NYC Comedy Picks for Week of March 22, 2010

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 3/22/10

Two of the greatest comics in the biz perform at UCBT tonight: Anthony Jeselnik (Whiplash) and Pete Holmes (Front Page Films Live!)

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

6:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel

[FREE] 7:30 pm: Superb stand-ups Ali Wong, Jared Logan, Nick Turner, Jayson Cross, and Damien Lemon performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub hosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Hannibal Buress (red-hot rising star; staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, Jimmy Fallon, Craig Ferguson, concert film The Awkward Kings of Comedy), Victor Varnado (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central, NBC's My Name is Earl, Adult Swim, Awkward Kings of Comedy; films Pluto Nash, End of Days, A Guy Thing), Bryan Tucker (writer for Saturday Night Live), Josh Comers (former writer for Conan O'Brien), author Bob Powers, and guest-host Chris DeLuca performing in the Lolita Bar at Liam McEneaney's Tell Your Friends

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($3): A wonderful comedic singer/songwriter performing a deliciously long 45-minute set at the weekly show Acoustic Mondays at Rockbar (185 Christopher Street): Ben Lerman

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($15 & 2-drink min.) Auditions for Season 7 of NBC's Last Comic Standing, judged by the spectacular Natasha Leggero, Greg Giraldo, and Andy Kindler at the Gotham Comedy Club: Last Comic Standing 7 Showcase

8:00 pm ($5): Two of UCBT's house sketch comedy troupes, Slow Burn and High Treason, trying out new bits at Maude Night

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Three of the sharpest talents in comedy—stand-up genius Pete Holmes, Matt McCarthy, and Orem Brimer—showcase their hilarious short films, sketches, songs, and more at Front Page Films Live!

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the country—tonight including one of my all-time faves Anthony Jeselnik (stand-up genius; writer for Jimmy Fallon; Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central Presents), plus Caroline Rhea, John Roberts, and Luke Cunningham—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash

NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 3/23/10

Simply the best: Kristen Schaal performs tonight at Sweet

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

7:00 ($5): A young mother-to-be confronts the realities of pregnancy in her interactions with five amusing women, each with their own unique set of maternal issues: Hope

[FREE] 7:30: Sharp NYC stand-ups Carmen Lynch (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), Bobby Miyamoto (Craig Ferguson), Bryan Bruner, and Sarah Tollemachee performing at Via Della Pace for Our Amazing Show

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Bobby & Peter Timony (Night Owls) joining super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Claudia Cogan, Ilana Glazer, Dan Wilbur, and Cody Hess performing at Cellar 58 (58 Second Avenue) alongside delightful host Abbi Crutchfield and comedic rapster Andrew Singer: Positively Awesome

8:00 pm to midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Robber Baron, Ragnaröck, DeCoster, The Law Firm, and People People, followed at 11:00 pm by a show in which UCBT students perform with improv veterans—all at Harold Night

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): TV & movie star Kristen Schaal (one of the funniest women alive; shining star correspondent on The Daily Show; co-star of HBO's Flight of the Conchords; Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; AMC's Mad Men; star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets), Morgan Murphy (staff writer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, former staff writer for Jimmy Kimmel and Crank Yankers), Sandra Bauleo (cast of The Dregs, Web star), and movie star Justin Long performing at The Slipper Room for the LES weekly show hosted by the wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Genius stand-up Sean Patton (red-hot rising star; killer set on Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central, VH1), star storyteller Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents), Mike Lawrence (reading from his failed screenplay), and Roger Hailes (reading with host Mike Drucker from their failed submissions for Jimmy Fallon) at Writers Room

[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 3/24/10

Genius comics Scott Adsit (above) and Christina Gausas perform breathtaking & hilarious relationship improv at Adsit & Gausas

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] 6:00 pm ($5): Comedy giant Eugene Mirman, Poez the Poet, and musician Franklin Bruno are the guests at this evening's live broadcast of the WFMU radio show 7 Second Delay

[FREE] 7:00 pm to midnight: Five free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): The delightful Andrée Vermeulen performing a one-woman show in which she applies for "The Greatest French Person in the World Award" only to discover a terrible family secret involving waffles—and while performance trumps material here, Andrée is a fresh young talent worth discovering (for a memorable show highlight, shot with Andrée's real-life boyfriend Thomas Middleditch, please click here); plus real-life married couple James Eason & Jessica Allen, who are both superb veteran improvisors, stretching themselves with this new scripted sketch show directed by Rachel Hamilton, in the double-bill French Toast and D-Bags, A-Holes & Lovers

[FREE] 8:00: NYC stand-ups John Flynn, Claudia Cogan, Amy Beckerman, Nick Zimmerman, Mick DiFlo, and Troy Bynum performing at this free weekly show hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: Lightning-fast & thoroughly hilarious Pete Holmes (one of the very best stand-ups in the country; Comedy Central Presents, The Daily Show, John Oliver's NY Stand-Up, VH1's Best Week Ever, The New Yorker, host of hit shows Punch Up Your Life and Gutbucket), Jesse Popp, Roger Hailes, and Bob Powers performing at this free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn's Cameo (behind Lovin' Cup) hosted by Max Silvestri, Jenny Slate and Gabe Liedman: Big Terrific

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Theatrical scenes made up on the spot with breathtaking skill by brilliant and passionate improvisors who are becoming one of the best comedy duos in the biz—Scott Adsit (30 Rock, Moral Orel) and Christina Gausas (Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report), a.ka. Adsit & Gausas

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) providing as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible—and don't forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 3/25/10

Legendary comedy star Marc Maron is among the storytellers telling hilarious tales tonight about personal tough choices at Risk!...

...and wonderful writer/comics Sara Schaefer, Jessica Delfino, Ben Lerman, Michael Musto, and more have fun at Match Game Live!

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] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:30 pm ($19.33 online if you use code VIPMARCH, plus 2-item minimum): "Hosted by Late Show with David Letterman writer Matt Goldich, Twenty-Five Words or Less features some of New York City’s top comedians telling their funniest one-liners. The jokes will be even shorter than this description of the show;" tonight Amy Schumer, Joe Mande, Roger Hailes, Josh Comers, Julian McCullough, Neal Stastny, and more will be at the elegant Comix Comedy Club making you laugh in 25 Words of Less

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:00 pm ($15): Top comics and comedic storytellers—who tonight are legendary star Marc Maron (a comic's comic; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central, and numerous other top credits), Margot Leitman (Conan O'Brien, co-host of superb Stripped Stories), Matt Higgins (acclaimed sketch/improv troupe Centralia), Beowulf Jones (The Sitcom), Virginia Scott (The Glass Contraption Clown Theatre), and Elon James White (This Week in Blackness)—joining brilliant sketch comic and storyteller Kevin Allison (The State) to share tales on tonight's theme "Dilemmas: Really Hard Choices" at one of the finest storytelling shows in the country: Risk!

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 ($5): What's likely to be a world-class sketch show from critically acclaimed Chicago-based veteran comics Jordan Klepper and Steve Waltien; and superb sketch troupe Pangea 3000 performs material better than its show's title indicates, in the double-bill Steve and Jordan Are Standing In It and Pangea 3000 Sucks

8:00 pm ($5): The debut of a sketch show from Will Nunziata and Jerry Miller (both formerly of NYC sketch powerhouse THE ROYAL WE), who "present a brand new two-man show which serves a love letter to the dystopian films of the 70s, 80s, and 90s:" Dystopia Gardens

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($12): Jessica Delfino (hilarious raunchy singer & stand-up; Good Morning America, FOX News, Dirty Folk Rock, host of Top Friends), Sara Schaefer (brilliant, inventive, luminous comic; staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; VH1's Best Week Ever), Michael Musto (famed book author and Village Voice columnist), Frank DeCaro (The Daily Show), and Judy Gold (veteran stand-up) at an ironic version of a classic game show hosted by wonderful comedic singer Ben Lerman (Logo, Here TV!): Match Game Live!

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Chris March (Project Runway), Claywoman, and surprises from host Dave Hill (one of the most original and hilariously sharp alternative comics in the country; HBO, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, star of The King of Miami, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Salon, Big in Japan) at The Dave Hill Explosion

[$] 10:00 pm ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Improv giants The Brothers Hines (steamrolling over challengers with seven wins in a row) and star-studded troupe Reuben Williams compete for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 3/26/10

Kristen Schaal (Don't Touch Me There) and Richard Lewis (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] [FREE] 7:30 pm: TV & movie star Kristen Schaal (one of the funniest women alive; shining star correspondent on The Daily Show; co-star of HBO's Flight of the Conchords; Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; AMC's Mad Men; star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets), brilliantly funny singer/songwriter/comic Shayna Ferm (member of ace sketch troupe Fearsome), stand-up Josh Comers (former writer for Conan O'Brien), stand-up Jason Saenz (co-host of Too Cool for School), sketch comedy from Steve Bossous, Roger Hailes, and Sean Donnelly, and much more at this blowout party at Karma Lounge hosted by Pat Stango & Blaine Perry: Don't Touch Me There

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): David Razowsky is the former artistic director of Second City LA, and has worked with such luminaries as Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Jeff Garlin, and Amy Sedaris; Rachel Hamilton is a regular on 30 Rock. Tonight they'll team up to create memorable two-person improv as Dave & Rachel

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($36.66 online if you use code VIPMARCH, plus 2-item minimum): A comedy star who's snared just about every major credit a comic can—and is a long-time cast member of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm—headlining tonight and Saturday at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Richard Lewis

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Amy Heidt's one-woman show was one of the very best productions at this past August's FringeNYC Festival (for my review, please click here)—if you didn't catch it then, don't miss this wonderful opportunity to see Amy demonstrate her brilliance as both actress and writer; and Deborah Gross recreates absurd and amusing conversations she's experienced through her sharp storyteller's perspective, in the double-bill Amy Heidt: Dominate Yourself! and Conversations with Deb

[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

9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): NYC stand-ups performing in Ochi's Lounge at a gay-themed show hosted by the lovely Jenny Rubin: The Back Room

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers

10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical

11:30 pm ($5): Five women performing an improvised, and possibly tipsy, parody of The View at Focus

[FREE] 12:20ish am: Your opportunity to perform on the UCBT stage with improv veterans, hosted by UCBT house troupe Badman: Jammin' with Ralph

[$] 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 3/27/10

Andy Christie (The Liar Show), Richard Lewis (Headlining at Comix), and Joselyn Hughes (Moonwork)

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] [$] 6:00 pm ($15 including one drink; reservations via calling Cornelia Street Cafe at 212.989.9319 highly recommended): Four world-class writer/performers tell personal stories. Three of them are true...but one is a pack of lies. Then the audience asks questions to try to figure out who's fibbing. Tonight's yarn-spinners are Margot Leitman (Conan O'Brien, Stripped Stories), Peter Lubell (IFC, NPR), Peter Aguero (BTK Band, Moth Grandslam), and wonderful host Andy Christie (The New York Times, Moth GrandSlam Champion) at The Liar Show

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisor Christina Gausas and friends she originally made in Chicago—which include writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors, all joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball

8:00 pm ($10): A fun sketch troupe (for video samples, please click here) present its latest work at Inside Joke Films

[TOP PICK] [$] 9:00 pm ($20): Thoroughly wonderful stand-ups & comedic storytellers Jessi Klein, Adam Wade, Joselyn Hughes, Stuckey & Murray, Rob Gorden, and Craig Baldo—and free beer!—at acclaimed monthly comedy showcase Moonwork

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—and which recently won the Cage Match Championship for two years in a row!—genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo

9:00 pm ($5): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Always fresh and imaginative world-class sketch troupe that uses song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about awkward goodbyes at the end of a party, please click here): The Harvard Sailing Team

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, quick-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): An all-star improv troupe led by brilliant UCBT artistic director Anthony King: Reuben Williams

10:30 pm ($5): Vibrant improv from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney (Statues of Liberty) and Leslie Korein as comedy trio Trike

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): "For over four years, you have been able to count on the UCBW to bring you hot comedy wrestling action each and every Thursday night at CageMatch. For an unprecedented fifth year, UCBW will present its signature show—the grandpappy of 'em all—WrestleSlamMania V! Rivalries have been brewing, and everything will come to a full boil when the full stable of UCBW MegaStars appears in the squared circle! Hilarious wrestling matches live on Pay-Per-View!* Get your tickets NOW! Only 14,000 seats available!:" WrestleSlamMania V

NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 3/28/10

Hilarious Ali Wong preps for her upcoming Gotham Comedy show tonight at the free Electro Shock Therapy...

...and red-hot stand-up Kumail Nanjiani joins Eugene Mirman, Rob Cantrell, and "a special guest" at Tearing the Veil of Maya

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) 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 ($7): Superb comics Kumail Nanjiani (David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, Jimmy Kimmel, writer/performer for Comedy Central's Michael & Michael Have Issues; winner of the 2009 ECNY Awards for Best Male Stand-Up), Rob Cantrell (Last Comic Standing, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, CBS's Late Late Show, VH1; off-Broadway show The Marijuana-Logues), and "a special guest" performing stand-up at Brooklyn's Union Hall hosted by comedy giant Eugene Mirman: Tearing the Veil of Maya

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Superb comics Joe Derosa (Comedy Central Presents, Opie & Anthony), Hari Kondadbolu (Jimmy Kimmel), Erin Judge (Comedy Central, FringeNYC), Dan Curry (Last Comic Standing), Joe List (Comedy Central), and Robert Dean (Brooklyn's The MacGuyver Show) performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up

[FREE] 9:00 pm: Sharp NYC stand-ups Joselyn Hughes, Mike Drucker, Jen Grant, and Damien Lemon performing at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan), guest-hosted by Calise Hawkins: Comedy Night

[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced at the time of this writing) 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: Human dynamo Ali Wong (The Onion), Jackie Monahan (Dykes on Mics), and Shawn Hollenbach (Here! TV’s Hot Gay Comics) performing at a free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour

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