NYC Comedy Picks for Week of November 29, 2010

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 11/29/10

Stephanie D'Abruzzo and Julie Sharbutt act out classic theatre scenes in Gravid Water...

...and Brenna Palughi will burn up the stage tonight at the wonderful theatrical improv show Naked in a Fishbowl

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

[FREE] 6:00 pm: Kevin Allison (legendary MTV sketch series The State, HBO, Comedy Central, VH1, host of award-winning storytelling show Risk!) hosts this free open mic show for storytellers, in which you can put your name in a hat for the chance to tell a five-minute true story...and if it's a good one, possibly be included in Kevin's popular podcasts on the Web: Risk! Storyslam

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:00 pm ($15 at the door on $18.50 online with discount code FISHFAN): My #1 pick for the 2007 FringeNYC Festival, this wonderful group of actresses/improvisors portray characters as if they were in a play, but improvise everything they say and do. The luminous performers include Katharine Heller, Brenna Palughi, Lynne Rosenberg, Lauren Seikaly, and Molly Knefel, each of whom is immensely appealing and quick-witted. Further, they have an intimate, lovely chemistry with each other; and they've all committed to baring their personal lives, thinly disguised via their characters (hence the title's Naked). As a result, this is one of the most honest & nuanced improvised shows you'll ever see.

In last week's episode, Brenna Palughi punched out a guy Molly Knefel's character was dating—cutting Molly down to just one boyfriend, and making Brenna a candidate for Molly's now-vacant #2 spot. (No video exists because of technical difficulties; but it was rapid-fire, intimate, and among the girls' best ever.)

Although every episode is a wonderful theatrical event, readers of this site no longer have to pay theatrical prices; you can see this show for a mere $15 by mentioning code FISHFAN at the door. Check out some videos of previous episodes here; and then get in the habit of attending the Soho Playhouse to experience the always fresh and surprising Naked in a Fishbowl

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): Comedy duo Leah Rudick & Katie Hartman, whose production at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival was proclaimed "biggest revelation" by the Guardian, performing a brand new sketch show: Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting

[FREE] 7:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Andy Haynes (Jimmy Fallon), Yamaneika Saunders (BET), Kate Hendricks, and Mike Recine performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub hosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy

7:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours at the Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street)—at John Morrison's Motel Luca

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Improv crashes into classic theatre scenes at this amazing show featuring some of the very best improvisors and theatrical actors in NYC, which tonight includes Anthony King (UCBT Artistic Director), Scott Adsit (30 Rock, Moral Orel, John & Scott), Michael Delaney (The Other Guys), Tara Copeland (The Other Guys), Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Avenue Q), Jennifer Grace (Our Town), Julie Sharbutt (Shakespeare in the Park), and more: Gravid Water

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5 online or $8 at the door): Wyatt Cenac (star correspondent for The Daily Show), Chris Rozzi (Outre Island), and Kambri Crews (Love, Daddy) performing at Brooklyn's Littlefield (622 Degraw Street) with sketches and more from NYC comedy royalty Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler: Hot Tub Variety

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Four sharp comedic talents each performing a monologue, with Matt Higgins (Centralia), Katie Northlich (four-time National Monologue Champion), Shawn Williams (National Monologue Champion), and Walter Murphy: The PIT-ologues

8:00 pm ($5): Hannibal Buress (staff writer for 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live; Louie, Comedy Central, Jimmy Fallon, Craig Ferguson), Nick Vatterott (Jimmy Fallon), Erik Bergstrom (Grimmer Tales), and Danny Kallas (visiting from Chicago) performing at the White Rabbit (145 East Houston Street) for John Szeluga's Not Friday

8:30 pm ($5—with FREE PIZZA!): NYC stand-ups Streeter Seidell, Adam Newman, and Team Submarine, and musical guest Mike Doughty, performing at the Magnet Theatre for Adam Lerman's and Willy Appleman's variety show Deep Traffic

9:30 pm ($5): A musical sketch comedy show revolving around Broadway, plus a loud and mildly amusing sketch show about cops, in the double-bill Sing Out, Louise! and The Sit Down and Shut Up NYPD Variety Hour

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the world—who tonight include Todd Barry, Chris Gethard, and more—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash

[FREE] 11:00 pm: If you're an audience member who loves stand-up, Monday at 11 should be Whiplash! night (see listing above). If you're a comic who couldn't get booked on Leo's show, though, you can opt to instead practice your skills on this new stand-up open mic hosted by Michelle Wolf and Erin Lennox: Fresh

NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 11/30/10

Wonderful stand-ups Ted Alexandro and Sara Schaefer perform tonight on Seth Herzog's Sweet

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

[TOP PICK] 6:30 pm ($5): Chris Gethard (star of Comedy Central's Big Lake; author of Weird New York; The Stepfathers, The Nights of Our Lives) is one of the most razor-sharp and uproariously funny storytellers in the country. Chris is reviving his wonderful one-man show for one night only, and it should not be missed: Chris Gethard's Magic Box of Stories

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Todd Barry (HBO, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, The Sarah Silverman Program, Adult Swim, feature films The Wrestler and Pete Smalls is Dead), Jamie Kilstein (Conan O'Brien), Chris DeLuca (creator/writer/star of Spike TV's MoCap LLC), Charles Star (host of Adult Ed), and musical guest Supercute (Rachel Trachtenburg's band, just returned from a European tour opening for Kate Nash) performing in the Lolita Bar at Liam McEneaney's Tell Your Friends

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Dan McNamara (hilarious animated Web series The Bear & The Cloud, sketch troupe Upset Triangle), and—via phone—comics creator Marjorie M. Liu (X-23, Dark Wolverine), joining super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club

[FREE] 8:00 pm: The debut of a monthly all-female stand-up show hosted by Amy Beckerman (Dykes on Mics), with tonight's guests Mindy Raf (brilliant singer/songwriter; check out Mindy's character Leibya Rogers here and here and here), Cara Kilduff (Here TV), Adrienne Iapalucci (Last Comic Standing), Amy Albert (Edinburgh Comedy Festival), and Irene Bremis performing at The Sullivan Room (218 Sullivan Street): It's Herlarious

[FREE] 8:00 pm: South-Asian stand-up night, with Sagar Bhatt, Ruhbin Mehta, and Dan Nainan performing at Cellar 58 (58 Second Avenue) alongside delightful host Abbi Crutchfield and comedic rapster Andrew Singer: Positively Awesome

8:00 pm to Midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes DeCoster, Badman, Bastian, Ragnaröck, and The Opera, followed by small groups of UCBT students each performing long scenes that seem to have nothing in common with each other but magically converge at the end, all at Harold Night

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: Wyatt Cenac (star correspondent for The Daily Show), Brooke Van Poppelen (brilliant stand-up, writer, and storyteller; blogger for trutV; TLC, Maxim and Cosmo Radio; popular blogs NYisretarded.blogspot.com and RockBottom; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here), Mark Normand (co-host of We're All Friends Here), Kurt Metzger (Comedy Central Presents, Last Comic Standing), and Damien Lemon performing at the Ace of Clubs (9 Great Jones Street, underneath Acme Bar & Grill) hosted by Joe DeRosa (HBO’s Down and Dirty, Comedy Central Presents, comedy CD The Depression Auction) and Jared Logan (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central): Righteous Kill

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Ted Alexandro (one of the finest stand-ups in the world, and who recently delivered a perfect set at Carnegie Hall opening for Louis C.K.; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials), Sara Schaefer (inventive, luminous comic; Emmy-nominated staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; VH1's Best Week Ever), and more performing at Ella (9 Avenue A) hosted by the wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet

[FREE] 11:00 pm: A breathtaking 40 comics are given 2 minutes each in this rapid-fire open mic stand-up show hosted with wit and energy by Jay Welch: Bring It

NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 12/1/10

30 Rock stars Scott Adsit & John Lutz debut tonight as exciting new improv duo John & Scott...

...and Brooke Van Poppelen (above) & Giulia Rozzi start a new weekly stand-up show in Brooklyn (Dive Comedy),
while Kevin Maher revives his beloved series focused on the fannishly oddball (Kevin Geeks Out)

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

[FREE] 6:00 pm to midnight: Six free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday

[$] 7:30 pm ($15): Superb storyteller Martin Dockery (The Moth, The Liar Show; acclaimed as "fantastic" by The New York Times) testing out a brand new fictional one-man show that's "a man confronted with an eternity in paradise...a flight of fancy about the afterlife" at Dixon Place: Heist

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Five authors doing amazing work in less-than-respected genres—young adult novels, comic books, romance novels, wrestling magazines, and mash-up literature—offer presentations on such topics as 'Why We Kill Everyone" and "Tales Designed to Thrizzle" hosted by super-fan Kevin Maher and friends at 92 Y Tribeca: Kevin Geeks Out About Genre Busters

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Award-winning British comedy writer & book author Jane Bussmann (South Park, Brass Eye, The Fast Show) performs her acclaimed Edinburgh Festival show for one night only: Bussman's Holiday: The Worst Date Even

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($8 at the door, $5 online with discount code Supermango): Adam Wade (two-time Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Champion (2006 & 2009) and record-breaking 15-time StorySlam Champion; The New York Times Magazine; host of hilarious monthly storytelling extravaganzas Real Tales of College and The Adam Wade show; for Adam's award-winning tale of being an NBC page on Conan O'Brien, please click here), Dan St. Germain (quick-witted, hilarious stand-up; MTV, Comedy Central; for reenactment of Dan's breakup, please click here)), Katina Corrao (HBO), and a mystery guest so special that he can't even be named here, performing at the Bowery Poetry Club with host Dan Allen: ¡Sacapuntas!

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Brooke Van Poppelen (brilliant stand-up, writer, and storyteller; blogger for trutV; TLC; popular blogs NYisretarded.blogspot.com and RockBottom; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here) and Giulia Rozzi (VH1, Playgirl Magazine, co-host of Stripped Stories) tonight debut a weekly stand-up comedy show, with their first lineup including Andrea Rosen, Mara Herron, Nick Turner, Gilad Foss, Matt Ruby, George Gordon, and more performing at Brooklyn's Hank's Rootin' Tootin' Saloon (46 Third Avenue at Atlantic): Dive Comedy

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Will Hines, Erin Judge, Amy Beckerman, Jason Saenz, Jeff Kreisler, and Boris Khaykin performing at this free weekly show hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Adsit & Gausas have virtually become legends as one of the most brilliant and passionate duos in improv comedy for making up theatrical scenes on the spot with breathtaking skill. The duo recently decided to refresh their palettes via other couplings; for example, Christina Gausas last month paired with Becky Drysdale, and will likely do so again early next year (keep an eye on the UCBT schedule). Meanwhile, Scott Adsit (cast member of 30 Rock, and co-director & cast member of Adult Swim's awesome & Emmy-winning Moral Orel) tonight buddies up with fellow 30 Rock actor John Lutz (who previously spent six years as a staff writer for Saturday Night Live), forming what's likely to be another magical improv duo: John & Scott

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 12/2/10

Aasif Mandvi performs at Variety SHAC, Tracy Morgan headlines at Carolines...

...and hilarious improv troupes Outlook of the Poet and Doppelganger will fight for your laughs & votes at Cage Match

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

6:30 pm ($5): Jena Friedman boils down her dark musical comedic parody of the American Girl Dolls to a 30-minute UCBT format, starring such brilliant talents from the NYC comedy community as Jessica Delfino, Ben Lerman, and Jena herself, in The Refugee Girls Revue; plus troupe Bleak debuts a "best-of" sketch show, all at tonight's installment of the audition series Spank

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($60 & 2-drink min.): A co-star of 30 Rock who's one of the most hilarious guys in the biz headlining tonight through Sunday at Carolines: Tracy Morgan

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($8): Master sketch comic Kurt Braunohler "relates how he destroyed a 13-year relationship in the dumbest, most complicated way possible, with bar fights, naked men, walruses, and an audition for Sasha Baron Cohen" in the one-man show The Amish Guide to F*cking

8:00 pm ($8): The Magnet's co-owner Armando Diaz performs monologues on the spot and improvisors then act out scenes based on them at The Armando Diaz Experience

[FREE] 9:00ish pm: Typically terrific NYC stand-ups performing stand-up on this weekly show at the Kabin Bar and Lounge hosted by Chesley Calloway and comedy genius Sean Patton (red-hot rising star; killer set on Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central, VH1): Comedy as a Second Language

9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Pioneering UK comedy star Andy de la Tour (The Young Ones), Michael Che, Alex Grubarb, and David Cope performing at the Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) for a show hosted & produced by just-engaged couple Sean Crespo & Carol Hartsell: Lasers in the Jungle

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Aasif Mandvi (correspondent for The Daily Show), John Flynn (stellar storyteller; The Nights of Our Lives), Julian McCullough (Comedy Central Presents), and Ann Carr (Louie) joining hosts Andrea Rosen and Shonali Bhowmik for Variety SHAC

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Genius improv troupe Outlook of the Poet (Gavin Speiller, Ben Rodgers, and Jonathan Gabrus) and surprise breakout hit Doppelganger (Nicole Byer, Sasheer Zamata, and Keisha Zollar) compete for audience laughs and votes in what's likely to be one of the most exciting editions of the raucous Cage Match

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 12/3/10

Melanie Hamlett bids adieu to NYC at The Going Away Show, Tracy Morgan headlines at Carolines...

...Jim Gafffigan headlines at the Best Buy Theater...

...and Adira Amram and Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan are among the stellar talents performing improv hip-hop at The BEATdown

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:00 pm & 9:30 pm ($40-$50): 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. He's appeared over a dozen times on David Letterman, over two dozen times on 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). And he's headlining tonight and Saturday at the Best Buy Theater (1515 Broadway at 44th Street): Jim Gaffigan

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($7): Comedy veterans Laura Krafft (former writer for The Colbert Report), Jodi Lennon (Exit 57), and Miriam Tolan (The Daily Show) perform an improvised play in What a Year!

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): A delightful tale of heartbreak by Leslie Meisel—who manages the impressive feat of being adorable, sexy, and hilarious all at the same time, and is a sharp comedic talent very much worth keeping an eye on—quite ably abetted by co-writer Megan Neuringer in one of the smartest theatrical shows to grace UCBT this year: Love Can Suck a Dick...and So Can I

...and for the other half of this double-bill, a musical sketch comedy show revolving around Broadway in Sing Out, Louise!

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($60 & 2-drink min.): A co-star of 30 Rock who's one of the most hilarious guys in the biz headlining tonight through Sunday at Carolines: Tracy Morgan

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: One of the finest storytellers in the country, the unique, brilliant, and hilarious Melanie Hamlett (Moth GrandSlam Champion), is heading off to the New Mexico desert for several months to focus on her first book. But before she goes, she's having a blowout show, party, and auction for comedy services. Don't miss Kevin Allison (sketch comic of legendary The State, host of Risk!), John Flynn (The Nights of Our LIves), Daisy Rosario (NPR), Shannon O'Neill, and more performing at The Creek in Queens' Long Island City for Melanie Hamlett's Going-Away Party and Show

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers

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

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

10:30 pm ($10): Jonathan Gabrus, Sue Galloway, and other fine improvisors make up scenes about an audience member's legal dispute at The Law Firm: Law & Disorder

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): A comedic freestyle rap contest featuring some of the funniest & sharpest comics in NYC—who tonight include Adira Amram (fresh, sexy, hilarious rising star singer/songwriter), Utkarsh Ambudkar (Freestyle Love Supreme), Adam Newman (College Humor), and more—plus a volunteer from the audience!, hosted by genius comedic musical performers Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan (The Daily Show, The Electric Company, Freestyle Love Supreme) and Victor Varnado (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central) all at one of my favorite monthly shows: The BEATdown

Jim Gafffigan headlines at the Best Buy Theater, Tracy Morgan headlines at Carolines...

...and Adira Amram and Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan are among the stellar talents performing improv hip-hop at The BEATdown

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($7): Comedy veterans Laura Krafft (former writer for The Colbert Report), Jodi Lennon (Exit 57), and Miriam Tolan (The Daily Show) perform an improvised play in What a Year!

...and for the other half of this double-bill, a musical sketch comedy show revolving around Broadway in Sing Out, Louise!

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($60 & 2-drink min.): A co-star of 30 Rock who's one of the most hilarious guys in the biz headlining tonight through Sunday at Carolines: Tracy Morgan

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers

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

10:30 pm ($10): Jonathan Gabrus, Sue Galloway, and other fine improvisors make up scenes about an audience member's legal dispute at The Law Firm: Law & Disorder

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 12/4/10

Judah Friedlander headlines at Comix, Jim Gaffigan headlines at the Best Buy Theater...

...Tracy Morgan headlines at Carolines, and Melanie Hamlett bids adieu to NYC at The Going Away Show

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

[TOP PICK] [$] 6:00 pm ($15, which includes 1 drink): Four funny people tell amazing stories. Three of the tales are absolutely true...but one of them is a pack of lies. The audience then asks questions to try and identify the fibber—and everyone who does gets a free t-shirt! This evening's yarn-spinners are Ophira Eisenberg (brilliant storyteller and host of The Liar Show TV pilot; Comedy Central, VH1, Showtime), Jim O'Grady (NPR's This American Life), Peter Lubell (IFC writer/producer), and Martin Dockery (Best of Fest winner at Winnipeg Fringe Festival). Come to the West Village's Cornelia Street Cafe (29 Cornelia Street) and let host Andy Christie (The New York Times, Moth GrandSlam Champion) attempt to mislead you at The Liar Show

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:00 pm & 9:30 pm ($40-$50): 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. He's appeared over a dozen times on David Letterman, over two dozen times on 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). And he's headlining one more night at the Best Buy Theater (1515 Broadway at 44th Street): Jim Gaffigan

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisors Anthony King, Christina Gausas, Becky Drysdale, and more—including writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors, all joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($60 & 2-drink min.): A co-star of 30 Rock who's one of the most hilarious guys in the biz headlining tonight through Sunday at Carolines: Tracy Morgan

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($31.22 online if you use code PLAYBILL, plus 2-item minimum): A cast member of 30 Rock, and a performer on VH1's Best Week Ever, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, MTV's Wonder Showzen, NBC's The Tonight Show, and over 20 films headlining for one night only at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Judah Friedlander

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: One of the finest storytellers in the country, the unique, brilliant, and hilarious Melanie Hamlett (Moth GrandSlam Champion), is heading off to the New Mexico desert for several months to focus on her first book. But before she goes, she's having a blowout show, party, and auction for comedy services. Don't miss Kevin Allison (sketch comic of legendary The State, host of Risk!), John Flynn (The Nights of Our LIves), Daisy Rosario (NPR), Shannon O'Neill (The Stepfathers), and more performing at The Creek in Queens' Long Island City for Melanie Hamlett's Going-Away Party and Show

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Brilliantly funny writer/singer Jessica Delfino (enjoys singing songs about her vagina, as demonstrated by her CD Dirty Folk Rock; created the hilarious and wildly popular YouTube animated short film I Wanna Be Famous; has a cool MySpace page, and an even cooler blog; to get a feel for Jessica's amazing range and talent, please click here), and NYC stand-ups Nick Turner, Matt Ruby, Dan HIrshon, Doug Smith, Damien Lemon, and John Szeluga, performing at The Triple Crown Alehouse & Restaurant (330 7th Avenue, between 28th and 29th Streets) at Sean Donnelly's Lil' Seany Boy

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

9:00 pm ($7): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!

9:30 pm ($10): "A cabaret of darkly funny songs and topical sketch comedy about culture and politics," following sold out shows at Joe's Pub: Political Subversities

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

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

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

[TOP PICK] 11:00 ($8): NYC's heavy metal version of a sketch troupe, which doesn't always ht the mark but provides odd, unsettling, and fearless dark comedy—and won this year's ECNY Award for Best Sketch Group: Murderfist: Late and Dirty

NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 12/5/10

One of the very finest comedies of FringeNYC 2010 enjoys a brief revival Sundays at 5:00 pm: Faye Lane's Beauty Shop Stories

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 5:00 pm ($18 online using discount code FAYB ): One of the very best shows at FringeNYC 2010 was an award-winning comedy from NYC's own Faye Lane, a luminous storyteller and singer who will charm your socks off—and possibly give you a moon pie to boot—at the Soho Playhouse's downstairs Huron Club. Please read my review by clicking here, and then take advantage of this brief revival on Sundays this December to experience the hilarious and unforgettable Faye Lane's Beauty Shop Stories

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($60 & 2-drink min.): A co-star of 30 Rock who's one of the most hilarious guys in the biz headlining tonight through Sunday at Carolines: Tracy Morgan

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($7): Typically stellar stand-ups (not yet announced) performing at Brooklyn's Union Hall hosted by comedy giant Eugene Mirman, who's joined by his Pretty Good Friends

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Myq Kaplan (finalist on this summer's Last Comic Standing; Jay Leno, Comedy Central Presents half-hour special), Andy Haynes (Jimmy Fallon), Giulia Rozzi (VH1, co-host of Stripped Stories and Dive Comedy), Dave Lester, and Nick Maritato performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up

[FREE] 9:00 pm: Ben Kronberg, Del Harrison, Nick Vatterott, and Danny Kallas performing at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan) hosted by the wonderful Hannibal Buress (writer for 30 Rock and SNL): Comedy Night

[FREE] 9:00 pm: Storyteller/sketch performer Ilana Glazer, and stand-up Kevin Barnett, Sean O'Connor, and Neal Stastny, performing in the East Village's Beauty Bar at Vince Averill's & Jesse Popp's free weekly show Beauty Bar Comedy

[FREE] 10:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Robin Fox, Paul Case, and Hilary Schwartz performing at this free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy tonight hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour

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