NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 7/28/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy
(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:
the perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set
and around 30 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel (6:30 pm & 9:00 pm),
a free stand-up comedy show hosted by Jon Friedman, and featuring such sharp talents as
Noah Garfinkel, Jamie Lee, RG Daniels, and Jay Bois at Chelsea Market's Comedy Night (7:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] blowout $10 fundraiser with star comics John Oliver (genius stand-up and
hilarious correspondent for The Daily Show), Todd Barry (also one of the very finest
stand-ups in the country; performed on HBO, Letterman, Conan, Comedy Central, Adult Swim),
Wyatt Cenac (newest correspondent for The Daily Show), and The Hazzards (popular comedic band
with hit Gay Boyfriend) at Liam McEneaney's Tell Your Friends (8:00ish pm),
[TOP PICK] razor-sharp theater and TV actors Kay Cannon (30 Rock), Barrett Foa (Avenue Q),
Marc Kudisch (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Nick Offerman (American Body Shop), and Ptolemy Slocum
(HBO's The Wire) mixing it up with brilliant improvisors Michael Delaney, Christina Gausas,
Ellie Kemper, and Anthony King as they crash improv into classic theatre scenes at Gravid Water (8:00 pm),
political sketch comedy, plus interviews with Rachel Maddow (host of The Rachel Maddow Show on Air America Radio) and Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, at Liz Winstead's Shoot the Messenger (8:30 pm),
Adam Pally (Comedy Central, MTV, Hot Sauce) performing a one-man show, followed by a relatively
new comedy troupe, in the double-bill Adam Pally and Not Your Typical Christian Comics (9:30 pm),
and six sharp improvisors—including rising star Thomas Middleditch—who honed their skills at Chicago's I.O. Theater and Second City making up scenes at Broad Shoulders (9:30 pm).
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 30+ 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.
Ochi's Motel is hosted & booked by Sean Donnelly and Joe Powers.
To be entered into the weekly random drawing for performers,
please send email to ochismotel[at]gmail.com.
There are two shows tonight, at 6:30 and 9:00 pm (with entirely different sets of comics).
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)
Jacqueline Novak, Jamie Lee, and Jon Friedman
Comedy Night at Chelsea Market
One of New York's great shopping institutions is the Chelsea Market,
which plays host to a wide range of nourishing foods and additively delicious snacks.
(Be sure to try the Fat Witch brownies, which are half-price from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm;
and Eleni's irresistible cupcakes and cookies, which are half-price from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.)
But with the aim of also being a cultural institution, Chelsea Market
plays home to a variety of fun events...including a Comedy Night.
In charge of the latter is Jon Friedman, host of the superb monthly NYC live comedy extravaganza The Rejection Show and author of the book Rejected: Tales of the Failed, Dumped, and Canceled.
Jon's scheduled lineup tonight includes Noah Garfinkel, Jamie Lee,
RG Daniels, Jay Bois, Jacqueline Novak, and Kenny Zimlinghaus.
The show takes place near the waterfall...and is entirely free.
7:00 pm at Chelsea Market, 75 9th Avenue (between 15th &16th Streets); free
John Oliver, Liam McEneaney, and Todd Barry
This weekly comedy extravaganza is produced by Liam McEneaney
(VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Premium Blend,
former writer for Standup Nation with Greg Giraldo).
This normally free show is $10 tonight in order to finance Liam's performing in August's Edinburgh festival. But you'll be more than getting your money's worth from these thoroughly wonderful guests:
John Oliver (genius who's one of the very finest—and nicest—stand-up comics in the biz;
delightful & hilarious news correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart;
recently aired a superb hour-long Comedy Central special, Terrifying Times; is co-writer/star
of The Department for BBC Radio 4, and host/star of BBC stand-up radio show Political Animal),
Todd Barry (wryly brilliant stand-up who's one of the very best in the biz;
Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien,
Comedy Central Presents; HBO's Flight of the Conchords, Lucky Louie, and Sex in the City;
Comedy Central's Freak Show, Dr. Katz, and Shorties Watching Shorties;
Adult Swim's Space Ghost, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and Tom Goes To The Mayor;
recently acted in the upcoming Darren Aronofsky film The Wrestler;
check out Todd's newest comedy CD From Heaven),
Wyatt Cenac (newest correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart;
for a blacks vs. gays competition, please click here), and
The Hazzards (comedic band focused around two gals, ukuleles, glockenspiel, casio sk-1, tambourine, cowbell, bass, drums, and harp!; members are Anne Harris & Sydney Maresca, plus Will Carlough, Andrew Dickerson, and Paul Thureen; Comedy Central's The World Stands Up; Kennedy Center Honors Steve Martin; charted with their song Gay Boyfriend; new album Secrets).
8:00ish pm at Lolita Bar, 226 Broome Street (between Allen and Orchard Streets); tickets are $10
Nearest subway stops are Delancey Street via the F or Delancey-Essex via the J/M/Z
Christina Gausas, Ptolemy Slocum, and Ellie Kemper...
...and Anthony King, Nick Offerman, and Michael Delaney
Classic theatre scenes performed by professional actors who stay on book—
and an improv comic who hasn't read the play and has to make up lines on the fly.
Starring world-class improvisers (in alphabetical order):
Michael Delaney (genius improvisor, actor, and improv instructor; Late Night with Conan O'Brien; member of UCBT star troupe The Stepfathers and legendary troupe The Swarm),
Christina Gausas (sharp, passionate, standout improvisor/actress; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report, The Al Franken Show, Let's Have a Ball, Dorff & Gausas),
Ellie Kemper (terrific comedic performer; actress credits include Late Night with Conan O'Brien and FUSE's The P.A.; member of popular improv troupe fwand; half of improv duo KEMPAS [with Christina Gausas]; writes for The Onion and McSweeney's), and
Anthony King (brilliant UCBT-NY Artistic Director; Reuben Williams, Happy Hour,
Let's Have a Ball, off-Broadway show Gutenberg! The Musical).
And also starring are some of NYC's top theatre & TV actors: Kay Cannon (30 Rock), Barrett Foa (Avenue Q, Mamma Mia!), Marc Kudisch (Tony nominee for Thoroughly Modern Millie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Nick Offerman (The Adding Machine, American Body Shop, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Saturday Night Live), and Ptolemy Slocum (HBO's The Wire and The Sopranos; improv troupe Neutrino).
Gravid Water is directed, hosted, and co-stars Stephen Ruddy—
and is one of the finest comedy productions in New York.
If you want to introduce an actor friend to the world of improv, start with this show.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Rachel Maddow, and STM host Lizz Winstead
Lizz Winstead is co-creator and former head writer of the original The Daily Show; former Executive VP of Air America Radio; and a performer on such shows as Comedy Central Presents and HBO's Women of the Night. (She's also a character; e.g., for a memorable anti-apology after canceling her appearance on the NYC show Drink at Work, please click here.)
Tonight's guests are
Rachel Maddow (host of The Rachel Maddow Show on Air America Radio) and
Paul Rieckhoff (founder and Executive Director of the organization Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; according to his official bio, Rieckhoff's Army platoon "conducted over 1,000 dismounted and mounted combat patrols, and was centered in the Adamiyah section of central Baghdad;"2006 book Chasing Ghosts: Failures and Facades in Iraq—A Soldier's Perspective; to view his February 2008 appearance on Bill Maher's HBO show Real Time, please click here).
To get a feel for STM, please view a fun interview with cartoonist David Rees by clicking here
and read a March 2008 New York Times article about the show by clicking here.
8:00 pm at The Green Room, 45 Bleecker Street (off Lafayette); tickets are $12.50
Nearest subway stop is Bleecker Street on the #6 (which brings you virtually to the door of the theatre)
and Broadway-Lafayette on the F/V/D/B
Adam Pally and Not Your Typical Christian Comics
Two comedy shows for five bucks.
Adam Pally is a wonderful sketch/improv performer. He's written for ABC; performed for MTV, Comedy Central, and the ace NYC storytelling series The Nights of Our Lives; and is a member of star comedy troupe Hot Sauce (which is the 2006 Cage Match champion). Tonight he'll be performing a new one-man show.
Not Your Typical Christian Comics is a comedy troupe I know nothing about. But given their great name, chances are they'll be fun.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Broad Shoulders: Chicago Improv
The six members of improv troupe Broad Shoulders met while performing at the
famed I.O. Theater and The Second City in Chicago, and they'll be showing off their stuff at this one-night-only NYC performance. The group consists of the acclaimed Thomas Middleditch, Mackenzie Condon, Mary Grill, James Harris, Scott Markman, and Steve Pasieka.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 7/29/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy
(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:
[TOP PICK] eight very funny NYC stand-ups—Joe DeRosa, Pat Dixon, Mike Drucker, Josh Homer,
Helen Hong, Jamie Lee, Sean Patton, and Brooke Van Poppelen—competing for
audience laughs and votes at Eric I's Comedy Showdown (7:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] razor-sharp comics Ted Alexandro (star stand-up; Letterman, Conan, two Comedy Central specials),
Joe Mande (Totally J/K, Workdays with Maury), Greg Johnson (co-host of award-winning Friday
comedy show), and more at a show mixing sketch & stand-up: Sweet Haven (8:00ish pm),
[TOP PICK] Marvel Comics Executive Editor Tom Brevoort (overseer of such titles as
Fantastic Four and New Avengers) and DC Comics Editor Bob Joy (handling collected editions)
joining in on a lively & fun discussion about comic books at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),
three full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring the troupes Bastian,
The Law Firm, The Scam, Bangs, and The F*cking Kennedys—at Harold Night (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] for its season finale, a blowout lineup of stellar comics including Reggie Watts
(genius comedic beatbox improvisor), Victor Varnado (Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central),
and Kumail Nanjiani (Comedy Central), plus acclaimed actor/director Frank Whaley, at one of
the finest & funniest shows in NYC, the wonderful Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm),
occasionally uncomfortable comedy at a show run by host Sean Donnelly and regulars
Blaine Perry, Pat Stango, Steve Bossous, and Eliza Faria-Santos: Don't Touch Me There (9:00 pm),
enormously talented and likeable comics Charlie Sanders (Conan O'Brien, 2008 improv champion),
DC PIerson (Derrick), Matt McCarthy (Comedy Central), and Colin Jost (writer for Saturday Night LIve)
at hosts Jon Bander, Dan Gregor, and Lucas Held's biweekly Her Majesty's Stand-Up (9:30 pm).
[TOP PICK] and two of UCBT's finest improv troupes, C, C + C Improv Factory and Krompf (11:00 pm).
Joe DeRosa, Jamie Lee, and Brooke Van Poppelen
This biweekly extravaganza is a comedy competition hosted by Eric I.
Eight established NYC comics who are all winners of previous preliminary rounds—specifically, Joe DeRosa, Pat Dixon, Mike Drucker, Josh Homer, Helen Hong, Jamie Lee, Sean Patton, and Brooke Van Poppelen—each performs a short set.
In addition, six volunteers selected from the audience each get one minute to be funny; and the two garnering the most votes also each performs a short set.
The audience then votes on who of the 10 comics was the most hilarious. The two winners receive additional stage time to make comedic fun of the losers; and also move on to a final round in December to determine a season champion (with a prize of $500, and bragging rights).
Considering the terrific comics involved, this could be a great deal of fun.
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)
Yes, tonight's show poster got the date wrong; but the lineup is correct, and great
This exciting new show comes from sketch troupe Peoples Republic of Komedy, whose members learned how to be funny in Seattle and then sunk all their savings into making a mark in NYC. They're off to a great start with this new weekly extravaganza, which uses sketch (and even a theme song) to create a comedic framework for their stand-up guests.
Tonight's stellar lineup consists of
Ted Alexandro (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"),
Joe Mande (2008 ECNY Award winner for Best Emerging Comic;
writer/co-star of new autobiographical comedic play Workdays with Maury at UCBT;
co-host of weekly NYC live comedy show Totally J/K),
Greg Johnson (sharp, quick-witted stand-up comic who co-hosts the weekly
NYC comedy extravaganza The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show,
which won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Variety Show),
Ross Hyzer (host of NYC live extravaganza County Fair Comedy Show;
for stand-up videos, please click here and here),
Calise Hawkins (comic who plays a good ol' Southern gal
while hosting the Sunday Rififi show Free Brownies, Y'All), and
Jim Dodge (for a stand-up video about two-minute dating and Radio Shack, please click here).
8:00ish pm (doors open at 7:30) at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); $5
Marvel Comics Executive Editor Tom Brevoort
Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight's powerhouse industry guests are
Tom Brevoort, Executive Editor for Marvel Comics, overseeing such titles as New Avengers, Civil War, and Fantastic Four, and
Bob Joy, Editor of Collected Editions at DC Comics.
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 fave, a delightful show with Kevin "Batman" Conroy, please click here).
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
The Harold is longform improv, pioneered by Del Close.
Tonight, five improv troupes—
Bastian, The Law Firm, The Scam, Bangs, and The F*cking Kennedys—
each give it a go for 30 minutes, with
short breaks in between, for a total of 3 hours.
Some of the groups are great; some are less so. And this show
is designed more for students of improv than the general public.
But if you're interested, and patient, a mere $5 will buy you
a full evening's education...and periodic solid laughs.
8:00-11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Victor Varnado, Reggie Watts, and Kumail Nanjiani...
...and Seth Herzog and Frank Whaley
Hosted by the razor-sharp, dynamic, and hilarious Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).
Seth is one of the finest hosts around—and this is one of the best comedy shows in NYC.
This is also the final Sweet for the summer...and, appropriately for the season closer, a blowout spectacular. Tonight's thoroughly wonderful guests are:
Reggie Watts (musical improv comedy genius; winner of 2007 Andy Kaufman Award; cast member of the new Electric Company; scary talented vocalist, beatboxer, and musician whose unique skills will likely amaze you; to learn more, please visit ReggieWatts.com; for video samples of what Reggie does, please click here and here and here; and keep an eye out Reggie's upcoming new album),
Victor Varnado (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, NBC's My Name is Earl, Adult Swim's Fat Guy Stuck in Internet, Chicago City Limits; wrote and directed the movie Twist the Cap, starring Charlie Murphy; acted in such films as Pluto Nash, End of Days, and A Guy Thing; for a stand-up sample, please click here),
Kumail Nanjiani (rising stand-up star; Comedy Central's Open Mic Fight; terrific one-man show Unpronounceable about experiences with Islam—for my review, please click here; co-host of monthly UCBT comedy show Game Bros. Live!; to get a feel for Kumail's style, please check out his very funny stand-up about the dark side of video games, odd memories, and the many ways cell phones are eliminated in horror films by clicking here),
Dan Wilbur (writer for CollegeHumor.com; member of sketch troupe Zarko Love; for stand-up video about drugs and dating, please click here), and
Frank Whaley (acclaimed actor who's performed in scores of feature films [The Doors, JFK, Hoffa, Swimming with Sharks, Pulp Fiction] and TV shows [Law & Order, Boston Legal, House]; writer/director of 2007 indie feature film New York City Serenade starring Freddie Prinz Jr.).
In addition to performances from the stellar talents above, tonight's show will feature Sweet's third annual Laugh Olympics during which non-performers compete with each other in comedy-related events. The winner will receive a gold metal that Seth promises to forge from numerous chocolate bar wrappers.
This show is expected to more than sell out. It's therefore recommended you arrive early to ensure getting in.
9:00 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5
Blaine Perry and Pat Stango
Host Sean Donnelly, along with regulars Blaine Perry, Pat Stango,
Steve Bossous, and Eliza Faria-Santos create this comedy show
that doesn't mind being unsettling.
A typical Stango bit: "It creeps me out when I visit my parents' house and listen to them
say what a great sex life they still have. It especially freaks me out because
they died in a car accident 10 years ago."
If that made you laugh, you're a Don't Touch Me There kind of person.
Tonight's guests haven't been announced; for a last-minute update, please click here.
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)
Matt McCarthy and Charlie Sanders...
...and DC Pierson and Colin Jost
Biweekly show hosted by Jon Bander, Dan Gregor, and Lucas Held.
Tonight's superb stand-up guests are
Colin Jost (writer for Saturday Night Live),
Charlie Sanders (brilliantly dynamic comic who's one of the most committed improvisors you'll ever see; sketch performer on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; member of world-class improv troupes Reuben Williams, Buffoons, and C, C + C Improv Factory—which won the 2008 Cage Match Improv Championship),
DC Pierson (enormously promising young star; brilliant improvisor, sketch comic, and short filmmaker as one-third of popular comedy troupe Derrick), and
Matt McCarthy (razor-sharp comic; Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; co-host of biweekly LIC live comedy extravaganza The Matt and Katina Show).
9:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
and 
C, C + C Improv Factory and Krompf
Improv group C, C + C Improv Factory—consisting of Chuck Dauble (Chuck D. & Jawnee Show), Charlie Sanders (Conan O'Brien, Reuben Williams), and Charlie Todd (Improv Everywhere, Reuben Williams)—is the 2008 Champion of Cage Match, beating out some of the most spectacularly skilled improvisors in the country who'd duked it out on stage for the past year.
The trio were also a standout—amidst over 150 troupes— at last July's Del Close Improv Marathon, expertly demonstrating how to keep raising the stakes throughout a long-form improvisation by playing three guys revealing all the lies they've been suppressing while they've hung out together: e.g., one of them admits that despite his frequent television references, he actually never watches TV; then that he's Amish; and finally that he's blind. The exploration of the logical ramifications of each revelation led the audience into hysterical laughter.
Krompf is another of NYC's finest comedy troupes: Neil Casey (member of UCBT's weekly hit show Death by Roo Roo), Ryan Karels, Amey Goerlich, and Joe Wengert (member of UCBT's weekly hit show Reuben Williams). At a memorable 2007 appearance on Cage Match, these improvisors took the kickoff suggestion Christendom to heights of delicious absurdity, in which young children about to be initiated into Catholicism are made to wear suits of armor and engage in swordplay while a voracious winged monster (played memorably by Ryan Karels) perches ready to gobble up the head of any who show hints of wavering. And in another subplot, Neil Casey was hilarious as a perpetually grieving cab driver who tells every passenger about his bride dying on their wedding day. At the end, we learn that as he backed up the cab preparing to drive them both to the Church, he accidentally ran her over...
With two such brilliant teams performing, this show promises to be special and memorable.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 7/30/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy
(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:
deliciously funny & luminous gals Brooke Van Poppelen, Joselyn Hughes, and
Margaret Champagne entertaining you with their own stand-up & stories, and also
bringing in sharp NYC comics to perform, at their Slumber Party (7:30 pm),
[TOP PICK] smart, topical comedy, featuring exceptionally sharp & funny comics J.R. Havlan
(brilliant head writer for The Daily Show), Ted Alexandro (star stand-up; Letterman, Conan, two
Comedy Central specials), and Michelle Collins (VH1, MTV U) at Seth Herzog's Wicked Wits (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] a hilarious idea for a show—make up comedy skits from stories in the New York Post—
brought to life by three of the most quick-witted and inventive comics in NYC, Larry Murphy
(Conan O'Brien, Adult Swim), John Mulaney (VH1, Conan O'Brien), and Patrick Borelli
(Conan O'Brien, SuperDeluxe) in CBS/NYC Presents: New York Post Live! (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] a blowout show jam-packed with some of the greatest stand-up comics in NYC:
Ted Alexandro (Letterman, Conan, Comedy Central), Pete Holmes (VH1, Comedy Central),
Tom Shillue (The Daily Show, Conan, Comedy Central), DC Benny (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central),
Kumail Nanjiani, and Eric Andre at Gary Vider's and Phil Murphy's Whatever (9:00 pm),
comics, writers, and others telling tales of their worst NYC experiences in New York Sh*tty (9:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] and many of the funniest characters who've graced the UCBT stage this year performing
monologues, improv, and sketch comedy at the free UCBT's Best of the Best Show (10:00 pm).
For details, please click here.
Tonight on TV
South Park is one of the funniest shows in TV history—
and also one of the most consistently superb, over an amazing 11 seasons.
On tonight's repeat, D-Yikes!, sexually confused Mr./Ms. Garrison visits a lesbian bar...in an episode
that parodies the film 300 and teaches you things you never knew about Mexicans.
Set your TiVo to 10:00 pm or midnight at Comedy Central.
Your hosts Margaret Champagne, Joselyn Hughes, and Brooke Van Poppelen at...
This twice-monthly event is described as "the sort of variety show that happens when
three girls are delirious from staying up all night boozing and slap-happy from crank-calling!"
Actually, it's a show hosted by three of the most talented women in comedy. And just being in the same room with Brooke, Joselyn, and Margaret—who in "real life" are the best of friends—is a cause for joy.
More specifically, these lovely & hilarious gals are
Margaret Champagne (Carolines, UCBT; for acting reel, please click here),
Joselyn Hughes (for video questioning the effectiveness of rape whistles, please click here), and
Brooke Van Poppelen (Carolines, Laugh Factory; for a video sample, please click here).
Tonight's stand-up comedy guests haven't been announced, but this powerhouse trio have lots of friends and admirers, so expect some fine comics to come by.
Also keep an eye out for a sketch show titled Macho: Grow a Pair that Joselyn and Brooke premiered earlier this month in Chicago and will be mounting at some point in NYC.
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)
Daily Show Head Writer J.R. Havlan, Michelle Collins...
...Seth Herzog, and Ted Alexandro
Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever, Sweet) hosts this new show devoted to smart, witty comedy, focusing on such topics as politics, current events, and pop culture.
Seth's wonderful guests tonight are
J.R. Havlan (winner of five Emmy awards for his brilliant work as head writer for The Daily Show),
Ted Alexandro (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"), and
Michelle Collins (VH1's Best Week Ever and All Access, MTV U, The Al Franken Show, YouCantMakeItUp.org; for a memorable chat about the power of penises over vaginas, please click here).
Please Note: You can save $5 off the $20 cover (i.e., pay $15 per ticket)
by ordering online with discount code HyReviews.
8:00 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
$15 online with code HyReviews, plus two-item food or drink minimum
John Mulaney, Patrick Borelli, and Larry Murphy
CBS/NYC Presents: New York Post Live!
In this one-time event, some of the sharpest, most hilarious 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 cast:
Larry Murphy (genius comedic chameleon & voiceover actor who performs all the
key characters on Adult Swim's Assy McGee; other animated TV series include
Home Movies, O'Grady, Computer Lab, Word Girl, and Sunday Pants;
sketch performer on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; announcer for ESPN's Cheap Seats; co-host of award-winning NYC Friday night live comedy show at Rififi; for an animated VO reel, please click here),
John Mulaney (one of the funniest stand-up comics in the country; frequently appears on VH1's Best Week Ever; performed stand-up twice on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up Comedian; recently selected by Variety as among the 10 Comics to Watch for 2008; to check out videos of John's two Conan sets, please click here and here), and
Patrick Borelli (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central's Premium Blend,
ESPN's Cheap Seats, SuperDeluxe's Thunderpoint, Video Power Hour).
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Big Black Car and Fancy Dragon
This free weekly show features the two PIT improv teams above,
each of which performs for about 30 minutes. For a video sample of Big Black Car,
please click here; and for a video sample of Fancy Dragon, please click here.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
Tom Shillue, DC Benny, and Eric Andre...
...and Pete Holmes and Ted Alexandro
Monthly NYC Live comedy show hosted by Gary Vider and Phil Murphy, "childhood friends who combine forces to bring you the most laid-back comedy atmosphere. More of a state of mind than a comedy show. For example, when a comedian wants to know what type of material to do, our answer is simply Whatever."
That said, tonight's show is a blowout spectacular. The thoroughly wonderful comics are
Pete Holmes (razor-sharp & lightning-fast mind, and one of the finest stand-ups in the country;
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 extravaganza Gutbucket),
Ted Alexandro (comedy star who's also one of the finest stand-ups in the country; 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"),
Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; storytelling podcasts; host of acclaimed NYC monthly comedy show Moonwork; comedy CD Overconfident!; for stand-up samples, please click here and here),
DC Benny (Last Comic Standing finalist, Comedy Central Presents half-hour special
and Comedy Central's Premium Blend, The Chris Rock Show, Showtime at the Apollo, Friday Night Videos; TV and movie actor for Law & Order, The Cosby Show, Spider-Man 3, and the upcoming film Five Nights in Brooklyn),
Kumail Nanjiani (rising stand-up star; Comedy Central's Open Mic Fight; terrific one-man show Unpronounceable about experiences with Islam—for my review, please click here; co-host of monthly UCBT comedy show Game Bros. Live!; to get a feel for Kumail's style, please check out his very funny stand-up about the dark side of video games, odd memories, and the many ways cell phones are eliminated in horror films by clicking here), and
Eric Andre (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; 2007 HBO Aspen Comedy Festival;
Geico caveman; for a video sample, please click here).
9:00 pm at Failte Irish Whiskey Bar, 531 Second Avenue (between 29th and 30th Streets); $5
Ilana & Eliot Glazer
Honestly, if I didn't love New York, I wouldn't be running a Web site mostly focused on NYC.
Nonetheless, this show is intriguing. 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 lineup hasn't been announced; but with the right storytellers, this could be great.
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)
Kurt Braunohler, Pat Shay, and Kimmy Gatewood
The Faculty and The Baldwins and Sid Viscous
Some of the PIT's instructors—who include such talents as Ali Farahnakian,
Kurt Braunohler, Ptolemy Slocum, Jen Nails, Pat Shay, Matt Donnelly, Kevin Scott,
Rebekka Johnson, and Kimmy Gatewood—perform improv for around 30 minutes.
And opening for them will be house improv troupes The Baldwins and Sid Viscous.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
It's been said the highest form of comedy is character humor. Tonight will prove the point, as many of the funniest characters brought to life on the UCBT stage this year make you laugh—and love them—via monologues, improv, and sketch comedy.
This special treat of a show is likely to run past midnight.
And it's free.
10:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 7/31/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy
(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:
[TOP PICK] one of the most charming & entertaining groups in NYC (and winner of the 2008 ECNY Award
for Best Musical Comedy Act), fresh off appearances on Comedy Central and the prestigious
Montreal Comedy Festival, performing a laugh-packed musical: The Apple Sisters (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] Pangea 3000, one of the best sketch troupes in the country and a highlight of last month's
SketchFest NYC 08, plus comedic actress Sue Galloway performing a one-woman show, in
the double-bill Pangea 3000 Recommends the Beatles and Homebody (8:00 pm),
terrific stand-ups Claudia Cogan (Logo Network, Sirius OutQ), Leah Dubie (Comedy Central,
co-host of Dykes on Mics), and more at a gay-themed show hosted by Jenny Rubin
—plus a party afterwards to celebrate this season finale—at The Back Room (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] genius comic Andy Blitz (long-time staff writer for Conan O'Brien),
Donald Glover (writer for 30 Rock, member of star sketch/improv troupe Derrick), Hannibal Buress
(Comedy Central), and more at the hilarious Joe Mande's & Noah Garfinkel's Totally J/K (8:30 pm),
a comedy game show about life and trivia: Are You Paying Attention? (9:30 pm),
sketch troupe As Sparks Fly Upward, which uses personal anecdotes and improv
as a means for building complex stories, debuting their latest work tonight:
a tale of learning to let go of old wounds titled Escape from Past Mountain (9:30 pm),
[TOP PICK] and energetic & inventive improv troupes Death by Roo Roo and The Law Firm
competing for audience laughs & votes at the raucous Cage Match (11:00 pm).
For details, please click here.
Please Note: This is the last day I'll be doing comprehensive NYC comedy picks for a while. (The Comedy Club Discount page will continue to be updated daily, though.) The New York International Fringe Festival runs August 8-24, and I'm known for rating, ranking, and reviewing more FringeNYC shows than anyone alive. The festival attracts 75,000 audience members annually, so in August this site will be focused on serving them by identifying what shows are most worth seeing, and also providing daily updated festival news, buzz, and tips.
FringeNYC is one of the most magical events NYC has to offer, vibrant with energy and fresh approaches. Please use HyReviews.com in August as a personal guide to the breathtaking 202 shows playing this year.
To learn more, please visit—and bookmark—HyReviews.com/fringenyc2008.htm.
Photo on left: Rebekka Johnson, Kimmy Gatewood, and Sarah Lowe
Photo on right: Sarah Lowe, Rebekka Johnson, and Kimmy Gatewood
The Apple Sisters: The Musical
The delicious Apple Sisters—Kimmy Gatewood, Rebekka Johnson, and Sarah Lowe, with Tom Thomsen on keyboard—have sung, danced, and naughtily joked their ways into New York City's heart. This homage to 1940s girl groups like The Andrew Sisters has been one of the great successes of 2007, having done 10 original shows, sold-out performances at comedy festivals around the country, and recently winning the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act.
Tonight the gals have put together their best bits, along with new material, to create a laugh-packed musical running over an hour. Featuring FDR, pickles, and God, it's full of fun and surprises.
From the official description: "The Apple Sisters are Candy, Cora, and Seedy. Their mother, Ms. Reddy Apple, was a vaudeville star and she passed down the legacy to her three girls! The trio present their live show, broadcast on WXYZ AM Radio, straight to the troops in Germany, and present the show on stage at the Peoples Improv Theater in their first and favorite home, the Big Apple! Be a chum and always use Doramad Toothpaste, now with Thorium!"
To get a feel for the production, please click here & here & here & here.
The show tends to sell out, so it's recommended you buy an advance ticket
online ($9.19, including service charge) by clicking here.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street; tickets are $8 at the door
Ace sketch comedy troupe Pangea 3000 and comedic actress Sue Galloway
Pangea 3000: Recommending the Beatles and Sue Galloway: Homebody
Two superb sketch comedy shows for a mere five bucks.
First up is world-class sketch troupe Pangea 3000, which consists of
Andrew Cleary, Sam Kemmis, Dan Klein, Arthur Meyer, and Seth Reiss.
These guys have blown the roof off with such instant classics as a spelling bee
for fart noises, and a doctor announcing devastating news and then going off to calmly eat a chicken sandwich while family members panic. To view two of Pangea 3000's surreal tales of games guys play, involving whoopee cushions and tag, please click here and here; and then come let these exceptionally clever writer/performers make you laugh hard and often.
The double-bill then continues with Homebody, a one-woman show written and performed by sharp comedic actress Sue Galloway (member of rockin' comedic band Stickerbook, co-writer/co-star of 2006 FringeNYC show Free to Be Friends, member of improv troupes The Law Firm and 1985). It's directed by the wonderful Neil Casey (brilliant comedic performer who's a member of stellar improv troupes Death by Roo Roo and Krompf).
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Jenny Rubin, Dave Rubin, Paul Case, and Shawn Hollenbach
Gay-themed comedy (with both gay & straight comics),
hosted by the charming Jenny Rubin (WE TV).
Tonight is the last show for the summer. To help celebrate this season finale,
there'll be prize giveaways, a post-show party, and drink specials.
And the guests are these terrific stand-ups:
Claudia Cogan (ECNY Award nominee for Best Female Stand-Up;
Logo Network, Sirius OutQ; co-host of monthly NYC live comedy show Doris Yeltsin;
for stand-up video about Claudia's aspirations to be a stripper,
please click here; for video about her being unemployed, please click here),
Leah Dubie (Comedy Central; co-host of weekly NYC live comedy show Dykes on Mics),
Tom Ragu (Tom Ragu's Comedy Revue),
Back Room co-producer Paul Case (MTV, D-Listed Radio),
Back Room co-producer Shawn Hollenbach (here! TV's Busted), and
Back Room co-producer Dave Rubin (here! TV's Topical and Hot Gay Comics).
8:00 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)
Hosted by quick-witted best buds Noah Garfinkel and
Joe Mande, the 2008 ECNY Award winner for Best Emerging Comic.
(For dueling birthday videos, please click here and here; for their
recent appearance on The McLaughlin Group, please click here;
and for other videos, please click here and here.)
Tonight's superb guests are
Andy Blitz (comedy genius best known for being a writer and performer for
Late Night with Conan O'Brien since 1999; to read about Andy's memorable
hosting of Crash Test last year at UCBT, please click here),
Donald Glover (writer for NBC's 30 Rock; multiple appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; member of three-man improv/sketch comedy troupe Derrick, which is a star
both on stage at UCBT and on the Web via their wildly popular YouTube videos—
for samples, please click here and here and here and here),
Hannibal Buress (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, Chicago's Finest),
Ani Raya-Flores (member of Zebra comedy troupe),
Sam Grittner (for stand-up about the gayness of Heaven, please click here).
8:30 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
This monthly event is "a live game show featuring three contestants chosen randomly from the audience to answer questions about politics, pop culture, and other things you should already know!" Written by John Frusciante, Aaron Glaser, Jon Gutierrez; hosted by John Frusciante; and featuring sketch comedy performers Ari Scott and Mike Still.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
As Sparks Fly Upward: Escape From Past Mountain
Comedy troupe As Sparks Fly Upward tells stories off the top of their heads, then improvises
scenes based on the tales...which may later turn into scripted sketches.
It's a clever way of crafting a sketch show organically, week by week—
and tonight you can watch the results.
The show is titled Escape From Past Mountain...and has nothing to do with orphan children with extraordinary powers. Instead, it's "about how our pasts can catch up with us, unless we choose the hard road of forgiveness. From moment to moment this show isn't afraid to be heady, physical, dark, or boldly juvenile. Most of all, it's funny.".
The writer/performers are Chris Caniglia, Scott Eckert, Sarah Nowak,
Nate Starkey and Shelly Stover; and they're directed by Ptolemy Slocum.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $8
vs. 
Cage Match: Death by Roo Roo vs. The Law Firm
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.)
The current reining champ at Cage Match is arguably the gutsiest improv group in NYC: Death by Roo Roo, consisting of uniformly brilliant comics Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, Jackie Clarke, Brett Gelman, John Gemberling, and Curtis Gwinn. This juggernaut doesn't merely walk over opponents, it pounds them into the ground. So far this season, DBRR has trounced 11 troupes in a row, winning a total of 1,081 audience votes vs. a mere 422 for all its opponents combined.
Tonight's contender is UCBT Harold team The Law Firm, which consists of superb talents Dominic Dierkes, Jonathan Gabrus, Sue Galloway, Nate Lang, Gil Ozeri, Adam Pally, Ben Rodgers, and Gavin Speiller. To understand how formidable this group is, note that Adam Pally is a member of star troupe Hot Sauce, which was the 2006 Cage Match champion; Dominic Dierkes is a member of star troupe Derrick, which dominated Cage Match for most of 2007; and Ben Rodgers is the pitch-perfect and thoroughly hilarious co-announcer of Cage Match (which creates a conflict of interest, so don't be surprised to see a substitute at the CM desk tonight...).
Will the audience like the Law more than Death? Or has Roo Roo become too firm a habit?
There's no telling what'll happen...which is one of the great pleasures of this extravaganza.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 8/1/08
If you're looking for this site's usual daily comedy show recommendations, please note the section is on hiatus for a while so I can focus on the New York International Fringe Festival. (The Comedy Club Discount page will continue to be updated daily, though.)
FringeNYC runs August 8-24, and is a magical event for those who love vibrant live shows. The festival virtually shimmers with fresh artistic approaches, a wide range of voices and styles, high energy, and delightful surprises. That's why every year it attracts over 75,000 audience members.
A scene from Gratuitous Novelty, one of the 202 shows at this year's FringeNYC
I'm known for rating, ranking, and reviewing more FringeNYC shows than anyone. (I began attending the festival in 2001, and have been covering it extensively since 2004, writing hundreds of reviews...all of which are on this site.) And so this August I'll once again be identifying what FringeNYC shows are most worth seeing (and which to consider avoiding); and providing daily updated festival news, buzz, and tips.
If you've been visiting this site for its comedy coverage, please be aware that there are lots of funny shows at the Fringe, including these (most of which are by stellar members of NYC's comedy community):
Robin Gelfenbein in My Salvation Has a First Name, and Allen Warnock & Andrea Alton in Carl & Shelly, BFFs
• Gem!: A Truly Outrageous Parody: This musical parody of the 1980s animated series Jem co-stars Glennis McMurray and Eliza Skinner, the genius duo who ordinarily make up musicals on the spot as I Eat Pandas. Other NYC comedy luminaries acting in this production include Greg Burke (sketch troupe Greg & Lou, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Law & Order, Guiding Light) and Jeff Hiller (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, MTV's Boiling Points, FUSE's The PA, VH1; comedic horror musicals Silence! and The Children; UCBT Harold team The Scam).
• Carl & Shelly, Best Friends Forever: Written & starring Allen Warnock (co-founder of the weekly NYC live comedy show The Back Room) and Andrea Alton (member of NYC sketch troupe Freedumb). For a hilarious sneak peek video, please click here.
• My Salvation Has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey: A one-woman show by Robin Gelfenbien, former member of NYC sketch troupe Freedumb.
• 52 Man Pickup: Written & starring superb NYC stand-up comic Desiree Burch.
• Untitled Masterpiece: Co-stars Neil Casey (brilliant comedic performer who's a member of world-class NYC improv troupes Death by Roo Roo and Krompf). I know nothing yet about the production, but it's probably worth catching just to watch Neil be hilarious.
• PennyBear: Well-reviewed troupe based in Chicago that'll be performing a "best of" show for the festival via "a collection of sketch comedy pieces that more closely resemble very funny short plays."
• More Than Pants: Written & performed by Brigid Boyle and Jennifer Subrin, who trained at UCBT-NY and were members of improv troupe Ponyboy. Brigid is currently a member of Magnet troupes Yes Andersens and Focus.
• FACE: NYC improv troupe FACE, headed by Duncan Murdoch, that makes up scenes following not only an audience suggestion but the riffs of an instrumental jazz quartet.
• All Hail the Great Serpent: Written & performed by darkly oddball NYC sketch troupe Murderfist.
FringeNYC is one of the most magical events New York has to offer. Please use HyReviews.com in August as a personal guide to the breathtaking 202 shows playing this year.
To learn more, please visit—and bookmark—HyReviews.com/fringenyc2008.htm.
Also, please check out the August Video Clips of the Month, which are devoted to the best of FringeNYC 2008 show trailers & sneak peek videos, by clicking here.
For terrific low-cost comedy year-round in NYC, please visit the Web sites of
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
Please Note: Two New York live comedy venues that were frequently listed here have recently closed.
Rififi played host to such thoroughly wonderful shows as The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show,
Gelmania, Totally J/K, and Sweet Haven. This past Thursday (July 31) was apparently its final day.
(I walked by last Friday night, just to make sure. Normally alive with laughter and
socializing thanks to Greg's & Larry's show, the place was shut down and locked. Very sad...)
Also gone is the RubyFruit Bar & Grill, which played host every Monday night to the delightful
Jackie Monahan, Amy Beckerman, Gloria Bigelow, and Leah Dubie of Dykes on Mics.
These weekly comedy shows were NYC treasures. Here's hoping they all find new homes soon.
Notable Comedy Festivals in August
Del Close Improv Marathon: August 8-10 at NYC's UCBT
(I can't cover Del Close this year because it conflicts with FringeNYC;
but to get a feel for this magical and memorable event, please read
my report on last year's Marathon by clicking here.)
DC Comedy Fest: August 7-9 in Washington, DC
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 8/2/08
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 8/3/08
Return to Previous NYC Comedy Picks
Copyright © 2008 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
