Cripple
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm & 9:30 pm ($40): TV comedy star Aziz Ansari celebrating the release of his first comedy DVD with his friends—meaning some of the finest comics in the biz—performing stand-up at the elegant Comix Comedy Club tonight through Saturday: Aziz Ansari and Friends
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($7): Superb stand-ups Gary Gulman, Kumail Nanjiani, Giulia Rozzi, Mark Douglas, and "a super secret guest" at Dan Allen's & Ray Devito's stand-up showcase ¡Sacapuntas!
8:00 pm ($5): The delightful Andrée Vermeulen performing a one-woman
show in which she applies for "The Greatest French Person in the World
Award" only to discover
a terrible family secret involving waffles—and while performance trumps
material here, Andrée
is a fresh young talent worth discovering... (for a memorable show highlight,
shot with Andrée's
real-life boyfriend Thomas Middleditch, please click here);
plus an all-white musical about fast food that claims to "give
new life to the most popular songs of Tupac Shakur. Join us for a romp through
all the themes held most dear to Tupac's heart: economic oppression, dreams
deferred, and mall food courts," in
the double-bill French Toast and 2Pac: The Musical
[FREE] 8:00: NYC stand-ups Leslie Goshko, Matt Rohr, Mick DiFlo, Pat Galante, and Fariaz performing at this free weekly show hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: TV & movie star Kristen Schaal (lovely, brilliant, breathtakingly talented writer/actress/comic; shining star on The Daily Show; co-star of HBO's Flight of the Conchords; Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; AMC's Mad Men; feature film Cirque du Freak (with Salma Hayek); co-star of Web & upcoming UK TV 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), Joe Randazzo (Editor of The Onion), Julian McCullough (Comedy Central Presents), and Edith Zimmermann (The Awl, NYMag.com) performing at a free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn's Cameo (behind Lovin' Cup) hosted by Max Silvestri and Gabe Liedman: Big Terrific
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Theatrical scenes made up on the spot with breathtaking skill by brilliant and passionate improvisors Scott Adsit (30 Rock, Moral Orel) and Christina Gausas (Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report) at Adsit & Gausas
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) providing as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible—and don't forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 2/4/10
Two of the funniest and most endearing sketch comics in the biz, Katherine Bryant and Chris O'Connor, co-star in Worst Guy Ever...
...and superb comedic storytellers Tom Shillue and Margot Leitman join the razor-sharp gals of Variety SHAC
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $12 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Two of the funniest and most loveable sketch comics alive, Katherine Bryant and Chris O'Connor (half of sketch troupe Fearsome) team up with also hilarious sketch comics Mike Still (sketch troupe A Week of Kindness) and John Phillips (sketch troupe Trophy Dad) to perform a comedic play about a college buddy returning after 10 years to ruin his friend's life; and superb sketch troupe Pangea 3000 performs all-new material, in the double-bill Mace Bacon: The Worst Guy Ever and Pangea 3000 Sucks
8:00 pm ($5): Sharp improvisors directed by James Eason "take an audience suggestion and break it into a million funny pieces," and veteran improvisors play with "elements of monoscene, deconstruction, and La Ronde," in the double-bill The Deconstruction and Sleepover
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Stellar comedic storytellers Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents) and Margot Leitman (Conan O'Brien, Stripped Stories) and veteran stand-up Caroline Rhea joining the fresh, sexy, and razor-sharp gals of comedy group Variety SHAC
10:00 pm ($5): The wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, Sweet) and musician Vic Ruggerio join sketch comics The Upset Triangle
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Having won the Championship for two record-breaking years in a row, Death by Roo Roo takes it easy for a while as two other vibrant improv troupes—The Brothers Hines and The Law Firm—compete for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 2/5/10
Dave Hill demonstrates why he's Big in Japan; and Kristen Schaal debuts on TV series John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($10): Charming comedy duo Christina Casa and Kassi Dougherty performing as a country music group from the 70s (for sample videos, please click here) along with comedy guests at The 'Drelles: Prime Time Variety Hour
[$] 7:30 pm pm ($38.25 & 2-drink min.) A Curb Your Enthusiasm star and superb stand-up headlining tonight and Saturday at Carolines: Susie Essman
7:30 pm ($10): Superb musical duo Stuckey & Murray join raunchy comedic singer/songwriter Cock Lorge and his band performing at his monthly show at Pianos: Thank Cock It's Friday
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): A big show that's gotten even bigger, as comedy giant Dave Hill (one of the most original and hilariously sharp alternative comics in the country; HBO, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, star of The King of Miami, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Salon, The Dave Hill Explosion) performs an expanded hour-long version of his charming and hilarious series of tales about a musical tour overseas—which was just nominated for an ECNY Award for Best One Person Show!— Dave Hill: Big in Japan
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Wonderful stand-ups Dave Hill (racing over from his one-man show directly above), Kumail Nanjiani (David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, staff writer & performer for Comedy Central's Michael & Michael Have Issues), Jared Logan (Comedy Central), Chelsea White (MTV, CollegeHumor), and Alex Grubard, plus ace sketch troupe Trophy Dad, performing at Brooklyn's Coco 66 for hosts Nick Turner's & Jason Saenz's Too Cool for School
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($18): One of the highlights of FringeNYC 2008 was Hot Cripple, a superb and heartfelt one-woman show by Hogan Gorman about her experiences with the US health care system, legal system, and government programs for the down-but-not-out. (The performance I attended was especially memorable because a small fire broke out on the second floor of the venue. Hogan had to stop two-thirds into her monologue so the building could be evacuated; and she did so with a wry smile, telling a comforting audience member "Oh, I've been though a whole lot worse than this." Three fire trucks and 30 minutes later, the fire was out...and Hogan made a quick joke about the Hot in her show's title and then resumed performing as if nothing had happened...) Running through February, come see a New York hero in Hot Cripple
9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): NYC stand-ups Adam Sank (Last Comic Standing), Lisa Kaplan (here! TV's Hot Gay Comics), Adrienne Iapalucci, Robin Cloud, and Dana LoVecchio performing in Ochi's Lounge at a gay-themed show hosted by the lovely Jenny Rubin: The Back Room
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers
9:30 pm ($10): Improv duo Lucas Kavner and Bradford Jordan following up winning the recent SketchProv Tournament with this PIT run, and veteran improv duo formerly known as Project:Projekt, in the double-bill Swords and The Nathan & Joe Show
10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical
[$] 10:30 pm ($29 & 2-drink min.): A cast member of the much-missed Chappelle's Show headlining tonight and Saturday at Carolines Comedy Club: Donnell Rawlings
10:30 pm ($5): A fun improv show that makes up scenes based on the contents of an audience member's wallet: Gimme the Loot!
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): A comedic freestyle rap contest featuring some of the funniest & sharpest comics in NYC—who tonight are Baron Vaughn (red-hot rising star; Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Awkward Kings of Comedy), Billy Scafuri (half of comedic rap duo Snakes, founding member of world-class sketch troupe The Harvard Sailing Team), the delightful Andree Vermeulen (one-woman show French Toast), Ann Carr (ECNY nominee), and stand-up Dan Curry—plus a volunteer from the audience!, hosted by genius comedic musical performers Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan (Freestyle Love Supreme) and Eliza Skinner (I Eat Pandas), all at The BEATdown
[FREE] 12:20ish am: A free opportunity for you to perform sketch on the UCBT stage at Liquid Courage
[$] 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 2/6/10
Two fine FringeNYC 2008 shows are enjoying commercial runs this February: Hot Cripple and Carl & Shelly: Best Friends Forever
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 5:00 pm ($18): One of the highlights of FringeNYC 2008 was Hot Cripple, a superb and heartfelt one-woman show by Hogan Gorman about her experiences with the US health care system, legal system, and government programs for the down-but-not-out. (The performance I attended was especially memorable because a small fire broke out on the second floor of the venue. Hogan had to stop two-thirds into her monologue so the building could be evacuated; and she did so with a wry smile, telling a comforting audience member "Oh, I've been though a whole lot worse than this." Three fire trucks and 30 minutes later, the fire was out...and Hogan made a quick joke about the Hot in her show's title and then resumed performing as if nothing had happened...) Running through February, come see it uninterrupted: Hot Cripple
[TOP PICK] [$] 6:00 pm ($15, which includes 1 drink): Four funny people tell amazing stories. Three of the tales are absolutely true...but one of them is a pack of lies. The audience then asks questions to try and identify the fibber—and everyone who does gets a free t-shirt! This evening's yarn-spinners are David Ellis Dickerson (NPR's This American Life, House Of Cards), Sherri Eldin (Osbournes: Reloaded), Rob Gordon (The Rob And Mark Show), and DJ Hazard (American Misfits, Fuel TV). Come let host Andy Christie (The New York Times, Moth GrandSlam Champion) attempt to mislead you at The Liar Show
7:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Wonderful stand-up Sean Patton (red-hot rising star; Comedy Central, guest-host of ComedyJuice and Whiplash), sketch comics Pat Stango & Blaine Perry (hosts of Don’t Touch Me There), and sharp stand-ups Roger Hailes, Mike Lawrence, David Lee Nelson, H. Alan Scott, and Sam Morrill performing in Ochi's Lounge at Lil' Seany Boy
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisor Christina Gausas and friends she originally made in Chicago—which include writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors, all joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball
8:00 pm ($10): In this unique monthly show, stand-up comics perform in the buff. A reviewer from The Boston Globe observed, "The dynamic of nude comedian and clothed audience added an extra dimension to self-deprecating material." For a New York Magazine review, please click here; or simply come see for yourself at The Naked Comedy Showcase
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($18): One of the highlights of FringeNYC 2008 was Allen Warnock and Andrea Alton (members of sketch troupe Freedumb) teaming up to create hilarious characters in a very silly and fun show—for my review, please click here. The production has now been revived for a commercial run, which begins tonight: Carl & Shelly: Best Friends Forever
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—and which recently won the Cage Match Championship for two years in a row!—genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo
9:00 pm ($5): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Always fresh and imaginative world-class sketch troupe that uses song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about awkward goodbyes at the end of a party, please click here): The Harvard Sailing Team
[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, quick-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): An all-star improv troupe led by brilliant UCBT artistic director Anthony King: Reuben Williams
[$] 10:30 pm ($31.25 & 2-drink min.): A cast member of the much-missed Chappelle's Show headlining at Carolines Comedy Club: Donnell Rawlings
10:30 pm ($5): Vibrant improv from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney (Statues of Liberty) and Leslie Korein as comedy trio Trike
[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): Andy Rocco's extravaganza of sketch comedy, music, dancing, free t-shirts, and special guests—who tonight include Rob Cantrell (High Times, The Late Late Show), Andy's date for the evening Aryn Cole (All My Children), and musical guest Vic Thrill: The Hipster Show
[$] 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 2/7/10
World-class storyteller Ophira Eisenberg, Liz Miele, and more perform stand-up at Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour...
...and if you're not a football fan, don't forget the TV alternative that's a Janeane Garofalo fave: The Puppy Bowl
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] [$] 3:00 pm ($18): One of the highlights of FringeNYC 2008 was Allen Warnock and Andrea Alton (members of sketch troupe Freedumb) teaming up to create hilarious characters in a very silly and fun show—for my review, please click here. The production has now been revived for a commercial run through February: Carl & Shelly: Best Friends Forever
[TOP PICK] 5:00 pm ($18): One of the highlights of FringeNYC 2008 was Hot Cripple, a superb and heartfelt one-woman show by Hogan Gorman about her experiences with the US health care system, legal system, and government programs for the down-but-not-out. (The performance I attended was especially memorable because a small fire broke out on the second floor of the venue. Hogan had to stop two-thirds into her monologue so the building could be evacuated; and she did so with a wry smile, telling a comforting audience member "Oh, I've been though a whole lot worse than this." Three fire trucks and 30 minutes later, the fire was out...and Hogan made a quick joke about the Hot in her show's title and then resumed performing as if nothing had happened...) Running through February, come see it uninterrupted: Hot Cripple
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000
[$] 8:00 pm ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining at Carolines: Paul Mooney
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: Ophira Eisenberg (brilliant comedic storyteller and superb stand-up; Comedy Central, The Moth, The Liar Show), Liz Miele (Comedy Central), and Edison Apple (Logo's Laughing Matters) performing at a free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour
Copyright © 2010 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
