NYC Comedy Picks for Week of September 29, 2008

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 9/29/08

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

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

[TOP PICK] superb and hilarious actress Amanda Duarte performing her one-woman show about working in  the entertainment biz in Lucky Pink Wonderland (7:00 pm),

stand-ups Lisa Kaplan, Shawn Hollenbach, and Brad Loekle joining delightful hosts

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

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

and around 30 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel (6:30 pm & 9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] stellar actors including Tony nominees Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent, Anna in the Tropics)

and Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Avenue Q) mixing it up with such brilliant  improvisors as Michael Delaney

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

[TOP PICK] Lennon Parham, one of the most appealing & hilarious comedic actresses you'll ever see

on stage, tackling eight wildly different characters, plus brilliant comedic storyteller Anthony Atamanuik,

in Lennon Parham: She Tried to Be Normal and Pissing My Pants on Vine (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] and a free weekly show featuring some of the finest stand-up comics in the country—who this week include Aziz Ansari (co-star of MTV's Human Giant), Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1), Chris Gethard (Conan O'Brien), and Christian Finnegan (Comedy Central, VH1)—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central) at Whiplash (11:00 pm).

A few of the faces of stellar actress/writer Amanda Duarte

Lucky Pink Wonderland

I first met Amanda Duarte when she was kind enough to visit my screenwriters workshop for an evening of cold readings. She was an exceptionally skilled and quick-thinking actress while performing the movie pages; but what was even more notable were her off-hand comments during our critiquing afterwards. At one point Amanda said a scene was "funny as balls." I remarked that I'd never realized balls were comedic. Amanda instantly replied, "Take my word, Hy. I've seen a lot more of them than you have." It was then I realized that in addition to being a stellar actress, Amanda is a razor-sharp wit.

Both qualities are in ample evidence in Amanda's one-woman show, which explores the crazy behavior of celebrities, and the highly unglamorous life of performers seeking to attain their own fame. Some sample moments:

Hollywood star teaching her 4-year-old adopted trophy-daughter the right values by ordering a Diet Coke: "Emma, what does Mommy say? It's not a diet, it's a live-it. Now drink it up and be pretty."

A fading star in a restaurant: "I'm just trying to have lunch with my friend here today, so no autographs, okay? Oh. Sorry. I'll have the garden salad."

Failed actress turned waitress trying to force alcohol at noon on a fellow waitress in AA who just landed a TV role: "Let's celebrate with a drink! Really, one little glass isn't gonna hurt, is it? Look, you're being rude. Well, glad I don't have to live like that. Thank God I don't have a drinking problem, 'cause I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't have a drink."

Like Amanda, the show is smart, funny, raunchy, memorable...and recommended.

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

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

Lisa Kaplan, Shawn Hollenbach, and Brad Loekle.

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

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.

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)

Stephanie D'Abruzzo and Daphne Rubin-Vega...

...and Anthony King, Shelly Stover, and Michael Delaney

Gravid Water

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

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

Starring ace improvisers (in alphabetical order):

Scott Adsit (cast member of 30 Rock, and co-director & cast member

of Adult Swim's brilliant & Emmy-winning Moral Orel),

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

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

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

Shelly Stover (member of sketch troupes We Kate Shelly and As Sparks Fly Upward).

And also starring are some of NYC's top theatre & TV actors: Jeremy Bobb (Is He Dead?), Kay Cannon (30 Rock), Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Tony nominee for Avenue Q; Sesame Street) and Daphne Rubin-Vega (Tony nominee for Rent and Anna in the Tropics).

Gravid Water is directed, hosted, and co-stars Stephen Ruddy—

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

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

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

Lennon Parham and Anthony Atamanuik

Lennon Parham: She Tried to Be Normal and Pissing My Pants on Vine

There are few performers, comedic or otherwise, as appealing as

the sexy, laid-back, wry, and hilarious Lennon Parham.

Whether she's playing Nomi Malone (see my review of her Showgirls parody), author JK Rowling (as the clear highlight of a Harry Potter parody, in which Rowling reveals all the novels are based on actual events in her life), Sandy Michaelson as a Solid Gold Dance understudy, or zillions of characters while delivering world-class improvisation every Saturday night as part of stellar troupe Reuben Williams, watching the wonderful Ms. Parham is always a treat.

Tonight Lennon burns up the stage with an array of characters ranging from an unsettling radio DJ to a sweet little girl to Freddy Kruger...and will likely have you helpless with laughter.

(And if you don't want to take just my word for it, Jane Borden has written in Time Out New York that Lennon's antics "will leave you wondering why she isn't famous yet;" and writes in this week's edition, "Attention Lorne Michaels, please give Lennon Parham a job." )

The extravaganza is directed by the brilliant Jason Mantzoukas, who deserves kudos for helping Lennon really show off what she can do in this solo outing.

Stop by and fall in love with one of the finest comedic actresses in New York.

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).

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

Aziz Ansari and Pete Holmes...

...and Chris Gethard, Leo Allen, and Christian Finnegan

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

Aziz Ansari (one of the best stand-up comics on the planet; co-star

with Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer of MTV hit sketch comedy series Human Giant;

HBO's Flight of the Conchords; upcoming TV series by folks who created NBC's The Office),

Pete Holmes (razor-sharp & lightning-fast mind, and one of the finest stand-ups in the country;

VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Motherload;

writer for CollegeHumor.com; cartoonist for mags ranging from

The New Yorker to Cosmo Girl; host of UCBT's monthly open mic extravaganza Gutbucket),

Chris Gethard (one of the most talented and brilliant storytellers and improvisors in New York; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Stepfathers, The Nights of Our Lives,

author of book Weird New York), and

Christian Finnegan (Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, VH1's Best Week Ever, Chappelle's Show, The Today Show, host of TVLand's Game Time, former staff writer for Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; comedy CD Two For Flinching;  for stand-up videos on how to get rid of a boring  guy and what your movie choices say about you, please click here and here).

Plus you never know who might pop in—last week featured

a surprise 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 9/30/08

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

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

eight very funny NYC stand-ups—including Reese Waters, Helen Hong, and Jamie Lee—

competing for audience laughs and votes at Eric I's Comedy Showdown (7:00 pm),

writer Ivan Brandon (Marvel Comics Presents) and artist Andy MacDonald (NYC Mech)

joining in on a lively & hilarious discussion about comic books at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),

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

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

veteran improvisor John O'Donnell performing a one-man show

of monologues in The O'Donnell-ogues (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] star stand-ups Mike Birbiglia (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents),

Arj Barker (HBO, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents), and

Laura Krafft (writer for The Colbert Report; HBO, Comedy Central), at one of the

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

and a funny exploration of where comedy comes from in Roots (9:00 pm).

Reese Waters, Jamie Lee, and Helen Hong

Eric I's Comedy Showdown

This biweekly extravaganza is a comedy competition hosted by Eric I.

Tonight's participating stand-ups include Reese Waters (winner of the 2008 Carolines March Comedy Madness, beating out 63 other talented comics in stand-up competition; for a video sample, please click here), Jamie Lee, Helen Hong, Ray DeVito, and Barry Rothbart, each of whom will perform a short set.

In addition, volunteers selected from the audience will also get to perform short sets.

The audience then votes on which of the comics was the most hilarious. The two winners receive additional stage time to make comedic fun of the losers; and also move on to a final round later this year to determine a season champion (with a prize of $500, and bragging rights).

7:00 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)

Ivan Brandon's Marvel Comics Presents and Andy MacDonald's NYC Mech

Comic Book Club

Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,

who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.

And special kudos to the guys for last week's memorable show with

The Daily Show's Elliot Kalan, which was simultaneously warm, razor-sharp,

and as laugh-packed as any production to grace an NYC stage.

Tonight's guests are writer Ivan Brandon (Marvel Comics Presents, Secret Invasion: Home Invasion) and artist Andy MacDonald (NYC Mech).

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—

DeCoster, The F*cking Kennedys, The Scam, Bastian, and Bangs—

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

The O'Donnell-ogues

John O'Donnell, the driving talent behind the Magnet's Friday night winner

The Made-Up Musical, launches this second production on Sundays.

There are no improvised songs this time, though; simply a solo show of monologues.

8:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Mike Birbiglia and Arj Barker...

...and Seth Herzog and Laura Krafft

Sweet

Hosted by the razor-sharp, dynamic, and hilarious Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).

Seth is one of the finest hosts around—and this is one of the best comedy shows in NYC.

Tonight's wonderful guests are

Mike Birbiglia (flat-out one of the funniest stand-up comedians in the country; hour-long Comedy Central special titled What I Should Have Said is Nothing; two

Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; appeared multiple times on

Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien;

released the comedy CDs Two Drink Mike and My Secret Public Journal—Live

—chosen by Time Out New York as the Comedy Album of the Year; off-Broadway solo show Sleepwalk with Me starting October 14th at 45 Bleecker Street Theatre—for discount tickets, please click here),

Arj Barker (cast member on HBO's Flight of the Conchords; Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien; off-Broadway show The Marijuana-Logues), and

Laura Krafft (staff writer for The Colbert Report; former writer for Comedy Central's Crossballs;

acted on such series as on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm).

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

Where Does Comedy Come From?—Roots

In this new biweekly show, performers explore the origins of funny via "stand-up, sketches, essays, videos, songs, prayers, tears, and mortal screams of sepulchral terror." Hosted by Joe Powers and Chris Conway.

Tonight's lineup is a mystery; here's hoping Joe and Chris get in the habit of announcing their guests. Nonetheless, if you're not going to Sweet, this could be worth checking out.

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 10/1/08

Justin Purnell, Violet Krumbein, and Aziz Ansari

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),

comics, writers, and others telling tales of their worst NYC experiences in New York Sh*tty (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] Violet Krumbein demonstrating she's one of the most breathtakingly original and darkly funny talents in NYC, and Nate Lang playing five desperate characters, in two one-person shows: Human Painkiller and Hold Fast (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] a small army of terrific stand-up comics—including Tom Shillue (The Daily Show, Conan O'Brien), Kumail Nanjiani (Comedy Central), Matt McCarthy (Comedy Central), and Katina Corrao (HBO)—at Carol Hartsell's & Sean Crespo's Drink at Work (8:00 pm),

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

[TOP PICK] Aziz Ansari, who's one of the sharpest and funniest comics in the country, brings back his legendary stand-up show for just one evening: Crash Test (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

Ilana & Eliot Glazer

New York Sh*tty

Honestly, if I didn't love New York, I wouldn't be running a Web site mostly focused on NYC.

Nonetheless, this show is intriguing. The official description:

"The traditional 'New York experience' is all but a mirage now, replaced by chipotles, cosmotinis, and management companies starving for horizontal space. Although it's become a cliche to romanticize Ed Koch's New York—one rampant with drugs, crime, and bankruptcy—you have to honor the city's two-faced ability to enthrall and excite you one day and wring you dry the next. Simply put, New York can suck—hard—and brother-sister duo Eliot & Ilana Glazer invite comedians, writers, bloggers, and performers to share their worst experiences in this new cathartic storytelling series."

Tonight's lineup hasn't been announced; but with the right storytellers, this could be terrific.

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)

Violet Krumbein: Human Painkiller and Nate Lang: Hold Fast

A mind-blowing one-woman show, and a promising one-man show, for a mere five bucks.

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

And kicking off this double-bill is Nate Lang (improv troupe The Law Firm, sketch troupes Stone Cold Fox and The Coffee Shop) in a one-man show in which he plays five characters who are "all getting by one moment at a time."

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

Matt McCarthy, Katina Corrao, and Kumail Nanjiani...

...David Cope, Tom Shillue, and Reese Waters...

...and Carol Hartsell and Sean Crespo

Drink at Work: Shillue, Nanjiani, McCarthy, Corrao, Hazard, and More

Drink at Work is a popular NYC comedy show produced by Carol Hartsell and hosted by Sean Crespo (stand-up comic and prolific filmmaker; for samples, please click here & here & here).

The terrific stand-up guests for this special Comix edition include

Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; storytelling podcasts; host of acclaimed NYC monthly comedy show Moonwork; comedy CD Overconfident!; for stand-up samples, please click here and here),

Kumail Nanjiani (rising stand-up star; Comedy Central's Open Mic Fight; terrific one-man show Unpronounceable about experiences with Islam—for my review, please click here; co-host of monthly NYC live comedy show Game Bros. Live!; to get a feel for Kumail's style, please check out his very funny stand-up about the dark side of video games, odd memories, and the many ways cell phones are eliminated in horror films by clicking here),

Matt McCarthy (razor-sharp comic; Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; co-host of biweekly LIC live comedy extravaganza The Matt and Katina Show),

Katina Corrao (HBO's Daddy, Comedy Central; co-host of biweekly LIC live comedy extravaganza The Matt and Katina Show; for video samples, please click here and here),

Reese Waters (winner of 2008 Carolines March Comedy Madness, beating out 63 other talented comics; for a Carolines stand-up video, please click here),

DJ Hazard (cast member of Fuel TV's American Misfits), and

David Cope (comedic storyteller, and member of Sweet Haven sketch troupe; for videos of David relating an encounter with a prophet and reading his romance novel, please click here and here).

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

So You Think You Can Stand

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

Tonight's comics haven't been announced;

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

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

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

Aziz Ansari

Crash Test

Among the most popular and hilarious shows in NYC for the past couple of years was Crash Test, thanks to its consistently great lineup of star stand-up comics, and the consistently brilliant performances of its host Aziz Ansari. Aziz is one of the best stand-up comics on the planet; is the co-star (with fellow genius comics Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer) of MTV hit sketch comedy series Human Giant; has performed on HBO's Flight of the Conchords and several feature films; and is a cast member of an upcoming TV series from the folks who created NBC's The Office.

Crash Test ended when Aziz moved to LA to pursue his TV and film career. However, for tonight only, he's bringing the show back for a special evening of world-class stand-up. Don't miss this event, which is sure to be memorable.

9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th 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 10/2/08

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

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

[TOP PICK] one of the most charming & entertaining groups in NYC (and winner of the 2008 ECNY Award

for Best Musical Comedy Act), with appearances earlier this year on Comedy Central and the prestigious

Montreal Comedy Festival, debuting a new Halloween musical: The Apple Sisters (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] a hilarious parody of a Christian rock duo that was the hit of this summer's

Last Comic Standing: God's Pottery (8:00 pm),

rising star Thomas Middleditch (member of genius improv troupe Baby Wants Candy)

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

sketch duo Lance & Ray, in Littlebitch and The Evil Within (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] brilliant political comics Eric Drysdale (writer for The Daily Show and

The Colbert Report) and Laura Krafft (writer for The Colbert Report) offering live commentary on

the Vice Presidential debate along with the fresh, sexy, and razor-sharp gals of Variety Shac (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] and the phenomenal Ben Rodgers pitting his improv skills against

one of the very finest improv troupes in the country, C, C + C Improv Factory,

competing for audience laughs & votes at the raucous Cage Match (11:00 pm).

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 debut a brand new show about Halloween—

a theme that tends to bring out their best.

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 ($11.24, including service charge) by clicking here.

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

Jeremiah Smallchild and Gideon Lamb are on a mission from God

An Evening with God's Pottery

God's Pottery is Wilson Hall's & Krister Johnson's delightful parody of a Christian folk singing duo. The guys were shining stars this summer on NBC's Last Comic Standing.

The official description: "God's Pottery is a Christian acoustic duo formed to spread the Word while addressing the issues facing today's Youth and the Spiritual Community at large. Members Jeremiah Smallchild and Gideon Lamb use their unique blend of music, people-skills and Biblical know-how to inspire all who are willing to listen with open hearts.

"Their first song was entitled, simply, 'Jesus.' After an overwhelmingly positive response, Jeremiah and Gideon returned the next Sunday with a follow-up tune, 'Jesus Jesus.' The next week, they played 'Jesus Jesus Jesus.' As the crowds swelled and word started to spread, it became clear to the boys that they were on to something big."

Some in the secular world have called them Wilson Hall and Krister Johnson; others have called them harsher things. But most have called them very funny.

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 a two-item food or drink 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 minimum

A couple of the many faces of Thomas Middleditch; and sketch duo Lance & Ray

Thomas Middleditch: Littlebitch and Lance & Ray: The Evil Within

Two fine comedy 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 The Evil Within, a sketch show from comedy duo Lance Rubin & Ray Munoz in which "things go horribly awry when evil versions of the guys lock them away in a basement and take over the show."

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

SHAC gals Heather Lawless, Chelsea Peretti, Andrea Rosen, & Shonali Bhowmik

Variety Shac: Vice Presidential Debate

The hard-to-resist members of this hilarious group are musical host Shonali Bhowmik,

and superbly quirky comics Heather Lawless, Chelsea Peretti, and Andrea Rosen.

The show typically features songs, brilliant stand-up comedy, and funny short films

made by the foursome; for samples of the latter, please click here and here.

However, tonight is extra special, as it's devoted to the likely-to-be-hilarious Vice Presidential debate starring Sarah Palin (for a video portrait, please click here).

And offering live commentary will be superb political comics

Eric Drysdale (writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 2000-2005; writer for

The Daily Show 2005-2008; contributor to blockbuster bestsellers America the Book

and I Am America (And So Can You); winner of five Emmy awards), and

Laura Krafft (staff writer for The Colbert Report; former writer for Comedy Central's Crossballs;

acted on such series as on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm).

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

vs.

Cage Match: Ben Rodgers vs. C, C + C Improv Factory

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.)

The historic champion, for two weeks running, is brilliant solo improvisor Ben Rodgers. To read a description of the epic night Ben won against one of the very finest improv troupes in the country, Death by Roo Roo, please click here.

Tonight's contender is another incredibly skilled improv troupe: 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 Champions of Cage Match, having beat out some of the most spectacularly funny improvisors in the country who'd duked it out on stage during 2007.

The trio were also a standout—amidst over 150 troupes— at July 2007's Del Close Improv Marathon, expertly demonstrating how to keep raising the stakes throughout a long-form improvisation by playing three guys revealing all the lies they've been suppressing while they've hung out together: e.g., one of them admits that despite his frequent television references, he actually never watches TV; then that he's Amish; and finally that he's blind. The exploration of the logical ramifications of each revelation led the audience into hysterical laughter.

Ben vs. the three Cs will be a battle of titans, and 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 10/3/08

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

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

the kick-off of this year's annual New York Underground Comedy Festival

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

a groundbreaking and surreal improv troupe—Centralia: Au Bon Panic! (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),

a gay-themed stand-up comedy show hosted by Jenny Rubin: The Back Room (9:00 pm),

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

[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),

a promising new show mixing sketch/improv comics with stand-ups and storytelling, tonight

including adorable sketch duo Delusions of Spandex, at Harry Terjanian's After Dark (11:00 pm),

and a free opportunity for you to perform sketch on the UCBT stage at Liquid Courage (12:20ish am).

2008 New York Underground Comedy Festival

This year's annual NYUCF kicks off tonight, 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.

Centralia: Au Bon Panic!

Acclaimed improv troupe Centralia consists of Kevin Scott, Jay Rhoderick, and Matt Higgins (Comedy Central, PSNBC; former improv instructor at Yale School of Drama; also founding member of improv troupe Burn Manhattan; three-time finalist for the Andy Kaufman award; for a stand-up sample, please click here).

The official description: "Centralia is known as one of the boldest, most inventive, ground-breaking improvisation groups to ever hit a New York stage. See the performers the Daily News called 'the purest form of theatre,' the Chicago Sun said is 'advancing the art of improvisation,' and the Village Voice said watching is 'like having a front row seat at a stranger's dream.' Au Bon Panic is Centralia's trademark surreal, satirical, hysterical spontaneous theater."

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

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

Jenny Rubin, Dave Rubin, Paul Case, and Shawn Hollenbach

The Back Room

Gay-themed comedy (with both gay & straight comics),

hosted by the charming Jenny Rubin (WE TV).

Tonight's stand-ups include

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

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

Back Room co-producer Dave Rubin (here! TV's Dave Rubin Project and Hot Gay Comics).

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

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

Back: Will Hines, Zach Woods, Michael Delaney, and Bobby Moynihan

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

The Stepfathers

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

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

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

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

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

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

After Dark

This new show, hosted by Harry Terjanian (Laughing Liberally, UCBT), provides a mix of great NYC stand-ups, sketch performers, and improvisors—and at the end asks every comic to tell a story.

Tonight's guests are Delusions of Spandex (adorable female sketch duo Phaea Crede & Becca Jones; for videos of the gals goofing around, please click here and here), and stand-ups Pat Stango (Don't Touch Me There), Jamie Kilstein (Comedy Central, BBC), Danny Lobell (interviewer of such comedy giants as George Carlin on radio show The Comical Radio), and Marc Anthony Ramirez (Howard Stern, Sirius Radio).

If you're in the area at 11:00 pm, come check out the show and support its innovative format.

11:00 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)

Liquid Courage

The ultimate in audience participation: any group can submit a sketch and perform it!

If all you want is to be entertained, this show probably isn't a good choice.

But if you'd like to act on the UCBT stage, and/or have your sketch writing judged by an exceptionally savvy audience, this is a golden opportunity.

Sign-up begins at 10:30 pm and runs till 11:45 pm; sketches will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's wise to arrive early. For a complete list of the rules, please click here.

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 10/4/08

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

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

Day 2 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),

Second City veterans, Magnet instructors, UCBT stars, and occasional celebs

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

comics experiencing the rush of performing with no clothes on in The Naked Comedy Showcase (8:00 pm),

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),

organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track! (9:00 pm),

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

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

[TOP PICK] and star Arj Barker joining exceptionally sharp comics Kumail Nanjiani (Comedy Central)

and Thomas Middleditch (genius improv troupe Baby Wants Candy) proving themselves to also be nerds

by hosting this fun show about the video game industry: Game Bros. Live! (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.

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

Andy Ofiesh, creator of The Naked Comedy Showcase

The Naked Comedy Showcase

Oddly enough, this is just what it sounds like;

stand-up, sketch, and improv comics performing 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.

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

4 Track!

Springboarding from a word suggested by the audience,

George Basil, Frank Campanella, Christian Capozzoli, and Matt Evans

perform organic & energetic long-form improv for about 40 minutes.

Basil is a stand-out, but they're all sharp, committed improvisors.

There's also a warm chemistry between the men, which is especially evident

if you arrive early to watch them getting ready on stage: They toss a ball

back and forth, and then toss each other back and forth...sending

a body message of "If you throw an improv concept at me, you can trust me

to not let it drop..." One of the Magnet's most popular shows.

9:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5