NYC Comedy Picks for Week of April 15, 2013

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 4/15/13

Top stand-ups Brooke Van Poppelen (MTV, TLC) and Marina Franklin (Jay Leno, Chappelle's Show) turn to storytelling...

...along with Moth storyteller David Crabb and fearless world traveler Melanie Hamlett
for a show that champions daring, hair-raising tales: Adventures with Melanie Hamlett...

...plus razor-sharp & hilarious nerd stand-ups Mike Drucker, Mike Lawrence, and more perform at Morrison Motel

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

6:00 pm ($5 cover for comics, no cover for audience with code HyReviews, plus 1-drink min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4 1/2 minutes per set and 20 comics crammed into 2 hours—at the Greenwich Village Comedy Club (99 MacDougal Street) for John Morrison's Village Motel

6:00 pm & 8:00 pm (no cover, 1 drink min. for both comics and audience members): Open mic stand-up providing 5-7 minutes per comic, with each show running 1 hour and 45 minutes. Arrive 30 minutes before the show you want to be in to get on the signup sheet. This is a fine opportunity to perform at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club Open Mic

[FREE] 6:00 pm: An open mic stand-up show, with 10 comics each performing for 5 minutes, at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Abigoliah Schamaun & Peggy O'Leary: Dicks Open Mic

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 6:30 pm: Open-mic storytelling, with names drawn out of a bucket at UCB East in the bar area ("Hot Chicks Room"), hosted by Julia Wiedeman: Happy Hour Open-Mic Storytelling with Julia Wiedeman

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($7 at the door or $8.71 online): A powerhouse lineup of Marina Franklin (developing into one of the finest stand-ups in the country, with an uncommonly gentle, graceful style that's pure joy; Jay Leno, Last Comic Standing, Chappelle's Show, Craig Ferguson, VH1, Comedy Central's Premium Blend), Brooke Van Poppelen (brilliant writer, stand-up, and storyteller; writer and/or producer for MTV's Guy Code, Girl Code, Failosophy, and Nikki & Sara Show; trutV, TLC, co-host of Dive Comedy), and David Crabb (frequent host of The Moth, two-time Moth StorySlam Champion, co-host of Ask Me Stories) tell true tales of hair-raising adventures, and also share shorter anecdotes on the fly in a campfire setting, with amazing host Melanie Hamlett (two-time Moth StorySlam Champion; Dr. Oz; co-author of book Leave the Lipstick, Take the Iguana, contributor to Marie Claire Magazine and Nerve.com, roving adventurer who tours the globe to find memorable tales). This is among my all-time favorite shows and I attend it without fail. Please join me at Under St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place, off First Avenue) for surreal travel slides, camp intimacy, and astounding stories at Adventures with Melanie Hamlett

7:00 pm ($5): Veteran improvisors—including Keisha Zollar and Rob Stern—will be touring as representatives of The PIT, and practicing tonight at The PIT downstairs lounge: The PIT TourCo

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:30ish pm: Dan St. Germain (quick-witted & enormously likeable rising star; Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Half-Hour Special, The Electric Company, MTV, VH1), Michael Che (David Letterman, Comedy Central), Kevin Barnett (MTV's Guy Code, Comedy Central, Sleepwalk With Me, College Humor), and more performing stand-up at Brooklyn's Spike Hill (184 & 186 Bedford Avenue, off N 7th Street) hosted by Will WInners & Kyle Ayers: Game Night

[FREE] 7:30 pm: Four improvisers form teams with comics they've never performed with before at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: The Kaleidoscope

7:30 pm ($10; sign-up starts at 7:00 pm): Open mic for stand-ups, storytellers, singers, poets, actors, and more, with 5 minutes per performer and 25 slots available, at One and One Bar's Downstairs Nexus Lounge (76 1st Street, corner of First Avenue) hosted by Nathan P., followed by a raucous afterparty with dancing & drink specials from 10:00 to midnight: Inspired Word's Open Mic Joint

[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($7.50 online with code NORTHERN; no min.): Todd Barry (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, FX's Louie, HBO's Flight of the Conchords and Bored to Death, Adult Swim, feature films The Wrestler and Pete Smalls is Dead), Sean Patton (one of the finest stand-ups in the country; killer sets on Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central, VH1, feature film Wifed Out; co-host of Comedy as a Second Language, frequent guest-host of Whiplash), Carmen Lynch (David Letterman, Last Comic Standing finalist, Comedy Central), Joe Matarese (David Letterman, Chelsea Lately, Comedy Central Presents, Bravo, IFC), and Dan Soder (Comedy Central, VH1; for set about being a hypochondriatic drug user, please click here) performing stand-up at The Stand Comedy Club (239 Third Avenue & 20th Street): Todd Barry, Sean Patton, Carmen Lynch, Joe Matarese, and Dan Soder

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): "Improvisers and stand-ups do what they do best...and then switch places to try their hand at what the other does best. Performing to sold out crowds at UCBT-LA, this show is a cross-discipline Cage Match." On the improv side is Harold Team Bucky; while the stellar stand-ups are Ted Alexandro (one of the very finest stand-ups in the country; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Barry Rothbart (Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Comedy Central, MTV's Punk'd, IFC's Do Whatever), and Boris Khaykin (Comedy Central, College Humor, Huffington Post). The wild card? Sasheer Zamata, a member of Bucky who's a genius improvisor but also a skilled stand-up. Come see what happens at UCB Chelsea for this one-night-only event hosted by visiting UCBT-LA comics Rajan Dharni & Christian Spicer: Impro(vs)tandup

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($8 at the door or $9.47 online): Mark Normand (hilarious stand-up; Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central; co-host of Hot Soup and We're All Friends Here), Emily Heller (Comedy Central, FX's Totally Biased), Lesley Tsina (HBO's Funny or Die Presents, NPR), Liam McEneaney (Comedy Central, VH1's Best Week Ever, Showtime, host of Tell Your Friends), and more performing stand-up at Brooklyn's Littlefield (622 Degraw Street) hosted by Wyatt Cenac (former star correspondent for The Daily Show, Comedy Central hour-long special, Adult Swim): Night Train

[$] 8:00 pm ($12 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Tom Papa (host of Jerry Seinfeld-produced NBC comedy The Marriage Ref; numerous appearances on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno; three Comedy Central specials), Lenny Marcus (David Letterman, MTV), Michael Che (David Letterman, Comedy Central), Ryan Hamilton (Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, Showtime), Phil Hanley (Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central), and Jeff Lamp (Jay Leno) performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Erik Rivera (Jay Leno, MTV): Tom Papa, Lenny Marcus, Michael Che, and More

8:00 pm ($8): Siobhan Beasley (United Nations), Robert A. George (New York Post), Lucas Zachary Hazlett (MTV), and more gather to make fun of politics and taxes at The PIT upstairs theatre: Electoral Dysfunction

[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] 8:30 pm ($15 if you mention HyReviews.com [otherwise $20], which includes one drink; calling 212.989.9319 to reserve seats is recommended): Terrific lineup of Dave Hill (one of the most original and hilariously sharp alternative comics in the country; HBO, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, NPR, The Dave Hill Explosion, bands Valley Lodge and Diamondsnake, champion rapper, author of Tasteful Nudes), Mike Lawrence (nerd persona but razor-sharp mind has made this stand-up a rapidly rising star; Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Half Hour, John Oliver's NY Stand-Up), Mike Drucker (hilarious stand-up; staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; freelance writer for SNL, The Onion, McSweeney's), Liz Miele (Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central), and Katherine Williams (one-woman show Shiksappeal at 2012 FringeNYC) performing stand-up at the Cornelia Street Cafe for John Morrison's Morrison Motel

8:30 pm ($7): A one-woman show at The Magnet about how "Molly Marjorie Rosenblatt is in New York and her musical theater career isn't taking off. She doesn't have a job, but thinks finding a boyfriend will make life easier. Learn how she comes into her own as a broke and unemployed hot mess living in Queens through Facebook stalking, online dating, and adventures in Brooklyn. Told primarily through original songs (music and lyrics by Mallory Schlossberg, arrangements by Joel Esher), and directed by Jen Sanders: Molly Marjorie Rosenblatt Needs A Man

[FREE] 9:00 pm: Rachel Feinstein (finalist on Last Comic Standing; Comedy Central Presents, HBO, The Apprentice, opens for Sarah Silverman on tour), Keith Alberstadt (David Letterman, VH1, contributor to SNL's Weekend Update), Victor Varnado (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central, NBC's My Name is Earl, Adult Swim, Comedy Central’s The Awkward Comedy Show; films Pluto Nash, End of Days, A Guy Thing), and Hadiyah Robinson performing stand-up at Brooklyn's Bar Matchless back room (557 Manhattan Avenue, near the G subway's Nassau Avenue stop) hosted by Nimesh Patel, Mike Denny, and/or Michael Che: Broken Comedy

9:30 pm ($5): Two UCB Chelsea house sketch troupes try out new material: Supereasy (which includes comedy chameleon Livia Scott) and Onassis (which includes such talents as Lauren Adams and Frank Hejl): Maude Night: Supereasy and Onassis

[FREE] 9:30 pm: Following a club format, hosts Nore Davis & Andrew Short perform stand-up throughout for a total of 25 minutes, two comics each perform a 15-minute set, and then a seasoned headliner closes out the show with a 20-minute set, all at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: On the Road

[FREE] 9:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Charlie Kasov, Kaytlin Bailey, Taylor Ketchum, Deepu Gill, and Koretta Gray performing at Brooklyn's Freddy's Backroom (627 5th Avenue) with host Pat O'Shea: Ed Sullivan on Acid

9:30 pm ($5): Improv veterans Brandon Gardner, Chelsea Clarke, Phillip Jackson, and/or Steve Theiss hosting & performing in a show at UCB East with guest improvisors: Improv Nerds

10:00 pm ($8): A group of actors and improvisors attempt to duplicate the success of UCBT's Gravid Water by putting improvisors in the middle of classic theatre scenes at The PIT upstairs theatre. UCBT uses top Broadway and improv talent for its show, making it extraordinary. The participants of this show are unannounced; but the format is so strong that this might work anyway, despite the awful title: The Actor's Worst Nightmare

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($12 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Killer lineup of Dave Attell (one of the most respected stand-ups in the biz; star of Showtime's Dave's Old Porn and Comedy Central's Insomniac; HBO, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents), Judah Friedlander (one of the quickest minds in comedy; 30 Rock, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly, author of How to Beat Up Anybody), Nick Griffin (David Letterman, Jay Leno, Comedy Central Presents), Mark Normand (hilarious rising star; Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central; opens for Amy Schumer; co-host of Hot Soup and We're All Friends Here), Greer Barnes (David Letterman, Chappelle Show, For the Love of the Game), Andrew Schulz (MTV2's Guy Code), and Turae (Comedy Central) performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) Erik Rivera (Jay Leno, MTV): Dave Attell, Judah Friedlander, Nick Griffin, Mark Norman, and More

10:00 pm ($5): A variety show in which comics perform characters, stand-up, and other bits at The Magnet hosted by Jon Bander: What's to Get?

10:30 pm ($5): Improv veterans Brandon Gardner, Chelsea Clarke, and Phillip Jackson hosting & performing in a show at UCB East with improvisors taken from the audience...and who may include you: Improv Nerds Jam

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the world—who are no longer being announced in advance, but it's virtually always a great lineup—at UCB Chelsea hosted by someone wonderful: Whiplash

[ALMOST FREE] 11:00 pm ($1): If you're an audience member who loves stand-up, Monday at 11 should be Whiplash! night (see listing above). If you're a comic who couldn't get booked on UCBT's all-star show, though, you can opt to instead practice your skills at this exceptionally supportive stand-up open mic at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted by Jarrid Reed: Fresh

[FREE] 11:00 pm: Improv students are welcomed onto the stage at The PIT downstairs lounge for this weekly open access show hosted by Gary DeNoia & Langston Belton: Base Jam

NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 4/16/13

Following killer sets for Conan O'Brien and Amy Schumer on tour, hilarious and
beloved stand-up Mark Normand headlines tonight at the Carolines Comedy Club...

...Saturday Night Live star Kate McKinnon is at Sweet and SNL writer/performer Michael O'Brien is at The Moon Show

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

[TOP PICK] [ALMOST FREE] 6:00 pm ($1): In this delightful weekly open mic show, each comic has 3 minutes to try out a character-based bit (e.g., for a solo show, sketch, or audition) at The PIT downstairs lounge, hosted by Jen Kwok (Comedy Central) and Keisha Zollar (Doppelganger): Imposter Open Mic

[ALMOST FREE] 6:00 pm ($1): Open-mic sketch that allows you to either perform a sketch with your own performers or bring in pages for the audience to perform at The PIT downstairs lounge, followed by feedback on your bit from PIT "sketch-perts:" Pens & Pencils

6:00 pm (no cover, 1 drink min. for both comics and audience members): Open mic stand-up providing 5-7 minutes per comic, running 2 1/2 hours. Arrive 30 minutes before the show to get on the signup sheet. This is a fine opportunity to perform at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club Open Mic

[FREE] 6:30 pm: Open mic for comedy of all types (with sign-up starting at 6:00) at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre hosted by Chesley Calloway (co-host of renowned Comedy as a Second Language): The Ches Club

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm-Midnight ($7 for the whole evening): In this 5-hour extravaganza, five of The Magnet's singing improv troupes make up a musical on the spot based on an audience suggestion: Canons and Jezebellers (at 7:00), Fisticuffs and BEEES! (at 8:30), and Mint Condition (at 9:00), followed at 10:15 by a free show that lets audience members join in with a musical improv troupe to make up stories in song: Magnet Musical Megawatt

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:00 pm: Comic book artist Gideon Kendall and comic book writer Thomas Baehr joining super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Fontana's (105 Eldridge Street), with giveaways of comics and gift certificates: Comic Book Club

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:00 pm: This weekly 2-hour open mic storytelling show allows each performer a full 8 minutes to tell a compelling and funny tale at Queens LIC's The Creek downstairs lounge, tonight featuring guest co-host Malaika Gordon and host Jake Hart: The Dump

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): One of my favorite people, Julie Sharbutt—who's performed with some of the greatest improvisors alive at UCBT's Gravid Water—goes for improv gold herself with comedy partner Cathleen Carr (Birds, The Scene, Dos Experimentos) as they "hope to establish themselves as the leading voices in contemporary South Boston crime noir improv comedy. Watch them, along with tonight's guests Erick Hellwig, Bob Kulhan, and Chris Roberti, unspool a suspenseful, heavily-accented mystery thrilla" at The PIT downstairs lounge: Mystic Improv

7:00 pm ($8): A sketch show written & co-starring Suni Reyes & Erock, plus a half dozen other performers, at The PIT upstairs theatre: You Gotta Be F-ing Kidding Me!

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:30 pm ($7.37 online using code BREAKOUT, plus 2-drink min.) A hilarious rising star who's performed on Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central; opens for Amy Schumer; and is co-host of Hot Soup and We're All Friends Here, offers these words to his legions of fans: "Remember how you've said you want to see me do a longer set? Me neither. But tonight I'll be headlining Caroline's like so many great comedians/bringers have done before me. Basically it's my turn, and now that Thomas Dale is gone they had a few nights open. But I wanna make it a good one! So come on out and have a laugh. I've got material you've never seen, mostly because it's not that good and is kinda offensive. But either way, I'm gonna do the stuff I never get to do. We'll have fun. And I'll be selling copies of my friends' albums after. Plus I've got Gary Vider hosting because someone has to get him into the clubs. And JF Harris featuring because he 'has a big family that will come out.' His words... So let's do it, guys!" For one night only at the Carolines Comedy Club: Mark Normand

7:30 pm-9:15 pm ($5): Long form improv known as The Harold from UCB Chelsea house troupes Bloody Mary, Huxtable, and The Regulars at this first half of Harold Night

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Michael O'Brien (writer for Saturday Night Live, star of SNL segment 7 Minutes in Heaven), Kevin Allison (legendary MTV sketch series The State, HBO, Comedy Central, VH1, host of award-winning storytelling show Risk!), Camille Harris (ace singer/piano player), Will Harris, and more performing at Brooklyn's Union Pool (484 Union Avenue) along with sketches from Moon regulars Camille Harris, Jordan Clifford, and Tim Skinner, and hosts Nat Towsen & Bob Walles: The Moon Show

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($12 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Judah Friedlander (one of the quickest minds in comedy; 30 Rock, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly, author of How to Beat Up Anybody), Tom Papa (host of Jerry Seinfeld-produced NBC comedy The Marriage Ref; numerous appearances on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno; three Comedy Central specials), Michael Che (David Letterman, Comedy Central), Ryan Hamilton (Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, Showtime), Godfrey (Comedy Central Presents, Louie, 30 Rock, VH1; films Zoolander, Original Gangsters, Soul Plane; 7 Up Yours ads), and Jeff Lamp (Jay Leno) performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Turae: Judah Friedlander, Tom Papa, Michael Che, and More

8:00 pm ($5): Making great use of UCB East's previous incarnation as an indie movie theatre, tonight features screenings of select films running five minutes or less—most of them funny—crafted in the style of TV pilots. The shorts receiving the most audience votes get to continue with additional episodes, while the others are "canceled" at Channel 101

8:00ish pm (no cover, 1 drink min.): Jermaine Fowler (MTV’s Guy Code, Comedy Central, Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show), Emily Heller (Comedy Central, FX's Totally Biased), TJ Young (Beards of Comedy), Katie Compa (SF Sketchfest), Brian Parise, and Zach Sherwin performing stand-up at Sidewalk NYC (94 Avenue A) produced by Chenoa Estrada, Emily Heller, and George Gordon and hosted tonight by Erin Judge & Josh Gondelman: The Afterlife: Reincarnation

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre hosted by the brilliantly surreal and hilarious Joe Pera, plus Charles Gould and Dan Licata: Dan + Joe + Charles' Show

8:00 pm ($8): A house sketch troupe performs at The PIT upstairs theatre: National Scandal

8:00 pm ($5): An all-gal sketch troupe takes The PIT upstairs stage straight from the seven seas: Pirate Sugar

[FREE] 8:30 pm: Typically sharp NYC stand-ups performing at Cake Shop (152 Ludlow Street, between Rivington & Stanton) hosted by Kate Berlant (MTV, CNN, notable hair): Crime & Punishment

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($7): Kate McKinnon (genius sketch comic and stellar cast member of Saturday Night Live; voice actress for Adult Swim's Venture Brothers and Comedy Central's Ugly Americans), Sean Patton (one of the finest stand-ups in the country; killer sets on Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien, upcoming Comedy Central Half Hour, VH1, feature film Wifed Out; co-host of Comedy as a Second Language, frequent guest-host of Whiplash), singer Mike Doughty (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien; formerly of band Soul Coughing; solo album Sad Man Happy Man), and more performing at The Slipper Room (167 Orchard Street) hosted by Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: Typically stellar NYC stand-ups (not announced this time) with composer Matt Garrisona's four-piece jazz band playing in the background!—at Queens LIC's The Creek downstairs lounge hosted by Mike Finoia: Code Name: Comedy and Jazz

9:15 pm-Midnight ($5): Long form improv known as The Harold from UCB Chelsea house troupes Graceland, City Mouse, and Bucky—plus advanced improv students make up scenes chock-full of genre conventions, tropes, and archetypes for improv form The Genre—at this second half (continued from 7:30 pm) of Harold Night

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Brilliant storyteller Anthony Atamanuik (Death by Roo Roo, 30 Rock, Conan O'Brien, The Nights of Our Lives) tells tales of Boston to raise money for the Red Cross doing its good work there. Joining him are stand-ups Jamie Lee (Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, MTV's Ridiculousness, VH1), Phil Hanley (Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central), and Emil Kim, plus producer Andy Rocco, all at the UCB East theatre: The Tony Show: Tales of Boston

9:30 pm ($5): A stand-up performs a set, then an improv team makes up scenes based on the material; and then this happens again with a different stand-up and different improv group at The PIT downstairs lounge. Audience applause then determines the "winner" of Rumble

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($12 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Ted Alexandro (one of the very finest stand-ups in the country; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; frequently opens for Louis C.K.), Jena Friedman (wry dark comedy stand-up and rising star; producer for The Daily Show, former staff writer for David Letterman, host of Entertaining the Bartender), Nick Griffin (David Letterman, Jay Leno, Comedy Central Presents), Paul Mecurio (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents), Greer Barnes (David Letterman, Chappelle Show, For the Love of the Game), Andrew Schulz (MTV2's Guy Code), and Mike Vecchione (Last Comic Standing, Howard Stern) performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Turae: Ted Alexandro, Jena Friedman, Nick Griffin, Paul Mecurio, and More

[FREE] 10:00 pm: Big Jay Oakerson (Comedy Central Presents, HBO, Showtime, MTV), Luis J. Gomez, Dave Smith, and other NYC stand-ups performing live on stage for this podcast show at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Legion of Skanks

[$] 10:00 pm ($15 & 2-drink min.): Todd Barry (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, FX's Louie, HBO's Flight of the Conchords and Bored to Death, Adult Swim, feature films The Wrestler and Pete Smalls is Dead), Barry Rothbart (Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Comedy Central, MTV's Punk'd, IFC's Do Whatever), Chris Distefano (Comedy Central, MTV2's Guy Code), Maddog Mattern (Sirius Radio, Howard Stern TV; to see Maddog handle a heckler, please click here), and more performing stand-up at the Gotham Comedy Club hosted by Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, CNN, TBS): ComedyJuice

[ALMOST FREE] 11:00 pm ($1): A breathtaking 40 comics are given 2 minutes each in this rapid-fire open mic stand-up show at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted with wit and energy by Jay Welch: Bring It

[FREE] 11:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up at UCB East hosted by Boris Khaykin, John Trowbridge, and/or Katie East: Tuesday Night Open Mic

NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 4/17/13

Dave Hill tells hilarious stories at Yum's the Word (with free ice cream cake!) and Big Effing Deal: A Terrible Mistake;
John Lutz (above) and Scott Adsit perform as genius improv duo John & Scott (plus for Thursday, also check out this)

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] [ALMOST FREE] 6:00 pm ($1): Cammi Climaco (co-host of Ask Me Stories) hosts this weekly hour-long open mic storytelling show, with typically six audience members chosen from a bucket of names getting to tell tales for 6-7 minutes each at The PIT downstairs lounge: Cammi Climaco's Storytelling Open Mic: Six by Six

[FREE] 6:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up for 15 comics performing for 5 minutes each at Queens LIC's Laughing Devil Comedy Club (4738 Vernon Blvd.)—with drinks at half price: Happy Hour Open Mic

[FREE] 6:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up providing 3 minutes per comic at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre hosted by Max Corbel & Benel Germosen: Cracking It

7:00 pm-12:30 am ($7 for the entire evening): Magnet house troupes Dr. Champagne, Flower GIrl, Featherweight, Chet Watkins, Bloomer, The Wrath, Nintendo, and Brick performing improv, followed by a free audience interactive show with Nintendo at 11:30 pm: The Magnet's Megawatt

[FREE] 7:00 pm to Midnight: Five free hours of improvisation at The PIT upstairs theatre: Super Free Wednesday

7:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced, but you can check for an update here) performing at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by the delightful host Abbi Crutchfield and comedic rapster Andrew Singer: Positively Awesome

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm show ($10 at the door, $12.50 in advance online; price includes free slices of homemade ice cream cakes!): Stellar storytellers Dave Hill (one of the most original and hilariously sharp alternative comics in the country; HBO, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, NPR, The Dave Hill Explosion, bands Valley Lodge and Diamondsnake, champion rapper, author of Tasteful Nudes), Tracy Rowland (Emmy-award winning writer & TV producer; The Moth, The Liar Show), Josh Blau (The Moth podcast), and Blaise Allysen Kearsley (How I Learned, The Rejection Show) telling tales about this month's theme Socially Awkward at the Le Poisson Rouge's The Gallery (158 Bleecker Street) hosted by Robin Gelfenbien (storyteller and singer/songwriter; VH1, AMC, Sirius Radio, acclaimed one-woman show at FringeNYC) and that includes free ice cream cakes made by Robin herself: Yum's the Word

7:30 pm ($5): Expanding the UCB longform improv showcased on Harold Night is this weekly show at UCB East which tonight features troupes City Mouse and Huxtable: Lloyd Night

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Scott Adsit (cast member of 30 Rock, and co-writer/director/producer & cast member of Adult Swim's awesome & Emmy-winning Moral Orel) teaming up with fellow 30 Rock actor John Lutz (who previously spent six years as a staff writer for Saturday Night Live) to form a super-smart and hilarious star improv duo that's become one of the very best attractions at UCB Chelsea and should not be missed: John & Scott

Note: If you're a Scott Adsit fan, please also check out his one-time-only PIT show tomorrow.

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Killer storytellers lineup of Dave Hill (one of the most original and hilariously sharp alternative comics in the country; HBO, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, NPR, The Dave Hill Explosion, bands Valley Lodge and Diamondsnake, champion rapper, author of Tasteful Nudes), Elna Baker (genius storyteller, and bestselling author of comedic book The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance; NPR's This American Life; writer for Glamour, Elle; for sample tales, please click here), Jared Logan (rising stand-up star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, CNN, TBS, host of ComedyJuice), and Jessie Cantrell & Mike O'Gorman telling tales about A Terrible Mistake at 2A (25 Avenue A & 2nd Street), hosted by Beth Hoyt & Trish Nelson: Big Effing Deal: A Terrible Mistake

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups do sets "and then have a discussion about what’s going on in the world and the mysteries of life" at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City, hosted by Chris Laker: The Show

8:00 pm ($5): Mike Brown (co-host of Vicious Cycle) performs a relatively rare form of improvisation—a one-man show—at The PIT downstairs lounge (to view last week's show, which was video recorded, please click here): Mike Brown Solo Improv Extravaganza

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($8 at the door or $10.70 in advance online): TV & movie star Janeane Garofalo, Sean Patton (one of the finest stand-ups in the country; killer sets on Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien, upcoming Comedy Central Half Hour, VH1, feature film Wifed Out; co-host of Comedy as a Second Language, frequent guest-host of Whiplash), Michael Che (David Letterman, Comedy Central), and more performing at Brooklyn's Union Hall hosted by Nick Turner (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Nick Turner & Acquaintances

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Superb improvisors—and actual brothers—Will Hines and Kevin Hines make use of their intimate knowledge of each other to gracefully invent scenes (hopefully without any squabbling) at UCB East performing as duo The Brothers Hines

[FREE] 9:00 pm: Myq Kaplan (one of the quickest minds in comedy, and rapidly rising star; finalist on most recent Last Comic Standing; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Comedy Central Presents, hit comedy CD Vegan Mind Meld), Joey Gay (Last Comic Standing), Chris Distefano (Comedy Central, MTV2's Guy Code), Mike Dobbins (unique stream-of-consciousness stand-up), Shannon Coffey (Comedy Central), J.F. Harris, and Matt Jenkins performing stand-up at this free weekly comedy show at Lucky Jack's Bar (129 Orchard Street) produced by Kyle Fincham, Lance Weiss, and Brendon Fitzgibbons: Gandhi, Is That You?

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Peter Grosz (HBO's Veep and Curb Your Enthusiasm, Comedy Central's The Colbert Report and Key & Peele, numerous Sonic commercials) debuts a show at UCB Chelsea described as follows: "Do you like to cook? Do you think you’re a good home chef? Well, guess what? You're not. Let chef Michael Denardi show you everything you didn't know that you didn't know about preparing food. His personality is as bold as his cooking, and his take-no-prisoners passion and high-energy food preparation is matched only by his love for all things local, organic, micro-brewed, house-cured, and dungeon-smoked. Warning: This might seem like just a 45-minute cooking demonstration; but you will also learn life lessons that will blow your mind. Please wear a helmet:" Recipe For Success with Chef Michael Denardi

9:30 pm ($5): Each booked performer has 10 minutes to do whatever he or she chooses—stand-up, sketch, improv, music, dance, or something beyond categorization. "It's simple, it's fun, and it might get crazy" at The PIT downstairs lounge: Guerrilla Theatre

[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($5): The instructors of UCB's classes include some of the finest improvisors in the country. In this new weekly show a bunch of them get on stage at UCB East, along with hosts Betsy Stover and Ari Voukydis: Hot for Teacher: The UCB Faculty Show

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: Rising stand-up stars—Mark Normand, Jared Logan, Mike Lawrence, Dan. St. Germain, Michael Che, Emily Heller, Jeffrey Joseph, Dan Soder, Barry Rothbart, Calise Hawkins, Joe List, Pat Dixon, and/or Nick Turner—at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre: The Regulars

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: The wonderful Sasheer Zamata (highly charming, innovative rising star; Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer, FX's Totally Biased; member of red-hot improv troupe Doppelganger, sketch troupe The Prom, and Harold Night troupe Bucky) hosts as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun; plus Sasheer is going to be a huge star, so catch her in this intimate setting while you can. Tonight's scheduled guests haven't been posted as I write this, but please check for the updated complete lineup—which should not start with JC Coccoli who, while adorable, topped last week's list—by clicking here.) Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a weekly show at UCB Chelsea makes possible—and don't forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Improv troupe Punctual Drunks interviews an audience member about his or her favorite fairy tale, and then picks up the story where it left off so you can find out how it really ended, at The PIT downstairs lounge: Your Favorite Fairy Tale

[FREE] 11:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up running until 1:00 am, with time divided evenly between performers (up to five minutes), at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' Long Island City with host Rob Stern: Bucket 'O Buckets

[FREE] 11:00 pm: Your opportunity to perform on the stage of UCB East with improv veterans, hosted by UCBT Harold Night house troupe Grandma's Ashes: The Improv Jam

[TOP PICK] [$] 11:30 pm ($10 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Uncensored stand-up from Dave Attell (one of the most respected stand-ups in the biz; star of Showtime's Dave's Old Porn and Comedy Central's Insomniac; HBO, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents), Nikki Glaser (co-star of MTV's The Nikki and Sara Show; Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Last Comic Standing; podcast You Had to Be There), Big Jay Oakerson (Comedy Central Presents, HBO, Showtime, MTV), Kurt Metzger (Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Presents, Ugly Americans), and Sam Morril (Comedy Central) performing at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Mike Yard (Comedy Central, Def Comedy Jam): The Nasty Show: Dave Attell, Nikki Glaser, Big Jay Oakerson, Kurt Metzger, and More

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 4/18/13

Scott Adsit (30 Rock, John & Scott) teams for one night only with Julie Sharbutt (Gravid Water) to improvise in Chairs

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] [FREE] 6:00 pm: Chris Doucette (host of Gaylarious) is tonight's guest at this weekly open mic storytelling show at UCB East, with each performer given a whopping eight minutes to captivate & impress, hosted by the wonderful John Flynn: Oh, Hey Guys!

[FREE] 6:00 pm: All-gal open mic at UCB East in the bar area ("Hot Chicks Room") hosted by Anna Drezen & Sue Smith: Open Michelle: Ladies Open Mic

[ALMOST FREE] 6:00 pm ($1): PIT musical improv troupe Adorable mixes with musical improv novices on-stage at the downstairs lounge for Pitch

[FREE] 6:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up with comics' names drawn from a bucket and each chosen receiving two minutes—and if that goes well, maybe a hug (but not actual puppies)—at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Ross Parsons & Trey Galyon: Free Puppies

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 6:30 pm cocktails, 7:00 pm show & reading: The wonderful Mindy Raf celebrates the release of her book The Symptoms of My Insanity with superb sketch duo Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting, and superb musical comics Carolyn Castiglia, Becky Yamamoto, and Stuckey & Murray, at Wix Lounge (10 West 18th Street): Mindy Raf's Book Launch Party

6:30 pm ($5): Two never-before-seen shows audition for a spot on the schedule of the prestigious UCB Chelsea stage, Barflies and 18 Things The DePandi Sisters Don’t Talk About. If you're feeling adventurous, at $2.50 per show it's hard to go wrong with Spank

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($8): The wonderful Julie Sharbutt (improv shows Gravid Water, Mystic Improv, The Scene, Birds) and improv genius Scott Adsit (30 Rock, Moral Orel, John & Scott) perform duo improv for one night only "exploring a world of deeply felt character relationships while sitting in chairs" at The PIT downstairs lounge: Chairs

7:00 pm ($5): Two singing improv troupes make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT downstairs lounge: Punchbowl and THEM

[FREE] 7:00 pm: In this free Magnet show, audience members (signing in at 6:00) can join in with improv troupe Horses to make up scenes on the spot: Magnet Mixer

7:30 pm ($5): Adam Newman (Comedy Central, MTV, College Humor, host of Big Long Sets), Michelle Wolf (IFC), Ken Schultz (National Lampoon), and Mike Recine performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Sean Crespo, Dan Wilbur, and Katina Corrao: Lasers in the Jungle

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10 at the door or $11.54 in advance online; includes a free beer): Star storyteller Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents, 2011 ECNY Award for Best Storyteller) gathers comics to tell funny stories at the Brooklyn Brewery (79 North 11th Street), with tonight's guests Bobby Tisdale (NYC indie comedy pioneer; writer for Jimmy Fallon), Giulia Rozzi (Jimmy Kimmel, MTV, VH1, Playgirl Magazine, co-host of Dive comedy and Stripped Stories), Eddie Huang, Gavin McInnes, and Judy McGuire: Tom Shillue's Funny Story

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Longtime UCBT stars Neil Casey (writer for Saturday Night Live; Death by Roo Roo) and Will Hines (The Stepfathers) in a two-man sketch show at UCB Chelsea directed by Michael Delaney: Small Men

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($14 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Ted Alexandro (one of the very finest stand-ups in the country; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; frequently opens for Louis C.K.), Tom Papa (host of Jerry Seinfeld-produced NBC comedy The Marriage Ref; numerous appearances on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno; three Comedy Central specials), Joe List (HBO, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), Owen Smith (HBO, Comedy Central, writer & performer on Everybody Hates Chris), Keith Robinson (HBO, Comedy Central, Wanda Sykes Show), and DC Benny (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, ABC's The Unusuals) performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Erik Rivera: Ted Alexandro, Tom Papa, Joe List, and More

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($20): A former roommate & drinking buddy of such comedy giants as David Cross and Marc Maron performs a one-man show that was such a hit at August's FringeNYC it's been extended indefinitely. Please read my review by clicking here, and Jason Zinoman's New York Times review by clicking here; and then come share an intimate hour with Matt Graham at the Soho Playhouse's downstairs Huron Club so he can explain life and meaning and why This Too Shall Suck

8:00 pm (no cover, 1 drink min.): Storytellers Jess Wood, Warren Holstein, Pat O'Shea, and Jake Szufnarowski, plus musical guest Erin Regan, performing at this biweekly storytelling show at 2A (25 Avenue A & 2nd Street) hosted by Jenny Rubin: Here's the Story

8:00 pm ($5): Two singing improv troupes, Hemlock (which includes stellar singer Megan Maes) and Dagger (which includes notable talents Ryan Dunkin and Jon Bander), make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT downstairs lounge: Hemlock and Dagger

8:00 pm-MIdnight ($7 for the entire evening): The Magnet house troupes The Boss, Junior Varsity, Horses, and Hello Laser performing improv for two hours, followed at 10:00 pm by The Sleepover (long form improv with elements of monoscene, deconstruction, and La Ronde), and then at 11:00 improv competition Inspirado (like UCBT's Cage Match, but with a game-like challenge component): The Magnet's Night Out

8:00 pm ($8): Ora Fruchter & Christopher Scheer put a hand-puppet through improvised therapy at The PIT upstairs theatre: Puppet Therapy

[FREE] 8:00 pm: A monthly showcase of both stand-ups and improvisors at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City, hosted by stand-up Zach Broussard and improv troupe Priest & the Beekeeper: Pig Pile

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00ish pm: Terrific NYC stand-ups (the lineup is typically announced around 3:00 pm; for an update, please click here) performing on this free weekly show at the Kabin Bar and Lounge hosted by Chesley Calloway and comedy genius Sean Patton: Comedy as a Second Language

9:00 pm ($5): Amber Nelson (fearless, innovative rising star; Comedy Central; sketch troupe The Prom, co-host of The Dream Show), Jeffrey Joseph (Jay Leno, HBO, FOX's In Living Color, Comedy Central), Roger Hailes (Jimmy Fallon, Chappelle's Show, VH1, MTV; writer for FUSE's A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus), Kate Hendricks, Joe Zimmerman, and Casey James Salengo performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Adam Conover and/or Emily Heller: Fresh Out

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Saturday Night Live write Mike O'Brien "performs solo sketch and stand-up, reads a short story, and in general, does things. Come out to see experimental comedy as well as comedy that involves no experimentation" at UCB Chelsea: Mike O'Brien: 45 Minutes of Things

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Improvisors make up three one-act plays on the spot at The PIT downstairs lounge, produced by Dan Hodapp & Micah Sherman—a show that tonight celebrates its Two Year Anniversary, and is followed by a free party at 11:00 pm: The Scene

[FREE] 9:30 pm: Stand-ups attempt to perform tight sets—"no fat, no filler, just funny"—with tonight's lineup Joe List (HBO, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), Andy Hendrickson, Nore Davis, Chris Lamberth, Andrew Short, and Mark Chalifoux at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Mike Speirs: Trim the Fat

9:30 pm ($8): A young all-guy improv troupe making stuff up at The PIT upstairs theatre: Gentlemen Party

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:30 pm ($5 & 2-item food/drink min.) Comics heckle a genre feature film—with tonight's victim superstar director Peter Jackson's very first not-so-good film Bad Taste (for the 1987 trailer, please click here) at Queens LIC's Laughing Devil Comedy Club (4738 Vernon Blvd.): Devil Science Theater 3000

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Ouch. Last week The Law Firm squashed improv challenger Bloody Mary into a smear on the floor with a victory of 98-17. Tonight the litigators face GoodGirl, which is actually mostly a group of guys...including Colin Jost (writer for Jimmy Fallon, TruTV's Impractical Jokers). While the odds are with the shysters, you can never tell what will happen at UCB Chelsea when improvisors compete for your laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match

11:00 ($5): Liz Miele (Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central, Damaged), RG Daniels (MTV's Guy Code, host of Sunday Night Stand-Up), and Adam Sokol (co-host of Comedy at Beauty Bar) performing stand-up at UCB East as part of the Reddit.com online community, hosted by Adam Lash (HBO, Showtime, The Daily Show) and/or Nathan Anderson: /r/standup

[FREE] 11:00 pm: An open mic show that's first come, first serve, with each comic getting 3-5 minutes on stage at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Josh Alba: Mic and Cheese

[TOP PICK] [$] Midnight ($14 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Uncensored stand-up from Nikki Glaser (co-star of MTV's The Nikki and Sara Show; Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Last Comic Standing; podcast You Had to Be There), Jon Fisch (David Letterman, Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, VH1), Kurt Metzger (Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Presents, Ugly Americans), Andrew Schulz (MTV2's Guy Code), and Turae (Comedy Central) performing at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Big Jay Oakerson (Comedy Central Presents, HBO, Showtime, MTV), : The Nasty Show: Nikki Glaser, Big Jay Oakerson, Jon Fisch, Kurt Metzger, and More

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 4/19/13

Anna Drezen blends dance movements & scary sketch comedy in her delightful one-woman show Spooky Jerks

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: An open mic show on a lottery system (sign-ups happen at 5:45-6:00 pm) at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with hosts Erin Lennox and Eli Sairs: The Orphanage

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:00 pm: TV & Broadway stand-up star Colin Quinn performs bits from a show he's developing for an off-Broadway run that looks at US history "from the Founding Fathers to the Kardashians" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre: Unconstitutional with Colin Quinn

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($8): The wonderful Anna Drezen mixes the moves of a dancer with absurdist sketch comedy about "lonely cannibals, clingy ghost roomies, manic pixie devil worshipers, and other adorable stains-on-society who just want to make a friend" in this one-woman extravaganza at The PIT upstairs theatre: Spooky Jerks

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:00 pm & 9:00 pm & 11:00 pm (FREE TICKETS if you reserve in advance by calling (212) 260-2445 and mention HyReviews.com, but there's still a 2-drink min. per person): TV & movie star Janeane Garofalo (possibly 9:00 pm only), Andrew Schulz (MTV2's Guy Code), Dean Edwards, and more performing at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club

7:00 pm ($8): An improvised musical made up on the spot at The PIT downstairs lounge by The Shady Bunch

7:00 pm ($7): Five veteran improvisors make stuff up at The Magnet as troupe Lead McEnroe

[FREE] 7:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up, with 3 minutes per comic (unless not many folks show up, in which case there'll be more time), with names drawn out of a bucket at UCB East in the bar area ("Hot Chicks Room") hosted by Nate Dern, Sarah Tollemache, and/or Paul Oddo: The Friday Night Hot Chicks Mic

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): Shonali Bhowmik (Variety SHAC), Nick Stevens, and David Martin tell "stories of all sizes that define our place in the universe" at UCB East hosted by Adam Wade (two-time Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Champion (2006 & 2009) and record-breaking 18-time StorySlam Champion; The New York Times Magazine; host of hilarious monthly storytelling extravaganzas The Adam Wade Show and Whatever Happened to the Nerds?; for a sampling of Adam's award-winning tales, please click here): Tales of the Cosmos

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Stone Cold Fox is the only sketch troupe (vs. improv troupe) to ever be honored with an ongoing spot on the prestigious UCB Chelsea weekend schedule. It’s earned this slot because its cast is superb: Brandon Scott Jones, Molly Lloyd, John Murray, Leslie Meisel, Connor Ratliff, and Johnathan Fernandez. I haven't yet seen this latest show which debuted recently, but will soon; among its writers are the delightful Silvija Ozols, and Brandon Gulya...who also directed: Stone Cold Fox: Hey, Look Over Here!

[FREE] 7:30ish pm: Amber Nelson (fearless, innovative rising star; Comedy Central; sketch troupe The Prom, co-host of The Dream Show) & Ashley Brooke Roberts (co-host of The Dream Show) host tonight's edition of this stand-up show, with guests Doug Smith (host of See You in Hell), Jared Freid (MTV's Failosophy), Billy Prinsell, Liam McEneaney (Comedy Central, VH1's Best Week Ever, Showtime, host of Tell Your Friends), plus this show's producers Ben Conrad and Lucas Connolly, all performing stand-up at the One and One Bar (76 1st Street, corner of First Avenue): Cranky Pants Comedy Hour

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): A glorious collection of hilarious film clips and live guests from super-fan Kevin Maher and friends at 92 Y Tribeca (200 Hudson Street), with no theme tonight beyond fun: Kevin Geeks Out: April All-Stars

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups aiming to slay audiences at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Destroy All Humans

[FREE] 8:00 pm: An open mic show that's first come, first serve (sign-ups start at 7:30 pm), with each comic getting five minutes on stage at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' Long Island City: Mic and Cheese

[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($10): Before this Magnet show, audience members may anonymously submit written confessions, secrets, rants, advice and opinions which will be used onstage by the improvisors—who include such talents as Laura Grey (stellar old-time radio style theatrical podcast Horrorgasm, improv troupe Salmon Diane, sketch/improv duo Klepper & Grey): The Friday Night Sh*w

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from comedy geniuses Chris Gethard and Shannon O'Neill, plus stellar comics Silvija Ozols, Zach Woods, Michael Delaney, Will Hines, and Connor Ratliff, performing at UCB Chelsea—the all-star members of The Stepfathers

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): A gathering of comedic musicians, who tonight are the Delorian Sisters, POYKPAC, and Carla Ulbrichhe performing at UCB East with hosted by superb musical group Summer & Eve (for samples, please click here): Earworm Funny Music Party Show

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: Joe Zimmerman (Rooftop Comedy), Dave Stone (Adult Swim’s Squidbillies), Andy Sanford (TBS), and TJ Young "deliver an original brand of humor that's deeply rooted in stand-up and lightly blended with avant-garde elements of music, sketch and improv." This bearded quartet's credits include the album Cardio Mix from Comedy Central Records; and they perform for this monthly show at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: The Beards of Comedy

10:00 pm ($10): Singing improvisors at The Magnet using an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Superb improvisors Craig Rowin, Matt Fisher, Sue Galloway, Dan Klein, Brian Faas, Matt Moses, and/or Conner O'Malley—who this year defeated The Stepfathers and thoroughly crushed another troupe at Cage Match before losing by a single vote—make up scenes about an audience member's legal dispute at the UCB Chelsea theatre: The Law Firm: Law & Disorder

10:30 pm ($10): A variety of comics perform on this show mixing stand-up and improv at UCB East hosted by Brandon Scott Jones, D'Arcy Carden, Justin Tyler, Kelly Hudson, and/or Alden Ford: Gentrify

11:30 pm ($5): "The only play ever written for cats" at The Magnet theatre; plus in the other half of this sketch comedy double-bill, "No matter what the circumstances, laughter will fix any problem. Guaranteed:" Cat Show and Good News!

[TOP PICK] [FREE] Midnight: NYC stand-ups—sometimes stellar ones—pushing boundaries for a show designed for looseness and experimentation at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with hosts Jacqueline Novak and Chris Laker: Permission to Fail

[FREE] Midnight: A "special" improv set, followed by an improv jam, from stellar troupe The Law Firm at UCB Chelsea celebrating 4/20: The Law Firm's 4/20 Midnight Jam, Maaaaan!

Midnight ($8): A small army of comics pay homage to the cult classic film Rocky Horror Picture Show at The PIT upstairs theatre: Rocky Whorer PIT-ure Show

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 4/20/13

4/20, the Christmas for stoners, is celebrated tonight at shows including John Flynn: Baked!,
The Rejection Show, and What I Did For Drugs

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] 4:00 pm: An unusually early weekly open mic stand-up show ("starts late enough to sleep off that hangover but ends just in time to begin a new one") at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Jhoel Walkowski & Evan Davis: The Amateur Hour

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 4:20 pm: Stellar storyteller John Flynn (Saturday Night Live, The Nights of Our Lives, host of storytelling show Oh, Hey Guys!) performs a one-man show at the UCB East Hot Chicks Room Bar about "the many years I baked 'magical' cookies that were enjoyed by all sorts of people, making me the most adorable drug dealer in New York" to kick off today's UCBT celebration of 4/20: John Flynn: Baked!

[FREE] 5:30 pm: Stand-up, sketch, and music from Summer & Eve, Andy Beckerman, Jason Saenz, and more celebrating 4/20 at the UCB East Hot Chicks Room Bar hosted by Hunter Nelson and Joel Weidl (no really, that's his name): Seeds and Stems

[DISCOUNTED] 5:30 pm ($4 online using code WALLSTREET; no min.): If you'd care to catch an early comedy club show for a super-low $4 price (with no drink minimum), this one features superb improv singer Rebecca Vigil (The Vigilante), Jimmy Failla (cab driver turned stand-up; podcast Follow That Car), and more performing at The Stand Comedy Club (239 Third Avenue & 20th Street): That Comedy Show

6:00 pm ($5): Improv troupes Red, Wando, and 4Some performing at The Magnet to kick off your Saturday evening: The Rundown

7:00 pm ($5): "Similar to regular Indie Cage Match, but...you know." Improv troupes not affiliated with any comedy school compete at UCB East for audience laughs and votes—and the privilege to go on to perform at the primary Cage Match show at UCB Chelsea—in this show hosted by the delightful Amey Goerlich & Ryan Karels (Krompf): Stoned Indie Cage Match

7:00 pm ($8): PIT students selected at random mix it up with improv veterans at The PIT upstairs theatre: The Draft

7:30 pm ($10): Improv powerhouses Charlie Todd, Jim Santangeli, Natasha Rothwell, and more at UCB Chelsea interview an audience member about where he or she grew up and then "turn that town's tourist attractions, landmarks, hangouts, local celebrities, urban legends, and more into a hilarious show made up on the spot:" The Curfew: Not From Around Here

7:30 pm ($10): Sharp Magnet improvisors "perform organic freeform improvisation in two mind-blowing parts; the only rule is that there are no rules:" The Weave

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): NYC comics Ted Travelstead, Stuckey & Murray, Adam Newman, Jenny Rubin, Andy Friedman, Bob Powers, and Lisa Delarios "sharing jokes written under the influence of 4/20, jokes they thought were funnier when they were high, weed-related humor, and/or just absurdity that would appeal to the pothead in us all" performing at Brooklyn's Union Hall for a show hosted by Jon Friedman: The Rejection Show: 4/20 Edition

[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($7 online using code WALLSTREET; no min.): Nikki Glaser (co-star of MTV's The Nikki and Sara Show; Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Last Comic Standing; podcast You Had to Be There), Big Jay Oakerson (Comedy Central Presents, HBO, Showtime, MTV, IFC), Sherrod Small (writer/performer on TBS' Are We There Yet?, Comedy Central, VH1), Dan Soder (Comedy Central, VH1; for set about being a hypochondriatic drug user, please click here), and William Stephenson (FX's Louie, The Chris Rock Show) performing stand-up at The Stand Comedy Club (239 Third Avenue & 20th Street): Nikki Glaser, Big Jay Oakerson, Sherrod Small, Dan Soder, and More

8:00 pm ($8): All-gal sketch/improv troupe Vacation hosts a variety show with female sketch comics and stand-ups performing at The PIT upstairs theatre: Lady Business

[FREE] 8:00 pm: "Want to see your favorite stand-up comics get slapped by Satan himself? He only hosts bringer shows, but join Matt Wayne and Doug Smith as they step into the Big Man's shoes and put NYC's finest through comedy purgatory. Hula-hoops, celebrity impressions, unwanted audience participation, all incorporated into each performance! Will they triumph or will the nether world eat their souls? Come see for yourself in this monthly showcase" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre: See You in Hell

[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($10): UCBT improv troupe Airwolf—which includes such talents as John Frusciante, Molly Lloyd, Tim Martin, and Emily Axford, and last year crushed 15 improv groups in Cage Match, entirely owns the UCB East stage tonight—and add a special spin for 4/20—at Airwolf: Let's Get High at Your Place

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—with honors including being Cage Match Champion for three years in a row, and winning the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Improv Group—UCB Chelsea's genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo

9:00 pm ($10): Magnet improvisors team up with poets at Kiss*Punch*Poem

[$] 9:30 pm ($15): "A cabaret of darkly funny songs and topical sketch comedy about culture and politics," following sold out shows at Joe's Pub and now enjoying a long run at The PIT upstairs theatre: Political Subversities

[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($10): UCBT Artistic Director Nate Dern, Zhubin Parang (writer for The Daily Show), Tracey Wigfield (writer for 30 Rock), Michael Kayne (Baby Wants Candy, Diamond Lion), Aaron Jackson (Newsadoozies), and more form an improv troupe at UCB Chelsea that won this year's prestigious Cage Match championship by springboarding scenes off interviewing an audience member, normally about his or her love life—only tonight for 4/20 it'll instead be an interview about what great lengths some audience member underwent to get high: What I Did For Drugs

[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] 10:00 pm ($7 online using code WALLSTREET; no min.): Nikki Glaser (co-star of MTV's The Nikki and Sara Show; Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Last Comic Standing; podcast You Had to Be There), Russ Meneve (Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno), Big Jay Oakerson (Comedy Central Presents, HBO, Showtime, MTV, IFC), Dan Soder (Comedy Central, VH1; for set about being a hypochondriatic drug user, please click here), and William Stephenson (FX's Louie, The Chris Rock Show) performing stand-up at The Stand Comedy Club (239 Third Avenue & 20th Street): Nikki Glaser, Russ Meneve, Big Jay Oakerson, Dan Soder, and More

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

10:30 pm ($10): Improvisors Rick Andrews and Brason Reese team with Nick Kanellis for one night only at The Magnet to form comedy trio Trike

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): At UCB Chelsea, improv troupe Grandma's Ashes—which includes stellar talents Ryan Karels, Morgan Grace Jarrett, Brandon Scott Jones, and more—promises to "take your stories of the tragic and depraved and scatter them into laughter:" Grandma's Ashes Gets Dark

11:00 pm ($10): Sketch comedy from a troupe born in a Boston college and tonight performing at The PIT upstairs theatre: Astronaut Theatre

[TOP PICK] 11:30 ($5): Amber Nelson (fearless, innovative rising star; Comedy Central; sketch troupe The Prom, co-host of The Dream Show), Selena Coppock (author of new book The New Rules for Blondes), Aaron Glaser (Jimmy Fallon, Funny or Die), Taylor Ketchum, and Nick Naney share true-life longish funny tales revolving around weed at this UCB East mashup of stand-up and storytelling hosted by Alison Leiby: It's a Long Story: 4/20 Edition

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): Improv is dominated by guys...and for no good reason. A way to help remedy this situation are shows like this one, which is an open improv jam for any gal wanting to participate, at any experience level. This monthly UCB Chelsea event is helmed by the wonderful Shannon O'Neill (breathtakingly innovative, lighting-quick, and fearless improvisor/sketch comic and rising star; The Chris Gethard Show, The Stepfathers, ASSSSCAT 3000, Strangers Wanted, Ladies Night): The Lady Jam

[DISCOUNTED] Midnight ($7 online using code WALLSTREET; no min.): Big Jay Oakerson (Comedy Central Presents, HBO, Showtime, MTV, IFC), Maddog Mattern (Sirius Radio, Howard Stern TV; to see Maddog handle a heckler, please click here), and more performing stand-up at The Stand Comedy Club (239 Third Avenue & 20th Street): Big Jay Oakerson, Maddog Mattern, and More

Midnight ($5—or free if you show up in a costume): "A scandalous night of down-right-sexy improv at The PIT downstairs lounge. Incorrigible performers team up to turn down the lights, slip into something a little more comfortable, and spend the good part of an hour tickling your funny boners. Beware of partial nudity, strong sexual themes, and the possibility to be dragged on stage for a not-so-wholesome game of Truth or Dare:" Yes, Yes, Yes...And

NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 4/21/13

Three of my favorite multi-talented actresses: Jessica Sherr performs at 8:00 in PIT improv troupe The Jessicas,
Lauren Olson (also in red) performs at 9:30 in Magnet sketch troupe Risky Bottom...

...and Sasheer Zamata performs stand-up at 9:00 in Brooklyn with Todd Barry at Hannibal Buress' Comedy NIght

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] 4:00 pm: An unusually early walk-in open mic stand-up show at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' Long Island City: Face-Plant Comedy Showcase

[FREE] 5:00 pm: A smorgasbord of of stand-up, comedic music, comedic dance, sketch, and more at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Chris O'Neil: Mishmash Variety Hour (and a Half)

[FREE] 5:30 pm: Open-mic stand-up, with 3 minutes per comic (unless not many folks show up, in which case there'll be more time), with names drawn out of a bucket at UCB East in the bar area ("Hot Chicks Room") hosted by Emmy Blotnick, Matt Nedostup, and/or Sachi Ezurafor: Sledgehammer

6:00 pm ($5): Open-mic stand-up that includes professional feedback on each comic's 5-minute set at Queens LIC's Laughing Devil Comedy Club (4738 Vernon Blvd.): Mic-Shop: Open Mic Workshop

6:30 pm ($5): Top teachers and performers at The Magnet "gather to bring you the most grounded, organic, and simplified scenes ever...you're going to think you paid more to see this show, or you'll think you died and went to some hilarious way station on the road to Heaven. Students and improv lovers are strongly encouraged to attend:" Whizbang

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($8): Veteran Chicago-trained improvisors who now live in NYC gather to make stuff up with visiting star improvisor Tim Chidester at The PIT upstairs theatre: ChicagoOldStyle

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

[FREE] 7:30 pm: Sketch, improv, and more at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City from comedy troupe Froduce

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($7): In this new musical improv show at The Magnet, a narrator tells a story (fueled by audience suggestions) and then improvisors bring the tale to life with song and dance, plus improv piano playing by the invaluable Frank Spitznagel: The Narrator

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($8): Four storytellers—David Crabb (host of The Moth, co-host of Ask Me Stories), Kati Tikkanen, Sara Jonsson, and Rhonda Underwood—tells tales on this month's theme That's Embarrassing, and then hosts Anna Roisman & Katie Haller sing songs they've written pre-show about those stories, at The PIT upstairs theatre: You Probably Think This Song Is About You

[$] 8:00 pm ($14 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Colin Quinn (SNL, Comedy Central's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, HBO, NBC, Broadway), Tom Papa (host of Jerry Seinfeld-produced NBC comedy The Marriage Ref; numerous appearances on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno; three Comedy Central specials), Owen Smith (HBO, Comedy Central, writer & performer on Everybody Hates Chris), Godfrey (Comedy Central Presents, Louie, 30 Rock, VH1; films Zoolander, Original Gangsters, Soul Plane; 7 Up Yours ads), and Jeff Lamp (Jay Leno) performing at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Ardie Fuqua (HBO'S Bad Boys of Comedy, Comedy Central): Colin Quinn, Tom Papa, and More

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Storytelling from the wonderful Leslie Goshko (WNYC, Sirius XM, Huffington Post, host of Sideshow Goshko), music from the irresistible Camille Harris ((rising star singer/sketch comic/cutie; featured player on The Moon Show, co-host of My High School Boyfriend Was Gay), and stand-up from Mike Recine, Bryson Turner, and Christian Polanco performing in Brooklyn's Park Slope Beauty Bar (249 Fifth Avenue) for this free monthly hosted by Charla Lauriston & Meg Ferrill: Show Show

8:00 pm ($5): Kendra Cunningham (Jimmy Fallon, The Tyra Banks Show, Law & Order), Adam Newman (Comedy Central, MTV, College Humor, host of Big Long Sets), Joe Zimmerman (The Beards of Comedy), Andy Sandford, Jake Young, and Gilbert Lawand performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Kara Klenk: If You Build It

8:00 pm ($8): Improv from troupe The Jessicas, which features three gals named Jessica —including the delightful Jessica Sherr (Bettie Davis Ain't for Sissies, The Great Gatsby); and in the other half of this double-bill, five-guy improv troupe Herschel which includes no one with that name, all making stuff up at The PIT downstairs lounge: The Jessicas and Herschel

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Claudia Cogan (Last Comic Standing, MTV, Logo, here! TV), Kevin Barnett (MTV's Guy Code, Comedy Central, Sleepwalk With Me, College Humor), Kaytlin Bailey (Pink Collar Comedy Tour), Liam McEneaney (Comedy Central, VH1's Best Week Ever, Showtime, host of Tell Your Friends), and more performing at the Three of Cups lounge (83 First Avenue at 5th Street) hosted by RG Daniels: Sunday Night Stand-Up

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($7): Todd Barry (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, FX's Louie, HBO's Flight of the Conchords and Bored to Death, Adult Swim, feature films The Wrestler and Pete Smalls is Dead), Sasheer Zamata (highly charming, innovative rising star; Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer, FX's Totally Biased; host of UCBT's School Night, member of red-hot improv troupe Doppelganger, sketch troupe The Prom, and Harold Night troupe Bucky), and Azhar Usman performing stand-up, plus music from Calez, at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Avenue) hosted by the wonderful Hannibal Buress (former staff writer for 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live; David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon, Louie, The Eric Andre Show, host of Comedy Night, one-hour Comedy Central special Animal Furnace): Comedy Night

[FREE] 9:00 pm: Sasheer Zamata (highly charming, innovative rising star; Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer, FX's Totally Biased; host of UCBT's School Night, member of red-hot improv troupe Doppelganger, sketch troupe The Prom, and Harold Night troupe Bucky), Max Boyajian, Chris Jurek, and Gilbert Law performing stand-up in the East Village's Beauty Bar for this free weekly show hosted by Adam Sokol, Brad Austin, and/or Nate Fridson: Comedy at Beauty Bar

9:00 pm ($5): Improv veterans Brandon Gardner, Chelsea Clarke, Phillip Jackson, and/or Steve Theiss hosting & performing in a show at UCB East with guest improvisors: Improv Nerds

9:30 pm ($7): Sketch comedy at The Magnet, tonight from troupes Risky Bottom (which includes one of my favorite comics, Lauren Olson) and Jacktown: Magnet Sketch Teams

9:30 pm ($8): Improv that may involve future robot wars and dragons at The PIT upstairs theatre from troupes Family Haircut and Rocksteady

[ALMOST FREE] 9:30 pm ($1): Open-mic stand-up, with four minutes per comic, at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Molly Austin & Mike Brown: Vicious Cycle

[FREE] 10:00 pm: The only open-stage show for entire groups of improvisors and sketch comics, running weekly at UCB East hosted by Austin Rodrigues: Bring Your Own Team: Improv/Sketch Team Jam

[FREE] 10:45 pm: Open-mic show for sketch and character bits running 3-5 minutes at The Magnet hosted by Sebastian Conelli. Everyone who signs up—at 10:30 pm at the box office—is likely to get onstage: Sketch in Progress

NYC Comedy Picks for Tonight

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