NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 2/22/10
Star comedic storytellers Tom Shillue and Adam Wade perform tonight at Tell Your Friends...
...and star comedic musicians Reggie Watts and God's Pottery perform tonight at Whiplash
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
6:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel
[FREE] 7:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Erin Judge (Comedy Central; for hilarious stand-up bit about being bisexual, please click here), Sean Donnelly, Hari Kondadbolu, Adam Pateman, and Pat O'Shea performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub hosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Blowout comedic storytelling edition with stars Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents), Adam Wade (two-time Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Champion (2006 & 2009) and record-breaking 15-time StorySlam Champion; The New York Times Magazine; host of hilarious monthly storytelling extravaganzas Real Tales of College and The Adam Wade Show; for Adam's award-winning tale of being an NBC page on Conan O'Brien, please click here), Joey Gay (finalist in NBC's Last Comic Standing), and musical guest Michelle Leona all performing in the Lolita Bar with host Liam McEneaney at Tell Your Friends
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Broadway & off-Broadway stars Jennifer Grace (Theatre World Award Winner for Our Town), Kevin Kelly (Shakespeare In The Park: Twelfth Night, The Brother/Sister Plays), Lori Myers (Our Town, Mother Courage and Her Children), and Amy Rutberg (The Divine Sister, The Jazz Age), mixing it up with some of the best improvisors in the world—Scott Adsit, Becky Drysdale, Tara Copeland, Michael Delaney, and Tami Sagher —as they crash improv into classic theatre scenes at actor/director Stephen Ruddy's Gravid Water
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): A sneak peek at a new animated series from Comedy Central, with brilliant voiceover actors and writers Larry Murphy, Kurt Metzger, Randy Pearlstein, and Matt Oberg, and host Julian McCullough: Ugly Americans
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the country—tonight including Reggie Watts, God's Pottery, Amanda Melson, and Nate Bargatze—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 2/23/10
Comedy giants Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Elna Baker (bestselling author & genius storyteller) perform at Seth Herzog's Sweet
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Elliott Kalan (The Daily Show) and Dash Shaw (IFC's The Unclothed Man in the 35th Century A.D.) joining super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club
[FREE] 8:00 pm: An "all-Asian" night with stand-ups Jen Kwok, Vidur Kapur, Hari Kondabolu, and Shawn Pearlman performing at Cellar 58 (58 Second Avenue) alongside 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, Robber Baron, DeCoster, The Law Firm, and People People
followed at 11:00 pm by a show revolving around improvised scenes taking
place in the same location, all
at Harold Night
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): A killer lineup of Jeff Garlin, Elna Baker, and Kurt Braunohler performing at The Slipper Room for the LES weekly show hosted by the wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet
[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 2/24/10
Stand-up legend Marc Maron performs tonight with Eugene Mirman and other wonderful comics at Big Terrific
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] 8:00 pm ($5): Stand-up comics Julian McCullough, Sean O'Connor, Joe Randazzo (Editor of The Onion), and "a special guest" (don't know who, but it might be a certain Curb Your Enthusiasm co-star who's is in town this week) joining hilarious hosts Joe Mande and Noah Garfinkel at Totally J/K
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($13 online using code VIPFEB, plus 2-item min.): Daily Show star correspondent John Oliver, Daily Show Executive Producer Rory Albanese, Daily Show Producer Adam Lowitt, and more performing stand-up at this monthly event: The Daily Show and Friends
[FREE] 8:00: NYC stand-ups Sue Funke, Dave Greek, Roger Aylward, Joel Stice, Nate Min, and Jay Sullivan performing at this free weekly show hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: Wonderful stand-ups Marc Maron, Eugene Mirman, Kumail Nanjiani, Mike Lawrence, and Greg Barris 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): One of the finest comedic storytelling shows in the country, in which brilliant writer/performers—who tonight are Chris Gethard, Anthony Atamanuik, John Flynn, Jon Gabrus, and wonderful host David Martin—tell tales that are brutally honest and utterly hilarious, with tonight's special theme "4th Year Anniversary: Greatest Hits!": The Nights of Our Lives
9:30 pm party/networking/cookies, 10:00 pm show ($10): Sharp NYC stand-ups Joe Derosa, Joe Mande, Mara Heron, and Brian Jian performing -up at 10:00 pm, preceded by a networking event at 9:30 pm mixing folks from the NYC theatre and comedy scenes, hosted by Christian Polanco: Hold for the Laughs
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 10:00 pm ($13 online using code VIPFEB, plus 2-item min.): A monthly gathering of top comedy talent—tonight including Todd Barry, Godfrey, Omid Singh, and quite probably "a special surprise guest"—performing at ComedyJuice
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) providing as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible—and don't forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 2/25/10
Andy Christie, Andrea Rosen, and Michelle Collins tell hilarious tales of being "Blindsided" at Risk!...
...plus stand-up from star comics Todd Barry (Comedy Below Canal) and Patrice Oneal (Headlining at Comix)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
a
[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] 4:00 pm ($10): Razor-sharp, adorable, irresistible comedic storyteller Leslie Goshko (Manhattan Monologue Champion, host of Sideshow Goshko) spins yarns about her childhood in her one-woman show Vodka Shoes
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:00 pm ($15): Top comics and comedic storytellers—who tonight are stellar stand-ups Andrea Rosen (Comedy Central's Michael & Michael Have Issues, Variety SHAC), Michelle Collins (VH1's Best Week Ever, YouCantMakeItUp.org; for a memorable chat about the power of penises over vaginas, please click here), and A.D. Miles (staff writer on Jimmy Fallon; Comedy Central, MTV), and top storytellers Andy Christie (The New York Times; host of The Liar Show) and Mark Allen (The New York Times, NPR)—joining brilliant sketch comic and storyteller Kevin Allison (The State) to share tales on tonight's theme "Blindsided: Didn't See It Coming" at one of the finest storytelling shows in the country: Risk!
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:30 pm ($34.57 online if you use code VIPFEB, plus 2-item minimum): A star stand-up who's done half-hour comedy specials for HBO, Comedy Central, and Showtime; was a regular on Comedy Central's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and cast member on FOX's The Jury; appeared repeatedly on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; and guest starred on such TV shows as NBC's The Office and FOX's Arrested Development, headlining through Saturday at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Patrice Oneal
[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] 7:30 pm ($5 online if you use code SNOSHU, otherwise $10): Razor-sharp, adorable, irresistible comedic storyteller Leslie Goshko (Manhattan Monologue Champion, host of Sideshow Goshko) spins yarns about her childhood in her one-woman show Vodka Shoes
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Comedy dynamo Shannon O'Neill debuting her extravaganza about an annual talent show in "Charlie Sheen Prison, the only talent show starring the criminally retarded and insane," directed by the wonderful Will Hines; and superb sketch troupe Pangea 3000 performs material better than its show's title indicates, in the double-bill Prison Freaks: A Talent Show and Pangea 3000 Sucks
[TOP PICK] [$] 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 through February 28th: Carl & Shelly: Best Friends Forever
8:00 pm ($5): Sharp improvisors directed by James Eason "take an audience suggestion and break it into a million funny pieces," and veteran improvisors play with "elements of monoscene, deconstruction, and La Ronde," in the double-bill The Deconstruction and Sleepover
[TOP PICK] [$] 9:00 pm ($15): Wonderful stand-ups Todd Barry, Lizz Winstead, Seth Herzog, Liam McEneaney, and Baratunde Thurston performing at Comedy Below Canal
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 9:30 pm ($7.44 online if you use code VIPFEB, plus 2-item minimum): A unique sports-themed stand-up, sketch comedy, and interview show hosted by Scott Rogowsky and Neil Janowitz, tonight featuring JP Foschi Tight End for the Cincinnati Bengals, Jets Quarterback Erik Ainge, and undefeated heavyweight boxer & 2008 Golden Gloves champ Tor Hamer, all performing at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: 12 Angry Mascots
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Two vibrant improv troupes—The Brothers Hines and Casual Sex Offenders—compete for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 2/26/10
Stand-up stars Jeff Garlin (Headliing at Carolines) and Patrice Oneal (Headlining at Comix)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and sho|ws over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): Comedy geniuses Gavin Speiller (Death by Roo Roo, Rogue Elephant), Ben Rodgers (Reuben Williams, co-host of Cage Match), and Jon Gabrus (Conan O'Brien, Best Week Ever, The Nights of Our Lives) comprise one of the most hilarious improv trios in NYC, and they'll demonstrate that tonight as troupe Outlook of the Poet
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): In this fun show, 16 musical performers turn an audience member's suggestion into two musical fairy tales that tell what happened from the viewpoint of first the hero and then the villain, with "all the music and magic of a Disney flick...plus the darkness of the Brothers Grimm:" Once Upon a Time
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:00 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 28th: Carl & Shelly: Best Friends Forever
7:00 pm ($10): "After leaving what she thought was the perfect marriage, Mandy Schmieder now finds herself stuck in limbo. Is it really over? This is her quest to find the answer. Told through the eyes of a band of characters who guide her on this journey through an expressionistic purgatory of..." Separation Anxiety
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Amy Heidt's one-woman show was one of the very best productions at this past August's FringeNYC Festival (for my review, please click here); if you didn't catch it then, don't miss this wonderful opportunity to see Amy demonstrate her brilliance as both actress and writer. Plus Kate McKinnon, Sarah Claspell, Nicole Drespel, Jocelyn Guest, Veronica Osorio, and Aaron Glaser perform a sketch show written by written by Leila Cohan and by Caitlin Tegart about Smith, our nation's largest women's college, in the double-bill Amy Heidt: Dominate Yourself! and This is About Smith
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($35 & 2-drink min.): A comedy superstar from Curb Your Enthusiasm headlining tonight and Saturday at Carolines: Jeff Garlin
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($34.57 online if you use code VIPFEB, plus 2-item minimum): A star stand-up who's done half-hour comedy specials for HBO, Comedy Central, and Showtime; was a regular on Comedy Central's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and cast member on FOX's The Jury; appeared repeatedly on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; and guest starred on such TV shows as NBC's The Office and FOX's Arrested Development, headlining through Saturday at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Patrice Oneal
8:00 pm ($10): "A cabaret of darkly funny songs and topical sketch comedy about culture and politics," following sold out shows at Joe's Pub: Political Subversities
9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): NYC stand-ups 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
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($10): Hilarious sketch duo Chris O'Neill and Paul Valenti describe themselves as "vaudeville gold for a 2009 crowd." Whatever. They're funny. Especially the bit with the nose. Come catch their latest material tonight at The Chris and Paul Show Presents: Abduction
11:00 pm ($5): A fun improv show that makes up scenes based on the contents of an audience member's wallet: Gimme the Loot!
11:00 pm ($5): Sketch comedy troupes Bleak Comedy and HammerkatzNYU compete for audience laughs and votes in Backyard Brawl
[FREE] 12:20ish am: Your opportunity to perform on the UCBT stage with improv veterans, hosted by stellar troupe The Law Firm: Jammin' with Ralph
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 2/27/10
Delightful storytellers Ophira Eisenberg, Faye Lane, and birthday host Andy Christie tell hard-to-believe tales at The Liar Show...
...and Rob Kutner, Livia Scott, and other wonderful comics celebrate the holidays at Purim Party 2010
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] 4:00 pm ($10): Razor-sharp, adorable, irresistible comedic storyteller Leslie Goshko (Manhattan Monologue Champion, host of Sideshow Goshko) spins yarns about her childhood in her one-woman show Vodka Shoes
[TOP PICK] [$] 6:00 pm ($15 including one drink; reservations via calling Cornelia Street Cafe at 212.989.9319 highly recommended): Four world-class writer/performers tell personal stories. Three of them are true...but one is a pack of lies. Then the audience asks questions to try to figure out who's fibbing. Tonight's yarn-spinners are Ophira Eisenberg (sharp stand-up and brilliant storyteller; Comedy Central, VH1, Showtime), Faye Lane (delightful storyteller, host of Beauty Shop Stories), and Ryan Britt (Nerve.com), and Steve Osborne (NYPC Gang Squad Detective), both performing and celebrating the birthday of wonderful host Andy Christie Andy Christie (The New York Times, Moth GrandSlam Champion) at The Liar Show
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:00 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 28th: Carl & Shelly: Best Friends Forever
7:00 pm ($10): A musical about "a pious Pope framed for a crime he didn't commit...betrayal, Holy War, foot-stompin' musical numbers" and everything else it takes "to entertain the Hell right out of you" in Pope: The Musical
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisor Christina Gausas and friends she originally made in Chicago—which include writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors, all joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($35 & 2-drink min.): A comedy superstar from Curb Your Enthusiasm headlining at Carolines: Jeff Garlin
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($34.57 online if you use code VIPFEB, plus 2-item minimum): A star stand-up who's done half-hour comedy specials for HBO, Comedy Central, and Showtime; was a regular on Comedy Central's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and cast member on FOX's The Jury; appeared repeatedly on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; and guest starred on such TV shows as NBC's The Office and FOX's Arrested Development, headlining at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Patrice Oneal
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm ($20): Superb comics Livia Scott (Conan O'Brien), Scott Adsit (30 Rock, Moral Orel, Adsit & Gausas), Lizz Winstead (The Daily Show), Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, Sweet), and Henry Zebrowski (Murderfist) joining host Rob Kutner (former staff writer for Conan O'Brien and The Daily Show) for a very Jew-y celebration (for s video sneak preview, please click here) at Purim Party 2010
[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
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Sharp NYC comics—who tonight are Stuckey and Murray, Margot Leitman, Adrienne Iapalucci, Bex Schwartz, and comedy's finest cookie baker H. Alan Scott (who will likely be supplying free treats to the audience, which is reason to brave the snow all by itself)—telling funny, poignant, and at times unforgettable tales about their relatives at Ochi's Lounge for a show hosted by gorgeous rising star Sara Benincasa (CNN, MTV, The Sarah Palin Vlogs): Family Hour with Auntie Sara
9:00 pm ($5): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!
[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, quick-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): An all-star improv troupe led by brilliant UCBT artistic director Anthony King: Reuben Williams
10:30 pm ($5): Vibrant improv from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney (Statues of Liberty) and Leslie Korein as comedy trio Trike
[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): "The most fabulous show on Earth," hosted by Tim Gunn (John Flynn) and Tim Gunn (Michael Hartney), featuring brilliant comedic performers (both straight and gay) including Kate McKinnon, Shayna Ferm, Jeff Hiller, Sue Galloway, and Megan Neuringer, plus two audience members who'll be selected to compete in a design challenge, at The Same Sex-Tacular
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 2/28/10
Legendary political comic Dick Gregory celebrates Black History Month tonight when he headlines at Carolines
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 3:00 pm ($18): One of the highlights of FringeNYC 2008 was Allen Warnock and Andrea Alton (members of sketch troupe Freedumb) teaming up to create hilarious characters in a very silly and fun show—for my review, please click here. The production was revived in February, and this is the final day of its commercial run: Carl & Shelly: Best Friends Forever
[$] 7:00 pm ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A pioneering legendary political comic headlining at Carolines: Dick Gregory Celebrates Black History Month
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000
[FREE] 8:00 pm: Liam McEneaney (Comedy Central, VH1's Best Week Ever, host of stellar comedy show Tell Your Friends), Adam Newman (MTV's College Humor), Ben Kronberg (Jimmy Kimmel), Negin Farsad (FringeNYC), Lee Camp (The Onion), and John F. O'Donnell performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: The debut of a weekly comedy show at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan) hosted by red-hot rising stand-up star Hannibal Buress (who needs to get in the habit of announcing lineups, but otherwise is wonderful): Comedy Night
[FREE] 9:00 pm: Roger Hailes, Katina Corrao, Kenny Zimlinghaus, and Dan Newbower performing in the East Village's Beauty Bar at Vince Averill's & Jesse Popp's free weekly show Beauty Bar Comedy
[FREE] 10:00 pm: Adam Sank (Last Comic Standing, VH1's Best Week Ever), Brian Barry (Broadway's Pal Joey), and Yameneika (BET, NBC's Standup for Diversity) performing stand-up 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
