NYC Comedy Picks for Week of November 24, 2008

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 11/24/08

Doug Benson (The Benson Interruption), Demetri Martin (Stand-Up), and Adira Amram (Entertaining the Bartender)

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

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

the perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set

and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours, tonight including Joe DeVito, Margie Kment,

Emily Epstein, Matt Ruby, Daniel Dratch, Dan St. Germain, Blaine Perry, and Sean Donnelly—

at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel (6:30 pm & 9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] luminous actors including Sandy Rustin (Comedy Central's upcoming The Scariest Show on TV)

mixing it up with brilliant  improvisors such as Michael Delaney and Anthony King

as they crash improv into classic theatre scenes at Gravid Water (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] superb comics Adira Amram (unique, hilarious risting star singer/songwriter), Seth Herzog (VH1, stellar host of Sweet), Margot Leitman (world-class storyteller, co-host of Stripped Stories), Matt Goldich, and Taylor Williamson, plus band Car on the Moon, at a free weekly comedy show in Brooklyn hosted by the razor-sharp Jena Friedman: Entertaining the Bartender (8:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] typically stellar stand-up comics who perform their sets but are periodically interrupted by the host—one of the funniest men on the planet, Doug Benson—at a very special show called The Benson Interruption (9:30 pm).

[TOP PICK] and one of the sharpest and most popular stand-up comics in the country performing an hour-long set: Demetri Martin (11:00 pm).

Ochi's Motel

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

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

(In addition, Ochi's 1-item food or drink minimum applies to everyone.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

There are two shows, at 6:30 and 9:00 pm (with entirely different sets of comics).

Tonight's 6:30 lineup includes such fine stand-ups as Joe DeVito, Margie Kment, Emily Epstein, Matt Ruby, Daniel Dratch, Dan St. Germain, Daniel Dratch, and Mark Normand.

And the 9:00 pm show includes such talents as Luke Cunningham, Gary Vider, Ray Combs, Sarah Fearon, Blaine Perry, and Sean Donnelly.

Ochi's Motel is hosted by Sean Donnelly and Blaine Perry.

To be entered into the weekly random drawing for performers,

please send email to ochismotel@gmail.com.

6:30 pm & 9:00 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues)

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

Anthony King, Michael Delaney, and Sandy Rustin

Gravid Water

Classic theatre scenes performed by professional actors who stay on book—

and an improv comic who hasn't read the play and has to make up lines on the fly.

Starring such world-class improvisers as

 Michael Delaney (genius improvisor, actor, and improv instructor; Late Night with Conan O'Brien; member of UCBT star troupe The Stepfathers and legendary troupe The Swarm), and

Anthony King (brilliant UCBT-NY Artistic Director; Reuben Williams, Happy Hour,

Let's Have a Ball, off-Broadway show Gutenberg! The Musical);

and also starring some of NYC's top theatre & TV actors: Jenn Gambatese (Is He Dead?, Tarzan, All Shook Up), Asmeret Ghebremichael (Wicked, In The Heights, Aida, Legally Blonde), Joel Karie (The Lion King), and Sandy Rustin (Don't Quit Your Day Job, Neil Simon's Hotel Suite, Comedy Central's The Scariest Show on TV).

Gravid Water is directed, hosted, and co-stars

and is one of the finest comedy productions in New York.

If you want to introduce an actor friend to the world of improv, start with this show.

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

Seth Herzog, Adira Amram, and Jena Friedman

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 rising star with unique act combining hilarious original songs, dancing, and spoofing of female sexuality mixed with incredible physical energy; Jane Magazine Editors Choice; co-star of UCBT's Get Psyched!; opens for such stars as comedy genius Maria Bamford; for sample songs & videos, please click here),

Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever and All Access, Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show, host of superb NYC weekly live comedy show Sweet),

Margot Leitman (Late Night With Conan O'Brien, VH1, Spike TV, co-host of monthly NYC live comedy show Stripped Stories),

Matt Goldich (VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, NY1's The Call, contributor to book Bar Mitzvah Disco; for a stand-up sample, please click here),

Taylor Williamson (quirky, fun stand-up; CBS' Late Late Show), and

music from indie band Car on the Moon (Dave de Vinck, Elias Orling, Nat Kingsley, Adriane Palikat, and Danny Sheehan).

8:30 pm at Sound Fix Records, 110 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg Brooklyn; free

Take the L subway to Bedford Avenue and walk four blocks to N 11th Street

Doug Benson

The Benson Interruption

Doug Benson (finalist on Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, VH1's Best Week Ever) is one the sharpest stand-ups in the world.

In this superb show, Benson invites some of the funniest people he knows—who include some of the most sought-after comics in the country—to perform stand-up. And whenever he feels like it, Benson interrupts the act with a sharp observation to make the audience laugh even harder...and, with luck, crack up the comedian on stage as well.

Tonight's guests haven't been announced, but expect high-powered talent...and what promises to an unforgettable night of comedy.

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

Demetri Martin: Stand-Up

An hour-long set from one of the sharpest and most popular stand-ups anywhere, the wonderful Demetri Martin (immensely popular comedy star with his own segment, Trendspotting, on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart  [13 appearances]; Demetri has also been on Late Night with Conan O'Brien [4 appearances]; performed a Comedy Central Presents 30-minute special, and a Comedy Central 2007 one-hour special titled Demetri Martin. Person. [both specials now available on DVD]; published a These Are Jokes CD/DVD; and has a TV series coming up produced by Jon Stewart titled Important Things).

Please Note: Because Demetri is a huge star and tonight's performance is a mere $5, reservations sold out almost immediately. However, if you're okay with standing, you can still come and enjoy this.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 11/25/08

Thomas Middleditch (Sweet), Pete LePage, Alex Zalben, & Justin Tyler (Comic Book Club), and Demetri Martin (Sweet)

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

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

the perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set

and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours, who tonight include Joe DeVito, Karen Batista, Ray Combs,

Josh Comers, and Luke Cunningham—at John Morrison's Broadway Motel (6:00 pm),

comedians getting rid of their stuff by telling tales about the items

and then selling to the highest bidder at the very fun Auction! (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] comics creators Marc Bernardin (Monster Attack Network, Highwayman)

and Neil Kleid (Marvel.com, Brownsville) joining in on a lively & hilarious

discussion about comic books at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),

three full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes

Whorenado, The Law Firm, Ragnaröck, Bastian, and The F*cking Kennedys—at Harold Night (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] and star Demetri Martin testing out material for his upcoming new TV show Important Things,

plus rising star character performer Thomas Middleditch (Baby Wants Candy), and sharp stand-ups

Hannibal Buress (Comedy Central) and Craig Baldo (Conan O'Brien) at one of

the finest and funniest shows in NYC, the wonderful Seth Herzog's Sweet (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.

Tonight's lineup includes such talents as Joe DeVito, Karen Batista, Ray Combs, Josh Comers, and Luke Cunningham.

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

Auction!

This delightful show has each sharp comedy guest bring an item he or she no longer wants, tell a story about the item, and then put it up for auction...with bids in 25 cent increments! In fact, Chris Sifflet provides each audience member with a quarter to kick off the bidding!

This is silly fun, and worth experiencing...and who knows, you may walk off with something absurd for around a buck...

7:30 pm at Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

Comic Book Club

Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,

who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.

Tonight's industry guests are Marc Bernardin (Monster Attack Network, Highwayman) and Neil Kleid (Marvel.com, Brownsville).

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.)

Also be sure to watch 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—

Whorenado, The Law Firm, Ragnaröck, Bastian, and The F*cking Kennedys—

each give it a go for 30 minutes, with

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

Some of the groups are great; some are less so. And this show

is designed more for students of improv than the general public.

But if you're interested, and patient, a mere $5 will buy you

a full evening's education...and periodic solid laughs.

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

Thomas Middleditch and Demetri Martin...

...and Seth Herzog and Hannibal Buress

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

Demetri Martin (immensely popular comedy star with his own segment, Trendspotting,

on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart  [13 appearances]; Demetri has also been on Late Night with Conan O'Brien [4 appearances]; performed a Comedy Central Presents 30-minute special, and a Comedy Central 2007 one-hour special titled Demetri Martin. Person. [both specials now available on DVD]; published a These Are Jokes CD/DVD; and has a TV series coming up produced by Jon Stewart titled Important Things),

Thomas Middleditch (quick-witted organic talent who honed his improv & comedy skills at Second City and iO Chicago, and is currently a member of superb improv troupes Baby Wants Candy, Broad Shoulders, and The Improvised Shakespeare Co; star of upcoming film Splinterheads and character "Marverick" in upcoming film The Rebound; one-man show Littlebitch at UCBT; co-host of monthly UCBT show Game Bros. Live!; wildly popular character performer at the monthly Morrison Motel),

Hannibal Buress (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, Chicago's Finest,

upcoming concert film The Awkward Kings of Comedy), and

Craig Baldo (performed over 30 sketches on 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).

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 11/26/08

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

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

five free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday (7:00 pm-midnight),

[TOP PICK] Violet Krumbein demonstrating she's one of the most darkly funny talents in NYC,

and Thomas Middleditch (member of genius improv troupe Baby Wants Candy) showing off

a myriad of comedic characters via a dynamic one-man show, in a don't-miss double-bill:

Human Painkiller and Littlebitch (8:00 pm),

comics competing for laughs based on an assigned topic in So You Think You Can Stand (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] Wyatt Cenac (correspondent for The Daily Show), Chelsea Peretti (Comedy Central,

Variety SHAC), John Gemberling (star of Fat Guy Stuck in Internet), and Hannibal Buress

(Comedy Central) in Brooklyn at the hilarious Joe Mande's & Noah Garfinkel's Totally J/K (9:30 pm),

and an improvised imagining of what goes on at a lesser-known parade,

The Macy's Day Before Thanksgiving Day Parade (9:30 pm).

Kurt Braunohler and Pat Shay

The PIT's Super Free Wednesday

For four hours every Wednesday, The PIT provides free shows featuring its improv house troupes. Vacation Island and The Wilhelm perform at 7:00 pm; Big Black Car and Fancy Dragon go on at 8:00 pm; and The Baldwins and Sid Viscous show their stuff at 9:30. Rounding out the evening are The Faculty, consisting of The PIT's superb improv instructors, including such talents as Ali Farahnakian, Kurt Braunohler, Ptolemy Slocum, Jen Nails, Pat Shay, Kevin Scott, and Rebekka Johnson.

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.

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

Jim Gaffigan: The Sexy Tour

Jim Gaffigan is a comedy superstar who delights in observational humor about food (his Hot Pockets routine is a classic) and mundane things we take for granted ("I like escalators because they can never break, only become stairs"). As accessible as any mainstream performer alive, while simultaneously a sharp deconstructionist who can work any alternative comedy room with ease, his appeal is deep and universal.

Jim's appeared over a dozen times on Late Show With David Letterman, over two dozen times on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (for which he created the animated series Pale Force), performed his own Comedy Central Presents special, and created a Beyond the Pale comedy album that's been certified Platinum (the CD and DVD versions have each sold over 150,000 copies).

This comedy legend is currently doing a national tour, with performances at NYC's Town Hall on November 26, 28, 29, and 30.

To learn more, please click here and here. To order tickets ($45 plus outrageous $9.60 "service charge"), please click here; or better yet, skip the service charge by purchasing directly from the box office.

8:00 pm on 11/26, 8:00 & 10:30 pm on 11/28, 8:00 & 10:30 pm on 11/29, and 8:00 pm on 11/30

at Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street (between 6th Avenue & Broadway); tickets are $45

A couple of the many faces of Thomas Middleditch...

...and the uniquely dark comedy of Violet Krumbein

Violet Krumbein: Human Painkiller and Thomas Middleditch: Littlebitch

A superb one-man show and mind-blowing one-woman show

from two rising comedy stars you shouldn't miss...all for a mere five bucks.

The evening kicks off with Violet Krumbein, a very appealing young actress who's performed on Comedy Central, Adult Swim, and UCBT Harold Night improv troupes Tantrum and Whorenado. (For a sample of Violet's sharp acting and vocal skills, please click here.) Tonight Violet demonstrates she has one of the most disturbingly inventive comedic minds to grace an NYC stage via a show she wrote and performs solo—with the aid of a dancer's grace, impeccable timing, and myriad props...including an unforgettable life-size doll. Imagine combining the playfulness of Sesame Street with the dark side of Andy Kaufman and you'll get some glimmer of what's in store for you. Not for every taste; but if you feel adventurous, don't miss this breathtakingly original show by the beautiful and delightfully twisted Ms. Krumbein. Directed by Megan Neuringer (VH1's Best Week Ever, All Access).

The double-bill then continues with Thomas Middleditch, a quick-witted organic talent who honed his improv & comedy skills at Second City and iO Chicago, and is currently a member of superb improv troupes Baby Wants Candy, Broad Shoulders, and The Improvised Shakespeare Co. Thomas is also the star of the upcoming film Splinterheads; the co-host of monthly UCBT show Game Bros. Live!; and a wildly popular character performer at the monthly Morrison Motel. It's the latter skills Thomas will be drawing on for this one-man show as he literally jumps around on stage, and switches among different voices and body postures in split seconds, to create a small mob of colorful people interacting with each other—and, at one point, even physically fighting each other! Come catch this rapidly rising star.

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

So You Think You Can Stand

This biweekly show is a competition between stand-up comedians based on an assigned topic, provided beforehand, that each comic must somehow address in his or her set. After the field is narrowed to two, there's a final round in which a short and completely improvised Q & A determines the winner. Hosted by Al Alvarez and Jessie Richardson.

Tonight's comics haven't been announced;

to check for a last-minute update, please click here.

9:00 pm at Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

Totally J/K

Hosted by quick-witted best buds Noah Garfinkel and

Joe Mande, the 2008 ECNY Award winner for Best Emerging Comic.

(For dueling birthday videos, please click here and here; for their

recent appearance on The McLaughlin Group, please click here;

and for other videos, please click here and here.)

Tonight's superb guests are

Chelsea Peretti (exceptionally fresh, smart stand-up comic; Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; member of superb comedy troupe Variety Shac; writer for Village Voice, Details, Playgirl, Jest,

blackpeopleloveus.com, and Rejection Line: 212/479-7990),

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

John Gemberling (co-creator and co-star of TV series Fat Guy Stuck in Internet,

MTV's Human Giant; member of genius improv troupe Death by Roo Roo), and

Hannibal Buress (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham, Chicago's Finest,

upcoming concert film The Awkward Kings of Comedy).

9:30 pm at Sound Fix Records, 110 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg Brooklyn; free

The Macy's Day Before Thanksgiving Day Parade

From the official description:

"Giant balloons!

Marching bands!

Musical numbers!

Santa Claus!

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is the most paradey parade in the whole world.

This is not a show about that parade.

This is a show about the Macy's Day-Before-Thanksgiving Day Parade.

It's a totally different parade. It's like...better."

And considering there's no one credited as writer,

I'm guessing the show is entirely improvised.

The talented performers are Jen Bartels, Brian Berrebbi, Devlyn Corrigan, John Frusciante, Jon Gutierrez, Kevin Hines, Morgan Grace Jarret, Tricia McAlpin, Pam Murphy, Shannon O'Neill, Gil Ozeri, Silvija Ozols, Adam Pally, Ben Rodgers, Craig Rowin, and Ben Schwartz.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 11/27/08

Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy are

...hang out with loved ones!

All of the usual suspects are dark tonight.

But please tune in here again on Friday.

Meanwhile...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 11/28/08

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

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

[TOP PICK] Kevin Allison (member of legendary sketch troupe The State) in a one-man show: F*** Up (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] a co-star of Comedy Central's The Root of All Evil, with appearances on David Letterman,

Conan O'Brien, etc., headlining tonight and Saturday at Comix: Andy Kindler (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

a gay-themed stand-up 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),

a one-man show mixing comedy and magic: BalloonFREAK (9:30 pm),

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

Derrick hosting two sketch comedy troupes, Chubby Skinny Kids and Rue Brutalia,

competing for audience laugh & votes at Backyard Brawl (11:00 pm),

and a free opportunity for you to perform improv with UCBT veterans at Jammin' with Ralph (11:00 pm).

Kevin Allison: F*** Up

Kevin Allison (member of legendary sketch comedy troupe The State, HBO's Flight of the Conchords, VH1's Best Week Ever,  Comedy Central's Reno 911) tonight performs a new one-man show.

I haven't seen this but, given Kevin's track record, it's probably terrific.

For a recent interview with Kevin, please click here.

8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $10

Andy Kindler

Andy Kindler is a frequent guest on and correspondent for The Late Show with David Letterman, He's also performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Dr. Katz Professional Therapist, The Larry Sanders Show, and as the life-affirming character "Andy" on the CBS sitcom classic Everybody Loves Raymond.

Among Kindler's specialties is satirizing his own field by making fun of fellow comics. For example, he's the author of Hack's Handbook (National Lampoon), which parodies comedy formulas.

Kindler currently co-stars on Comedy Central's The Root of All Evil.

Save $5 off the $25 cover before day of show or $30 cover tonight (i.e., $20 or $25 per ticket)

with discount code HYREVIEWS. To order, please click here.

Friday Nov. 28 at 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm, and Saturday Nov. 29 at 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm,

at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues)

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).

Tonight's stand-ups include

Back Room co-producer Paul Case (MTV, D-Listed Radio),

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

Back Room co-producer Dave Rubin (here! TV's 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: Will Hines, Zach Woods, Michael Delaney, and Bobby Moynihan

Front: Chris Gethard, Shannon O'Neill, and Silvija Ozols

The Stepfathers

Some of the smartest & finest improv comics in NYC—Michael Delaney,

Chris Gethard, Will Hines, Bobby Moynihan, Shannon O'Neill, Silvija Ozols,

and Zach Woods—make up a series of scenes from a one-word audience suggestion.

With art and grace, these star talents will make you laugh—a lot.

9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10

BalloonFREAK

The official description: "BalloonFREAK is a highly interactive show that is best appreciated by comedians. Blending elements of magic, stand-up, latextwisting, and yes, pyromania, it is a hysterically unforgettable weave of creative mayhem. Teller (of Penn & Teller fame) called the BalloonFREAK "a great performer, so full of heart, wit and virtuosity!" Find out why.

9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $10

The Made-Up Musical

Veteran improvisor John O'Donnell is accompanied

by a rotating cast that might include such superb talents as

Tara Copeland, Scott Glover, Alex Marino, Louis Kornfeld,

 Jessica Allen, Robin Rothman, and Megan Gray

—and with Frank Spitznagel on piano—

turn an interview with an audience member

into a musical they make up on the spot.

10:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $7

vs.

Backyard Brawl: Chubby Skinny Kids vs. Rue Brutalia

In this new show—a scripted comedy version of UCBT's wildly popular improv battles at Cage Match—two sketch comedy troupes compete for audience laughs & votes.

The brawl is hosted by Derrick: enormously appealing performers Dominic Dierkes, Donald Glover, and DC Pierson, who are sketch comedy stars via their wildly popular

YouTube videos (for some samples, please click here and here and here).

Tonight's contenders are Chubby Skinny Kids: Dan Gregor, Doug Mand, and Adam Pally (for a video clearly shot before the current real estate crisis, please click here), and

Rue Brutalia: Jon Pack and Jason Kalter (to obtain a feel for this duo's odd work, check out a saga about a cartoon character with no balls, and another about two guys who are the same man, by clicking here and here).

Can this show match the excitement and popularity of Cage Match? Come check it out and see.

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

Jammin' With Ralph

To perform improvisation at UCBT, you must spend years taking classes and carefully perfecting your craft...or you can come to this monthly free show, which allows audience members to jump on stage and participate!

Hosted by popular long-form improv troupe The Law Firm, which consists of superb talents Dominic Dierkes, Jonathan Gabrus, Sue Galloway, Nate Lang, Gil Ozeri, Adam Pally, Ben Rodgers, and Gavin Speiller.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 11/29/08

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

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

an improv troupe with a theatrical approach: Stray (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] four hours of semi-finals and finals competition at the raucous conclusion

of Pat Baer's wonderful 2008 3-on-3 Improv Tournament (8:00 pm, 9:30 pm, & 11:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] comedy legend Jim Gaffigan performing the next-to-final evening of his

current smash NYC run at Town Hall: The Sexy Tour (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] Kevin Allison (member of legendary sketch troupe The State) in a one-man show: F*** Up (8:00 pm),

a co-star of Comedy Central's The Root of All Evil, with appearances on David Letterman,

Conan O'Brien, etc., headlining tonight and Saturday at Comix: Andy Kindler (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

a small mob of talented comics telling funny, poignant, and at times unforgettable tales about their relatives at the gorgeous Sara Benincasa's Family Hour (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] and Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun,

quick-paced theatrical comedy show: The Complete Performer (10:30 pm).

Stray

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

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

Host Pat Baer

3-on-3 Improv Tournament

Throughout November, 21 select comedy troupes, each with three members, battled for audience votes in this Eighth Annual Citywide 3-on-3 Improv Tournament.

In addition, a wildcard team was chosen lottery-style from the audience during each quarter-final, making for a total of eight teams competing per evening. This wildcard group added a delicious extra element of surprise, as well as making the audience feel like it was part of the action.

The four teams with the most votes from each quarter-final advanced to the semi-finals

and finals—which all happen tonight, for the raucous four-hour conclusion.

For a highly informed history of the tournament, please click here.

The extravaganza is hosted by the wonderful and invaluable Pat Baer (above).

Tonight is divided into three shows, but buying a single ticket (for a mere $10)

allows you to stay and enjoy the entire jaw-dropping event.

Of the original 24 troupes, 12 are left.

The six teams competing at the 8:00 pm semi-finals are, in order of scheduled appearance:

Kevin Kevin Hines Hines Kevin Cragg, Kevin Hines, Will Hines)

Castlemania! (Nicole Drespel, Bridget Fitzgerald, Katey Healy-Wurzburg)

Greg, Gregor, Greggest (Greg Burke, Dan Gregor, Greg Tuculescu)

Derrick (Dominic Dierkes, Donald Glover, DC Pierson)

According to Jim, Rory and Craig (Craig Rowin, Rory Panagotopulos, Jim Santangeli)

C, C + C Improv Factory (Charlie Todd, Charlie Sander, Chuck Dauble)

And the six teams competing at the 9:30 pm semi-finals are, in order of scheduled appearance:

Avenue Fag (Pamela Murphy, Kirk Damato, Michael Martin)

The Greatest Actor In All Of France (Birch Harms, Oscar Magallanes, Brandon Gardner)

Outlook of the Poet (Jonathan Gabrus, Ben Rodgers, Gavin Speiller)

Boywonder (Frank Spitznagel, Ben Whitehouse, Alan Starzinski)

Gardasil (Shannon O'Neill, Anna Rubanova, Lydia Hensler)

Hot Sauce (Adam Pally, Gil Ozeri, Ben Schwartz)

Two winners will be selected by a panel of judges at each show; and the four troupes surviving the semi-finals will go head-to-head at 11:00 pm for the winner-takes-all finals.

If you love improv, this promises to be a spectacular evening.

8:00 pm, 9:30 pm, & 11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue);

tickets are $10 for the entire evening, regardless of when you arrive

Jim Gaffigan: The Sexy Tour

Jim Gaffigan is a comedy superstar who delights in observational humor about food (his Hot Pockets routine is a classic) and mundane things we take for granted ("I like escalators because they can never break, only become stairs"). As accessible as any mainstream performer alive, while simultaneously a sharp deconstructionist who can work any alternative comedy room with ease, his appeal is deep and universal.

Jim's appeared over a dozen times on Late Show With David Letterman, over two dozen times on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (for which he created the animated series Pale Force), performed his own Comedy Central Presents special, and created a Beyond the Pale comedy album that's been certified Platinum (the CD and DVD versions have each sold over 150,000 copies).

This comedy legend is currently doing a national tour, with remaining performances at NYC's Town Hall tonight and Sunday night.

To learn more, please click here and here. To order tickets ($45 plus outrageous $9.60 "service charge"), please click here; or better yet, skip the service charge by purchasing directly from the box office.

8:00 pm & 10:30 pm tonight, and 8:00 pm on 11/30 at Town Hall,

123 West 43rd Street (between 6th Avenue & Broadway); tickets are $45

Kevin Allison: F*** Up

Kevin Allison (member of legendary sketch comedy troupe The State, HBO's Flight of the Conchords, VH1's Best Week Ever,  Comedy Central's Reno 911) tonight concludes the run of his one-man show.

I haven't seen this but, given Kevin's track record, it's probably terrific.

For a recent interview with Kevin, please click here.

8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $10

Andy Kindler

Andy Kindler is a frequent guest on and correspondent for The Late Show with David Letterman, He's also performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Dr. Katz Professional Therapist, The Larry Sanders Show, and as the life-affirming character "Andy" on the CBS sitcom classic Everybody Loves Raymond.

Among Kindler's specialties is satirizing his own field by making fun of fellow comics. For example, he's the author of Hack's Handbook (National Lampoon), which parodies comedy formulas.

Kindler currently co-stars on Comedy Central's The Root of All Evil.

Save $5 off the $30 cover (i.e., $25 per ticket)

with discount code HYREVIEWS. To order, please click here.

8:00 pm & 10:30 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues)

"Auntie" Sara Benincasa

Family Hour with Auntie Sara

In this unique weekly comedy show, everyone tells jokes and/or stories related to

their family. It's hosted by stand-up comic Sara Benincasa, whose many credits include correspondent for MTV's Choose or Lose Campaign and host of Tub Talk with Sara B. on Nerve.com. (Sara is also a fine comedic actress; to watch her be hilarious as Sarah Palin and as a yoga instructor, please click  here & here and here.)

Tonight's guests haven't been announced, but they usually consist of around 10 terrific NYC stand-up 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)

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