NYC Comedy Picks for Week of July 13, 2009

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 7/15/09

Marc Maron (Tell Your Friends and Whiplash) and Glennis McMurray (Paralyzed by Glennis)

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—tonight including Emily Epstein, Amy Beckerman, Chesley Calloway, Maureen Langan, Will Hines, Joe DeVito, RG Daniels, Jay Bois, Danny Solomon, Sean Donnelly, Blaine Perry, and John Morrison—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel (6:30 pm & 9:00 pm),

fresh sketch comedy from UCBT house groups Gramp's and Thunder Gulch at Maude Night (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] legendary comedy star Marc Maron (a comic's comic; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central, and numerous other impressive credits), John Mulaney (staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Conan O'Brien, VH1's Best Week Ever; 2008 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up Comedian), Laurie Kilmartin (Comedy Central, VH1, CBS, ABC, FOX), Moe & Mary, and Jeff Kriesler at Liam McEneaney's Tell Your Friends (8:00ish pm),

[TOP PICK] musical improv genius Glennis McMurray (I Eat Pandas, Conan O'Brien) taking a more serious turn tonight with the debut of what's likely to be a highly memorable one-woman show about how we self-sabotage our lives through fear: Paralyzed by Glennis (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] and a free weekly show featuring some of the best stand-up comics in the country—who tonight include legendary comedy star Marc Maron (a comic's comic; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central, and numerous other impressive credits), lightning-fast & thoroughly hilarious Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1's Best Week Ever, The New Yorker, co-host of hit show Punch Up Your Life), Myq Kaplan (Comedy Central), and Bob Powers (author of You Are a Miserable Excuse for a Hero and The Terrible, Horrible, Temp-to-Perm Debacle)—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 groups of stand-ups.

Tonight's 6:30 lineup includes Emily Epstein, Chesley Calloway, Maureen Langan, Marsha Clarke, Will Hines, Joe DeVito, RG Daniels, Jay Bois, Danny Solomon, Sean Donnelly, Blaine Perry, and John Morrison.

And the 9:00 pm lineup includes Amy Beckerman, Mary Prantil, Maribeth Mooney, Marianne Schaberg, Bianca Dominguez, Shannon Brandt, J-L Cauvin, Dan Mahoney, Mike Payne, and Jay Welch.

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 John Mulaney

Tell Your Friends

This long-running 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 hosts are Moe & Mary (Friday night MNN channel 56's Moe and Mary Show).

And tonight's wonderful guests are

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 (43 appearances on Conan!); 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; recently performed a killer off-Broadway one-man show about his divorce titled Scorching the Earth),

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; just aired his first Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up Comedian; selected by Variety as among the 10 Comics to Watch for 2008; just released his first comedy CD, The Top Part; to check out videos of John's two Conan sets, please click here and here),

Laurie Kilmartin (VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Premium Blend,

Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS' The Late Late Show,

FOX, 236.com, for stand-up video about hookers and dating, please click here), and

Jeff Kriesler (Shoot the Messenger; author of book Get Rich Cheating).

8:00ish pm at Lolita Bar, 226 Broome Street (between Allen and Orchard Streets); tickets are $5

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

Maude Night

UCBT's house sketch comedy groups try out their latest material at this monthly extravaganza. Tonight features the two troupes Thunder Gulch and Gramp's. (For cast bios, please click here and then click the photo of whoever interests you.)

Not every routine will hit the mark; but these are talented young comics and, if you're patient, worth catching for the bits that score, and for their charismatic comedy performances.

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

Glennis McMurray: Paralyzed by Glennis

Glennis McMurray is a powerhouse rising comedy star who's appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; is half of the genius musical improv duo I Eat Pandas; writes a popular blog; and makes funny videos (for samples, please click here and here).

Tonight Glennis debuts a one-woman show she wrote and performs titled Paralyzed by Glennis. She describes it as follows:

"All the characters featured in this show have had their lives affected by living in fear.

"I have operated from a place of fear for most of my life. Yep, it's true. I know you probably just fell off your chair because I'm such a loving and fabulous gal, but a lot of negative emotions are rooted in fear. This will affect your life, especially if you have no idea that that's what is going on. Jealousy, anger, denial—all forms of fear. I don't want to get all preachy but you get the idea.

"One of my many obsessions is watching (mostly TV) shows about people who self-sabotage. I am fascinated by it. I think self-sabotage is the number one result of fear. I'm afraid to be happy/fabulous/rich/famous/smart/funny/etc. so I'm going to do everything in my power to keep myself from achieving those things. The ways in which people self-sabotage are infinite, but the end result is always the same and I can tell you one thing—it's not happiness. Some people just naturally operate from a place of love, but others have to fight to get through the shit-storm of fear to find happiness. And I love when they do because it reiterates my belief that no one wants to be miserable.

" I'm taking a chance putting something I strongly believe in out there like this, but what's the other option? Letting my fear take over? I've tried that route and all it brings is misery and regret.

" I hope I see your lovely and loving faces there. I really do."

Glennis, I didn't fall off my chair. But if I wasn't running my screenwriters workshop tonight, there's nowhere I'd rather be.

Come see Glennis share her heart on stage with you in what's likely to be a mesmerizing premiere event.

This is actually a double-bill; the other show is titled My American Cousin. I know nothing about it; but since you can see both shows together for just five bucks, how can you lose?

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

Leo Allen and Marc Maron

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 half-hour specials; done stand-up on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; acted on Ed and Sex and the City; and is in an upcoming HBO miniseries. Plus Leo's the host of this show—for which he crafts inventive, hilarious material week after week, and always generously demonstrates his warm appreciation of his fellow comedians. For all these reasons and more, Whiplash is one of the finest showcases of top comedy talent in the country...and it's entirely free.

Tonight's wonderful guests are

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 (43 appearances on Conan!); 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; recently performed a killer off-Broadway one-man show about his divorce titled Scorching the Earth),

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;

co-host of smash hit Tuesday night comedy show Punch Up Your Life,

for a hilarious range of videos, please click here),

Myq Kaplan (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; for superb stand-up video about religion, gay  marriage, and dumplings, please click here), and

Bob Powers (author of the 2008 darkly comedic interactive adventure for adults You Are a Miserable Excuse for a Hero, which is a choose-your-own-ending book aimed at ambivalent 30-year-olds who are terrified of making choices: "The main character in this book is you, a 33-year-old actor/waiter with very little hope of ever being successful. With every day you are that much closer to giving up on your dreams and going to grad school, and every choice feels weighted with the possibility that it will send you down a path to failure. So you've been doing all you can to make no choices whatsoever. When the girl you went on a first date with last night has been kidnapped, it's up to you to save her. Each chapter ends with a pair of choices as to how the story should progress. Do you want to burst into the kidnappers' hideout and kill everyone in sight? Or do you want to just unplug your phone and get really drunk? It's your choices and your story, with over 30 different endings!" This is the first book in the Just Make A Choice! Adventure Series; just released is Book 2, The Terrible, Horrible, Temp-to-Perm Debacle).

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 7/17/09

Matt McCarthy (Punch Up Your Life), Carolyn Castiglia (Dykes on Mics), and Leo Allen (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),

Hilary Schwartz and Rachael Parenta hosting an intriguing show described as "emotionally inappropriate comedy:" Please, Someone Kill Me (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] award-winning graphic novel writer/artist Neil Kleid (The Big Khan) joining in on a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),

four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Scootch, Bastian, Ragnaröck, Badman, and Penthouse Riot—followed by UCBT students at all levels performing with improv veterans, all at Harold Night (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] Matt McCarthy (Comedy Central, AMC, Verizon FIOS guy, Front Page Films), AD Miles (head writer for Jimmy Fallon), and Greg Johnson (host of The Comedians) performing at this free show hosted by brilliant stand-ups Jessi Klein (Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, CNN, Adult Swim) and Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1's Best Week Ever, The New Yorker): Punch Up Your Life (8:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] Leo Allen (former writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central Presents, HBO, host of Whiplash), John Mulaney (staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Conan O'Brien, VH1's Best Week Ever; 2008 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up Comedian), and more performing at the wonderful Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm),

and delightful stand-up comics Jackie Monahan, Leah Dubie, Amy Beckerman, and Gloria Bigelow performing and hosting guest comics Carolyn Castiglia, Chesslee Calloway, and Wes Cannon at Dykes on Mics (9:00 pm).

Broadway Motel

Lottery-style open mic for stand-up comics trying out material,

with 4½ minutes per performer...in return for a $5 contribution to the weekly prize kitty.

(In addition, Broadway's one-item food or drink minimum applies to everyone.)

A breathtaking 25 comics perform in this 2½ hour show; producer

John Morrison (above) has described it as "comedy on crack."

If you're seeking consistent laughs, this might not be the best way to spend

your evening. But if you're patient and adventurous, it's a potentially wild ride.

And if you're a performer looking for some stage time, it's a nice opportunity.

Plus if you stick around till the show's end to support your fellow comics,

 you have a chance at winning the cash from the kitty, along with smaller prizes.

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

Please, Someone Kill Me

Rachael Parenta and Hilary Schwartz host this comedy show with the intriguing title Please, Someone Kill Me. According to Schwartz, "This show captures their style of emotionally inappropriate comedy—humor that is honest, gutsy, vulnerable, and not afraid of the dark side of life. It’s hilarity that hits you on a deep level. It is a show perfect for people who are not drawn to the typical comedy show and are looking for something fresh, funny, and smart, with a defined point of view. Please, Someone Kill Me delivers all that, and silliness too."

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 industry guest is award-winning graphic novel writer/artist Neil Kleid (The Big Khan).

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.) Please also check out the YouTube version of the show by clicking here.

Also be sure to watch a tale about Wolverine's powers from sketch duo Greg & Lou by clicking here; and a Penguin vs. Batman debate that uncannily predicted John McCain's campaign strategy by clicking here.

And if by some fluke you don't already know: See Star Trek, which is wonderful; avoid X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which is nightmarishly dreadful; and catch a Green Lantern sneak peak 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—

Scootch, Bastian, Ragnaröck, Badman, and Penthouse Riot—

each give it a go for 30 minutes, with

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

And at 11:00 pm there'll be The Lottery, in which UCBT students
at all improv levels get a chance to perform on stage with improv veterans.

Some of these 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.

This show is perennially sold out of seats; but if you're okay with standing,
come and laugh with a boisterous packed house.

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

Matt McCarthy, AD Miles, and Greg Johnson...

...and brilliantly funny hosts Pete Holmes and Jessi Klein

Punch Up Your Life

This free weekly stand-up show is a spectacular addition to NYC Tuesday night comedy. Its hosts are two of the finest comics in the country:

Jessi Klein (deliciously honest, brilliant, hilarious stand-up star—and now also proving to be, along with Pete, among the finest comedy hosts in NYC; Rolling Stones' comedy "Hot List;" Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; VH1's Best Week Ever; NBC's The Today Show; CNN; The Showbiz Show with David Spade; voice of Lucy on Adult Swim's Lucy the Daughter of the Devil; for a video stand-up sample about which celebrity would save the most Jews, and on email etiquette, please click here and here) and

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).

Tonight's terrific guests are

Matt McCarthy (razor-sharp stand-up who's performed on Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; won 2009 ECNY Award for Best Performance in a Commercial for his work as the Verizon FIOS Guy; co-host of NY live comedy extravaganza The Matt and Katina Show; for stand-up videos about unsolicited advice and measuring love, please click here and here),

AD Miles (head writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Dog Bites Man, Reno 911, TV Funhouse, Human Giant, Tim & Eric, Law & Order; feature films Role Models, Wet Hot American Summer, The Ten, The Baxter, The Believer), and

Greg Johnson (sharp, quick-witted stand-up comic who co-hosts the weekly NYC live comedy show President Johnson).

8:30 pm at Housing Works’ Bookstore Café, 126 Crosby Street (bet. Prince & Houston); free

Nearest subway stops are Bleecker Street on the #6 and Broadway-Lafayette on the B/D/F/V

Leo Allen and John Mulaney

Sweet

Hosted by the razor-sharp, dynamic, and hilarious Seth Herzog (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, VH1's Best Week Ever and The Great Debate).

Seth is one of the finest hosts around—and this is one of the best comedy shows in NYC.

Tonight's wonderful guests include

Leo Allen (one of the most sharp, honest, and likeable stand-ups working in NYC; writer for Saturday Night Live from 2002 through 2005; performed two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; done stand-up on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; acted on Ed and Sex and the City; upcoming HBO miniseries; host of top stand-up comedy showcase Whiplash) and

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; just aired his first Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up Comedian; selected by Variety as among the 10 Comics to Watch for 2008; just released his first comedy CD, The Top Part; to check out videos of John's two Conan sets, please click here and here).

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

Gloria Bigelow, Amy Beckerman, Leah Dubie, and Jackie Monahan

Dykes on Mics

Free gay-themed stand-up comedy show featuring the superb gals above

as regulars/hosts, plus these NYC comics as guests:

Carolyn Castiglia, Chesslee Calloway, and Wes Cannon.

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)

NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 7/17/09

Michelle Leona (Sideshow Goshko), Charlie Sanders (UCBT's Summer Showcase), and Christian Finnegan (Hold for the Laughs)

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:

[FREE] six free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Great Mix-Em-Up (6:00 pm-midnight),

[TOP PICK] stellar comedic storytellers Myka Fox (host of NYC's Comical Radio), Rob Gorden (former co-host of Spike TV's Geek-Ray Vision and NYC's The Rob and Mark Show), Sean Donnelly (XM Radio; host of Lil' Seany Boy and co-host of Ochi's Motel), and Michelle Leona (host of The Dr. Michelle Party Show and stellar accordion player)—plus live accordion music by Michelle, and a quiz for a free bottle of wine—at a show hosted by the razor-sharp Leslie Goshko (Manhattan Monologue Champion, UCBT) in which top comics and storytellers reveal odd aspects of themselves: Sideshow Goshko (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] a hilarious idea for a show—make up comedy skits from stories in the New York Post—brought to life by quick-witted & inventive duo John Mulaney (staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Conan O'Brien, VH1's Best Week Ever; 2008 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up Comedian) and Patrick Borelli (Conan O'Brien, SuperDeluxe, author of book Holy Headshot!) in CBS/NYC Presents: New York Post Live! (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] Leo Allen (former writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central Presents, upcoming HBO series Funny or Die, host of Whiplash), Wyatt Cenac (correspondent for The Daily Show), Rachel Feinstein (Comedy Central; opens for Sarah Silverman on tour), and Ross Hyzer at a free weekly Brooklyn extravaganza hosted by Jenny Slate, Gabe Liedman, and Max Silvestri: Big Terrific (8:00ish pm),

[FREE] superb stand-ups Matt McCarthy (Comedy Central, AMC, Verizon FIOS guy, Front Page Films), Ophira Eisenberg (Comedy Central, VH1, Showtime), Carolyn Castiglia (Last Comic Standing, VH1), and Brian McGuinness (Gotham Comedy Club) at a free weekly stand-up comedy show tonight hosted by Matt Maragno: Now We're Talking (8:00 pm),

[FREE] sharp comics Daniel Michael, Malaika Gordon, Jason Saenz, Garry N. Hannon, Calvin Cato, and Calin Fernandez at a free weekly show hosted by Sharon "Mama" Spell: Shrink (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] superb comedic storytellers Glennis McMurray (I Eat Pandas, Conan O'Brien), Jon Gabrus (Spike TV, UCBT's The Law Firm and The Nights Of Our Lives), Rory Scovel (Live at Gotham, Bumbershoot), and Greg Barris (Heart of Darkness, MTV's All That Rocks), and Rory Panagotopulos (Oscarbait) telling tales of their worst NYC experiences in Ilana & Eliot Glazer's New York Sh*tty (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] over a dozen of the finest talents at the Upright Citizen Brigade—meaning many of the best

best improv and sketch comedy performers in New York—gathering to strut their stuff and provide

sneak peeks of upcoming productions at UCBT's Summer Showcase (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE COOKIES] a joyous gathering of top comedy talent, tonight including Christian Finnegan (three Comedy Central specials, commentator on MNBC's Countdown with Keith Oberman and VH1's Best Week Ever; Chappelle's Show, The Today Show), Baron Vaughn (red-hot rising star; Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Shoot the Messenger, Awkward Kings of Comedy), Myq Kaplan (Comedy Central), Erin Judge (Comedy Central), and luminous & lovely host Margie Kment performing a full-blown comedy show at 10:00 pm, preceded by a wonderful networking event mixing folks from the NYC theatre and comedy scenes—plus the debut of a new variety of intense free homemade cookies baked by Margie—all at Hold for the Laughs (9:30 pm party/networking/cookies, 10:00 pm show),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] and a free, laid-back, and occasionally magical variety show where virtually anything can happen on a School Night (11:00).

Kurt Braunohler and Pat Shay

The PIT's Great Mix-Em-Up

For five hours every Wednesday, The PIT provides free shows featuring its improv house troupes Party Lights, The Wilhelm, Tomahawk, Big Black Car, Mrs. Esterhouse, The Baldwins, Punch, Halfbear, and The Faculty.

But in tonight's special edition, The Great Mix-Em-Up, members of these teams will be randomly mixed together to form one-night-only new improv troupes.

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.

6:00 pm-midnight at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free

Michelle Leona, Leslie Goshko, and Myka Fox

Sideshow Goshko

This delightful show 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 a challenging trivia contest for someone in the audience to win a bottle of wine.

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.)

Tonight's superb funny storytellers & comics are

Myka Fox (host of NYC's Comical Radio, a show that interviews top comics and plays every Monday and Friday starting at 1:00 pm on WBMB 87.9, and is also available anytime via the Web at ComicalRadio. com; "At my best I am an intellectual investigator and provocateur; at my worst I will take a dump in your trash can"),

Rob Gorden (former co-host of Spike TV's Geek-Ray Vision and NYC's The Rob and Mark Show; for flat-rate phone sex service ad, please click here),

Sean Donnelly (XM Radio; host of weekly NYC live comedy show Lil' Seany Boy and 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), and

Michelle Leona (host of The Dr. Michelle Party Show...and the stellar accordion player who provides the soundtrack for this show).

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)

Patrick Borelli and John Mulaney

CBS/NYC Presents: New York Post Live!

In this annual event, two of the sharpest comics around will take sensational stories from the New York Post and turn them into comedy sketches.

It's a great idea—and especially when executed by this thoroughly wonderful duo:

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; just aired his first Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up Comedian; selected by Variety as among the 10 Comics to Watch for 2008; just released his first comedy CD, The Top Part; to check out videos of John's two Conan sets, please click here and here) and

Patrick Borelli (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, ESPN's Cheap Seats, writer for Adult Swim's Assy McGee, SuperDeluxe's Thunderpoint, Video Power Hour, co-author of book Holy Headshot!).

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

Leo Allen and Wyatt Cenac...

...and hosts Gabe Liedman, Jenny Slate, and Max Silvestri

Big Terrific, hosted by Gabe Liedman, Jenny Slate, and Max Silvestri

Gabe Liedman & Jenny Slate (adorable and foul-mouthed comedy duo Gabe & Jenny; for Jenny's dating tips, please click here and 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 thoroughly wonderful guests are

Leo Allen (one of the most sharp, honest, and likeable stand-ups working in NYC; writer for Saturday Night Live from 2002 through 2005; performed two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; done stand-up on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; acted on Ed and Sex and the City; upcoming HBO series Funny or Die; host of top stand-up comedy showcase Whiplash),

Wyatt Cenac (correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; cast member on upcoming HBO Kanye West show; star of indie feature film Medicine for Melancholy; former staff writer/editor for three years on King of the Hill; for a blacks vs. gays competition, please click here),

Rachel Feinstein (sharp stand-up; Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Samurai Love God, Court TV's Parko PI, regular on Sirius Satellite Radio, written for The Onion and Heeb Magazine, opens for Sarah Silverman on tour), and

Ross Hyzer (23/6.com, host of NYC live extravaganza County Fair Comedy Show;

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

8:00ish pm at Cameo, 93 North 6th Street (behind Lovin' Cup) in Williamsburg Brooklyn; free

Take the L subway to Bedford Avenue and walk two blocks; between Berry & Wythe

Carolyn Castiglia, Matt McCarthy, and Ophira Eisenberg

Now We're Talking

This fun new weekly stand-up comedy show is hosted by luminous, enormously likeable, and razor-sharp Margie Kment (also host of the monthly comedy/theatre networking extravaganza Hold for the Laughs), and character-based comic Matt Maragno.

Tonight's superb guests are

Matt McCarthy (razor-sharp stand-up who's performed on Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; won 2009 ECNY Award for Best Performance in a Commercial for his work as the Verizon FIOS Guy; co-host of NY live comedy extravaganza The Matt and Katina Show; for stand-up videos about unsolicited advice and measuring love, please click here and here),

Ophira Eisenberg (sharp stand-up and brilliant storyteller; Comedy Central's Premium Blend, VH1's Best Week Ever, Showtime's Queer as Folk; The Guardian),

Carolyn Castiglia (Last Comic Standing, VH1's White Rapper, Nick at Nite, HyReviews.com's Comedy Interview of the Month), and

Brian McGuinness (for stand-up about stuck tampons, please click here).

8:00 pm at Rodeo Bar, 375 Third Avenue (corner of 27th Street); free

Sharon Spell

Shrink

This free weekly show features a mix of comedic storytelling, stand-up, and sketch.

Tonight's sharp comedy guests are Daniel Michael, Malaika Gordon, Jason Saenz, Garry N. Hannon, Calvin Cato, and Calin Fernandez.

Hosted by Sharon "Mama" Spell.

8:00 pm at Otto's Shrunken Head, 538 East 14th Street (between Avenues A and B); free

Glennis McMurray, and Ilana & Eliot Glazer

New York Sh*tty

New York has eight million stories. This show focuses on the ones that are icky. The official description:

"The traditional 'New York experience' is all but a mirage now, replaced by chipotles, cosmotinis, and management companies starving for horizontal space. Although it's become a cliche to romanticize Ed Koch's New York—one rampant with drugs, crime, and bankruptcy—you have to honor the city's two-faced ability to enthrall and excite you one day and wring you dry the next. Simply put, New York can suck—hard—and brother-sister duo Eliot & Ilana Glazer invite comedians, writers, bloggers, and performers to share their worst experiences in this new cathartic storytelling series."

Tonight's terrific comedic storytellers are

Glennis McMurray (I Eat Pandas, Conan O'Brien), Jon Gabrus (Spike TV, UCBT's The Law Firm and The Nights Of Our Lives), Rory Scovel (Live at Gotham, Bumbershoot), and Greg Barris (Heart of Darkness, MTV's All That Rocks), and Rory Panagotopulos (Oscarbait).

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)

A horde of UCBT stars show how high they can soar at this fun event

UCBT's Summer Showcase

Many of UCBT's shining stars—a small army of talented improv and sketch comedy performers, who you can explore by clicking here and then clicking the photos on the right—will be demonstrating what they can do via back-to-back scenes running for over 90 minutes, hosted by the wonderful & lightning-quick Pete Holmes.

This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know some of the finest comics in New York...and to nab a sneak peak at productions coming up this summer and fall.

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

Margie Kment and Christian Finnegan...

...and Baron Vaughn 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 intense and memorable free cookies...and tonight Margie is debuting "a kind you haven't tried before, and trust me, you don't want to miss it" (for stand-up video about dating a stoner, please click here).

Tonight's wonderful guests are

Christian Finnegan (two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials and recent hour-long Comedy Central special Au Contraire; commentator on MNBC's Countdown with Keith Oberman and VH1's Best Week Ever; Chappelle's Show, The Today Show, host of TVLand's Game Time, former staff writer for Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; comedy CD Two For Flinching;  for stand-up videos on how to get rid of a boring  guy and what your movie choices say about you, please click here and here),

Baron Vaughn (smoking-hot rising star comic, with lightning-fast mind and enormous charisma; NBC's Teachers, Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, MTV's The Gamekillers, VH1's Awesomely Oversexed and Best Week Ever, co-star of NYC live political comedy show Shoot the Messenger; feature film Cloverfield, concert film The Awkward Kings of Comedy to air on Comedy Central; for a radio interview, please click here; for stand-up videos about the KKK and cell phones, please click here and here),

Myq Kaplan (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; for superb stand-up video about religion, gay  marriage, and dumplings, please click here),

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. 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.

9:30 pm for networking, 10:00 pm for comedy show at the Sage Theatre,

711 Seventh Avenue, 2nd floor (between 47th & 48th Streets);

the ticket price is whatever you care to pay, with a suggested donation of $10

Justin Purnell

School Night

Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) provides a mix of guests who perform 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.

Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises,

that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible.

Please note that while it costs nothing to get in, if you have a good time (which is likely), you should drop a dollar or two into the contribution bucket on your way out. It's the only way this beloved show—which has been running for over five years—can stay alive as a vibrant showcase.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 7/18/09

Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler (Hot Tub Variety), teen angst at Mortified, and Gavin Speiller (Cage Match)

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 UCBT debut of a sketch troupe that'll be performing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Berty Haddock (6:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] a comedic excavation of teen angst artifacts (journals, letters, poems, and more) as shared by their original authors in the hit storytelling show Mortified (7:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] a much-beloved LES comedy show now enjoying a weekly run at UCBT, with tonight's guests John Roberts (rock star and YouTube star) and John Flynn (stellar comedic storyteller), plus lots of inventive sketch comedy from two of the sharpest & most respected comics in NYC, Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler, as the duo hosts their Hot Tub Variety Show (8:00 pm),

sharp improvisors directed by James Eason "take an audience suggestion and break it into a million funny pieces" in The Deconstruction (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] world-class stand-up Ted Alexandro (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials), plus terrific stand-ups Michael Somerville, Jena Friedman, Matt Baetz, and Reese Waters, at the 92YTribeca comedy showcase Comedy Below Canal (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK]  Mike Drucker (Comedy Central; freelance writer for SNL, The Onion, McSweeney's) and Katy Chevigny (Emmy-nominated TV & film producer) tell sexual tales revolving around tonight's theme "Mood Killers," accompanied by musical guest Shawn Hollenbach (Here! TV's Hot Gay Comics, The Back Room), at the best sexy storytelling comedy show in NYC: Margot Leitman's & Giulia Rozzi's Stripped Stories (9:30),

[TOP PICK] and two vibrant improv troupes, Death by Roo Roo and Rogue Elephant, in a battle to win audience laughs & votes at the raucous Cage Match (11:00 pm).

Berty Haddock

Three-man sketch troupe Berty Haddock, led by Brit Saul Goldberg (holding the umbrella), will be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August. Tonight the group will test its show out...and perform its UCBT debut.

Also on this double-bill is The Uncomfortable Outer Space Adventures of Captain Ostagon, about which I know nothing. But how wrong can you go when you're paying $2.50 per show?

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

Mortified

Mortified has been hailed as a "cultural phenomenon" by Newsweek, and celebrated by This American Life, The Today Show, The Onion AV Club, Esquire, Entertainment Weekly, and Daily Candy. The show is a comic excavation of teen angst artifacts (journals, letters, poems, lyrics, home movies, stories, and more) as shared by their original authors before total strangers. As the largest and longest-running project of its kind, its grassroots comedy collective has spent years sifting through hundreds of otherwise forgotten notebooks on a mission to celebrate the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Mortified is co-produced in New York by Brandy Barber & Anne Altman.

Tonight's show is hosted by Anne Altman.

And it "features the pathetic teenage crap of" terrific storytellers Raquel D'Apice, Sabrina DeJesus, Eliot Glazer, Aaron Kheifets, Mary Beth Menna, Carrie Seim, and Julia Wright.

Please consider buying tickets ($15) in advance online, as this show has a history of selling out.

Also, please try to arrive early; seats are limited and first come, first serve, even if you've purchased a ticket online. That said, there's a two-item food or drink minimum if you have a seat (with tax & tip, figure on spending an additional $13 or up), but no minimum if you stand.

7:00 pm at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street (off Thompson Street);

tickets are $15 at the door or online, plus two-item food or drink minimum if you have a seat

Nearest subways are the A/B/C/D/E/F/V to the West 4th Street stop

John Roberts and John Flynn...

...and NYC comedy royalty Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler

Hot Tub Variety Show

Hot Tub Variety is a beloved comedy show which ran for years to huge audiences in the Lower East Side. It's now drawing even larger crowds for its new weekly run on Thursdays at UCBT, hosted by two phenomenally talented writer/performers:

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 & 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; to read about Kristen's killer set headlining at Comix, please click here) and

Kurt Braunohler (Kristen's frequent comedy partner, performing  sketches that are hilariously indescribable; Comedy Central; co-star of Web & upcoming UK TV series Penelope, Princess of Pets, for which Kurt won the 2008 ECNY Award as Best Director).

Tonight's fun guests include

John Roberts (member of acclaimed comedy troupe Pu-Pu Platter, and half of broadband Emmy-nominated sketch troupe The Dregs; heads rock band Opti-Grab, which has played with such stars as Blondie, Gogol Bordello, Scissor Sisters, and Tom Tom Club; but most famous for his funny YouTube videos—for samples, please click here and here and here) and

John Flynn (co-writer & co-star of hilarious parody Showgirls: The Best Movie Ever Made. Ever!, one-man show John Flynn Has Terrible Sex, stellar yarn-spinner at world-class monthly storytelling show The Nights of Our Lives).

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

James Eason

The Deconstruction

Sharp improvisors, some of whom are former members of legendary improv troupe Mother, "take an audience suggestion and break it into a million funny pieces." This new comedy group consists of Frank Bonomo, Paul W. Downs, Jesse Falcon, Jessica Elaina Eason, Alan Fessenden, Rachel Hamilton, Louis Kornfeld, Alex Marino, Doug Moe, Chet Siegel, Lauren Strope, and is directed by James Eason.

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

Ted Alexandro and Jena Friedman

Comedy Below Canal: Ted Alexandro,  Michael Somerville, Jena Friedman, and More

This stand-up comedy showcase tonight features headliner

Ted Alexandro (one of the best stand-ups around; Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The View, and two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; described by Uproar as having "an appeal similar to Ray Romano and Jerry Seinfeld"),

plus terrific stand-ups Michael Somerville, Jena Friedman, Matt Baetz, and Reese Waters.

For more info and/or to order tickets, please click here.

9:30 pm at 92YTribeca Mainstage, 200 Hudson Street (intersection of Canal & Hudson Streets); $10

Take the 1/6/E subway to Canal Street stop

Margot & Giulia are two fun-lovin' gals...who are world-class storytellers

Stripped Stories: Mood Killers

Sexual storytelling with a comedic slant.

Tonight's theme is "Mood Killers."

Expect shocking and highly entertaining yarns from guests

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),

Katy Chevigny (Emmy-nominated TV & film producer),

and music from Shawn Hollenbach (Here! TV's Hot Gay Comics, The Back Room).

Plus there'll be hilarious tales from the two sensual hosts, Giulia Rozzi (MTV, VH1's Best Night Ever podcasts) and Margot Leitman (Late Night With Conan O'Brien, VH1, Spike TV); and "audience interviews, sex games, and hookups...hopefully."

Come to laugh, to get turned on, and to make choices you'll regret in the morning.

This is a wonderful show, and highly recommended.

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

vs.

Cage Match: Death by Roo Roo vs. Rogue Elephant

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.)

This season's champion, with 13 wins and counting, is arguably the gutsiest improv troupe in NYC—Death by Roo Roo, consisting of uniformly brilliant comics Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, John Gemberling, Curtis Gwinn, Gil Ozeri, Adam Pally, and Gavin Speiller.

DBRR was by far the winning-est group last season, trouncing 17 troupes in a row—handily breaking the previous Cage Match winning streak record of 14 set by Optimist International in 2002! It went on to win last season's Cage Match Championship with breathtaking skill and comedic grace. And it's repeating history this season, steamrolling over opponents with apparent ease—for example, last week DBRR nabbed 125 votes to its opponent's 75.

Tonight's challenger is popular sketch & improv troupe Rogue Elephant, which was born in 2004 at UCBT and still consists of its original group of superb improvisors and comedic performers: Susannah Becket, Tim Curcio, Eddie Dunn, Silvija Ozols, Jim Santangeli, Nate Smith, and Gavin Speiller. For a video about a guy who's notorious, please click here.

Please note the dramatic conflict in tonight's event: Powerhouse improvisor Gavin Speiller is a member of both troupes, creating the tension of torn loyalties.

There's no telling what'll happen...which is one of the great pleasures of this extravaganza.

This show is sold out of seats; but if you're okay with standing, come and enjoy with a boisterous packed house.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 7/19/09

Rich Vos (Headlining at Carolines), Jenny Slate (Dead Millionaire), and The Roast of Cassidy Henehan (Too Cool for School)

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:

improvisation with a playful theatrical approach from Stray (7:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] a very special edition of this free comedy show in which a small army of superb NYC stand-up comics—Vince Averill, Dan Curry, Jon Friedman, Roger Hailes, Peter Kassnove, Matt Maragno, Mark Normand, Sean Patton, Jesse Popp, Neil Stastny, Matt Ruby, Nick Turner, and Zack Sims—gather to make fun of the charismatic co-host of this weekly event in Brooklyn: Too Cool for School: The Roast of Cassidy Henehan (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] a not-to-be-missed imagining by comedy jewel Jenny Slate of what her funeral would be like if she was rich and left all the money to her dog in Dead Millionaire (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] razor-sharp & gorgeous stand-up Brooke Van Poppelen hosting this free monthly comedy show in Brooklyn, which tonight features stand-ups Hannibal Buress (Comedy Central, Craig Ferguson, concert film The Awkward Kings of Comedy), Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1, host of Sweet), Matt Baetz (Craig Ferguson), Nick Vatterott (Second City Touring Company), and George Gordon (Zebulon): Brooke Van Poppelen Presents BVP & Bar 4 Comedy (9:00 pm),

NYC stand-up comics Jackie Monahan (Logo's Wisecrack, Dykes on Mics), Scott Ryan (here! TV's Hot Gay Comics), Chris Ducette (NPR, Gaylarious!), and more 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),

[FREE] a free opportunity for you to perform sketch on the UCBT stage at Liquid Courage (12:20ish am),

[$] and a stand-up star on two seasons of Last Comic Standing and on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, and currently on the Opie & Anthony radio show: Rich Vos Headlining at Carolines (12:30 am).

Stray

Improv troupe Stray "plays in a theatrical, narrative style that was developed in Seattle, honed in Europe, and blended in New York. Stray's unique approach creates spontaneous theatre that is comedic, dramatic, or abstract, sometimes all at once." The group consists of Jill Farris, Wendy Herlich, Kristy Kershaw, and Stefan Schick.

Tonight Stray presents Spoken, in which a seemingly, inconsequential meeting of two characters is repeated throughout the piece, taking on new meaning as snippets of day to day life and experiences reveal the lives of the characters and the events that lead to the meeting.

7:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $10

Cassidy Henehan

Too Cool For School: The Roast of Cassidy Henehan

This free weekly Brooklyn comedy show is hosted by

Cassidy Henehan (for very long video attempt to break a bottle over a guy's head post-Katrina, please click here) and

Nick Turner (VH1, ESPN; for video about how to spend an inheritance, please click here).

Tonight's show is a roast of co-host Cassidy, who is what's known as "a character." The scheduled participants in this very special event are superb NYC stand-up comics:

Vince Averill, Dan Curry, Jon Friedman, Roger Hailes, Peter Kassnove, Matt Maragno, Mark Normand, Sean Patton, Jesse Popp, Neil Stastny, Matt Ruby, Nick Turner, and Zack Sims.

This is likely to be way fun. Come and enjoy.

8:00 pm at Coco 66, 66 Greenpoint Avenue in Brooklyn; free

Take the G subway to Greenpoint Avenue stop

Jenny Slate: Dead Millionaire

Jenny Slate is a sly, sexy, hilarious comic who's the co-host of acclaimed Brooklyn weekly live comedy show Big Terrific and the co-star of Joe Mande's superb comedic play Workdays with Maury. For some of Jenny's video dating tips, please click here and here.

Tonight Jenny performs a one-woman show which "takes place during my funeral, if I died right now as an eccentric millionaire and left 300 million dollars to my dog." The production shows off Jenny's immense sweetness, darkness, and wit, with treasured moments ranging from cheese thrown with deadly force to Jenny's unforgettable feelings about men and porn. This is your last chance to come and enjoy this deliciously unique performer until the fall, as Jenny is heading out to LA for a while to pursue very deserved fame & fortune. Directed by the witty and razor-sharp John Flynn (The Nights of Our Lives).

Also on this double-bill is sketch comedy show How Rude.

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

Seth Herzog, Brooke Van Poppelen, and Hannibal Buress

Brooke Van Poppelen Presents BVP & BAR 4 Comedy

This free monthly Brooklyn comedy show is hosted by the razor-sharp and gorgeous

Brooke Van Poppelen (Maxim Radio, Cosmo Radio, Chicago Public Radio; Carolines, Comix; half of sketch duo Macho!; popular blog NYisretarded.blogspot.com; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here).

Tonight's superb stand-up guests are

Hannibal Buress (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson; concert film The Awkward Kings of Comedy),

Seth Herzog (Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, VH1's Best Week Ever and The Great Debate, host of red-host weekly NYC live comedy show Sweet).

Matt Baetz (Craig Ferguson),

Nick Vatterott (Second City Touring Company),

and George Gordon (Zebulon).

9:00 pm at Bar 4, 444 7th Avenue at 15th Street in Brooklyn; free

Take the M/R subway to Prospect Avenue stop, and walk down to 15th Street and then to 7th Avenue

Jenny Rubin, Paul Case, Shawn Hollenbach, and Jackie Monahan

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 stand-up guests are

Jackie Monahan (Logo's Wisecrack, Dykes on Mics),

Scott Ryan (here! TV's Hot Gay Comics), and

Chris Ducette (NPR, Gaylarious!)

plus

Back Room co-producer Paul Case (MTV, D-Listed Radio, here! TV's Bent) and

Back Room co-producer Shawn Hollenbach (here! TV's Busted).

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

Liquid Courage

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

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

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

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

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

Rich Vos Headlining at Carolines

Rich Vos starred on two seasons of Last Comic Standing; has performed a very popular Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; was a regular on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; was the first white comic on Def Jam; wrote for Chris Rock; played Lenny Bruce on NBC's American Dreams; was an unlikely guest on The View; and is a regular on the Opie and Anthony radio show.

Rich will be headlining at Carolines tonight through Sunday.

This New York comedy club show has a $24.50 cover plus two-drink minimum (with tax & tip, figure another $13 or up).

To order tickets, please click here and then click the Buy Now button.

12:30 am at Carolines, 1626  Broadway (between 49th and 50th Streets);

$24.50 ticket plus two-drink minimum

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 7/20/09

Rich Vos (Headlining at Carolines), ace sketch troupe The Harvard Sailing Team, and Jeff Seal (High School Talent Show)

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:

sharp NYC comics joining hosts Pat Stango, Blaine Perry, and Sean Donnelly at Lil' Seany Boy (7:00 pm),

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

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

[TOP PICK] Leo Allen (former writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central Presents, upcoming HBO series Funny or Die, host of Whiplash), Christian Finnegan (three Comedy Central specials, commentator on MNBC's Countdown with Keith Oberman and VH1's Best Week Ever; Chappelle's Show, The Today Show), Hari Kondabolu (Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central's Live at Gotham), Adam Newman (VH1, CMT, Uber Luber Death Metal), and Chelsea White performing at a show benefiting an animal shelter: Diamonds in the Fluff (8:00ish pm),

Dave Ahdoot and Ethan Fixell relating their YouTube-documented romantic adventures

live on stage—possibly accompanied by visits from some of the gals—on Double Date Us (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] one of my all-time favorite improv troupes—which in 2008 broke the UCBT improv competition record for winning streaks with 17 triumphs in a row, and this year delivered a magnificent performance to capture the Cage Match Championship—the brilliant and daring members of Death by Roo Roo (9:00 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 (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),

vibrant improv from acclaimed trio Statues of LIberty (10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] a small mob of superb comics—tonight including Glennis McMurray (I Eat Pandas, Conan O'Brien, Gem!), Mindy Raf (brilliantly funny and sexy writer/singer; VH1's Best Week Ever, CollegeHumor.com), Rob Lathan (Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report, Jimmy Fallon, MTV, VH1, Adult Swim), Jeff Seal (David Letterman, Bindlestiff Family Circus)—pretending to be in a High School Talent Show (midnight),

[$] and a stand-up star on two seasons of Last Comic Standing and on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, and currently on the Opie & Anthony radio show: Rich Vos Headlining at Carolines (12:30 am).

Sean Donnelly

Lil' Seany Boy

Sean Donnelly (XM Radio; 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 sharp stand-ups with best buds

Blaine Perry & Pat Stango (hosts of NYC comedy show Don't Touch Me There).

Tonight's guests haven't been announced.

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)

Anthony King, Scott Adsit, 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), 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), and Tami Sagher (writer for 30 Rock; writer and producer for Mad TV 2001-2006).

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

Leo Allen and Christian Finnegan...

...and Adam Newman and Chelsea White

Diamonds in the Fluff

This monthly comedy show benefits the B.A.R.C. animal shelter. It's produced by pet lover & sharp comic Jamie Lee. The suggested donation for tonight is $10. (And remember, the more drinks you buy, the more animals you help...)

Tonight's show is hosted by

Leo Allen (one of the most sharp, honest, and likeable stand-ups working in NYC; writer for Saturday Night Live from 2002 through 2005; performed two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; done stand-up on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; acted on Ed and Sex and the City; upcoming HBO series Funny or Die; host of top stand-up comedy showcase Whiplash).