NYC Comedy Picks for Week of September 14, 2009

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 9/14/09

John Fugelsang, Jamie Lee, and Pete Holmes are among the superb stand-ups at tonight's Tell Your Friends

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

[FREE] 7:30 pm: Superb stand-ups Sean Patton, Claudia Cogan, Ray Devito, Adrienne Iapalucci, and more perform at this new free weekly show at the Manchester Pub hosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Wonderful stand-ups Pete Holmes (The Daily Show, Comedy Central, The New Yorker), John Fugelsang (former co-host of America's Funniest Home Videos), Rick Overton (HBO, former writer for Dennis Miller Live), Jamie Lee, and Lloyd Floyd performing at Lolita Bar in Liam McEneaney's Tell Your Friends

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

9:30 pm ($5): The talented young writer/performers of UCBT scripted comedy house troupes Thunder Gulch and Gramps' try out their newest sketch material at Maude Night

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Typically some of the finest comics in the country—who'll be listed here as soon as they're announced—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash

NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 9/15/09

Genius musical improvisers Eliza Skinner and Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan (Sweet) and Kumail Nanjiania (Comic Book Club)

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): Red-hot rising comedy star Kumail Nanjiani (staff writer & performer on Comedy Central's Michael and Michael Have Issues) and Chris Mata (Atom.com) joining in on a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club

8:00 pm to midnight ($5): Three full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes The Bishop, Ragnaröck, Bastian, Law Firm, and The Scam—at Harold Night

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Some of the finest comics in NYC—Wyatt Cenac (correspondent for The Daily Show), genius musical improvisors—and co-hosts of UCBT's The BEATdown—Eliza Skinner (I Eat Pandas, Baby Wants Candy) and Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan (Freestyle Love Supreme, The Electric Company), and Jake and Anir (CollegeHumor.com)—performing at the famed LES weekly stand-up show at The Slipper Room hosted by the wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet

9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): A small army of sharp NYC stand-ups—Tom McCarffery, Mike Drucker, Mark Normand, Nick Turner, Lisa Kaplan, Andy Haynes, Sean Lynch, and more—competing for laughs at Eric I's Comedy Showdown

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): One of the sharpest and most respected comics in the biz, tonight dusting off some of his classic material for an already sold out show (but if you don't mind standing, you can still probably get in and enjoy): David Cross

NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 9/16/09

Leslie Korein (Girl Camp), Justin Purnell (School Night), 2Pac: The Musical...

...and Leslie Goshko (Sideshow Goshko)

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

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Delightfully quirky monthly storytelling show in which comics and comedic yarn-spinners are asked to reveal aspects of themselves that are odd and unusual—and that includes such carnival elements as an accordion player, and a challenging trivia contest for someone in the audience to win a bottle of wine. Tonight's performers include Greg Barris (host of Heart of Darkness), Scott Yacyshyn (The Onion; host of Night of No BS), Katie Northlich (2-time Manhattan Monologue Slam Champion), and thoroughly charming and razor-sharp host Leslie Goshko (Manhattan Monologue Champion, UCBT, actress in last month's FringeNYC Festival): Sideshow Goshko

7:00 pm ($5): "A parody jukebox musical that would make 2Pac roll over in his grave. If he were dead:" 2Pac: The Musical

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Superb stand-ups Sean Patton, Roger Hailes, Jared Logan (who's guest-hosting tonight), Mike Lawrence, and David Angelo performing at a free weekly comedy show at Rodeo Bar produced by Matt Maragno: Now We're Talking

8:00 pm ($5): A comedic musical I haven't caught yet but is probably way fun, and a two-person sketch show, all for a mere five bucks: Girl Camp and How Rude

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Force-of-nature comedic performer Chris O'Connor (world-class sketch troupe Fearsome), plus Nate Kushner (hilarious sketch troupe A Week of Kindness), and stand-ups Chelsea White, Sean Crespo, Troy Bynum, and Michael Fisher, all performing at a free weekly East Village show hosted by Sharon "Mama" Spell: Shrink

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: Razor-sharp stand-ups Chelsea Peretti, Joe Mande, Team Submarine, and Jordan Rubin peforming at a free weekly show at Brooklyn's Cameo (behind Lovin' Cup) hosted by new Saturday Night Live cast member Jenny Slate (look for Jenny tomorrow night on the premiere of SNL's Weekend Update Thursdays, which is at 8:00 pm on NBC), Gabe Liedman, and Max Silvestri: Big Terrific

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) provides a mix of guests who perform stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly—but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible: School Night

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 9/17/09

Dave Hill and Janeane Garofalo (The Dave Hill Explosion)...

...and Kristen Schaal and friend joining in on the opening night party of The Eugene Mirman 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:

6:30 pm ($5): Wonderful storyteller Margot Leitman debuting a one-woman show, and Eddie Brawley debuting a one-man sketch show, all for a mere five bucks: Losing It and Brawley

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Superb neurotic comic Jon Friedman, superb disturbingly dark comic Jena Friedman, and CEO comic Andy Nibley performing stand-up and then getting analyzed by host Lisa Levy at the unique show Stand Up, Lie Down

7:00 pm ($5): Jamie Cummings & Elizabeth Blue improvising a tale about the King and his love Priscilla Presley based on the memorable TV movie Elvis & Me

[$] 7:30 pm ($24 & 2-item min.): Acclaimed stand-up who's a regular guest on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, and Howard Stern (over 50 appearances!); hosts his own radio show on Howard 101 and the comedy series Special Sauce on STARZ,; has done two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials: and is headlining tonight through Saturday (get $5 off tickets by buying before day of show) at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Greg Fitzsimmons

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm doors, 8:00 pm show ($20): Comedy giants Kristen Schaal, Pete Holmes, Jon Benjamin, and many more perform killer stand-up at the opening night party of a four-evening Brooklyn extravaganza: The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival

8:00 pm ($8): "Pat Shepherd thought he was getting married. He was wrong. Follow his story in the premier of this hilariously heartbreaking one man show:" The Breakup

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

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Movie & TV comedy superstar Janeane Garofalo, Chris March (Project Runway), and musical guest Bronte's Inferno at a sold-out show hosted by brilliant alternative comic Dave Hill (which is sold out of seats, but if you don't mind standing, come and enjoy with a boisterous packed house): The Dave Hill Explosion

9:30 pm ($5): "It's 1941, and three Broadway producers are desperate for a hit. When a suggestion for the theme of a show comes in the form of a suggestion from the audience, the three brainstorm a musical, writing and performing scenes on the fly." Starring musical improvisors Rob Schiffmann and Stefan Schick (both of Chicago City Limits and Broadway's Next Hit Musical), Jeff Scherer (Chicago City Limits, Secret Hospital), and a guest improvisor joining Scherer, Schiffmann and Schick

[$] 10:00 pm ($31.25 & 2-drink min.): A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Genius improv troupe Death by Roo Roo—taking over this season with an all-time record-breaking 21 wins in a row (and thoroughly crushing last week's opponent by garnering 130 ballets to 10)—tonight facing improv challenger SMIRK in a battle for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 9/18/09

Seth Herzog (Beneath Gristedes), and Daniel Kitson and John Hodgman (The Eugene Mirman 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] 6:30 pm ($5): Wyatt Cenac (correspondent for The Daily Show), actor Josh Fadem, and nerd rapper MC Chris joining fresh, razor-sharp, sexy comics Shonali Bhowmik, Chelsea Peretti, and Andrea Rosen...the gals of Variety SHAC

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm doors, 8:00 pm show ($12): UK comedy genius Daniel Kitson at a sold-out show (but there might be a stand-by line) as part of the spectacular Brooklyn extravaganza The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Brilliant character performer Kate McKinnon (co-star of Logo's Big Gay Sketch Show) plays five very different actresses waiting to hear which of them won an Oscar (keep an eye out for the old lady, who's one of the funniest characters you'll see this year, anywhere); and a sharp sketch troupe performing all new material, in the double-bill Best Actress and Pangea 3000 Sucks

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($29 & 2-item min.): Acclaimed stand-up who's a regular guest on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, and Howard Stern (over 50 appearances!); hosts his own radio show on Howard 101 and the comedy series Special Sauce on STARZ,; has done two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials: and is headlining tonight and Saturday (get $5 off tickets by buying before day of show) at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Greg Fitzsimmons

8:00 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

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Sharp stand-ups Katina Corrao, Brent Sullivan Chris Jurek, Josh Fadem, Ross Hyzer, Ryan Conner, and Molly Martinez (visiting from DC) performing at Brooklyn's Coco 66 for Nick Turner's Too Cool for School

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC comics Dan Soder, Jessie Geller, and Matt Maragno perform stand-up and are then interviewed about their personal lives at Matt Ruby's and Mark Normand's "comedy chat show with boundary issues" at The Creek in Queens' Long Island City: We're All Friends Here

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm doors, 9:00 pm show ($15): A one-night revival of the beloved and seminal downtown stand-up comedy show Invite Them Up hosted by Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale, with tonight's star guests John Hodgman (The Daily Show, PC vs. Mac commercials), Todd Barry (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, HBO's Flight of the Conchords, Adult Swim, The Wrestler), and much more as part of the spectacular Brooklyn extravaganza The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival

9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Stand-up comics Hilary Schwartz, David Hodorowski, JQ, Paul Case, and more performing in Ochi's Lounge at a gay-themed show with brand new hosts in drag Jackie O'Nasty & Shawn F. Kennedy (Jackie Monahan & Shawn Hollenbach, "soon to be the King and Queen of your gay prom"), all at The Back Room

[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): 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

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

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Top UCBT talents—including Neil Casey, John Frusciante, Anthony King, Kate McKinnon, Thomas Middleditch, Ben Rodgers, Eric Scott, Nate Smith, Gavin Speiller, Caitlin Tegart, and Greg Tuculescu—writing and/or performing sketch comedy directed by Will Hines, with stand-up from wonderful comedy host Seth Herzog and music from Last Parade, all happening Beneath Gristedes

[FREE] 12:20ish am: Your opportunity to perform on the UCBT stage with improv veterans, hosted by stellar troupe The Law Firm: Jammin' with Ralph

[$] 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 9/19/09

Comedy geniuses Daniel Kitson, Jim Gaffigan, and Jessi Klein perform tonight at The Eugene Mirman 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 doors, 6:30 pm show ($10): Smoking hot rising star comics Jessi Klein (brilliant, deliciously fresh, organic, sexy storytelling stand-up; writer/performer on Comedy Central's Michael & Michael Have Issues), Hannibal Buress (meteoric stand-up who killed on Jimmy Fallon last month and then was quickly hired as a staff writer on Saturday Night Live), Kumail Nanjiani (SNL, The Colbert Report, writer/performer on Comedy Central's Michael & Michael Have Issues), and more perform in a tongue-in-cheek-titled show I'll Be Famous in 5 Years (or a Copywriter/Audience Coordinator) as part of the spectacular Brooklyn extravaganza The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival

[TOP PICK] [$] 6:30 pm doors, 7:00 pm show ($12): UK comedy genius Daniel Kitson at a sold-out show (but there might be a stand-by line) as part of the spectacular Brooklyn extravaganza The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival

7:00 pm ($10): Murderfist, NYC's fearless and darkly disturbing heavy metal version of a sketch comedy troupe, along with Ben Kissel hosts this new variety show mixing stand-up, sketch comedy, an audience applause-o-meter, and something with prizes inside: Pinata

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm doors, 9:00 pm show ($15): Comedy superstar Jim Gaffigan, and top comics Tom Shillue, Baron Vaughn, Eddie Pepitone, and more who've acted on at least one of the versions of NBC's top crime show—The Comedians of Law & Order—as part of the spectacular Brooklyn extravaganza The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): The gutsiest comedy troupe in NYC, genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo

[TOP PICK] [$] 9:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, quick-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer

9:00 pm ($5): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!

[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

10:30 pm ($5): A fun new improv show that makes up scenes based on the contents of an audience member's wallet: Gimme the Loot!

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Sketch duo Leah Rudick & Katie Hartman perform an acclaimed show that just played at this August's Edinburgh Fringe Festival: Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting

Midnight ($5): Andy Rocco and friends put on a sketch, music, dance, and talk event: The Hipster Show

NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 9/20/09

Smokin' hot comics Marc Maron, Eugene Mirman, Leo Allen, and more perform at this final day of The Eugene Mirman 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] 3:00 pm doors, 3:30 pm show ($7): Leo Allen and Eric Slovin (award-winning duo who wrote for years for Saturday Night Live) hosting a show with comics and TV executives that dares to explore Why Talented People Create Terrible Shows as part of the spectacular Brooklyn extravaganza The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival

[TOP PICK] 5:30 pm doors, 6:00 pm show ($10):Top cartoonists Dan Piraro (Bizarro), Emily Flake (Lulu Eightball, The New Yorker), Drew Dernavich (The New Yorker), Bill Plympton (The Village Voice, Rolling Stone, Academy Award-nominated animator), Paul Noth (Pale Force, The New Yorker), David Sipress (The New Yorker), and host Matthew Diffee (The Steam Powered Hour, The New Yorker) battle it out in a no-holds-barred cartoon-off with cartoons based on audience suggestions—supplemented by music from "two of the best banjo players in the world," Noam Pikelny and Tony Trischka—as part of the spectacular Brooklyn extravaganza The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival

[TOP PICK] [$] 6:00 pm doors, 6:30 pm show ($15; includes free drink): Comedy giants including Marc Maron, Michael Showalter, and Brett Gelman tell revealing personal tales in Ten Drink Minimum: Stories Leading to Sobriety as part of the spectacular Brooklyn extravaganza The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival

[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] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Terrific comics Livia Scott, Seth Herzog, Pat Dixon, Mark Normand, and Ross Hyzer performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm doors, 9:00 pm show ($15): Comedy giants Eugene Mirman, Michael Showalter, Todd Barry, and many more performing at the closing night party of the spectacular Brooklyn extravaganza The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival

[FREE] 9:00 pm: Sharp NYC stand-ups Dan Allen, Jay Bois, Jon Lang, David Angelo, and Ben Kronberg performing in the East Village's Beauty Bar at Vince Averill's & Jesse Popp's free weekly stand-up show Beauty Bar Comedy

[$] 10:00 pm ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

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