NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 7/5/10
Improv stars Eliza Skinner, Thomas Middleditch, Mike Still, Shannon O'Neill, and more make up a musical at Diamond Lion
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[FREE] 6:00 pm: Kevin Allison (legendary MTV sketch series The State, HBO, Comedy Central, VH1, host of award-winning storytelling show Risk!) hosts this free open mic show for storytellers, in which you can put your name in a hat for the chance to tell a five-minute true story...and if it's a good one, possibly be included in Kevin's popular podcasts on the Web: Risk! Storyslam
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:00 pm ($17.50 online with discount code NIFF): My #1 pick for the 2007 FringeNYC Festival, this wonderful group of actresses/improvisors portray characters as if they were in a play, but improvise everything they say and do. The luminous performers include Katharine Heller, Brenna Palughi, Lynne Rosenberg, and Lauren Seikaly, each of whom is immensely appealing and quick-witted. Further, they have an intimate, lovely chemistry with each other; and they've all committed to baring their personal lives, thinly disguised via their characters (hence the title's Naked). As a result, this is one of the most honest and nuanced improvised shows you'll ever see. Check out some videos of previous episodes here; and then nab tickets for tonight's fifth installment at the Soho Playhouse of a 10-week Monday night run: Naked in a Fishbowl
[FREE] 7:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Pat Dixon (Comedy Central Presents; CD Goodbye Forever Fatty), Keith Alberstadt (David Letterman, VH1), Jessimae Peluso (Comedy Time TV, TruTV), Raquel D'Apice, Mike Lawrence, and Jayson Cross (Nip/Tuck) performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub hosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy
7:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours at the Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street)—at John Morrison's Motel Luca
8:00 pm ($5): Two of UCBT's finest house sketch comedy troupes, Stone Cold Fox and Gorilla Gorilla, trying out new bits at Maude Night
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Some of the finest improvisors in the country—Thomas Middleditch, Eliza Skinner, Tara Copeland, Becky Drysdale, Jeff Hiller, Mike Still, and Shannon O'Neill—making up a musical on the spot at Diamond Lion
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest stand-up comics in the country—tonight including Todd Barry, Andy Blitz, Lisa Delarios, and James Adomian—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 7/6/10
Adira Amram (The Moon Show) and Matt McCarthy (headlining at Carolines)...
...and Andrea Rosen and Brooke Van Poppelen (Get Off Your Knees)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm [FREE] 8:00 pm: Wonderful comics Adira Amram (fresh, sexy, hilarious rising star singer/songwriter), Adam Wade (two-time Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Champion (2006 & 2009) and record-breaking 15-time StorySlam Champion; The New York Times Magazine; host of Real Tales of College; for Adam's award-winning tale of being an NBC page on Conan O'Brien, please click here), and Craig Baldo (Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, VH1, The Onion), plus non-comedic musical guest Camille Harris, performing at Brooklyn's The Royal Oak with host Jordan Clifford: The Moon Show
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm [FREE] 8:00 pm: Superb stand-ups Ali Wong (hilarious comedy dynamo), Andrea Rosen (Comedy Central's Michael and Michael Have Issues, Stella, Variety SHAC), and Jena Friedman (Entertaining the Bartender; check out Jena's latest video here) performing at Brooklyn's Bell House Front Lounge guest-hosted by the gorgeous Brooke Van Poppelen (TLC's American Chopper, Maxim and Cosmo Radio, So-Low Show; popular blogs NYisretarded.blogspot.com and RockBottom; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here): Get Off Your Knees
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Comics industry pros join super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club
8:00 pm to midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes DeCoster, Bastian, Ragnaröck, Sandino, and Monstro; and at 11:00 pm UCBT students at all improv levels getting a chance to perform on stage with improv veterans—all at Harold Night
[FREE] 8:00 pm: Red-hot stand-up Hannibal Buress (staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, Jimmy Fallon, Craig Ferguson, George Lopez, concert film The Awkward Comedy Show; 2010 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up), Rob O'Reilly (Jay Leno, Comedy Central), Crede And Kane (Phaea Crede And Alex Kane), Damien Lemon (host of Comedy On the Hump), and Ramtin Taheri performing at Cellar 58 (58 Second Avenue) alongside delightful host Abbi Crutchfield and comedic rapster Andrew Singer: Positively Awesome
[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($3): Sean Patton (red-hot rising star; killer set on Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central, VH1), Leo Allen (former writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central Presents, Conan O'Brien, HBO's Funny or Die, host of top NYC comedy show Whiplash), Jamie Kilstein, Karith Foster, and Monrok performing at the Housingworks Bookstore Cafe for an almost-free weekly show hosted by Joe DeRosa (new comedy CD The Depression Auction): Punch Up Your Life
[TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($16.50 & 2-drink min.): A beloved stand-up & comedic actor who's best known as the Verizon FIOS guy, but has also performed on Comedy Central and AMC, co-stars in hilarious Front Page Films videos, and recently released his first comedy CD Come Clean, headlining tonight only at Carolines: Matt McCarthy
[FREE] 11:00 pm: Free open mic stand-up show that's seldom much fun for audience members but is a nice opportunity if you want 4-5 minutes to test out your comedy material on stage: Bring It
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 7/7/10
Hannibal Buress (above left), Adira Amram, Leo Allen,
and other wonderful comics perform tonight at
Jena Friedman's Entertaining
the Bartender; and Myq Kaplan (above right) tonight headlines
at Carolines
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
6:30 pm & 9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—with two installments running back to back every Wednesday at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel
[FREE] 6:00 pm to midnight: Six free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): Michael Patrick O'Brien (staff writer for Saturday Night Live) debuts a one-show show that begins with his trying to break a randomly selected Guinness World Record "using only a small bag of props and the advice of audience members," followed by "an inspired sort of looniness,"at Shatter
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:00 pm ($18.00 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up famed for his quiet, intelligent style who's performed on Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, and this summer's Last Comic Standing (for superb stand-up video about religion, gay marriage, and dumplings, please click here) headlining tonight only at Carolines: Myq Kaplan
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Wyatt Cenac (correspondent for The Daily Show), James Adomian (superb impressionist with killer bit on Lewis Black as 14-year-old girl; finalist in this summer's Last Comic Standing; as long as James skips the dreadful cancer joke he's currently trying out, expect a good time), musical guest Das Racist, and more join best bud hosts Noah Garfinkel & Joe Mande (author of Look At This F*cking Hipster) at Totally J/K
[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm [FREE] 8:00 pm: Thoroughly wonderful comics Adira Amram (fresh, sexy, hilarious rising star singer/songwriter), Hannibal Buress (red-hot rising stand-up star; staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, Jimmy Fallon, Craig Ferguson, George Lopez, concert film The Awkward Comedy Show; 2010 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up), Leo Allen (former writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central Presents, Conan O'Brien, HBO's Funny or Die, host of top NYC comedy show Whiplash), Andrea Rosen (Comedy Central's Michael and Michael Have Issues, Stella, Variety SHAC), John Flynn (superb storyteller; The Nights of Our Lives), and Mike DeStephano (semi-finalist on this summer's Last Comic Standing) performing at the East Village's Angels and Kings with delightful dark humor host Jena Friedman: Entertaining the Bartender
[FREE] [FREE CUPCAKES/SNACKS] 8:30: NYC storytellers & stand-ups Leslie Goshko, Rob Gorden, Sue Funke, Vicki Ferentinos, Pat O'Shea, Sean Crespo, and Colin Dempsey performing at this free weekly show—tonight celebrating its Second Anniversary with free cupcakes & other snacks!—hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink
[FREE] 8:30 pm: Hannibal Buress (red-hot rising star; staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, Jimmy Fallon, Craig Ferguson, George Lopez, concert film The Awkward Comedy Show; 2010 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up), Greg Barris (host of Heart of Darkness), Gabrielle Delahaye, and more performing at this free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn's Cameo (behind Lovin' Cup) hosted by Gabe Liedman and Max Silvestri: Big Terrific
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Superb comics Peter Grosz (writer for The Colbert Report, star of over 100 Sonic fast-food commercials) and John Lutz (writer & occasional actor on SNL since 2004; recurring character on 30 Rock) perform acclaimed two-man improv in 2 Square
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) providing as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible—and don't forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 7/8/10
Brilliant storyteller Elna Baker (Risk!) and Last Comic Standing finalist Rachel Feinstein (Comedy Below Canal)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $12 marked with $) include:
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[TOP PICK] [$] 7:00 pm ($15): Top comics and comedic storytellers—who tonight are Elna Baker (brilliant storyteller, talented cartoonist, and bestselling author of the comedic book The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance), Matt McCarthy (beloved stand-up and comedic actor; Comedy Central, AMC, Verizon FIOS guy, Front Page Films, comedy CD Come Clean), Victor Varnado (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central, NBC's My Name is Earl, Adult Swim, The Awkward Comedy Show; films Pluto Nash, End of Days, A Guy Thing), Katina Corrao (HBO, Logo), and Lee Camp (Comedy Central, The Onion)—joining brilliant sketch comic and storyteller Kevin Allison (The State) to share tales on tonight's theme "Heroism: Saving the Day" at one of the finest storytelling shows in the country: Risk!
7:00 pm ($5): A sketch show from Chris & Rebecca Smith, two members of world-class sketch troupe The Harvard Sailing Team who are married to each other: The New York Smiths
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:30 pm ($34.48 online if you use code VIPJULY, plus 2-item minimum): A hilarious stand-up; cast member of 30 Rock; performer on VH1's Best Week Ever, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, MTV's Wonder Showzen, and NBC's The Tonight Show; and actor in over 20 films, including such hit comedies as Meet the Parents, Zoolander, Full Grown Men, and American Splendor, headlining tonight through Saturday at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Judah Friedlander
7:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): "Alternative and mainstream comedians who don't quite fit in" performing in Ochi's Lounge at a monthly show hosted by Grant Gordon and the delightful Helen Hong: Odd Baggage
7:30 pm ($5): Sharp improvisors directed by James Eason "take an audience suggestion and break it into a million funny pieces," and veteran improvisors play with "elements of monoscene, deconstruction, and La Ronde," in the double-bill The Deconstruction and Sleepover
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($26.75 & 2-drink min.): A 10-year veteran cast member of Mad TV who's also performed on numerous other top television shows, headlining tonight through Sunday at Carolines: Michael McDonald
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($37.50 online or at the box office using discount code ALIEN): Sharp comics and 80 Henson puppets collaborating on a show that's partly scripted and partly improvised: Stuffed and Unstrung
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($12): 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), Leo Allen (former writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central Presents, Conan O'Brien, HBO's Funny or Die, host of top NYC comedy show Whiplash), Rachel Feinstein (finalist on this summer's Last Comic Standing; Comedy Central; opens for Sarah Silverman on tour), Sean Crespo, and musical guest Mike Doughty performing at 92Y Tribeca's Comedy Below Canal
9:30 pm ($5): Two talented sketch comedy troupes and a delightful solo act—BriTANick, CollegeHumor, and Andrea Rosen—each performing one of their most popular sketches and one of their personal favorites in a fun revue hosted by James Eason & Aaron Kheifets: A-Side/B-Side
11:00 pm ($5): Two vibrant troupe troupes, Doppelganger and The Opera, competing for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 7/9/10
Star stand-ups Judah Friedlander (headlining at Comix) and Michael McDonald (headlining at Carolines)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
7:00 pm ($10): Sketch troupe Gentlemen Caller (Emily Altman, Aaron Burdette, Kathy Salerno, and Evan Thompson) spoofs Dianetics and more in Diabetics
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Comedy dynamo Shannon O'Neill performing her extravaganza about an annual talent show in "Charlie Sheen Prison, the only talent show starring the criminally retarded and insane," directed by the wonderful Will Hines; and Peter Blomquist and Jeff Wiens performing an all-new multimedia sketch show, in the double-bill Prison Freaks: A Talent Show and Franco & Billy: Diamonds of Fire
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($34.48 online if you use code VIPJULY, plus 2-item minimum): A hilarious stand-up; cast member of 30 Rock; performer on VH1's Best Week Ever, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, MTV's Wonder Showzen, and NBC's The Tonight Show; and actor in over 20 films, including such hit comedies as Meet the Parents, Zoolander, Full Grown Men, and American Splendor, headlining tonight through Saturday at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Judah Friedlander
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($29 & 2-drink min.): A 10-year veteran cast member of Mad TV who's also performed on numerous other top television shows, headlining tonight through Sunday at Carolines: Michael McDonald
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): A groundbreaking and surreal improv/sketch troupe performing with new guests each Friday and making a valid complaint: Centralia: We Were Supposed To Have Flying Cars By Now
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($37.50 online or at the box office using discount code ALIEN): Sharp comics and 80 Henson puppets collaborating on a show that's partly scripted and partly improvised: Stuffed and Unstrung
[FREE] 8:00: NYC stand-ups Ali Wong, Rob Cantrell, David Angelo, Dan Goodman, and Nikki Glaser performing at O'Hanlon's (14th Street off 1st Avenue), hosted by Matt Ruby: Hot Soup
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Always fresh and imaginative world-class sketch troupe that uses song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about awkward goodbyes at the end of a party, please click here): The Harvard Sailing Team
10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Thomas Middleditch, Jonathan Gabrus, Sue Galloway, and other superb improvisors make up scenes about an audience member's legal dispute at The Law Firm: Law & Disorder
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Top UCBT talents—tonight featuring Nate Lang, Kate McKinnon, Thomas Middleditch, Ben Rodgers and Andrée Vermeulen as the performers, and Adam Conover, John Frusciante, Kevin Hines, Anthony King, Shannon O'Neill, Craig Rowin, Jim Santangeli, Eric Scott, Nate Smith, Gavin Speiller, Erik Tanouye, Caitlin Tegart and Greg Tuculescu as the writers—creating a one-night-only sketch comedy show directed by comedy genius Gavin Speiller, with musical guest The Falsies: Beneath Gristedes
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 7/10/10
Star stand-ups Jake Johannsen (headlining at Gotham Comedy) and Judah Friedlander (headlining at Comix)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisor Christina Gausas and friends she originally made in Chicago—which include writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors, all joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball
7:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): NYC stand-ups Mark Normand, Ross Hyzer, Amy Albert, Steve Bossous, Ken Schultz, Brendan Fitzgibbons, and "a special surprise guest" performing in Ochi's Lounge at Lil' Seany Boy
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($34.48 online if you use code VIPJULY, plus 2-item minimum): A hilarious stand-up; cast member of 30 Rock; performer on VH1's Best Week Ever, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, MTV's Wonder Showzen, and NBC's The Tonight Show; and actor in over 20 films, including such hit comedies as Meet the Parents, Zoolander, Full Grown Men, and American Splendor, headlining at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Judah Friedlander
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & 11:45 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A comedy icon who's performed on David Letterman over 40 times and The Tonight Show over 10 times, and did the acclaimed HBO comedy special This'll Take About An Hour and current Showtime special I Love You, headlining tonight and Sunday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Jake Johannsen
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($29 & 2-drink min.): A 10-year veteran cast member of Mad TV who's also performed on numerous other top television shows, headlining tonight and Sunday at Carolines: Michael McDonald
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 11:00 pm ($37.50 online or at the box office using discount code ALIEN): Sharp comics and 80 Henson puppets collaborating on a show that's partly scripted and partly improvised: Stuffed and Unstrung
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—and the Cage Match Champion for two years in a row!—genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo
9:00 pm ($5): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!
9:30 pm ($10): "A cabaret of darkly funny songs and topical sketch comedy about culture and politics," following sold out shows at Joe's Pub: Political Subversities
[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, quick-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): An all-star improv troupe led by brilliant UCBT artistic director Anthony King: Reuben Williams
10:30 pm ($5): Vibrant improv from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney (Statues of Liberty) and Leslie Korein as comedy trio Trike
[TOP PICK] 11:00 ($8): NYC's heavy metal version of a sketch troupe, which doesn't always ht the mark but provides odd, unsettling, and fearless dark comedy—and recently won this year's ECNY Award for Best Sketch Group: Murderfist: Late and Dirty
[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): One of the most fascinating performers in comedy, and star of the upcoming Comedy Central sitcom Big Lake, shosting his own extravaganza—which goes beyond a stage show to have the makings of a hit MTV series—with guests including Shannon O'Neill, Will Hines, Bethany Hall, Don Fanelli, and the Kung Fu Monkeys...and this month's theme Fights: The Chris Gethard Show
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 7/11/10
Star stand-ups Michael McDonald (headlining at Carolines) and Jake Johannsen (headlining at Gotham Comedy)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 2:00 pm: Ophira Eisenberg (sharp stand-up and brilliant storyteller; Comedy Central, VH1, Showtime), Carolyn Castiglia (Last Comic Standing, VH1's white rapper MIss CKC), Craig Baldo (Conan O'Brien), Esther Ku, Rob O'Reilly, and Marianne Schaberg performing for a free outdoor show at Tompkins Square Park: Laughter in the Park
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($26.75 & 2-drink min.): A 10-year veteran cast member of Mad TV, and performer on numerous other top TV shows, headlining at Carolines: Michael McDonald
[FREE] 8:00 pm: James Adomian (Last Comic Standing finalist), Ali Wong (comedy dynamo; MTV, VH1), Craig Baldo (Conan O'Brien), Jason Good, Damien Lemon, and Julia Segal performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm ($20 & 2-drink min.) A comedy icon who's performed on David Letterman over 40 times and The Tonight Show over 10 times, and did the acclaimed HBO comedy special This'll Take About An Hour and current Showtime special I Love You, headlining at the Gotham Comedy Club: Jake Johannsen
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: Stand-up star Ted Alexandro, plus Mike Lawrence, Jessimae Peluso, TuRae, and Jeffrey Joseph performing at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan) hosted by the wonderful Hannibal Buress: Comedy Night
[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Jared Logan, Greg Johnson, and Dan Soder, and sketch troupe The Jerk Practice, performing in the East Village's Beauty Bar at Vince Averill's & Jesse Popp's free weekly show Beauty Bar Comedy
[FREE] 10:00 pm: Ali Wong (comedy dynamo; MTV, VH1), Brian Barry (Broadway revival of Pal Joey), Shawn Hollenbach (Here TV’s Hot Gay Comics), and Lexi Cullen Baker performing at a free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy guest-hosted tonight by Adam Sank: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour
Copyright © 2010 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
