NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 4/8/13
Stellar comics Ted Travelstead (top author), Mark Normand (opens
for Amy Schumer), and more perform
in Brooklyn
to
celebrate
Brooke Van Poppelen's & Giulia Rozzi's Second Anniversary of
Dive Comedy...
...while improvisors at The Magnet make up scenes based on The Walking Dead
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' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue) 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
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): A monthly storytelling show from the wonderful Adam Wade (two-time Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Champion (2006 & 2009) and record-breaking 15-time StorySlam Champion; The New York Times Magazine; host of Real Tales of College; for Adam's award-winning tale of being an NBC page on Conan O'Brien, please click here) featuring guest storyteller Jim O'Grady (The New York Times, WNYC Radio, Moth GrandSlam Champion) at Under St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place, off First Avenue): The Adam Wade from New Hampshire Show: Tales of Life, Love, and Little League
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
[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] 8:00 pm ($5): Brilliant improvisor Ellena Chmielewski proves herself to also be a brilliant comedic writer, and a young, fresh voice about relationships, in this mini-play about modern romance at UCB Chelsea she co-wrote with John Zachary Towsend, and that holds the seeds for a longer commercial stage production and/or a series on a network like MTV. Come enjoy watching the foundation of a promising career at one of the best-scripted shows to grace UCBT in a while (and if you know Ellena, urge her to star or co-star in her next production, because she's a gifted performer too): Standards & Practices...
...and in the second half of this UCB Chelsea double-bill, young talents—gay and otherwise—put on a meta-musical spoofing Broadway musicals of the future that's hit-or-miss, but fun overall: The 2017 Tony Awardz: A Parody of Musical Proportions
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($12 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Nick DiPaolo (star stand-up, with numerous appearances on David Letterman, Jay Leno, Louie; Emmy-nominated comedy writer, talk show host), 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), Lynne Koplitz (Joan Know's Best, IFC's Z Rock, host of WB's Life & Style), Godfrey (Comedy Central Presents, Louie, 30 Rock, VH1; films Zoolander, Original Gangsters, Soul Plane; 7 Up Yours ads), Sam Morril (Comedy Central), and Jeff Lamp (Jay Leno) performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Turae: Nick DiPaolo, Tom Papa, Lynne Koplitz, and More
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($8 at the door or $9.47 online): Kate Berlant (MTV, CNN, host of Crime & Punishment, notable hair), Seaton Smith (Opie & Anthony Virus Tour), Kara Klenk (Comedy Central, Spike, Nickelodeon; host of If You Bring It), Alex Koll (Comedy Central), and Lesley Tsina (HBO) 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
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Kicking off this double-bill at UCB East is ace director Todd Bieber (razor-sharp Director of Content & Production for UCBComedy.com) "cutting down a film to 25 minutes, removing its audio, and adding our own music and audio cues live, and dialogue live via improvisors," with this month's performers most of the members of Sandino: Rewrite Movie Night...
...and then UCBT house manager and tech guy supreme Pat Baer hosts a show about the very medium you're using to read this, with tonight's guest Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan (amazing human boombox; The Daily Show, The Electric Company, Freestyle Love Supreme, co-host of The BEATdown): 404ing It: Breaking (Down) the Internet
[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($5): "Police officer Rick Grimes leads a group of improvisers in a world overrun by zombies" at The Magnet theatre: Walking Dead Improv
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: Two Year Anniversary Show!, with Ted Travelstead (brilliant, hilarious writer/comic; Vanity Fair, author of The Petraeus Files and Sex: Our Bodies, Our Junk), Mark Normand (hilarious stand-up; Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central; co-host of Hot Soup and We're All Friends Here), Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, CNN, TBS, host of ComedyJuice), Katina Corrao (HBO, Logo), and Allison Castillo (HBO, Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, FOX) performing stand-up, plus music from Cody Westphal, at Brooklyn's Freddy's Bar (627 Fifth Avenue; take R subway to Prospect Avenue) for this free biweekly show hosted by 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) and Giulia Rozzi (Jimmy Kimmel, MTV, VH1, Playgirl Magazine, co-host of Stripped Stories): Dive Comedy
[FREE] 9:00 pm: Adam Newman (Comedy Central, MTV, College Humor, comedy CD Not for Horses), Seaton Smith (Opie & Anthony Virus Tour), Leah Bonnema (VH1, WeTV's Cinematherapy, Logo, Opie & Anthony’s Virus Channel), and Damien Lemon (MTV2's Guy Code, Comedy Central) performing 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
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Two UCB Chelsea house sketch troupes try out new material: Fambly (which includes wonderful rising stars Bridey Elliott, Mamrie Hart, Dan Chamberlain, Veronica Osorio, and a sharp crew of writers) and Bellevue (which I plan to finally catch soon): Maude Night: Fambly & Bellevue
[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' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue): On the Road
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
[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($5): Twelve improv comics who are "friends of Dorothy" perform at The Magnet hosted by Andrew Fafoutakis: There's No Place Like Home: A GLBTQ Event
[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($12 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Amy Schumer (one of the very finest stand-ups in the country; star of Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer; Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Presents, Last Comic Standing, 30 Rock), Nick Griffin (David Letterman, Jay Leno, Comedy Central Presents), Lenny Marcus (David Letterman, MTV), Wil Sylvince (Comedy Central, BET's Comic View), Dan Soder (Comedy Central, VH1; for set about being a hypochondriatic drug user, please click here), Modi (HBO's The Sopranos, Comedy Central), and Phil Hanley (Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central) performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Turae: Amy Schumer, Nick Griffin, and More
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
[FREE] 10:30 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
[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
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 4/9/13
Catch an advance screening of a new dark comedy film starring Julia
Stiles and David Cross
for only $5 at UCB East: It's a Disaster
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 ($5): The screening of comedy film It's a Disaster starring David Cross, Julia Stiles, and America Ferrera a week before it's official release—and for only $5—at UCB East, which was previously an indie movie theatre: It's a Disaster
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm-Midnight ($7 for the whole evening): In this 5-hour extravaganza, five of The Magnet's singing & dancing improv troupes make up a musical on the spot based on an audience suggestion: Fisticuffs and BEEES! (at 7:00), Aquarius and Legend (at 8:00); and Mint Condition (at 9:00); followed at 10:15 by a free show that lets audience members join in with veteran musical improvisors to make up stories in song: Magnet Musical Megawatt
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:00 pm: Frank Barbiere (writer of Image Comics' Five Ghosts and Dark Horse Comics' Blackout) 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
[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 Lucas Hazlett (Homeless Guy) and host Jake Hart: The Dump
7:00 pm ($5): A variety show mixing sketch, stand-up, music, and improv (sadly, guests not announced) at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by all-gal improv troupe Gypsy: The Mélange
7:30 pm-9:15 pm ($5): Long form improv known as The Harold from UCB Chelsea house troupes Rocks, A Sparrow, and The Regulars at this first half of Harold Night
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($8): The debut of a sketch comedy troupe that includes Keisha Zollar (Doppelganger, host of The Soul Glo Jam, Andy Kaufman Award finalist) at The PIT upstairs theatre: Slap Fight
[$] 8:00 pm ($12 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Nick DiPaolo (star stand-up, with numerous appearances on David Letterman, Jay Leno, Louie; Emmy-nominated comedy writer, talk show host), Gregg Rogell (Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Louie, Comedy Central), Lynne Koplitz (Joan Know's Best, IFC's Z Rock, host of WB's Life & Style), Godfrey (Comedy Central Presents, Louie, 30 Rock, VH1; films Zoolander, Original Gangsters, Soul Plane; 7 Up Yours ads), Keith Robinson (HBO, Comedy Central, Wanda Sykes Show), and Jeff Lamp (Jay Leno) performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Wil Sylvince (Comedy Central, BET's Comic View): Nick DiPaolo, Gregg Rogell, Lynne Koplitz, and More
8:00 pm ($5): Jermaine Fowler (MTV’s Guy Code, Comedy Central, Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show), Jeffrey Joseph (Jay Leno, HBO, FOX's In Living Color, Comedy Central), Selena Coppock (author of upcoming book The New Rules for Blondes), RG Daniels (MTV, host of Sunday Night Stand-Up), and Alex Koll (Comedy Central) performing stand-up at Brooklyn's Union Hall for this show hosted by Calvin Cole & Sharron Paul that calls attention to its inexpensive price: Cheap Date
8:00 pm (no cover, 1 drink min.): Mark Normand (hilarious stand-up; Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central; co-host of Hot Soup and We're All Friends Here), Kara Klenk (Comedy Central, Spike, Nickelodeon; host of If You Bring It), Kara Klenk (Comedy Central, Spike, Nickelodeon; host of If You Bring It), Greg Johnson (Sirius Radio host), Aaron Glaser (Jimmy Fallon, Funny or Die), Robert Dean, and George Gordon performing stand-up, with this week's theme Weekend at Bernie's, at Sidewalk NYC (94 Avenue A) produced by Chenoa Estrada, Emily Heller, and George Gordon, and hosted tonight by Emily Heller (Comedy Central, FX's Totally Biased; for ruminations on pregnancy, please click here) and Josh Gondelman: The Afterlife: Weekend at Bernie's
8:00 pm ($5): Christine Holt & Mary Guiteras tend bar for a living, then let off steam by performing improv at The PIT downstairs lounge where they unleash the secrets they've heard: Bartenders
[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
[FREE] 8:30 pm: Typically sharp NYC stand-ups (for an update, please click here) 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 ($5): 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), Adam Newman (Comedy Central, MTV, College Humor, comedy CD Not for Horses), and Phil Hanley (Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central) performing at The Slipper Room (167 Orchard Street) hosted by Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet
[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not yet announced, but for an update please click here) performing at this weekly show at Brooklyn's The Alligator Lounge (600 Metropolitan Avenue) hosted by Sean Donnelly, Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Dean, and/or Steve O'Brien: Comedy at Alligator Lounge
9:15 pm-Midnight ($5): Long form improv known as The Harold from UCB Chelsea house troupes Sherlock & Cookies, GoodGirl, and Bucky—plus 16 advanced improv students perform in the round and focus on making great use of the theatre space in Intimacy Issues: The Roundhouse—at this second half (continued from 7:30 pm) of Harold Night
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Brilliantly innovative Anthony Atamanuik (Death by Roo Roo, 30 Rock, Conan O'Brien, The Nights of Our Lives) plays a different character each week, working from a loose premise and improvising as he goes along. Tonight "Tony is sick, so he's phoning the show in—literally, he's phoning in from home; but through the miracle of live video Tony will be your virtual host keeping the stage germ free,"plus stand-up guests Matt Koff (Onion News Network, WitStream) and Brian Frange performing stand-up, and producer Andy Rocco, all at the UCB East theatre: The Tony Show: Tony's Dying
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): "Improvised one-acts in the style of prominent playwrights and genres, spontaneously generating an original and hilarious work of instantly important theater right before your eyes" at The PIT upstairs theatre: The Improvised Play
[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($12 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Killer lineup of Amy Schumer (one of the very finest stand-ups in the country; star of Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer; Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Presents, Last Comic Standing, 30 Rock, great new DVD/CD Amy Schumer: Mostly Sex Stuff), 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), Nick Griffin (David Letterman, Jay Leno, Comedy Central Presents), Phil Hanley (Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central), Dan Soder (Comedy Central, VH1; for set about being a hypochondriatic drug user, please click here), Sherrod Small (writer/performer on TBS' Are We There Yet?, Comedy Central, VH1), and Andrew Schulz (MTV2's Guy Code) performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Wil Sylvince (Comedy Central, BET's Comic View): Amy Schumer, Dave Attell, Nick Griffin, 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
[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 4/10/13
Peter Grosz teaches you about food and life in Recipe For Success with Chef Michael Denardi
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 (please note this Monday show has, as of tonight, permanently moved to Wednesdays): 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
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] 7:00 pm to midnight: Five free hours of improvisation at The PIT upstairs theatre: Super Free Wednesday
7:00 pm-12:30 am ($7 for the entire evening): Magnet house troupes Dr. Champagne, Nintendo, Chet Watkins, Brick, Horses, Featherweight, Flower Girl, and Bloomer, followed by a free audience interactive show with Bloomer at 11:30 pm: The Magnet's Megawatt
7:00 pm ($5): Mike Brown performs a relatively rare form of improvisation—a one-man show—at The PIT downstairs lounge (or you can see it via live streaming here): Mike Brown Solo Improv Extravaganza
[$] 7:00 pm ($20 plus two-drink min. for this charity event): Carmen Lynch (David Letterman, Last Comic Standing finalist, Comedy Central), Keith Alberstadt (David Letterman, VH1, contributor to SNL's Weekend Update), Kendra Cunningham (Jimmy Fallon, The Tyra Banks Show, Law & Order), and Bob Levy (Howard Stern) performing stand-up and raising funds for animals at The Stand Comedy Club (239 Third Avenue & 20th Street): Animal Rescue Fundraiser
7:30 pm ($5): Expanding the UCB longform improv showcased on Harold Night is this weekly show at UCB East which tonight features troupes Bloody Mary and Graceland: Lloyd Night
[TOP PICK] 8:00 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
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Lizz Winstead (Comedy Central Presents, The Daily Show, Air America), Aparna Nancherla (delightfully wry stand-up; writer for FX's Totally Biased), Giulia Rozzi (Jimmy Kimmel, MTV, VH1, Playgirl Magazine, co-host of Dive comedy and Stripped Stories), Jason Saenz (sketch troupe Onassis, co-host of Late Night Trash), Jono Zolay, and Sam Grittner performing stand-up at McSwiggan's (393 Second Avenue off 23rd Street) hosted by Selena Coppock (author of upcoming book The New Rules for Blondes): Connotation: Lizz Winstead, Aparna Nancherla, Giulia Rozzi, and More
[FREE] 8:00 pm: 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) hosts this MTV-sponsored stand-up showcase featuring Jamie Lee (Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, MTV's Ridiculousness, VH1), Andy Sandford, Joyelle Johnson, Matt Nedostup, Greg Stone, and Dave & Ethan performing at The Studio at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street, between 3rd and 4th Avenues) hosted by Team Submarine: MTV Comedy Showcase
8:00 pm ($5): "Jinkies! The Groovy Gang is up to their old tricks in this long-form improvisational comedy. Join your favorite band of teen sleuths, and their talking alligator drummer Chompers, as they solve yet another spooky mystery" from improv troupe IRTE and director Pat Shay at The PIT downstairs lounge (or you can see it via live streaming here): IRTE: The Groovy Gang Adventures
[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' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue), hosted by Chris Laker: The Show
[FREE] 8:00 pm: Open-mic free speech at this monthly show that dates back to 1755 London providing five minutes per person on any topic at the Three of Cups lounge (83 First Avenue at 5th Street) hosted by Nat Towsen (co-host of The Moon Show) and tonight featuring John Knefel (co-host of the Radio Dispatch podcast): Cogers: Debate Night New York
[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($5): Bridey Elliott (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Witstream, Fambly), Ben Kronberg (Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central Half Hour, MTV, ABC), Kate Berlant (MTV, CNN, host of Crime & Punishment, notable hair), David Agyekum, Malwina, Gazebo Flax, and Sharkee Katz performing stand-up, music, and who knows what else at Brooklyn's The Silent Barn (603 Bushwick Avenue; take J/M subway to Myrtle Avenue...or, if you don't mind a long walk, the L subway to Morgan Avenue): Comedy Dreamz
[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: Joe List (HBO, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), Phil Hanley (Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central), Luis Gomez (Comedy Central's Funaticos), Joe Harrington, Brian Jian, and Drew Michael 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?
9:15 pm ($8): Music from Downward Dogs, stand-up from Jon Savoy, and sketch from Dinner for One, Marina & Nico, and FUCT, all performing at Under St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place, off First Avenue) hosted by Nathan Macintosh: April Sketch Block
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): "Jonathan Blank and Samara Doucette say what everyone else thinks on dates, but never says; so join them and guest comedians as they divulge all of their wildest and most embarrassing dating stories. This monthly storytelling show contains the truth and nothing but the truth, but most of the stories are more surreal than if David Lynch directed romantic comedies. Everything from wild hookups to emotional breakups are on the table." Tonight's storytelling guests are David Crabb (co-host of Ask Me Stories) and Jack Perry at The PIT downstairs lounge (or you can see it via live streaming here): This is Awkward: True Stories of of Love, Lust, and Lubrication
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): The comics who train, teach, and perform at UCB-NY are among the finest improvisors in the world. The UCB Touring Company consists of the cream of the crop, with the mission of showing audiences beyond those visiting UCB's theatres in NYC and LA what improv is all about. For just this evening, however, the traveling troupe—which tonight is slated to include Brandon Scott Jones, John Murray, and Silvija Ozols—will be strutting its stuff on the UCB Chelsea stage: UCB TourCo All-Stars
[TOP PICK] [$] 9:45 pm ($14 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Amy Schumer (one of the very finest stand-ups in the country; star of Comedy Central's Inside Amy Schumer; Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Presents, Last Comic Standing, 30 Rock, great new DVD/CD Amy Schumer: Mostly Sex Stuff), 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) Gregg Rogell (Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Louie, Comedy Central), Sherrod Small (writer/performer on TBS' Are We There Yet?, Comedy Central, VH1), and Dan Naturman (David Letterman, Jay Leno) performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Mike Yard (Comedy Central, Def Comedy Jam): Amy Schumer, Hannibal Buress, Gregg Rogell, and More
[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—Jared Logan, Mike Lawrence, Mark Normand, Dan. St. Germain, Pat Dixon, Emily Heller, Michael Che, Joe List, 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 include three talented and extremely likeable gal comics: JC Coccoli, Veronica Osorio, and Ashley Brooke Roberts. (For the complete lineup, please click 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 $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night
[FREE] 11:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up running until 1:00 am, with time divided evenly between performers (up to five minutes), at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue) with host Rob Stern: Bucket 'O Buckets
[FREE] 11:00 pm: Your opportunity to perform on the stage of UCB East with improv veterans, hosted by UCBT Harold Night house troupe Grandma's Ashes: The Improv Jam
[$] 11:30 pm ($10 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Uncensored stand-up from Big Jay Oakerson (Comedy Central Presents, HBO, Showtime, MTV, IFC), Wil Sylvince (Comedy Central, BET's Comic View), Dan Soder (Comedy Central, VH1; for set about being a hypochondriatic drug user, please click here), Turae (Comedy Central), and Mike Vecchione (Last Comic Standing, Howard Stern) performing at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Mike Yard (Comedy Central, Def Comedy Jam): The Nasty Show: Big Jay Oakerson, Wil Sylvince, Dan Soder, and More
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 4/11/13
Selena Coppock, author of upcoming book The
New Rules for Blondes,
tells stories tonight
at
Oh, Hey Guys!
and then performs stand-up at
Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting
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: Selena Coppock (author of upcoming book The New Rules for Blondes) is tonight's guest co-host for 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
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
6:30 pm ($5): Two shows I know nothing about audition for a spot on the schedule of the prestigious UCB Chelsea stage—Aaron & Brian Present Erik Dies, You're Stupid And We Hate You and Why We Broke Up: Spank
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 The Boss to make up scenes on the spot: Magnet Mixer
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): Terrific lineup of 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), Mike Drucker (hilarious stand-up; staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; freelance writer for SNL, The Onion, McSweeney's), Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, CNN, TBS, host of ComedyJuice), and Myka Fox (Comical Radio) performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Sean Crespo, Dan Wilbur, and Katina Corrao: Lasers in the Jungle
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): An impressive sketch double-bill at UCB Chelsea for just five bucks. First up is four-gal comedy group Georgie Aldaco, Danielle Gibson, Viviana Olen, and Katie Simon performing a series of surreal sketches that are both unsettling and charged with comedic energy. A long bit about a mother threatening to do something surprising to her husband and son is an instant classic (when you see it, you'll have no doubt what sketch I'm talking about...). The show could be greatly improved with periodic nuanced emotion to create a roller coaster effect—right now the audience is hit with surface shock after shock, which after a while desensitizes and loses impact—but if you're open to the purity of conceptual comedy that challenges your sanity, you'll enjoy Former Business Partners: Everything Must Go...
...and in the second half of this double-treat, "all of the badass-ness of a baddass action film brought to you live on stage" by some of UCBT's finest talents: Brandon Gulya (writer/co-star), Brandon Scott Jones, Leslie Meisel, Kristen Acimovic, Eddie Dunn, Tim Martin, and Evan Greenspoon (co-writer) in a sketch comedy that proclaims "First they broke his town. Then they broke his heart. But there's one thing they'll never break—his gun!" I haven't yet caught this, but it sounds great: The Unbreakable Gun
[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($10 online with code MILK; no min.): Judah Friedlander (one of the quickest minds in comedy; 30 Rock, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly, author of How to Beat Up Anybody), Sara Schaefer (inventive, luminous comic; co-star of MTV's The Nikki and Sara Show; Emmy-nominated staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; VH1's Best Week Ever; co-host of hit podcast You Had to Be There), Joe Matarese (David Letterman, Chelsea Lately, Comedy Central Presents, Bravo, IFC), Sam Morril (Comedy Central), Sean Donnelly (MTV, FOX News; host of many shows), and Jeff Lawrence performing stand-up at The Stand Comedy Club (239 Third Avenue & 20th Street): Judah Friedlander, Sara Schaefer, Joe Matarese, and More
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($14 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Judah Friedlander (one of the quickest minds in comedy; 30 Rock, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly, author of How to Beat Up Anybody), Jermaine Fowler (MTV’s Guy Code, Comedy Central, Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show), Keith Robinson (HBO, Comedy Central, Wanda Sykes Show), Phil Hanley (Craig Ferguson, Comedy Central), DC Benny (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, ABC's The Unusuals), and Turaw performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Lynne Koplitz (Joan Know's Best, IFC's Z Rock, host of WB's Life & Style): Judah Friedlander, Jermaine Fowler, and More
[TOP PICK] [$] 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-MIdnight ($7 for the entire evening): The Magnet house troupes The Boss, Junior Varsity, The Wrath, 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 ($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
[FREE] 8:00 pm: This weekly show features "a swarthy selection of fine stand-up comics and mildly entertaining recurring segments" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre, hosted by Jim Tews & Brendan Eyre: Chest Hair
[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): NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing at UCB East hosted by Adam Conover and/or Emily Heller: Fresh Out
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Daring dark comedy gal duo Leah Rudick & Katie Hartman (Edinburgh Fringe Festival, FringeNYC) return to The PIT upstairs theatre to create fresh sketch comedy every month, with tonight's guests stand-up Selena Coppock (author of upcoming book The New Rules for Blondes) and Cocoon Central Dance Team: Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Improvisors make up one-act plays on the spot at The PIT downstairs lounge, produced by Dan Hodapp & Micah Sherman: The Scene
[FREE] 9:30 pm: This musical comedy variety show tonight features 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), Evan Forde Barden, Dave Bluvband, Kiki Tarkhan, Kim Brown, Matt Dennie, Hao Lian, Shaun Diston, and more performing at The Triple Crown Alehouse & Restaurant (330 7th Avenue, between 28th and 29th Streets) hosted by Betsy Kenney: Matt & Betsy Do Music
9:30 pm ($5): If you're a fan of CollegeHumor.com, you can see the folks behind it plus like-minded comics on the UCB Chelsea stage—tonight including Abbi Crutchfield (Broad City), Dan Gurewitch, and Jake & Amir: CollegeHumor Live
[FREE] 10:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (lineup not announced) performing at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Justin Williams: Death Comedy Jam
[TOP PICK] [$] 10:30 pm ($5 & 2-item food/drink min.) Comics heckle a genre feature film—with tonight's victim the RIchard Pryor & Billy Dee Williams 1970 war disaster Black Brigade (for a 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): I missed last week's show so don't know exactly what happened, but somehow star Improv troupe The Law Firm not only defeated but crushed fellow star improv troupe The Stepfathers by a decisive vote tally of 106-49. Odds are the litigators will extract all the blood tonight from challenger Bloody Mary—but you can never tell what will happen at UCB Chelsea when improvisors compete for your laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Storytelling and carny join forces to bring the blog And I Am Not Lying to life on stage, hosted by Jeff Simmermon (NPR's This American Life), and tonight featuring 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), Brad Lawrence (Moth GrandSlam Champion), plus burlesque by Cherry Pitz (a.k.a. Cyndi Freeman; Moth StorySlam champion, two-time FringeNYC award winner) and Fern Appeal, all at the UCB East theatre: And I Am Not Lying
11:00 pm ($10): At The PIT upstairs theatre, Micah Sherman (The Scene), Dan Hirshon (Heromakers), and Alex Gallafent (SkyCopter) perform a reading of their new sketch comedy album: Lampshade Ottomans
[FREE] 11:00 pm: An open mic show that's first come, first serve, with each comic getting 3-5 minutes on stage at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue) hosted by Josh Alba: Mic and Cheese
[TOP PICK] [$] Midnight ($14 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), Paul Mecurio (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents), Jon Fisch (David Letterman, Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, VH1), Kurt Metzger (Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Presents, Ugly Americans), and Chris Distefano (Comedy Central, MTV2's Guy Code) performing at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Big Jay Oakerson (Comedy Central Presents, HBO, Showtime, MTV, IFC): The Nasty Show: Dave Attell, Paul Mecurio, Jon Fisch, and More
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 4/12/13
Jim Norton headlines through Sunday at Carolines (and tickets
are going fast; Saturday's already sold out...);
the lovely Chelsea White debuts a free monthly stand-up show
in the East Village: What
Else? Comedy
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $13 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 6:00 pm: An open mic show on a lottery system (sign-ups happen at 5:45-6:00 pm) at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with hosts Erin Lennox and Eli Sairs: The Orphanage
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:00 pm: TV & Broadway stand-up star Colin Quinn performs bits from a show he's developing for an off-Broadway run that looks at US history "from the Founding Fathers to the Kardashians" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre: Unconstitutional with Colin Quinn
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:00 pm, 9:00 pm, and 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): Judah Friedlander (one of the quickest minds in comedy; 30 Rock, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly, author of How to Beat Up Anybody), Judy Gold (Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, HBO, Comedy Central, VH1, The View), Mike Yard (Comedy Central, Def Comedy Jam), Dean Edwards (Saturday Night Live, MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch, HBO's The Sopranos, feature film Scared Shrekless), and more performing at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club: Judah Friedlander, Judy Gold, and More
7:00 pm ($5): Dan Hodapp & Natasha Rothwell "bring more than five years of improv collaboration to stage for an evening of bold, committed characters and probably a fart joke for good measure,"and are joined tonight by Aparna Nancherla (delightfully wry stand-up; writer for FX's Totally Biased), plus improvisors Cathleen Carr, Chris Roberti, Paul Gutkowski, Sarah Peele, Kevin Shimko, Tamsi New, and Liz Wisan, all performing at The PIT downstairs lounge: Hodapp & Rothwell
[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 and Paul Oddo: The Friday Night Hot Chicks Mic
[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!
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:30ish pm: 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), Gary Vider (hilarious writer & deadpan stand-up; for sample jokes, please click here), Damien Lemon (MTV2's Guy Code, Comedy Central), and Aalap Patel helping launch this new monthly stand-up show at the One and One Bar (76 1st Street, corner of First Avenue) hosted by Jeff Cerulli and the delightful Chelsea White (MTV, VH1, TLC, co-host of Call Us Crazy): What Else? Comedy
7:30 pm ($10): Casey Jost (staff writer for Jimmy Fallon), Erin Lennox (host of DTF, co-host of The Orphanage; for a sample of Erin's dynamite Seriously Sports show, please click here), Zach Broussard (Onion News Network, sketch troupe Fambly), and Alison Leiby (host of It's a Long Story) performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Halle Kiefer: Splitsider and Tumblr's Dog and Pony Show
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($42 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up veteran who's appeared on David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Last Comic Standing; hosted the HBO stand-up showcase Down and Dirty; was a cast member of the wonderful though short-lived HBO sitcom Lucky Louie, and performed his own HBO half-hour One Night Stand special; has appeared in such hit films as Spider-Man; is a regular on XM Satellite Radio's The Opie & Anthony Show; and is the author of the book Happy Endings, headlining tonight through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Jim Norton
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.): A 10-year veteran cast member of Mad TV, and performer on numerous other top TV shows, headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Michael McDonald
8:00 pm ($10): Sketch comedy at The PIT upstairs theatre from troupe Dinner for One
[FREE] 8:00 pm: Stand-up, sketch, videos, and more at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre with Jeffrey Joseph and hosts Ron Krasnow & Joel Walkowski—and celebrating tonight's Second Anniversary, comics Tyler Fischer, Adam Sokol, Ross Parsons, Taylor Clark, RG Daniels, and Nathan Macintosh: The Short Bus
[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' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue): Mic and Cheese
[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($5): 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 include Jessica Delfino (enjoys singing songs about her vagina, as demonstrated by her CDs Dirty Folk Rock and I Wanna Be Famous; created the hilarious and wildly popular YouTube animated short film I Wanna Be Famous; to get a feel for Jessica's range and talent, please click here), Coker and Stratton, and Marc T. Engberg performing at UCB East hosted by superb musical group Summer & Eve (for samples, please click here): Earworm Funny Music Party Show
9:30 pm ($10): A PIT upstairs theatre improv troupe making up a musical on the spot after a friendly greeting: Hello
9:30 pm ($5): "Each month the Buttski & Glasscock Talent Agency brings you the best of the worst this small town has to offer. As only two career-savvy former showgirls can, they comb through Craigslist ad after Craigslist ad; but you will determine which act gets a one-year contract:" at The PIT downstairs lounge: Buttski & Glasscock's New Talent Blowout
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 10:00 pm ($15 both online and at the door using discount code WARD, otherwise $20): This top musical improv troupe has wowed audiences around the world with its skill at making up an hour-long musical moment by moment. The plot and characters, the musical accompaniment, even the song lyrics and the "choreography" are invented on the spot, with no pre-planned structure. BWC is running every Friday night through April 4th at the Soho Playhouse. Come see why this show won a FringeNYC Award for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Event: Baby Wants Candy
10:00 pm ($10): Singing improvisors at The Magnet using an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical
[DISCOUNTED] 10:00 pm ($13 online using discount code MILK; no 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), Judy Gold (Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, HBO, Comedy Central, VH1, The View), Adrienne Iapalucci (Last Comic Standing, VH1), Dan Naturman (David Letterman, Jay Leno), and Mike Vecchione (Last Comic Standing, Howard Stern) performing stand-up at The Stand Comedy Club (239 Third Avenue & 20th Street): Judah Friedlander, Judy Gold, and More
[FREE] 10:00 pm: Justy Dodge (co-host of Too Much Information on comicalradio.com; "I was kind of a tomboy growing up. Like, I had Barbies, but only because my Ninja Turtles needed bitches;" for dark bio video, please click here), Greg Stone, Chris Gayner, and Jake Young performing stand-up on this new monthly show at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre hosted by Justin Grace, Mike Pullan and James Ferrarella, who also promise "skits, arm wrestling, jeopardy, contests, drinking, and everything else you would do on an" Almost Saturday Show
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Craig Rowin, Matt Fisher, Sue Galloway, Dan Klein, and/or other superb improvisors at UCB Chelsea making up scenes about an audience member's legal dispute: The Law Firm: Law & Disorder
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Brandon Gulya (Stone Cold Fox, The Unbreakable Gun, Apocalypse in Connecticut), JC Coccoli (Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, WB; looks great in a hat, and in fur looks like a Lannister), Ben Kissel (Spike TV), and Bob Palos performing at UCB East hosted by Brandon Scott Jones, Justin Tyler, and/or Alden Ford: Gentrify
[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
Midnight ($5): "Canvas art and improv fuse before your very eyes. Each canvas will arrive untouched, blank, virginal. The stage is the frame, and everyone on it art. Audience interaction welcomed, but not required" at The PIT downstairs lounge from the folks of Yes, Yes, Yes, And: The Art Show
Midnight ($5): Some of NYC's independent improv troupes show off what they can do at UCB East, tonight featuring Greasy Lake, Gentle Touch, and Tops: Indie Improv Showcase
[FREE] Midnight: This show might not be much fun for audience members, but it's an amazing opportunity if you want to perform sketch for free and with almost zero hurdles on the prestigious UCB Chelsea stage. Plus it's hosted by members of Maude troupe Fambly, typically including such wonderful talents as Nicole Byer and Veronica Osorio: Liquid Courage
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 4/13/13
Jim Norton continues headlining at Carolines; Michael McDonald concludes headlining at Gotham...
...master improvisor Ed Herbstman's at Trike, and hilarious storyteller Melanie Hamlett performs at Underground Americana
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' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue) hosted by Jhoel Walkowski & Evan Davis: The Amateur Hour
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 6:00 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
6:00 pm ($5): Improv troupes The Gang, Kelly & Justin, and Human Pyramid performing at The Magnet to kick off your Saturday evening: The Rundown
7:00 pm ($5): All-gal improvisors Ashley Ward, Brigid Boyle, Alexis Saarela, and Elizabeth Findlay perform at The PIT upstairs theatre as troupe Taco Supreme
[FREE] 7:00 pm: A sketch comedy group that formed at Vassar and "will melt your face with college loans" performing at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue): Shoulder Pads
7:00 pm ($5): Improv troupes not affiliated with any comedy school compete at UCB East for audience laughs and votes—and the privilege to go on to perform at the primary Cage Match show at UCB Chelsea—in this show hosted by the delightful Amey Goerlich & Ryan Karels (Krompf): Indie Cage Match
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm ($20 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), 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), Lenny Marcus (David Letterman, MTV), Michael Che (David Letterman, Comedy Central), John Joseph (Comedy Central, The View), and Sam Morril (Comedy Central) performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Erik Rivera (Jay Leno, MTV): Judah Friedlander, Marina Franklin, Lenny Marcus, Michael Che, and More
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 & 10:30 pm ($42 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up veteran who's appeared on David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Last Comic Standing; hosted the HBO stand-up showcase Down and Dirty; was a cast member of the wonderful though short-lived HBO sitcom Lucky Louie, and performed his own HBO half-hour One Night Stand special; has appeared in such hit films as Spider-Man; is a regular on XM Satellite Radio's The Opie & Anthony Show; and is the author of the book Happy Endings, headlining tonight (previously reported sold out, but apparently more room was made) and Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Jim Norton
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & 11:45 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.): A 10-year veteran cast member of Mad TV, and performer on numerous other top TV shows (for a sample, please click here), headlining one last night at the Gotham Comedy Club: Michael McDonald
8:00 pm ($10): Barry Rothbart (Jay Leno, Comedy Central, MTV's Punk'd, IFC), Ben Kronberg (Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central Half Hour, MTV, ABC), Roger Hailes (Jimmy Fallon, Chappelle's Show, VH1, MTV; writer for FUSE's A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus), musical guest Steve Milton, and more performing at Brooklyn's Union Hall for a show hosted by Greg Barris: Heart of Darkness
[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Erin Lennox, Anthony DeVito, and Nick Maritato, improv troupe Butts, and more performing at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre hosted by Peggy O'Leary: Hard, Lonely, and Vicious
[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 at Airwolf: Let's Go Back to 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): A sketch troupe using recent events as the foundation for material performing at The PIT upstairs theatre directed and co-written by J.D. Durkin with co-writer Scott Swayze: Gramercy Boulevard
9:00 pm ($10): Magnet improvisors team up with poets at Kiss*Punch*Poem
[TOP PICK] [$] 9:15 pm ($24 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Judah Friedlander (one of the quickest minds in comedy; 30 Rock, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly, author of How to Beat Up Anybody), Lynne Koplitz (Joan Know's Best, IFC's Z Rock, host of WB's Life & Style), Greer Barnes (David Letterman, Chappelle Show, For the Love of the Game), Michael Che (David Letterman, Comedy Central), John Joseph (Comedy Central, The View), and DC Benny (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, ABC's The Unusuals) performing stand-up at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Keith Robinson (HBO, Comedy Central, Wanda Sykes Show): Judah Friedlander, Lynne Koplitz, Greer Barnes, Michael Che, and More
[$] 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 ($10): UCBT Artistic Director Nate Dern, Zhubin Parang (writer for The Daily Show), Tracey Wigfield (writer for 30 Rock), Michael Kayne (Baby Wants Candy, Diamond Lion), Aaron Jackson (Newsadoozies), and more form an improv troupe at UCB Chelsea that won this year's prestigious Cage Match championship by springboarding scenes off interviewing an audience member about his or her love life: What I Did For Love
[TOP PICK] [$] 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
[FREE] 10:00 pm: "Staged readings of scenes from selected plays, starring comedians" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre hosted by Emily Fleming & Jarrid Reed: Fly Space: The Test Drive
[MEGA-TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Master improvisor Ed Herbstman teams with Nick Kanellis for one night only at The Magnet to form comedy duo 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 ($8): Nick Carrillo, Langston Belton, and Devin James Heater perform a post-apocalyptic improvised comedy—exploring the relationship of three men trapped in a Generic Underground Shelter—at The PIT upstairs theatre: G.U.S.
[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): Storyteller Melanie Hamlett (brilliant writer/performer; two-time Moth StorySlam Champion, co-author of the book Leave the Lipstick, Take the Iguana, contributor to Marie Claire Magazine and Nerve.com, amazing blog, roving adventurer), character improvisor Anthony Atamanuik (30 Rock, Conan O'Brien, Huffington Post, Death by Roo Roo, The Nights of Our Lives, The Tony and Johnny Show), stand-ups Mark Normand (red-hot rising star; Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central; co-host of Hot Soup and We're All Friends Here) and Sean Donnelly (MTV, FOX News; host of many shows), and singer/songwriter Megan Kerper performing at UCB Chelsea with hosts Andy Rocco & Steven Slate: Underground Americana
[FREE] Midnight: Stand-up and sketch (performers not announced) at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Kingmaker Sketch
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 4/14/13
Marc Maron performs a rare NYC solo show for free (but space
is very limited, so
getting on line
way early
is recommended) at Brooklyn's Union
Hall
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' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue): Face-Plant Comedy Showcase
[FREE] 5:00 pm: A mix of longform, shortform, and musical improv from five groups, typically including Mishmosh, at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue) hosted by Michael Venzor: The Long and Short of It
[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
[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' LIC (10-93 Jackson Avenue) from comedy troupe Froduce
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, CNN, TBS, host of ComedyJuice), Michael Che (David Letterman, Comedy Central), Selena Coppock (author of upcoming book The New Rules for Blondes), Lou Perez (ace sketch comic), Christian Spicer (co-host of Impro(vs)tandup at UCBT-LA), and Drew Michael performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Kara Klenk: If You Build It
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): "Musical sketch comedy that skewers and dissects pop culture one roll of the dice at at time" at The PIT upstairs theatre: Pop Roulette
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($38.25 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up veteran who's appeared on David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Last Comic Standing; hosted the HBO stand-up showcase Down and Dirty; was a cast member of the wonderful though short-lived HBO sitcom Lucky Louie, and performed his own HBO half-hour One Night Stand special; has appeared in such hit films as Spider-Man; is a regular on XM Satellite Radio's The Opie & Anthony Show; and is the author of the book Happy Endings, headlining one last night at the Carolines Comedy Club: Jim Norton
[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($10 online using discount code MILK; no min.): Rachel Feinstein (finalist on Last Comic Standing; Comedy Central Presents, HBO, The Apprentice, opens for Sarah Silverman on tour), Jermaine Fowler (MTV’s Guy Code, Comedy Central, Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show), Sam Morril (Comedy Central), Yannis Pappas (Comedy Central, VH1), and more performing stand-up that rips something or someone deserving to shreds at The Stand Comedy Club (239 Third Avenue & 20th Street): Invitation to a Beheading: Rachel Feinstein, Jermaine Fowler, and More
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): From Dan Hodapp & Micah Sherman (producers of The Scene), improvisors make up one-act plays on the spot at The PIT downstairs lounge, with tonight's groups Rubin, The Lottery, FligFlog, and Sweaters: Act One
[$] 8:00 pm ($14 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), Lynne Koplitz (Joan Know's Best, IFC's Z Rock, host of WB's Life & Style), Michael Che (David Letterman, Comedy Central), Godfrey (Comedy Central Presents, Louie, 30 Rock, VH1; films Zoolander, Original Gangsters, Soul Plane; 7 Up Yours ads), and Mike Vecchione (Last Comic Standing, Howard Stern) performing at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Jermaine Fowler (MTV’s Guy Code, Comedy Central, Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show): Judah Friedlander, Lynne Koplitz, Michael Che, and More
8:00 pm ($7): Barry Rothbart (Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Comedy Central, MTV's Punk'd, IFC's Do Whatever), Dan Soder (Comedy Central, VH1; for set about being a hypochondriatic drug user, please click here), Jim Tews, and more performing stand-up at Brooklyn's Union Hall hosted by Caroline Creaghead: Creaghead & Company
8:00 pm ($7): Long form improv in which "scenes are edited by blackouts created by the director in the booth and the stage is set by the improvisers from the previous scene" at The Magnet, with performers including Desiree Nash: The Blackout
[FREE] 8:00 pm: Roger Hailes (Jimmy Fallon, Chappelle's Show, VH1, MTV; writer for FUSE's A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus), Jeff Wesselschmidt (Rooftop Comedy), Joel Walkowski (co-host of The Short Bus), Sunah Blisted (Playboy TV), and Frank Liotti 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): Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, CNN, TBS, host of ComedyJuice), 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), Hadiyah Robinson, Akaash Singh, and Drew Michael performing stand-up, plus music from DJ Roofeeo, 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: Michael Che (David Letterman, Comedy Central), Robert Dean, JF Harris, Justin Senno, and Eli Yudin 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 Dispacho and Cookie Mountain: Magnet Sketch Teams
[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): All-gal storytelling show of "true tales with feelings; so many feelings...," tonight starring Jenny Rubin (host of Here's the Story), Natasha Rothwell, and Jenice Matias at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted by Caitlin Brodnick and Lisa Kleinman: Shut Up: An All-Female Storytelling Show
[ALMOST FREE] 9:30 pm ($1): Open-mic stand-up, with four minutes per comic, at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Molly Austin & Mike Brown: Vicious Cycle
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: Legendary comedy star Marc Maron (a comic's comic; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, HBO, Comedy Central, pioneering WTF podcast) performs solo during this visit to NYC. A limited number of wristbands—required for entrance—will be distributed starting at 9:00 pm outside the performance space doors. If you want to get in, arrive on line early; chances are a lot of folks will have to be turned away at Brooklyn's relatively small Union Hall: Marc Maron
[FREE] 10:00 pm: The only open-stage show for entire groups of improvisors and sketch comics, running weekly at UCB East hosted by Austin Rodrigues: Bring Your Own Team: Improv/Sketch Team Jam
[FREE] 10:45 pm: Open-mic show for sketch and character bits running 3-5 minutes at The Magnet hosted by Sebastian Conelli. Everyone who signs up—at 10:30 pm at the box office—is likely to get onstage: Sketch in Progress
[$] 11:30 pm ($14 plus 2-item food/drink min.): Marina Franklin (developing into one of the finest stand-ups in the country, with an uncommonly gentle, graceful style that's pure joy; Last Comic Standing, Chappelle's Show, Craig Ferguson, VH1, Comedy Central's Premium Blend), Jon Fisch (David Letterman, Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, VH1), Kurt Metzger (Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Presents, Ugly Americans), William Stephenson (FX's Louie, The Chris Rock Show), and Sam Morril (Comedy Central) performing at Comedy Cellar (117 MacDougal Street, between 3rd Street & Minetta Lane) hosted by Jermaine Fowler (MTV’s Guy Code, Comedy Central, Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show): Marina Franklin, Jon Fisch, Kurt Metzger, and More
Copyright © 2013 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
