NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 11/2/09
Colin Quinn (Tell Your Friends and Whiplash) and Michael Ian Black (WitStream.com)
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
6:30 pm & 9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open-mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($15 & 2-item min.): A blowout gathering of top comedic talent—Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, Pete Holmes, Baron Vaughn, Morgan Murphy, and Josh Fadem—at the elegant Comix Comedy Club help celebrate the launch of a new Web site devoted to showcasing the best tweets, Facebook updates, and other microcomments from very funny folks online: WitStream.com
8:00 pm ($5): The talented young writer/performers of top UCBT scripted comedy house troupes Stone Cold Fox and Gorilla Gorilla try out their newest sketch material at Maude Night
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Top stand-up comic Colin Quinn, plus The Pleasure Syndicate (four comedy writers—Scott Jacobson, Mike Sacks, Jason Roeder, and Ted Travelstead—debuting material from their first book Sex: Our Bodies, Our Junk), humor author Bob Powers, and house band A Brief View of the Hudson, all performing in the Lolita Bar with host Liam McEneaney at Tell Your Friends
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): 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
[FREE] 9:30 pm: Brooke Van Poppelen—who is currntly killing via the best work I've ever seen from this brilliant and gorgeous comic at her one-woman show on Thursday nights, So-Low Show—plus NYC stand-ups Ari Teman, J-L Cauvin, Greg Manuel, Dan Frigolette, Harris Bloom, Phil Murphy, and Brendon Fitzgibbons performing at Pat O'Shea's free weeky Brooklyn showcase at Freddy's Backroom: Ed Sullivan on Acid
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest stand-ups in the country—who tonight include Colin Quinn, The Sklar Brothers, Sean Patton, and Andrea Rosen—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 11/3/09
Tonight Adult Education lectures on The Proper Prank, Adira Amram sings at Comic Book Club, and Rob Riggle is macho at Sweet
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Comic book creators Michael Kaluta & Elaine Lee (Starstruck), and brilliant rising star sex goddess & musical guest Adira Amram joining in on a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Witty writers offering delightfully silly lectures about "The Proper Prank" (e.g., The Day I Gave My Brother Appendicitis) at Charles Star's Brooklyn comedic show Adult Education
8:00 pm to midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Scootch, Ragnaröck, Badman, Robber Baron, and DeCoster, followed by UCBT advanced students improvising a movie—all at Harold Night
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Comedy giants Rob Riggle, the Sklar Brothers, and Julian McCullough, plus acclaimed actor Josh Charles, and more performing at The Slipper Room for the LES weekly show hosted by the wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet
9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Sharp NYC stand-ups Jamie Lee, Charlie Kasov, Paul Oddo, Jay Welch, Jason Saenz, Michael Lawrence, James J. Oakes, and Jay Hoskins telling tales about their first time—with anything they choose—performing in Ochi's Lounge at SNC: The Virgin Chronicles
[FREE] 11:00 pm: Free open-mic stand-up show that's seldom much fun for audience members but is a nice opportunity if you want 4-5 minutes to test out your comedy material on stage: Bring It
Please note: Due to scheduling conflicts, Pete & Jessi are taking this week off from Punch Up Your Life. This hit Tuesday show will return on November 10th.
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 11/4/09
Brilliant comedic storytellers Leo Allen, Elna Baker, and Janeane Garofalo perform at tonight's edition of Risk!...
...and brilliant comedic singer/songwriters Adira Amram and God's Pottery perform at Your Favorite Band Sucks—at Comedy
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm ($12 ticket; plus two-drink or $12 food min. if you sit at a table): World-class comics and comedic storytellers—who tonight are TV & movie superstar Janeane Garofalo, bestselling author Elna Baker (for a Q&A about Elna's book, please click here), brilliant stand-up Leo Allen (HBO, Conan O'Brien, SNL, Comedy Central), and Kenny Mellman (Kiki and Herb)—join brilliant sketch comic and storyteller Kevin Allison (The State) in Joe's Pub to share tales on the theme "Sneaky Choices" at the exciting new weekly storytelling event Risk!
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest comedic singer/songwriters in NYC—Adira Amram, Stuckey & Murray, God's Pottery (Wilson Hall & Krister Johnson), Snakes (Adam Lustick & Billy Scafuri), and Thin Skin Johnny—joining wonderful hosts Anthony King and Scott Brown at this spectacular one-night-only event: Your Favorite Band Sucks...at Comedy
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Two top NYC sketch troupes, Murderfist and Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting, perform intense comedy in the intimate East Village Red Room theatre: The Last Murderfist Show
8:00 pm ($7): Sharp NYC stand-ups Caroline Rhea, Becky Donohue, Liam McEneaney, and Costaki Economopoulos performing at Dan Allen's & Ray Devito's monthly comedy showcase ¡Sacapuntas!
[FREE] 8:00: Sharp NYC storytellers and stand-ups Leslie Goshko, John Flynn, Claire Titelman, Lisa Haim, Anthony Spinner, and Hollywood Beach Brian performing at this free weekly show hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink
[FREE] 8:30 pm: Jordan Carlos (The Colbert Report), Claire Titelman (Veronica Mars), Robert Buscemi (designated "Best Comedian 2009" by Chicago Reader), Rich Juzwiack, and "a special secret showbiz guest we aren't allowed to announce because he or she has another fancy gig in town this week" performing at a free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn's Cameo (behind Lovin' Cup) hosted by Gabe Liedman and Max Silvestri: Big Terrific
9:30 pm ($5): Two one-man shows—about having cancer and being gay—for a mere five bucks in the double-bill Nick Ross: Highly Evolved Human and Brent Sullivan: Fag Life
[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 11/5/09
Kick off your evening at 6:00 with the debut of a dynamite one-woman show from rising star Melanie Hamlett...
...and then see delicious comics Mara Herron & Brooke Van Poppelen perform solo shows at Fly Girl and So-Low Show...
...or shell out some real cash to see comedy giants Mike Birbiglia or Ricky Gervais as part of the New York Comedy Festival
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 6:00 pm ($5): The debut of a one-woman show from one of the finest storytellers in the country and a rapidly rising NYC comedic star—plus the debut of two other comedy shows, totaling over 90 minutes of entertainment for a mere five bucks—at Melanie Hamlett and More
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($30-$35): One of the finest stand-ups and comedic storytellers alive performs a new show at Town Hall as part of The New York Comedy Festival: Mike Birbiglia: I'm in the Future Also
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($42.50-$87.50): UK super-comic and TV star performing at Carnegie Hall as part of The New York Comedy Festival: Ricky Gervais: Out of England II
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Three top NYC sketch troupes—Pangea 3000, Murderfist, and Curtis Gwinn & John Gemberling (Death by Roo Roo, Cartoon Network)—will make you laugh uncomfortably and uncontrollably at The Best Sketch in NY Showcase
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10):The increasingly gorgeous Brooke Van Poppelen demands attention in a new one-woman show that's the best work she's ever done: Smart, honest, fresh, charismatic, hilarious—and not to be missed. (To get a feel for Brooke's previous work, please click here and here.) Then Mara Herron combines personal storytelling with hip-hop dancing (for Mara's views on drugs, please click here) in the double-bill Brooke Van Poppelen: So-Low Show and Mara Herron: Fly Girl
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Delightful sketch comedy & musical duo Tim Ellis and Matthew Park performing what's sure to be a very fun show: An Evening with Ellis & Park
8:00 pm ($5): Sharp improvisors directed by James Eason "take an audience suggestion and break it into a million funny pieces" in The Deconstruction
[FREE] 8:30 pm: Terrific comics Joe DeRosa, Donnell Rawling, and Peyton Clarkson perform at Brooklyn's Building on Bond for a free stand-up show hosted by Yannis Pappas: Another Very Good Comedy Show
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: Storytelling giant Elna Baker, brilliant stand-up Victor Varnado, highly unusual Claire Titelman, and razor-sharp stand-ups Hari Kondabolu and Adam Newman performing at Bar on A (170 Avenue A off East 10th Street) for a biweekly show hosted by lovely dark humor comic Jena Friedman: Entertaining the Bartender
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Brilliant stand-up Jessi Klein, and brilliant storytellers Melanie Hamlett and Starlee Kine, joining the fresh, sexy, and razor-sharp gals of comedy group Variety SHAC
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): This year's kick-off of a beloved annual tradition—Pat Baer's 3-on-3 Improv Tournament
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 11/6/09
Bill Burr (performing at Town Hall) and Tracy Morgan (performing at Carnegie Hall) as part of the New York Comedy Festival...
...and superb & unique stand-ups Doug Stanhope (Headlining at Comix) and Jake Johannsen (Headlining at Gotham Comedy)...
...and Tim Girrbach & Alicia Levy in their new sketch show about a hip-hop duo's career (Paired Up and Pumpin')
[TOP PICK] 6:30 pm - midnight ($10, $15, and $15): An entire night of comedic musical improvisation in 90-minute slots, with the highlight being the 8:30-11:00 show (for $15) starring world-class troupes Baby Wants Candy and I Eat Pandas: The Magnet's Musical Improv Festival
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($10): Time Out New York's Comedy Editor Jane Borden, who is herself a rare treasure, presents NYC comics who she feels are among our most precious comedy resources: Tom Shillue, Donald Glover, Marina Franklin, Morgan Murphy, Adam Lustick & Billy Scafuri (as rap duo Snakes), and Paul Downs, all performing at a show that's sold out of seats (but if you don't mind standing, come and enjoy): Time Out New York Approved
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($30-$39.50): One of the finest stand-ups alive (to view some choice videos, please click here) performing at Town Hall as part of The New York Comedy Festival: Bill Burr
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($32.50-$59.50): A hilarious co-star of 30 Rock performing stand-up at Carnegie Hall as part of The New York Comedy Festival: Tracy Morgan: Hard Knock Life
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($32 & 2-item min.): A stand-up acclaimed for shocking comments who's hosted Comedy Central's The Man Show, performed a Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, and performed the Showtime special No Refunds headlining tonight and Saturday at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Doug Stanhope
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A comedy icon who's performed on David Letterman over 40 times and The Tonight Show over 10 times, and did the acclaimed HBO comedy special This'll Take About An Hour, headlining at the Gotham Comedy Club: Jake Johannsen
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): A new sketch show from highly talented husband & wife comedy team Tim Girrbach & Alicia Levy about "The journey of two unlikely hip-hop stars to the top of the charts told through the people who made them—managers, stylists, choreographers, optometrists. Written and preformed by Alicia & Tim, and directed and choreographed by Wendy Seyb: Paired Up and Pumpin'
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Superb stand-ups Sara Schaefer, Baron Vaughn, Jon Friedman, Dan Allen, Claire Titelman, and Sean Gabbert at Brooklyn's Coco 66 for Nick Turner's Too Cool for School
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): A groundbreaking and surreal improv/sketch troupe focusing on our favorite city: Centralia: The New York Show
11:00 pm ($5): Three sharp NYC sketch troupes—Free Love Forum, Adam & Trevor, and Party Central USA—each performing one of their most popular bits and one of their personal favorites in a fun sketch revue hosted by James Eason & Aaron Kheifets: A-Side/B-Side
[FREE] 12:20ish am: A free opportunity for you to perform sketch on the UCBT stage at Liquid Courage
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 11/7/09
Patton Oswalt (performing at Town Hall) is part of tonight's New York Comedy Festival...
...and genius improvisor Blaine Swen is performing a one-man musical (Bash!)
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 - midnight ($10, $15, and $15): An entire night of comedic musical improvisation in 90-minute slots, with the highlight being the 8:30-11:00 show (for $15) starring comedy genius Blaine Swen (Improvised Shakespeare) performing a one-man musical, and superb & surreal troupe Centralia: The Magnet's Musical Improv Festival
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Star improvisation from writers & performers at 30 Rock, The Colbert Report,
Conan O'Brien, and more joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($32.50-$35.00): One of the smartest and funniest stand-ups in the biz performing at Town Hall as part of The New York Comedy Festival: Patton Oswalt
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($32 & 2-item min.): A stand-up acclaimed for shocking comments who's hosted Comedy Central's The Man Show, performed a Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, and performed the Showtime special No Refunds headlining at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Doug Stanhope
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & 11:45 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A comedy icon who's performed on David Letterman over 40 times and The Tonight Show over 10 times, and did the acclaimed HBO comedy special This'll Take About An Hour, headlining at the Gotham Comedy Club: Jake Johannsen
8:00 pm ($10): In this unique monthly show, stand-up comics perform in the buff. A reviewer from The Boston Globe observed, "The dynamic of nude comedian and clothed audience added an extra dimension to self-deprecating material." For a New York Magazine review, please click here; or simply come see for yourself The Naked Comedy Showcase
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): The gutsiest comedy troupe in NYC, genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Always fresh and imaginative world-class sketch troupe that uses song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about awkward goodbyes at the end of a party, please click here): The Harvard Sailing Team
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): An all-star improv troupe led by brilliant UCBT artistic director Anthony King: Reuben Williams
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 10:30 pm ($15 both online and at the door using discount code BECKYD, otherwise $20): A Chicago-based troupe that's wowed audiences around the world with their skill at creating a completely improvised hour-long musical. The plot and characters, the musical accompaniment; even the song lyrics and the "choreography" are made up on the spot, with no pre-planned structure. Come see why BWC won a FringeNYC Award this August for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Event at the magical Baby Wants Candy
12:00 am ($5): Andy Rocco's extravaganza of sketch comedy, music, dancing, free t-shirts, and special guests—who tonight include stand-up Tony Camin and musical guest Jason Anderson: The Hipster Show
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 11/8/09
Louis C.K. is headlining at Carolines to top off the final day of the New York Comedy Festival
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000
[FREE] 7:30ish pm: Typically stellar stand-ups (who haven't been announced this week) performing stand-up at a free weekly LES show at Pianos hosted by Greg Johnson: The Comedians
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm: Star comics Louis C.K. (one of the finest stand-ups ever), Andy Samberg, and Bill Maher are each performing headlining or one-man shows on this final day of the New York Comedy Festival
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($7): Star comics—tonight including Michael Showalter (Comedy Central's Michael & Michael Have Issues, The State, Stella)—performing stand-up at this weekly event at Brooklyn's Union Hall, hosted by comedy giant Eugene Mirman (who just released a new comedy album, God Is a Twelve Year Old Boy With Asperger's; for a fun recent Village Voice write-up, please click here): Tearing the Veil of Maya
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Superb NYC stand-ups Pete Holmes, Roger Hailes, Jackie Monahan, and Morgan Venticinque performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up
[FREE] 9:00 pm: Sharp NYC stand-ups Roger Hailes, Abbi Crutchfield, Pat O'Shea, Ryan Conner 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: Helen Hong (VH1, WE network), Adrienne Iapalucci (VH1), and Marc Maietta (Here TV's Hot Gay Comics) performing stand-up at a free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour
Copyright © 2009 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
