NYC Comedy Picks for Week of October 6, 2008

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 10/6/08

Todd Barry, Glennis McMurray & Eliza Skinner, and Andy Blitz

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

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

Day 4 of this year's annual New York Underground Comedy Festival

at Broadway Comedy, Comix, and Ha! (6:30, 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 10:30 pm, and 12:30 am),

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

and around 30 comics crammed into 2½ hours, who tonight include Kumail Nanjiani, Lee Camp,

Rick Overton, Joselyn Hughes, Blaine Perry, Brian Longwell, and Ross Hyzer

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

stand-ups Myq Kaplan, Anne Neczypor, Adam Lehman, and Danny Leary joining delightful

hosts Jackie Monahan, Leah Dubie, Amy Beckerman, & Gloria Bigelow at Dykes on Mics (7:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] world-class comedic freestyle hip-hop from the stars of Freestyle Love Supreme (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] an entirely improvised musical from genius duo Glennis McMurray

& Eliza Skinner (accompanied by pianist Frank Spitznagel), plus political-based improv,

from comedy troupes I Eat Pandas and The Spin (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] and a free weekly show featuring some of the finest stand-up comics in the country—who tonight include two of my all-time favorite guys, comedy geniuses Todd Barry and Andy Blitz,

plus deliciously fresh stand-up Chelsea Peretti, and "special guests"—hosted by the wonderful

Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central) at Whiplash (11:00 pm).

2008 New York Underground Comedy Festival

This year's annual NYUCF is running October 3-12.

It features scores of comics, including both stars and up-and-comers.

For a complete list of the shows, times, and locations, please click here.

Also check out the NYUCF radio comedy site—which will play the audio

of complete shows from the festival, at no charge—by clicking here.

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 30+ 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 6:30 lineup includes such superb comics at Kumail Nanjiani,

Joselyn Hughes, Blaine Perry, and Ross Hyzer; and the 9:00 pm show

is an Obama fundraiser with such pros as Lee Camp, Rick Overton, and Brian Longwell.

Ochi's Motel is hosted & booked by Sean Donnelly and Joe Powers.

To be entered into the weekly random drawing for performers,

please send email to ochismotel[at]gmail.com.

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

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)

Gloria Bigelow, Amy Beckerman, Leah Dubie, and Jackie Monahan

Dykes on Mics

Free gay-themed stand-up comedy show featuring the gals above

as regulars/hosts, plus tonight's guests

Myq Kaplan, Anne Neczypor, Adam Lehman, and Danny Leary.

7:00 pm at The Stonewall Inn, 53 Christopher Street (at 7th Avenue South); free

Freestyle Love Supreme

Freestyle Love Supreme is an amazing comedic freestyle hip-hop group, using audience suggestions as a springboard for creating improvised music inspired by jazz, rap, and comedy. Tonight's performers include Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan, Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Anthony Veneziale. The last three guys co-founded FLS; and Miranda and Veneziale are the writer and director of the Broadway hit In the Heights, which recently won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Musical. Don't miss this chance to catch these exceptional performers while they're still charging affordable prices to see them.

Please Note: For this special event, Comix is waiving its two-drink minimum policy!

So the only obligatory cost for this show is the ticket fee.

Please also note you can save $5 off the $25 cover (i.e., pay $20 per ticket)

by ordering online with discount code HyReviews.

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

$20 online using code HYREVIEWS

Glennis & Eliza: I Eat Pandas and The Spin

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 they

just 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.

Also on this double-bill is improv troupe The Spin, which takes a current political news story chosen by the audience and then improvises scenes about it. The group consists of Jeremy Bent, Beth Cartier, Guy Cohen, Timothy Cooper, Eric Hollerbach, Barry Lank, Beth Newell, David Siegel, Matt Stillman, and John Robert Wilson, with direction by Doug Moe.

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

Todd Barry and Koala bear in cuteness contest...

...and Leo Allen, Andy Blitz, and Chelsea Peretti

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, this new show is produced by Jeremy).

Tonight's thoroughly wonderful guests are

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;

recently acted in the upcoming Darren Aronofsky film The Wrestler;

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

Andy Blitz (comedy genius best known for being a writer and performer for

Late Night with Conan O'Brien since 1999; also a thoroughly unique stand-up

whose sets—ranging from talking peanut butter to jet-flying cats—tend to be unforgettable;

to read about Andy's memorable hosting of Crash Test last year at UCBT, please click here),

Chelsea Peretti (exceptionally fresh, smart stand-up comic; member of superb

comedy troupe Variety Shac; writer for Village Voice, Details, Playgirl, Jest,

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

and "special guests."

Regarding the latter, you never know who might pop in—two weeks ago

there was a visit from Janeane Garofalo! Here's a photo from her set:

If you love comedy, make a habit of attending this wonderful free weekly extravaganza.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 10/7/08

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

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

Day 5 of this year's annual New York Underground Comedy Festival at Ha! Comedy

and the Times Square Arts Center (7:30, 8:30, 9:00, 10:30 pm, and 12:30 am),

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

and then selling to the highest bidder at Auction! (7:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] a small mob of sharp stand-ups—including Judy Gold, Tom Papa, Laurie Kilmartin,

Greg Giraldo, and Christian Finnegan, celebrating the 3rd anniversary of Punchline Magazine (8:00 pm),

comic book writers and artists joining in on a lively & hilarious discussion

about their work and the latest & greatest releases at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),

three full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring the troupes Ragnaröck,

Bastian, The Law Firm, The Scam, and Whorenado—at Harold Night (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] quick-witted stand-ups Todd Levin, Baron Vaughn, and Craig Baldo providing

spontaneous live commentary on tonight's second Presidential debate at one of the

finest & funniest shows in NYC, the wonderful Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm),

and delightful comedic musical duo Mel & El, plus fine stand-ups including Jenny Rubin,

at a show pretending to be from the Pennsylvania heartland: Skip & Sparkle Variety (9:00 pm).

2008 New York Underground Comedy Festival

This year's annual NYUCF is running October 3-12.

It features scores of comics, including both stars and up-and-comers.

For a complete list of the shows, times, and locations, please click here.

Also check out the NYUCF radio comedy site—which will play the audio

of complete shows from the festival, at no charge—by clicking here.

Auction!

This new show "acts as an alternative to the impersonality of eBay and the seriousness of The Antiques Road Show. At Auction!, comedians bring hilarious stories along with their objects, and you bring riot gear and a few bucks for the bid wars that follow." Hosted by Chris Sifflet.

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)

PunchlineMagazine.com's 3rd Anniversary Show

For the past three years, the online Punchline Magazine has been covering stand-up comedy nationwide. Updated many times a week, the site features reviews, in-depth profiles, and interviews with the country's most popular comedians, including Jim Gaffigan, Louis CK, Sarah Silverman, Lewis Black, Jim Norton, Dane Cook, Carlos Mencia, and many more. The site also offers daily videos, a blog, and a message board.

Comics scheduled to help celebrate the magazine's 3rd Anniversary include Judy Gold, Tom Papa, Greg Giraldo, Robert Kelly, Laurie Kilmartin, Pete Dominick, Christian Finnegan, and Ray Ellin.

Please Note: You can save $5 off the $20 cover (i.e., pay $15 per ticket)

by ordering online with discount code HyReviews.

Please also note there's also a two-item minimum;

with tax & tip, figure on spending an additional $13 or up.

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

$15 online using code HYREVIEWS, plus two-item food or drink minimum

Comic Book Club

Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,

who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.

Tonight's guests are The Timony Brothers (Night Owls), Mark Sable

(Grounded, Cyborg), and Paul Azaceta (Grounded, Potter's Field, Foolkiller).

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 fave, a delightful show with Kevin "Batman" Conroy, please click 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—

Ragnaröck, Bastian, The Law Firm, The Scam, and Whorenado—

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

Seth Herzog and friends

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 show is a communal viewing of the second Presidential debate. What's special about it will be the hilarious spontaneous commentary provided by Seth and his razor-sharp stand-up guests Baron Vaughn, Todd Levin, and Craig Baldo.

Seth hosted a similar event last week for the Vice Presidential debate, and it was reportedly a smash. Don't miss this chance to combine history and comedy for what promises to be a memorable evening.

8:45ish pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street  (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5

The Skip & Sparkle Variety Show

In this new show, "Pennsylvania's favorite jokester song-and-dance team, Skip Lickdale and Sparkle Montgomery, and that ol' biz workhorse Ron Phoenixville, bring you the most fun cast of characters that New York has to offer. Gags, singing-n-dancing, ukuleles and more!"

Tonight's lineup includes terrific comedic musical duo Mel & El, and talented stand-ups

Jenny Rubin, Paul Case, Vicki Ferrintinos, and Michael Carbonaro.

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 10/8/08

Justin Purnell, Adam Wade, and Pete Holmes

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),

Day 6 of this year's annual New York Underground Comedy Festival at Ha! Comedy

and the Times Square Arts Center (7:30, 8:30, 9:00, 10:30 pm, and 12:30 am),

stellar storyteller Adam Wade hosting a new show in which comics share

their favorite campus anecdotes in True Tales From College (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] sneak peaks at nine current and upcoming UCBT shows at the UCBT Autumn Comedy Showcase (8:00 pm),

the debut of a comedic one-woman show about weddings in Megan Grano: Obliged (9:30 pm),

former Kissing Booth hosts Brandy Barber and Sara Jo Allocco debuting a sketch show directed by the superb Owen Brimer: Jar Full of Roaches (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] and a free, laid-back, and occasionally magical variety show where virtually anything can happen on a School Night (11:00).

Kurt Braunohler, Pat Shay, and Kimmy Gatewood

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, Matt Donnelly, Kevin Scott, Rebekka Johnson, and Kimmy Gatewood.

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

2008 New York Underground Comedy Festival

This year's annual NYUCF is running October 3-12.

It features scores of comics, including both stars and up-and-comers.

For a complete list of the shows, times, and locations, please click here.

Also check out the NYUCF radio comedy site—which will play the audio

of complete shows from the festival, at no charge—by clicking here.

Adam Wade and friend

Adam Wade: True Tales From 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).

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)

Pete Holmes and Thomas Middleditch

UCBT Autumn Comedy Showcase

The best way to get a feel for a myriad of current and upcoming UCBT shows is to attend this showcase, which provides snippets of productions from such comedic performers & comedy troupes as Pete Holmes, Thomas Middleditch, Nate Lang, Rory & Craig, Sue Galloway, Lance & Ray, Sidecar, and Dan & Doug. Hosted by John Frusciante & Aaron Glaser.

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

Megan Grano: Obliged

This brand new one-woman show from Megan Grano is about weddings. The official description:

"While the divorce rate escalates, weddings have taken on an unprecedented importance, becoming the quintessential day for self-indulgence, extravagance, and unbridled ostentation. Megan Grano exposes the state of weddings by following one bride's story, starting with her engagement. We meet the self-centered bride, her parents, her sad but eager-to-please maid of honor, her terrified florist, her wacky minister, and a multitude of other characters all involved in making this the biggest, and (therefore) bestest day of her life!"

Tonight is the show's debut, so I have no additional information about it; but the fact it was provided a slot by itself in UCBT "prime time" indicates the production is worth a look.

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

Jar Full of Roaches

Former Kissing Booth hosts Brandy Barber and Sara Jo Allocco

debut this sketch show, directed by acclaimed comedy short film director Orem Brimer.

The official description: "Some simp may have said that life is just a bowl full of cherries, but Brandy & Sara think it's more like a jar full of roaches. Will there be demented workout videos? Seething hostility expressed through offers of kindness? Screeching? You betcha. And one lucky guest will win his or her very own Jar Full Of Roaches at each and every show."

So even if you don't like the show, the price is clearly worth it for the raffle entry...

9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5

Justin Purnell

School Night

Host Justin Purnell provides a mix of guests who perform stand-up, improv, music,

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 typically wonderful free show makes possible.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 10/9/08

Carolyn Castiglia, The Apple Sisters, and C, C + C Improv Factory

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

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

a brand new set of disturbingly odd sketch comedy routines from Rue Brutalia (7:00 pm),

Day 7 of this year's annual New York Underground Comedy Festival at Gotham Comedy,

Ha! Comedy, and the Times Square Arts Center (8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 10:30 pm, and 12:30 am),

[TOP PICK] The Apple Sisters, who are winners of the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act,

and one of the most charming & entertaining groups in NYC—and after this month,

also one of the finest comedy groups in LA as they seek well-deserved fame and fortune—

performing a new Halloween musical: Ghoul's Night Out (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] rising star Thomas Middleditch (member of genius improv troupe Baby Wants Candy)

showing off a myriad of comedic characters via a one-man show, and plus brilliant comedic storyteller

Anthony Atamanuik, in Littlebitch and Pissing My Pants on Vine (8:00 pm),

terrific stand-ups Carolyn Castiglia, Timmy Williams, Jess Wood, Abbi Crutchfield,

Luke Thayer, Dean Obeidallah, and Shawn Hollenbach talking about their impoverished

and/or difficult childhoods at Meat and Potatoes (9:30 pm),

a comedy game show about life and trivia: Are You Paying Attention? (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] and one of the funniest comedy groups in the world, C, C + C Improv Factory,

competing against three members of improv troupe Bastian for audience laughs & votes

at the raucous Cage Match (11:00 pm).

Rue Brutalia Works Out

Rue Brutalia is duo Jon Pack and Jason Kalter,

who tonight debut a new collection of sketch comedy routines

To obtain a feel for these guys' 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.

7:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5

2008 New York Underground Comedy Festival

This year's annual NYUCF is running October 3-12.

It features scores of comics, including both stars and up-and-comers.

For a complete list of the shows, times, and locations, please click here.

Also check out the NYUCF radio comedy site—which will play the audio

of complete shows from the festival, at no charge—by clicking here.

Photo on left: Rebekka Johnson, Kimmy Gatewood, and Sarah Lowe

Photo on right: Sarah Lowe, Rebekka Johnson, and Kimmy Gatewood

The Apple Sisters: Ghoul's Night Out

The delicious Apple Sisters—Kimmy Gatewood, Rebekka Johnson, and Sarah Lowe, with Tom Thomsen on keyboard—have sung, danced, and naughtily joked their ways into New York City's heart. This homage to 1940s girl groups like The Andrew Sisters is one of the great successes in NYC alternative comedy, performing on Comedy Central and the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival, and winning the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act.

Tonight the gals perform a brand new show about Halloween involving spooky magic

and lots of crows. Be sure to catch it soon; after this month, our heroines

plan to head to LA in pursuit of the national fame & riches they deserve.

From the official description: "The Apple Sisters are Candy, Cora, and Seedy. Their mother, Ms. Reddy Apple, was a vaudeville star and she passed down the legacy to her three girls! The trio present their live show, broadcast on WXYZ AM Radio, straight to the troops in Germany, and present the show on stage at the Peoples Improv Theater in their first and favorite home, the Big Apple! Be a chum and always use Doramad Toothpaste, now with Thorium!"

To get a feel for the production, please click here & here & here & here.

The show tends to sell out, so it's recommended you buy an advance ticket online

($10.22, including service charge, using discount code APPLEFAN) by clicking here.

8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street; tickets are $10 at the door

A couple of the many faces of Thomas Middleditch; and stellar storyteller Anthony Atamanuik

Thomas Middleditch: Littlebitch and Anthony Atamanuik: Pissing My Pants on Vine

Two superb one-man shows for a mere five bucks.

The festivities kick off 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.

The double-bill then continues with Pissing My Pants on Vine, a one-man autobiographical show about doing drugs and booze while writing for children's television from the wonderful Anthony Atamanuik (actor on NBC's 30 Rock; hilarious reporter who covered the New Hampshire primaries for The Huffington Post; ace storyteller on NYC monthly comedy show The Nights of Our Lives; member of champion improv troupe Death by Roo Roo).

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

Meat and Potatoes

This fine show allows "big city" comedians to tell tales about their struggles growing up poor, lower-middle class, or in some other way challenged. It's hosted by the wonderful Carolyn Castiglia (VH1's White Rapper, MTV, Sirius Satellite Radio, The Huffington Post, host of NYC live comedy show Chicks and Giggles) and Shawn Hollenbach (here! TV's Busted, co-producer of weekly NYC live comedy show The Back Room).

Tonight's superb guests are Timmy Williams (IFC's Whitest Kids U Know), Abbi Crutchfield and Luke Thayer (The Living Room), Dean Obeidallah (Comedy Central's The Watch List), and Jess Wood (HBO's Def Comedy Jam).

9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $8

Are You Paying Attention?

This monthly event is "a live game show featuring three contestants chosen randomly from the audience to answer questions about politics, pop culture, and other things you should already know!" Written by John Frusciante, Aaron Glaser, Jon Gutierrez; hosted by John Frusciante; and featuring sketch comedy performers Mike Still and Ari Scott.

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

vs.

Cage Match: C, C + C Improv Factory vs. Classic Masculinity

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.)

What an incredible season this has been.

First Death by Roo Roo delivered 17 breathtaking, and record-breaking, wins in a row. (For details, please click here.)

And then the brilliant Ben Rodgers made history by defeating Roo Roo as a solo improvisor! Ben is normally the pitch-perfect and thoroughly hilarious co-announcer of Cage Match; but for the past three weeks, he's wowed audiences with his ability to take over the stage and conjure complex tales filled with quirky characters using only his quick-witted imagination, acting skills, guts, and charisma.

Last week,  springboarding off the audience suggestion "corn dog," Ben created a 25-minute play about fading band Beany, Weird Beard, and the Beekeeper performing its last gig at a county fair. The only other performer I know of daring enough to tackle an improvised one-man show is genius UCBT co-founder Ian Roberts (to read about Ian's tour de force at the 2007 Del Close Marathon, please click here). Here's hoping Ben is allowed to keep demonstrating his extraordinary skills in other UCBT timeslots.

Ben's Cage Match rein was ended, however, when he had the bad luck of going up against one of the toughest improv opponents in the world, C, C + C Improv Factory, consisting of Chuck Dauble (Chuck D. & Jawnee Show), Charlie Sanders (Conan O'Brien, Reuben Williams), and Charlie Todd (Improv Everywhere, Reuben Williams). These guys are the 2008 Cage Match Champions, having spent last year defeating some of the most spectacularly funny improvisors alive.

Even so, last week the trio outdid themselves. Taking the audience suggestion "prison," they began by slowly building a backstory about three friends who travel the globe and were thrown into jail on the suspicion of being witches. After exploring a myriad of ramifications (e.g., Charlie Todd pointed out that as men they should actually be accused of being warlocks), the tale exploded into another dimension when Charlie Sanders revealed he did indeed have magical powers...via a mystical portal in his ass. When Charlie persuaded his friends to escape that way, they discovered they were now trapped inside him...as his new testicles!

Through words, body language, and the power of suggestion, these guys created millions of dollars of special effects on stage...and an unforgettable epic horror tale jam-packed with laughs.

Facing these master improvisors tonight is another male trio: Classic Masculinity, consisting of Brian Barrett, Adam Frucci, and Brandon Gardner from Harold NIght troupe Bastian.

CM faces a formidable challenge, but there's no telling what'll happen...which is one of the great pleasures of this extravaganza.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 10/10/08

Neil Casey of world-class improv troupe Death by Roo Roo, and superb sketch troupe Party Central USA

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

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

Day 8 of this year's annual New York Underground Comedy Festival at the Bridge Theatre,

Lafayette Grill & Bar, and Ha! Comedy (6:30 pm, 8:00 pm, 8:30 pm, 10:30 pm, and 12:30 am),

a sketch troupe taking simple premises to wild conclusions: The Impending Moustache (7:00 pm),

sketches from physical comics Matt & Dave DiLoreto and Joshua Sidis as The Uncles (6:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] legendary sketch troupe Stella—Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, and David Wain—

making a rare appearance with superb Brooklyn-based musical groups The National

and Grizzly Bear at the Celebration of New York Magazine's 40th Anniversary (8:00 pm),

a one-woman show by Ellie Kemper, and a sketch show about break-ups by

Dan Gregor & Doug Mand, in Feeling Sad/Mad and Banging My Dick Against a Wall (8:00 pm),

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

[TOP PICK] superb sketch troupe Party Central USA in their all-new show Riding an Inflatable Hotdog (9:30 pm),

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

[TOP PICK] one of my all-time favorite improv troupes—which this season broke the Cage Match record

for winning streaks with 17 wins in a row—the brilliant and daring members of Death by Roo Roo (11:00 pm),

and a free opportunity for you to perform improv with UCBT veterans at Jammin' with Ralph (12:20ish am).

2008 New York Underground Comedy Festival

This year's annual NYUCF is running October 3-12.

It features scores of comics, including both stars and up-and-comers.

For a complete list of the shows, times, and locations, please click here.

Also check out the NYUCF radio comedy site—which will play the audio

of complete shows from the festival, at no charge—by clicking here.

The Impending Moustache

The Impending Moustache consists of Katie Hartman, Daniel Kelley, Gabriel Pacheco, and Leah Rudick: "We attack our material with a joyous and infectious theatricality. We send our audiences home shaken with laughter so constant, it gives them nightmares. Beautiful, vivid nightmares." For a memorable sketch about prisoner abuse, please click here; and for a tragic tale about Jews for Jesus, please click here.

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

Matt DiLoreto, Dave DiLoreto, and Joshua Sidis of The Uncles

The Uncles

Sketch troupe The Uncles consists of sharp comedic performers Matt DiLoreto, Dave DiLoreto, and Joshua Sidis. Their material doesn't always live up to their prowess for physical comedy; but if you're patient, you're likely to encounter at least a few memorable moments (especially if you're a fan of Star Wars...).

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

Legendary comedy troupe Stella: David Wain, Michael Showalter, and Michael Ian Black

New York Magazine Celebrates 40 Years with The National and Grizzly Bear, hosted by Stella

New York Magazine is celebrating 40 years of publication with an extra-special evening of music and comedy provided by superb Brooklyn-based bands The National and Grizzly Bear, and a rare appearance by seminal & beloved comedy troupe Stella: Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, and David Wain.

Seats will be first come, first served on the evening of the event. To order a ticket ($38.75, which includes a year's subscription to New York Magazine), please click here.

8:00 pm at Hammerstein Ballroom, 234 West 34th St. (bet. 8th & 9th Aves.);

ticket is $38.75 online (includes 46-issue subscription to New York Magazine)

Ellie Kemper: Feeling Sad/Mad and Banging My Dick Against a Wall

Two comedy shows for 10 bucks.

Ellie Kemper is a terrific comedic performer who's acted on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and FUSE's The P.A.; is a member of popular improv troupe fwand and half of improv duo KEMPAS; and writes for The Onion and McSweeney's. Tonight she performs a one-woman show titled Feeling Sad/Mad, which is described as "Several gentle portraits of excruciating despair and anger."

The double-bill then continues with a comedic mini-play about relationships

from Dan Gregor and Doug Mand (members of sketch troupe

The Wicked Wicked Hammerkatz) : Banging My Dick Against a Wall.

To get a feel for how these guys deal with break-ups, please click here.

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

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

Party Central USA: Riding an Inflatable Hotdog

Party Central USA is a hilarious troupe that consists of Mike Condrick, Patrick Dall'Occhio, Brianne Halverson, and Michael Terry, and whose motto is "Life is a fluffy buttermilk pancake filled with glass dust." For PCU's sharply written & performed videos about father-son chats, trying to get fired, and a special bachelor party, please click here and here and here.

Tonight's show is about "when normal people look inside themselves to find the strength to rise above them gut wrenching situations."

9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $8

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

Death by Roo Roo: Your F*cked Up Family

Arguably the gutsiest improv troupe in NYC, the brilliant comics of Death by Roo Roo—Anthony Atamanuik, 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. Sometimes scary, and usually hilarious.

11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10

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 10/11/08

Kimmy Gatewood, Jena Friedman, and Mindy Raf

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

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

the next-to-last day of this year's annual New York Underground Comedy Festival

at Ha! Comedy (7:00 pm, 8:30 pm, 10:30 pm, and 12:30 am),

[TOP PICK] some of the finest comedic performers in New York—Livia Scott, Glennis McMurray,

Mindy Raf, Katina Corrao, Rob Lathan, and many more playing students

to celebrate the one-year anniversary of High School Talent Show (7:30 pm).

Second City veterans, Magnet instructors, and occasional celebs

at the Magnet's signature improv show The Tiny Spectacular (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] a double-bill of one-woman shows from two of the funniest comedic performers

in New York, Kimmy Gatewood and Alicia Levy, in Totally Worth It (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] star improvisation from writers & performers at 30 Rock, The Colbert Report,

and The Daily show who joyously declare Let's Have a Ball (9:00 pm),

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

[TOP PICK] improvised TV shows about audience members via world-class troupe Reuben Williams (10:30 pm),

wryly dark stand-up Jena Friedman and comedic musical group Division & Honore

at a new comedy talk show: The Matt Fried Hour (11:00 pm),

and a sketch show (with some improv thrown in) from the superb stars of Derrick (midnight).

2008 New York Underground Comedy Festival

This year's annual NYUCF is running October 3-12.

It features scores of comics, including both stars and up-and-comers.

For a complete list of the shows, times, and locations, please click here.

Also check out the NYUCF radio comedy site—which will play the audio

of complete shows from the festival, at no charge—by clicking here.

High School Talent Show

High School Talent Show is a fun extravaganza in which "Upper Central Bay (i.e., UCB) High School's brightest stars take to the stage to deliver rabble-rousing performances in song, dance, magic, slam poetry, stilts, and more!" Celebrating the show's one year anniversary by playing students are some of the finest comics in NYC: Livia Scott, Glennis McMurray, Mindy Raf, Katina Corrao, Rob Lathan, Adam Newman, Brandy Barber, Sara Jo Allocco, Trevor Williams, Aaron Kheifets, Cara Velasquez, Adolpho Blaire, and co-creators Eliot & Ilana Glazer.

7:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10

The Tiny Spectacular

Magnet instructors & Second City veterans, plus occasional celebrity guests, turn a tiny suggestion into larger-than-life improvised scenes. One of the Magnet's signature shows.

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

Kimmy Gatewood and Alicia Levy

Totally Worth It

In this stellar double-bill, two of the funniest comics in NYC perform one-woman shows.

Alicia Levy is a member of world-class sketch troupe Drop Six, which is famed for its wonderful mix of physical comedy and music. Alicia provides both in abundance as she plays such characters as a painfully clumsy stripper, an insanely cautious expert on child safety, and a splendorous fairy contemplating a wing reduction. The material isn't always balanced—for example, the baby expert is a running joke that's done to death—but Alicia's performances are consistently energetic and fearless, making her an up-and-comer worth keeping an eye on.

Kimmy Gatewood is a member of one of the finest sketch groups in the country, The Apple Sisters, which has appeared on Comedy Central and won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act. Kimmy has devoted herself intensely to improv and sketch; and all her hard, smart work shines through in The Engagement, for which she plays a series of characters offering advice to a bride on her wedding day. I first saw this show a year ago, and was impressed with Kimmy as an actress but less than thrilled with her script. I'm not sure the material has significantly changed—but Kimmy's performances are now so brilliant that I no longer even care. Combining hilarious over-the-top comedy with nuanced, organic acting, Kimmy is proving herself a star who couldn't be more ready for a break on Broadway, TV, or film. If you're in the industry, hire this rare jewel before someone else is wise enough to snatch her up.

And if you're not, simply come to this show to be dazzled and enchanted...

and to enjoy 75 minutes packed with laughs.

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

Becky Drysdale, Anthony King, Christina Gausas, Peter Gwinn, 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), Peter Gwinn (writer for The Colbert Report), Anthony King (UCBT-NY Artistic Director, Reuben Williams, Gutenberg! The Musical), Laura Krafft (writer for The Colbert Report), Tami Sagher (writer for 30 Rock; writer and producer for Mad TV 2001-2006), and Rob Riggle (correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; Saturday Night Live, The Office).

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