NYC Comedy Picks for Week of May 11, 2009

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 5/11/09

Janeane Garofalo (Whiplash) and Todd Barry (Tell Your Friends)

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows

[TOP PICK] star stand-up Todd Barry (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, HBO, Adult Swim), Josh Comers (newest writer for Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien), Brody Stevens (Sarah Silverman’s Jesus is Magic, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel, Best Damn Sports Show Period), Dan Allen (Comedy Central), Jamie Lee (VH1, CollegeHumor.com), and more at Liam McEneaney's Tell Your Friends (8:00ish pm),

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

[TOP PICK] [FREE] and a free weekly show featuring some of the best stand-up comics in the country—who tonight include movie and TV superstar Janeane Garofalo, Hannibal Buress (Comedy Central, Craig Ferguson), Brody Stevens (Sarah Silverman’s Jesus is Magic, Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel, Best Damn Sports Show Period), Rob Lathan (Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report, MTV, VH1), and Jesse Popp (Comedy Central, Beauty Bar Comedy)—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central) at Whiplash (11:00 pm).

Todd Barry and Liam McEneaney

Tell Your Friends

This free 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 host is Jamie Lee (VH1.com's Best Night Ever; producer of monthly NYC live comedy show for shelter animals Diamonds in the Fluff; Archers of Ha, Collegehumor.com; writer for Life & Style Magazine's "Fashion Slip-ups").

And tonight's wonderful guests include

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;

acted in the acclaimed Darren Aronofsky hit film The Wrestler;

check out Todd's newest comedy CD From Heaven), and

Josh Comers (newest writer for Late Show with Conan O'Brien; writes topical humor on his blog Jokes That Won't Matter Tomorrow; tonight is Josh's farewell to NYC, since he's moving to LA for the Conan show),

Brody Stevens (visiting comic from LA; Sarah Silverman’s Jesus is Magic, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS’s Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn ("three times, five counting re-runs"), NBC’s Late Friday, daily contributor to FOX's Best Damn Sports Show Period),

Dan Allen (Comedy Central's Premium Blend; fun comedy site FlockOfMullets.com and blog TaoOfDan.com; host of monthly NYC live comedy show ¡Sacapuntas!; for stand-up video on Dan's vegan ex-girlfriend, please click here),

a "mystery guest" who's probably a top writer for The Colbert Report,

plus house band A Brief View of the Hudson.

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 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 per show

Leo Allen and Janeane Garofalo...

....and Brody Stevens and Hannibal Buress

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 1/2-hour specials (one by himself and one with his writing partner Eric Slovin); done stand-up on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.; and acted on Ed and Sex and the City. Leo has now taken over the Monday-at-11:00 pm UCBT spot made super-special by Aziz Ansari's Crash Test and Jeremy Levenbach's Cavalcade! (in fact, Whiplash is produced by Jeremy).

Tonight's wonderful guests are

Janeane Garofalo (quite simply, one of the most influential and beloved comics of our time—no matter how much she gripes or pretends otherwise; most recently, Janeane was co-host of The Majority Report on Air America Radio and co-star of the FOX's hit series 24; Janeane's also a frequent guest on cable king Keith Olbermann's Countdown on MSNBC (patiently explaining why far-right Republicans can't be judged too harshly because they all suffer from malformed brains...); sample quote: "I guess I just prefer to see the dark side of things. The glass is always half empty. And cracked. And I just cut my lip on it. And chipped a tooth;" for two decades of breathtakingly impressive credits, please click here),

Brody Stevens (visiting comic from LA; Sarah Silverman’s Jesus is Magic, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, Jimmy Kimmel Live, CBS’s Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn ("three times, five counting re-runs"), NBC’s Late Friday, daily contributor to FOX's Best Damn Sports Show Period),

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

Rob Lathan (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report, MTV, VH1; plays comedic characters such as Lanny Lathan and "Quick Lips" Lathan; performs in the UCBT shows Get Psyched! and High School Talent Show; for Rob's reel, please click here), and

Jesse Popp (Comedy Central's Premium Blend, co-host of weekly NYC live stand-up show Beauty Bar Comedy for 7 years running).

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 5/12/09

Todd Barry and Baron Vaughn (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 new show described as "emotionally inappropriate comedy:" Please, Someone Kill Me (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] artist Scott Campbell (DoubleFine Action Comics) joining in on a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Robber Baron, The Bishop, The Scam, The Law Firm, and Scootch—plus a small mob of sharp female improvisors at 11:00 pm for a show titled Suck My Dick, all at Harold Night (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] typically stellar stand-up comics 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),

[DISCOUNTED] NYC stand-ups Victor Varnado (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central, NBC's My Name is Earl, Adult Swim), DJ Hazard (cast member of Fuel TV's American Misfits), Matt Higgins (Comedy Central, Burn Manhattan, Centralia), Sean Crespo (Comedy Central), and more at John Morrison's Morrison Motel (8:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] star stand-up Todd Barry (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, HBO, Adult Swim), Baron Vaughn (Comedy Central, MTV, Cloverfield, Shoot the Messenger), and more at the wonderful Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm),

and sharp NYC stand-ups Sharon Mama Spell, Chesslee Calloway, Liz Simons, and Adam Lehman joining delightful hosts Jackie Monahan, Leah Dubie, Amy Beckerman, and Gloria Bigelow 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 brand new 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 guest is artist Scott Campbell (DoubleFine Action 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 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.

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—

Robber Baron, The Bishop, The Scam, The Law Firm, and Scootch—

each give it a go for 30 minutes, with

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

And at 11:00 pm, a small mob of sharp female improvisors will perform at a show titled Suck My Dick. For details on the latter, please click here.

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.

Tonight's show is 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

Nick Kroll and Hannibal Buress...

...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 comics haven't been announced. However, as indicated by last week's guests (above), they're typically stellar.

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

Victor Varnado and John Morrison

Morrison Motel

John Morrison, a wise & razor-sharp comic who produces the NYC weekly

open mic show Ochi's Motel, welcomes a mix of veteran & rising stand-up talents in this monthly showcase.

Tonight's performing comics are

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; co-star of concert film

The Awkward Kings of Comedy to air soon on BET; for a stand-up sample, please click here),

DJ Hazard (cast member of Fuel TV's American Misfits; film When Stand-Up Stood Out),

Matt Higgins (Comedy Central, PSNBC; former improv instructor at Yale School of Drama; also founding member of improv troupes Burn Manhattan and Centralia; three-time finalist for the Andy Kaufman award; for a stand-up sample, please click here),

Sean Crespo (Comedy Central, Shoot the Messenger; host of NYC live comedy show Drink at Work; also prolific comedy filmmaker—for samples, please click here & here & here),

and John Morrison.

Tonight's show will be hosted by Sean Donnelly.

8:30 pm at Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street (between West 4th Street and Bleecker);

no cover if you mention HyReviews.com (otherwise $5), plus $7 food or drink minimum

Baron Vaughn and Todd Barry...

...and Seth Herzog and Dominic Dierkes

Sweet

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.

Tonight's wonderful guests include

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;

acted in the acclaimed Darren Aronofsky hit film The Wrestler and new film Pete Smalls is Dead; check out Todd's newest comedy CD From Heaven),

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

Dominic Dierkes (writer for MTV, FUSE, The Onion New Network; one of the three quick-witted and razor-sharp members of star improv/sketch troupe Derrick—for a sample of the group's wildly popular YouTube videos, please click here and here and here; to see the trailer for their feature film Mystery Team, which recently premiered at Sundance, please click here; one-man show Adventure River at UCBT),

and "a very special guest."

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 tonight's guests:

Sharon Mama Spell, Chesslee Calloway, Liz Simons, and Adam Lehman.

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 5/13/09

Jon Friedman (The Rejection Show), Jessi Klein (Big Terrific), and Glennis McMurray & Eliza Skinner (I Eat Pandas)

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 Super Free Wednesday (6:00 pm-midnight),

[TOP PICK] stellar storyteller Adam Wade and comic Jake Goldman hosting a show in which

top writers and comedians—who tonight are Brad Lawrence, Phaea Crede, Jennifer Glick, and Molly McCloy—share their favorite true campus anecdotes at Real Tales of College (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] an entirely improvised musical from genius comedy duo Eliza Skinneer and Glennis McMurray: I Eat Pandas (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] some of the top comics in NYC—Jessi Klein (Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, CNN, Adult Swim), DC Benny (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), Chris Gethard (brilliant comedic storyteller & improvisor; The Stepfathers, The Nights of Our Lives, Magic Box of Stories, Weird New York), Matt McCarthy (Comedy Central, award-winning Verizon FIOS guy), and Craig Baldo (Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central)—gathered to celebrate Gabe Liedman's birthday at a free weekly Brooklyn extravaganza hosted by Gabe, Jenny Slate, and Max Silvestri: Big Terrific (8:00ish pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] Donald Glover (30 Rock, Derrick), Giulia Rozzi (VH1, Stripped Stories), Sean O'Connor (VH1, NPR's This American Life), Jonathan Morvay, and Matthew Rittberg at a free weekly comedy show hosted by Matt Maragno & the luminous Margie Kment: Now We're Talking (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] terrific stand-ups Jon Fisch, Moody McCarthy, Giulia Rozzi, Matt Ruby, Robin Cloud, and The Bitter Poet at a free show hosted by Sharon "Mama" Spell: Shrink (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] a show showcasing rejected material by top writers and comedic performers, tonight focusing on beloved weekly fake newspaper The Onion: Jon Friedman's The Rejection Show (9:30 pm),

[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 Super Free Wednesday

For five hours every Wednesday, The PIT provides free shows featuring its improv house troupes. Halfear and Ali Farahnakian kick things off at 6:00 pm; The Wilhelm and Tomahawk perform at 7:00 pm; Big Black Car and Mrs. Esterhouse go on at 8:00 pm; The Baldwins and Punch show their stuff at 9:00; and Party Lights and The Faculty (consisting of The PIT's superb improv instructors, including such talents as Ali Farahnakian, Kurt Braunohler, Ptolemy Slocum, Pat Shay, Kevin Scott, Chris Grace, and Rebekka Johnson) round out the evening at 10:00.

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

Adam Wade and friend

Adam Wade: Real Tales of College

This new show invites comics to tell their true tales of college.

It's hosted by comic Jake Goldman, and world-class storyteller Adam Wade (Moth 2006 GrandSlam Storytelling Champion and record-breaking 8-time StorySlam Champion; fiction story in The New York Times Magazine; columnist for ReallySmallTalk.com; for his Adam's award-winning tale of being an NBC page on Conan O'Brien, please click here).

Tonight's guests are Brad Lawrence, Phaea Crede, Jennifer Glick, and Molly McCloy.

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)

Glennis & Eliza: I Eat Pandas

Glennis McMurray and Eliza Skinner are simply geniuses

at taking a suggestion from the audience and creating

an entire musical based around it, using only their imaginations,

immense talent, and the aid of their wonderful improv pianist

Frank Spitznagel. Each of these gals is a powerhouse performer;

what they manage to create together tends to be sheer magic.

You don't have to take my word for it, either:

the duo won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Improv Group; and last August

starred in the Fringe festival hit Gem! A Truly Outrageous Parody,

which won two FringeNYC 2008 Awards.

Don't miss any chance to enjoy these comedic wizards at play.

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

DC Benny and Jessi Klein...

...and Matt McCarthy, Chris Gethard, and Craig Baldo

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 include

Jessi Klein (deliciously honest, brilliant, hilarious stand-up star—and now also proving to be, along with Pete Holmes, among the finest comedy hosts in NYC at her smash hit new Tuesday night live comedy show Punch Up Your Life; 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),

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 Five Nights in Brooklyn),

Chris Gethard (one of the most talented and brilliant storytellers and improvisors in New York; performs every Friday night as a member of ace improv group The Stepfathers, and every month as a member of the razor-sharp storytelling show the The Nights of Our Lives; stellar one-man show Magic Box of Stories; author of the book Weird New York),

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), and

Craig Baldo (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Comic Remix; VH1, Bravo, E!, The Onion;

for Craig's 2008 stand-up set on Conan O'Brien, please click 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

Donald Glover and Giulia Rozzi

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

Donald Glover (writer and performer for NBC's 30 Rock; appeared multiple times 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; other notable Derrick accomplishments include wining the 2009 ECNY Award for Best Sketch Comedy Troupe; and writing, composing, and starring in an indie feature comedy film that recently premiered at Sundance—to view the trailer of Mystery Team, please click here),

Giulia Rozzi (VH1's Best Night Ever podcasts; monthly video series The Message Board, which makes fun of brides, on ComedyNet.com; co-producer of East coast version of hit national show Mortified; co-host of red-hot comedy show Stripped Stories;

for a video sample, please click here),

Sean O'Connor (VH1, NPR's This American Life; for fun stand-up videos, please click here and here),

Jonathan Morvay, and Matthew Rittberg.

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

Shrink

This free weekly show tonight features superb stand-ups Jon Fisch, Moody McCarthy, Giulia Rozzi, Matt Ruby, Robin Cloud, and The Bitter Poet.

Hosted by Sharon "Mama" Spell.

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

The Rejection Show: An Evening with The Onion

Jon Friedman is the host of this delightful show featuring rejected material

by exceptional comedic performers and writers.

Tonight's show is devoted to weekly comedic fake newspaper The Onion, and includes rejected pitches, rejected headlines, rejected articles, hate mail sent to The Onion, and more.

There will also be an audience Q&A with Onion staffers.

This promises to be great fun, and is highly recommended.

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

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 5/14/09

DC Pierson (Stripped Stories), The Improvised Shakespeare Co., and John Gemberling (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:

[TOP PICK] an hour-long play made up on the spot by razor-sharp, passionate improvisors Scott Adsit (30 Rock, Moral Orel) and Christina Gausas (Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report) at Adsit & Gausas (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] superb improvisors Tara Copeland and James Eason leading a semi-revival of legendary troupe Mother in this new Magnet show: Sleepover (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] Adira Amram, Ophira Eisenberg, Tom McCaffrey, Carla Rhodes, Brent Sullivan, and Chris Sifflet at a free weekly variety show in the East Village hosted by sharp dark comedy stand-up Jena Friedman: Entertaining the Bartender (8:30 pm),

[$] star comics Dave Attell, Greg Giraldo, Marina Franklin, Jessica Kirson, Paul Mercurio, and more performing—though not all on the same lineups—at Comedy Cellar (9:00 pm & 11:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] DC Pierson (brilliant improvisor, sketch comic, filmmaker, and book author; Derrick, Mystery Team), Christina Andrews, and musical guest Thin Skin Jonny performing at the best sexy storytelling comedy show in NYC: Margot Leitman's & Giulia Rozzi's Stripped Stories (9:30),

[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] brilliant improvisors making up plays on the spot using the language and themes of the Bard: Improvised Shakespeare (10:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] and two of the finest improv troupes ever, Death by Roo Roo and Reuben Williams, in a battle of titans to win audience laughs & votes at the raucous Cage Match (11:00 pm).

Christina Gausas and Scott Adsit

Adsit & Gausas: Improvised One-Hour Play

A dynamo improv duo creates a one-act play on the spot "that can be hilarious and physical and heart-breaking and still—come and see for yourself."

The superb performers are

Scott Adsit (cast member of 30 Rock, and co-director & cast member of Adult Swim's brilliant & Emmy-winning Moral Orel) and

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).

Where else are you going to see a razor-sharp play for just five bucks?

7:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

James Eason and Tara Copeland

Sleepover (Mother, Take 2)

A group of stellar improvisors, some of whom are former members of legendary improv troupe Mother, perform long-form improv based on an audience suggestion. This new group's members are Tara Copeland, James Eason, Jessica Allen, Paul W. Downs, Jesse Falcon, and Rachel Hamilton.

Please note: Paying $5 actually entitles you to see shows at The Magnet for the entire evening, which includes several improv shows following this one. For details, please click here and then scroll down to Thursday's listings.

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

Ophira Eisenberg and Adira Amram

Entertaining the Bartender with Jena Friedman

Razor-sharp and delightfully dark stand-up comic Jena Friedman (playwright of 2008 FringeNYC show Refugee Girls; for a stand-up video about sexual predators, eggs, and Tai food, please click here) hosts this entirely free weekly comedy show in Brooklyn. This is actually a version of an acclaimed show Jena used to do in a Chicago bar run by a gal named Tammy. When the bar started out it was often near-empty, so Jena began the show to entertain her friend and develop steady traffic. On both counts, it was a wild success...

Tonight's superb guests are

Adira Amram (brilliantly funny and sexy writer/singer; Jane Magazine Editor's Choice;

co-star of Get Psyched!, one-woman show Adira Amram is an American Idol at Ars Nova; upcoming second album Hot Jams 4 Teens; for sample songs & videos, please click 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),

Tom McCaffrey, Carla Rhodes, Brent Sullivan, and Chris Sifflet.

8:30 pm at The Pyramid Club, 101 Avenue A (between 6th & 7th Streets); tickers are $5

Take the F subway to 2nd Avenue & Houston stop or the L subway to 1st Avenue & 14th Street stop

Greg Giraldo, Dave Attell, and Marina Franklin

Dave Attell, Greg Giraldo, Marina Franklin, Jessica Kirson, Paul Mercurio and More at Comedy Cellar

Tonight's two lineups at the Comedy Cellar club feature some superb talent.

The 9:00 show includes Greg Giraldo, Jessica Kirson, and Paul Mercurio.

And the 11:00 show includes Dave Attell and Marina Franklin.

To see the complete lineups for the shows at 9:00 pm (doors at 8:30) and 11:00 pm (doors at 10:30), please click here, click the Lineup link near the top, click today's date, and click the Go button. To make an online reservation, please click here.

This comedy club show has a $12 cover and 2-item food or drink minimum (with tax & tip, figure on spending an additional $13 or up).

9:00 pm & 11:00 pm at Comedy Cellar, 117 MacDougal Street (between 3rd St. & Minetta Lane); $12 cover plus two-item minimum

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

Stripped Stories: Disasters

Sexual storytelling with a comedic slant.

Tonight's theme is "Disasters."

Expect shocking and highly entertaining yarns from stellar guests

DC Pierson (brilliant improvisor, sketch comic, and filmmaker as one-third of star comedy troupe Derrick; co-writer/co-star of feature film Sundance pick Mystery Team; author of novel The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep and Never Had To) and Christina Andrews,

and music from Thin Skin Jonny.

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

Improvised Shakespeare

A highly acclaimed troupe of Chicago-based comics grace NYC today and tomorrow with their special brand of hilarity: improv using the language and themes of William Shakespeare. Or, as they describe it: "A right noble bande of goodlie players, charged with the improvisation of divers plays in the Shakespearean manner." To see a video of these guys at play, please click here.

Please Note: You can save $5 off the $20 ticket price by ordering online using code ISCFBK.

This current NYC run ends Monday May 18th.

10:00 pm at Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow Street (7th Ave., south of Christopher)

tickets are $15 online if you use code ISCFBK, or $20 at the door

vs.

Cage Match: Death by Roo Roo vs. Reuben Williams

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.)

Tonight features a battle of titans that will make NYC quake with awe and laughter.

The defending troupe is arguably the gutsiest improv team in NYC—Death by Roo Roo, consisting of uniformly brilliant comics Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, Liz Cackowski, Jackie Clarke, Brett Gelman, John Gemberling, Curtis Gwinn, 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, it won last week's bout 102-19.

Tonight will be a different story, though. Because the challenger is, like Roo Roo, one of the finest comedy groups in the history of improvisation: Reuben Williams, consisting of Eugene Cordero, Anthony King, Lennon Parham, Charlie Sanders, Eric Scott, Kate Spencer, Charlie Todd, and Joe Wengert. Some of these performers are on their way to becoming superstars—for example, Anthony King is the brilliant Artistic Director of UCBT-NY and regularly works with top industry people; Lennon Parham is starring and co-starring in TV pilots for major networks; and Charlie Sanders is attracting substantial interest with his genius one-man show Minnesota Muslim. Every single member of this group is extraordinarily skilled...and hilarious. And the troupe can be seen dazzling UCBT audiences every Saturday night at 10:30.

Two of the finest improv troupes of all time...going head to head. It just doesn't get better than this.

This show is sold out of seats; but if you're okay with standing, come and enjoy laughing along 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 5/15/09

Joselyn Hughes, who leaves tonight for LA (Too Cool for School) and Jen Nails (Lylice)

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:

[TOP PICK] Jen Nails performing a 40-minute one-woman show about an "exuberant sixth-grader" Time Out New York called "explosively funny:" Lylice (7:00 pm),

[$] the revival of a popular comedic play, smartly directed by the wonderful Kimmy Gatewood and with a standout performance from actress Lee Eddy: Kidnapped by Craigslist (8:00 pm),

[FREE] NYC stand-ups Joselyn Hughes (in her final NYC appearance for a while, as she's moving to LA to blog for Comedy Central's Tosh.O), Craig Baldo (Conan O'Brien, NBC, VH1, Comedy Central), Dan Curry (Comedy Central), Kenny Zimlinghaus (host of Cosmo Radio on Sirius), Lucas Held, Kevin Williams, Scott Moran, and Matt Rittberg at this free weekly show in Brooklyn hosted by Cassidy Henehan and Nick Turner: Too Cool for School (8:00 pm),

[$] comedy genius Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1's Best Week Ever, The New Yorker) opening for TV & movie star TJ Miller (David Letterman, ABC's Carpoolers, film star), who's Headlining at Gotham Comedy Club (8:30 pm & 10:30 pm),

NYC stand-up comics 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),

[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] brilliant improvisors making up plays on the spot using the language and themes of the Bard: Improvised Shakespeare (10:00 pm),

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

[TOP PICK] a sketch show (with some improv thrown in) that just won its superb stars the 2009 ECNY Award for Best Sketch Comedy Group: Derrick (11:00 pm),

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

Jen Nails: Lylice

Comedic performer Jen Nails performs a 40-minute one-woman show about "exuberant sixth-grader Lylice Martin...and gingerly transports you back to the world of middle school." Time Out New York reports it's "explosively funny." What more can one ask for?

After the performance, Jen will give away one copy of her book, Next to Mexico (Houghton Mifflin, 2008), which is based on Lylice.

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

Kidnapped by Craigslist

Want to buy a couch? Find a date? Complain about your roommate? This 90-minute play "explores the carnivalistic, cult-like phenomenon that is Craigslist. Combining actual postings from the New York Web site with scripted material and live music, the play tells the true stories that are locked inside an online community that has shaped and inspired today's Internet generation."

This was a wildly successful show during its original run two years ago. The Los Angeles Times called it "a freewheeling specialty piece with insidious verve." It's now been updated for this revival.

The show is far from perfect; the writing periodically lags, and some of the performances are so-so.

That said, a number of the bits are delightful; and the direction, by the brilliantly talented Kimmy Gatewood, is sharp and inventive.

Further, you're sure to enjoy short-haired dynamo Lee Eddy (above right), who moved to NYC just a few months ago from Texas, where she was voted "Best Actress in Austin" three years in a row. Lee's always funny and electric performances are worth the trip all by itself. Keep an eye on this smart, appealing talent; I'm guessing she has a bright future.

Written by Katie Goan and Nitra Gutierrez. For brief samples from the original run, please click here and here; and for the show's MySpace page, please click here.

8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue);

tickets are $13.29 in advance online or $15 at the door

Cassidy Henehan and Nick Turner

Too Cool for School

This new & free weekly 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 superb guests are

Joselyn Hughes (leaving New York right after the show to go to LA to blog for Comedy Central's Tosh.O),

Craig Baldo (Conan O'Brien, NBC, VH1, Comedy Central),

Dan Curry (Comedy Central's "Open Mic Fight"),

Kenny Zimlinghaus (Host of Cosmo Radio on Sirius),

Lucas Held (Shoot the Messenger, Enjoyer of Boss Sauce),

Kevin Williams (Comedy Central's Premium Blend),

Scott Moran (Bumbershoot, Sasquatch Festivals), and

Matt Rittberg (Denial Sundays).

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

Take the G subway to Greenpoint Avenue stop

TJ Miller (with Pete Holmes) Headlining at the Gotham Comedy Club

TJ Miller is a razor-sharp stand-up who's performed on Late Show with David Letterman and Opie & Anthony; co-starred in the ABC sitcom Carpoolers and the hit movie Cloverfield; and is co-starring in the upcoming comedy features She's Out of Your League and The Goods: the Don Ready Story.

Tonight and Saturday, TJ will be headlining at at the Gotham Comedy Club.

And opening for TJ will be comedy genius 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 new Tuesday night comedy show Punch Up Your Life,

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

8:30 pm & 10:30 pm at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 West 23rd Street (bet. 7th & 8th Avenues);

$22 cover, plus 2-drink minimum (figure another $13+)

Jenny Rubin, Dave Rubin, Paul Case, and Shawn Hollenbach

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 comics include

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

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

Back Room co-producer Dave Rubin (here! TV's Dave Rubin Project and Hot Gay Comics).

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

Improvised Shakespeare

A highly acclaimed troupe of Chicago-based comics grace NYC today and tomorrow with their special brand of hilarity: improv using the language and themes of William Shakespeare. Or, as they describe it: "A right noble bande of goodlie players, charged with the improvisation of divers plays in the Shakespearean manner." To see a video of these guys at play, please click here.

Please Note: You can save $5 off the $20 ticket price by ordering online using code ISCFBK.

This current NYC run ends Monday May 18th.

10:00 pm at Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow Street (7th Ave., south of Christopher)

tickets are $15 online if you use code ISCFBK, or $20 at the door

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

Derrick Comedy: Street Legal

Derrick is three sharp and enormously appealing performers,

Dominic Dierkes, Donald Glover, and DC Pierson, who have

proven themselves to be both stars and improvisation champions,

winning a breathtaking 11 improv matches in a row in 2007 at Cage Match...

and breaking several all-time records while at it.

The guys also make wildly popular YouTube videos—

for some samples, please click here and here and here.

And they also completed a feature comedy film, which they wrote,

composed, and star in—and which recently premiered at Sundance.

(To view the trailer of Mystery Team, please click here.)

In tonight's show, however, they perform sketch comedy live:

and have proven themselves masters at that too,

by recently winning the 2009 ECNY Award for Best Sketch Comedy Group!

These wonderfully inventive writer/actors are continually creating,

so even if you've seen this show before, don't hesitate to come tonight;

the trio will be performing all-new material.

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

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 5/16/09

Sean Donnelly (Lil' Seany Boy), John Oliver (Moonwork), and The Improvised Shakespeare Co.

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:

[TOP PICK] numerous NYC stand-ups, including Roger Hailes, Jared Logan, Dan St. Germain, and Pat Stango & Blaine Perry, telling jokes and celebrating the host's birthday—with a party to follow—at Sean Donnelly's 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),

Roman Rimer telling the true story of transitioning from gal to guy in this new one-person show: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Trannies * But Were Afraid to Ask (7:30 pm),

[$] comedy genius Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1's Best Week Ever, The New Yorker) opening for TV & movie star TJ Miller (David Letterman, ABC's Carpoolers, film star), who's Headlining at Gotham Comedy Club (8:00 pm & 10:00 & 11:45 pm),

[$] the revival of a popular comedic play, smarty directed by the wonderful Kimmy Gatewood and with a standout performance from actress Lee Eddy: Kidnapped by Craigslist (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] [$] star comics John Oliver (head correspondent of The Daily Show, genius stand-up) and Jessi Klein (Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, CNN, Adult Swim), rising stars Baron Vaughn (Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Shoot the Messenger, Awkward Kings of Comedy), Amy Schumer, and Lucas Held, popular singer/songwriter PT Walkley, and more—plus free beer!—at acclaimed monthly comedy showcase Moonwork (9:00 pm),

organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track! (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] inventive & hilarious sketch comedy from The Harvard Sailing Team (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] brilliant improvisors making up plays on the spot using the language and themes of the Bard: Improvised Shakespeare (10:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] improvised furious action from world-class troupe Reuben Williams (10:30 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 (10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] and a comedy show about the advertising biz, tonight featuring razor-sharp comics & ad veterans Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1's Best Week Ever, The New Yorker), John Gemberling (Fat Guy Stuck in Internet, Death by Roo Roo), and Oren Brimer (SuperDeluxe.com, YouTube.com), and hosted by Greg Johnson (President Johnson) and Sam Brown (The Whitest Kids U' Know): Ad Nauseam (midnight).

Birthday boy 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.

Tonight Sean celebrates his birthday...along with numerous guests, who include Roger Hailes, Jared Logan, Dan St. Germain, and Pat Stango & Blaine Perry.

And there will be a drunken party afterwards.

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)

Becky Drysdale, Anthony King, 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), Becky Drysdale (acclaimed one-woman show One Woman in Several Pieces, Web video series Time Traveling Lesbian), 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

Roman Rimer: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Trannies * But Were Afraid to Ask

Roman Rimer performs a one-person show that asks "What happens when an anxious, unassuming girl realizes she's more of an anxious, unassuming guy?" Rimer tells the true tale of his funny, surprising, and painful journey of transitioning.

7:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

TJ Miller (with Pete Holmes) Headlining at the Gotham Comedy Club

TJ Miller is a razor-sharp stand-up who's performed on Late Show with David Letterman and Opie & Anthony; co-starred in the ABC sitcom Carpoolers and the hit movie Cloverfield; and is co-starring in the upcoming comedy features Extract, She's Out of Your League, and The Goods: the Don Ready Story.

Tonight and Saturday, TJ will be headlining at at the Gotham Comedy Club.

And opening for TJ will be comedy genius 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 new Tuesday night comedy show Punch Up Your Life,

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

8:00 & 10:00 & 11:45 pm at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 West 23rd Street (bet. 7th & 8th Aves.);

$22 cover, plus 2-drink minimum (figure another $13+)

Kidnapped by Craigslist

Want to buy a couch? Find a date? Complain about your roommate? This 90-minute play "explores the carnivalistic, cult-like phenomenon that is Craigslist. Combining actual postings from the New York Web site with scripted material and live music, the play tells the true stories that are locked inside an online community that has shaped and inspired today's Internet generation."

This was a wildly successful show during its original run two years ago. The Los Angeles Times called it "a freewheeling specialty piece with insidious verve." It's now been updated for this revival.

The show is far from perfect; the writing periodically lags, and some of the performances are so-so.

That said, a number of the bits are delightful; and the direction, by the brilliantly talented Kimmy Gatewood, is sharp and inventive.

Further, you're sure to enjoy short-haired dynamo Lee Eddy—who moved to NYC just a few months ago from Texas, where she was voted "Best Actress in Austin" three years in a row. Lee's always funny and electric performances are worth the trip all by itself. Keep an eye on this smart, appealing talent; I'm guessing she has a bright future.

Written by Katie Goan and Nitra Gutierrez. For brief samples from the original run, please click here and here; and for the show's MySpace page, please click here.

8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue);

tickets are $13.29 in advance online or $15 at the door

Death by Roo Roo: Your F*cked Up Family

Arguably the gutsiest improv troupe in NYC, and unquestionably among the finest groups in improv history, the brilliant comics of Death by Roo Roo—Anthony Atamanuik, Liz Cackowski, Neil Casey, John Gemberling, Curtis Gwinn, Adam Pally, and Gavin Speiller—interview an audience member about family and then act out his or her life story via improvised scenes. These winners of the prestigious 2009 Cage Match Championship are always razor-sharp, sometimes scary, and usually hilarious.

9:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10

John Oliver, Jessi Klein, and PT Walkley

Moonwork

This monthly comedy show is acclaimed for its stellar talent and unlimited free beer.

Tonight's wonderful guests include

John Oliver (genius who's one of the very finest—and nicest—stand-up comics in the biz;

delightful & hilarious star correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart;

superb 2008 hour-long Comedy Central special Terrifying Times; co-writer/star

of The Department for BBC Radio 4, and host/star of BBC stand-up radio show Political Animal),

Jessi Klein (deliciously honest, brilliant, hilarious stand-up star; 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;

co-host of smash hit new weekly NYC live comedy show Punch Up Your Life;

for a video stand-up sample about which celebrity would save

 the most Jews, and on email etiquette, please click here and here),

Baron Vaughn (rising star comic; Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, MTV's The Gamekillers, VH1's Awesomely Oversexed and Best Week Ever, co-star of weekly NYC live political comedy show Shoot the Messenger; feature film Cloverfield, upcoming concert film The Awkward Kings of Comedy; for a radio interview, please click here; for stand-up videos about the KKK and cell phones, please click here and here),

Amy Schumer (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central's Night of Too Many Stars and Reality Bites Back, Ellen; for Amy's video interview with Sarah Silverman, please click here),

Lucas Held (cast member of Shoot the Messenger; writes popular blog The Most Famous Dolphin), and

singer/songwriter PT Walkley.

9:00 pm at Phil Coltoff Center, 219 Sullivan Street (bet. Bleecker & West 3rd);

tickets are $20...which includes unlimited free beer

4 Track!

Springboarding from a word suggested by the audience,

George Basil, Frank Campanella, Christian Capozzoli, and Matt Evans

perform organic & energetic long-form improv for about 40 minutes.

Basil is a stand-out, but they're all sharp, committed improvisors.

There's also a warm chemistry between the men, which is especially evident

if you arrive early to watch them getting ready on stage: They toss a ball

back and forth, and then toss each other back and forth...sending

a body message of "If you throw an improv concept at me, you can trust me

to not let it drop..." One of the Magnet's most popular shows.

9:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5