NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 2/13/12
It's sketch night with Murderfist on A-Side/B-Side, followed by the unsinkable Mamrie Hart's troupe Fambly on Maude Night
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $12 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 6:00 pm: An open mic stand-up show running about 90 minutes at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with host Chris Gaynor: Open Mic Mondays
[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), along with guest storyteller Jim O'Grady (NPR's This American Life, WNYC, Moth GrandSlam Champion), with improv illustrator Sharon Spell drawing scenes as they're described, all at Under St. Marks: The Adam Wade from New Hampshire Show: Tales of Life, Love, and Little League
7:00 pm & 9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4 minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2 hours—with an early show hosted by Sean Donnelly & Blaine Perry at 7:00 pm, and an entirely different group of stand-ups hosted by Dan Cartwright & Dave Greek at 9:00 pm—at the Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) for Carol Hartsell's & John Morrison's Motel Luca
[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
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): One of this show's best lineups ever: brilliant stand-up Sean Patton (red-hot rising star; killer sets on Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central, VH1; co-host of Comedy as a Second Language, frequent guest-host of Whiplash), Murderfist (NYC's fearless heavy metal version of a sketch troupe; winner of the 2010 ECNY Award), and HammerkatzNYU (NYU's sketch troupe) each performing one of their most popular sketches and one of their personal favorites in what's likely to be a way fun revue at UCB Chelsea hosted by Aaron Kheifets: A-Side/B-Side
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($9.47 online or $8 at the door): Joe Mande (Comedy Central, VH1; host of Joe Mande Presents at Carolines, co-host of Totally J/K; author of book Look at This F*cking Hipster), Gabe Delahaye (senior Editor of Videogum.com, host of Mr. Coconuts), Brent Sullivan & Eliot Glazer (It Gets Betterish), and Lisa Delarios (Comedy Central; co-host of The Party Machine) performing at Brooklyn's Littlefield (622 Degraw Street) with sketches and more from a duo who between them won four 2011 ECNY Awards—including Best Variety Show and Best Hosts—Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler: Hot Tub Variety with Kurt & Kristen
[TOP PICK] 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
8:30 pm ($5, which includes FREE BEER): Erin Lennox (co-host of Fresh and The I Like You Too Show; for a sample of Erin's dynamite Seriously Sports show, please click here), RG Daniels (host of Sunday Night Stand-Up), Katie Hannigan, Sam Morril, Daniel Enfield, and Akaash Singh performing at this weekly show at Brooklyn's Sandbox Underground (257 Grand Street, near the L subway's Bedford stop) hosted by Mike Denny, Michael Che, and Nimesh Patel, and featuring free beer: Broken Comedy
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: Comics perform solo sketches, monologues, etc. as characters at The PIT upstairs theatre: It's a Character Thing
9:00 pm ($5): NYC stand-ups Brad Austin, Travis Irvine, Kendra Cunningham and musical guest Michael Wagner performing at Brooklyn's Freddy's Bar (627 Fifth Avenue; take R subway to Prospect Avenue) hosted by Giulia Rozzi (VH1, Playgirl Magazine, co-host of Stripped Stories) and guest-host George Gordon: Dive Comedy
9:30 pm ($5): Two UCB Chelsea house sketch troupes try out new bits: Neighbor Boy (which tends to be weak on material, but includes such talents as Kate Hess, Tim Dunn, and Beth Appel, and may get a shot in the arm with the addition of writer Caitlin Bitzegaio), and Fambly (which includes wonderful rising star Mamrie Hart, Nicole Byer, Dan Chamberlain, Veronica Osorio, and a sharp crew of writers): Maude Night: Neighbor Boy & Fambly
[FREE] 9:30 pm: Long-form improv from troupe Casual Sex Offenders at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: CSO Improv Comedy
10:00 pm ($5): A dark, unsettling improvised tribute to Valentine's Day at UCB East as "David Lynch and his friends celebrate the most romantic day of the year! It's a holiday special that's sure to be a surreal and polarizing experience. Bring your date!" for David Lynch's Blue Velvetine's Day
[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 & Keith Huang: Base Jam
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the world—who tonight include Jessi Klein (fresh, unique, deliciously organic comic who's one of the best stand-ups in the country; former staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, CNN, Adult Swim), Kumail Nanjiani (David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, Jimmy Kimmel, writer/performer for Comedy Central's Michael & Michael Have Issues; winner of the 2009 ECNY Awards for Best Male Stand-Up), and Neal Brennan (HBO, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, co-creator of Chappelle's Show) performing at UCB Chelsea probably hosted by the wonderful Sean Patton: Whiplash
[FREE] 11:00 pm: 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 stand-up open mic at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted by Michelle Wolf and the hilarious Erin Lennox (for a sample of Erin's dynamite Seriously Sports show, please click here): Fresh
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 2/14/12
An annual tradition that's resulted in two couples getting married
and having babies: The
PIT Dating Game;
a show in which each performer tells a tale about love very briefly:
Six-Word
Stories for Valentine's Day...
...and an army of top stand-ups & storytellers relate tales
of heartbreak at Jon Friedman's The
Rejection Show
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $12 marked with $) include:
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($10): Smith Magazine hosts a small mob of storytellers—including the delightful Robin Gelfenbien—who tell entire tales for Valentine's Day in just six words, such as "Following his blog instead of him;" "Arranged marriage now sounding pretty good;""Hired me. Fired me. Married me;" "Butterflies still kicking after 30 years;" "I'm six words away from divorce."—at 92Y Tribeca (200 Hudson Street): Six-Word Story Show on Love & Heartbreak
7:00 pm ($5): Storytellers Kelly Buttermore & Robert Weinstein spin tales of romance gone crazy at The Magnet for Ugh! A Magnet Valentine's Day Spectacular
[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($12): A small army of superb comedic writers, storytellers, and stand-ups—including Elna Baker, Dave Hill, Adam Wade, Tom Shillue, Sara Benincasa, Bridey Elliot, and many more—sharing their tales of being turned down at Brooklyn's Littlefield (622 Degraw Street) for this very special Valentine's Day edition of Jon Friedman's wonderful The Rejection Show: Heartbreak Haven
[FREE] 7:00 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 Robert Dean: The Dean's List
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): At this terrific annual tradition, "Three hot New York singles will ask outrageous questions to determine which of our hilarious PITizens will be their Valentine. The winners get a date and the losers get prizes that are way too inappropriate to mention here. Two winning couples from past shows have gone on to get married and have babies!" Really, how many shows can say that?: The PIT Dating Game
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5 at the door or $7.63 online): Wyatt Cenac (star correspondent for The Daily Show), Selena Coppock (author of upcoming book The New Rules for Blondes), sketch musical troupe Political Subversities, and Michael Che performing at Brooklyn's Union Hall for this show that calls attention to its inexpensive price: Cheap Date: Valentine's Day Edition
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Comics industry guests joining super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at The PIT downstairs lounge: Comic Book Club
8:00 pm ($5): Brooke Van Poppelen (brilliant stand-up, writer, and storyteller; trutV, TLC, co-host of Dive Comedy; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here), Matt Koff, Lucas Molandes, Josh Saltzman, and Glennis McMurray performing at UCB East for a comedy variety show produced by Sara Schaefer & Scott Moran: Hot Dang
8:00 pm-Midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv at UCB Chelsea for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Still Mike, Deckard, Very Good Kiss, Grandma's Ashes, and Creature—and at 11:00 pm advanced improv students play with reverse chronology in which the show starts with the last scene and ends with the first—all at Harold Night
[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
8:30 pm ($5): In this double-bill, each of two of The Magnet's singing improv troupes will make up a musical on the spot based on an audience suggestion: Rosencrantz and BEEES!
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Typically stellar comics (not yet announced) performing at Ella (9 Avenue A) hosted by Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, 30 Rock, VH1): Sweet
9:00 pm (no cover, one drink min.): NYC stand-ups on this week's theme Dying Alone, including Erin Judge (Comedy Central; for hilarious short bit on men vs. women, please click here), Amber Nelson (sketch troupe Thunder Gulch, co-host of Gutbucket and Mustache Party), Ben Kronberg, Meghan O'Keefe, Josh Gondelman, and Gonzalo Cordova performing stand-up for this weekly show at Sidewalk NYC (94 Avenue A): The Afterlife
[FREE] 9:30 pm: Stand-up and sketch at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre, typically hosted by sketch troupes Savage Animal and/or Jerk Practice: Savage Animal
[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($5): Two of the most brilliant, fearless, and innovative comics in the biz, John Gemberling (Death by Roo Roo, Adult Swim, Comedy Central) and Anthony Atamanuik (Death by Roo Roo, 30 Rock, Conan O'Brien, Huffington Post, The Nights of Our Lives), team up to create their special dark version of a comedy variety show at UCB East. Tonight's guests are Ilana Glazer (Broad City), Eddie Brawley, and John Milhiser: The Tony and Johnny Show
[FREE] 10:15 pm: In this free Magnet show, audience members can join in with musical improv troupe BEEES! to make up stories in song on the spot: Musical Magnet Mixer
[FREE] 11:00 pm: 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] 11:30 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 2/15/12
Delightful comics Andrée Vermeulen, Sasheer Zamata, and more are slated to perform at School 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] 6:00 pm to midnight: Six free hours of improvisation at The PIT's Super Free Wednesday
[FREE] 6:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up providing four minutes per comic, with "15 people chosen randomly through e-mail, and five walk-ins; and a guaranteed spot to anyone who performs in character as a famous explorer" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre: Comedic Exploration Club of Long Island City, West
7:00 pm-12:30 am ($7 for the entire evening): Magnet house troupes The Surge, Grappler, The Wrath, Chet Watkins, Horses, Brick, Leviathan, and Featherweight performing improv, followed by a free audience interactive show with Grappler at 11:30 pm: The Magnet's Megawatt
7:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): NYC stand-ups and storytellers (not announced) performing at Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) with host Selena Coppock: Connotation
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): For this double-bill at UCB East, Nicole Byer, Sasheer Zamata, and Keisha Zollar are first up as the fiercely energetic & entertaining all-gal improv troupe Doppelganger; and then genius improvisors Gavin Speiller of Death By Roo Roo, Ben Rodgers of The Curfew, and Jonathan Gabrus of The Law Firm) perform as Outlook of the Poet
[$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:30 pm ($20 [vs. $25] online or at the box office using discount code BOOK): Telly Savalas returns to life to entertain you and provide life guidance in this 50-minute show that was a hit at FringeNYC 2011 and is now enjoying an open-ended Friday night run at the Soho Playhouse's downstairs Huron Club. The script is at times very smart, especially in its choices of hilarious video clips and music tracks from the real Savalas...who, in his more intense moments, apparently rivaled William Shatner at his silliest. But even when Hunter Nelson's writing isn't consistent, actor Tom DiMenna—who is a professional comic with great timing and skill at engaging an audience—will keep you entertained: Who Loves You, Baby?
[FREE—plus FREE PIZZA for first 30 people, from Artichoke Pizza!] 8:00 pm: Brilliantly funny writer/singer Jessica Delfino (enjoys singing songs about her vagina, as demonstrated by her CD Dirty Folk Rock; created the hilarious and wildly popular YouTube animated short film I Wanna Be Famous; has a cool blog; to get a feel for Jessica's amazing range and talent, please click here), Jon Fisch (David Letterman), Shawn Hollenbach (MTV, Logo), Adam Conover (VH1), and Matt Wayne performing at the East Village's Beauty Bar with hosts Negin Farsad, Amy Albert, and Beth McGregor for their free weekly show Comedy School Dropout
[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
[FREE] 8:30 pm: Typically terrific NYC comics (not announced) performing at this free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn's Cameo (behind Lovin' Cup) typically hosted by Jenny Slate, Gabe Liedman, and/or Max Silvestri: Big Terrific
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Neil Casey & Anthony Atamanuik, both genius members of Death by Roo Roo, perform the jaw-dropping feat of making up an entire feature film at UCB East as The Two-Man Movie
[FREE] 9:00ish pm: Abbi Crutchfield (delightful stand-up; co-host of Positively Awesome and The Living Room), Lauren Maul (puppeteer!), Jon Bander, Kendra Cunningham, and rappers Squirm & Germ performing at this free weekly show at the Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): At UCB Chelsea, a troupe specializing in meta-comedy—that is, comedy about the process of making comedy—performs their most meta show yet, which is billed as a "best of" show but actually is a series of internal spats that delay any of the promised sketches from being performed. It's smart and clever, and all four members of the group are highly appealing. But it's such a purely "from the head, not the heart" show that it feels increasingly repetitive and one-note as it goes on. I wish the guys had been less concerned with the purity of their one-joke idea and more with creating an emotional rollercoaster experience for the audience. (The reason their best sketch ever is a spelling bee for fart jokes is because it's a perfect blend of their conceptual approach with laugh-out-loud funny. Sadly, no such sketch is in this show...) If you like concept comedy, though, these guys are great at it; and you're likely to enjoy at least the first 10 minutes before the novelty wears off from Pangea 3000: 12 Years of Hard Work...
...and in the second half of this double-bill yet another meta-comedy, this time involving a real estate agent who tries to convince a couple that the actual theatre you're in would be a great home for them. He does this by putting on a series of sketches that are presented as a random sampling of what UCBT has to offer but that, directly or indirectly, each promote the stage as a wonderful residence. It's a way fun idea—for a 5-minute sketch. However, this entire show is handled like a single multi-jointed sketch, and 30 minutes is an awfully long time to essentially tell one joke. If the script was further developed to use the internal sketches as stepping stones to achieve a larger and emotionally compelling story, this could become something quite special. Even as is, though, it's great fun at the start; and if you find it wearing out its welcome after that, you'll still enjoy sporadic laughs from individual bits and performers—especially standouts Brandon Gulya and Brandon Scott Jones—in the a-bit-too-clever-for-its-own-good This is Not a Sketch Show—A Sketch Show
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: Clips of some of the most inept movie scenes of New York City romance, plus comments & memories from stand-ups Christian Finnegan (Conan O'Brien, co-star of TBS' Are We There Yet?; three Comedy Central specials; MSNBC, VH1's Best Week Ever, Chappelle's Show, The Today Show), Mark Normand (hilarious; Last Comic Standing; co-host of Hot Soup and We're All Friends Here), and Sabrina Jalees (Canadian TV star) at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre hosted by Robbie Collier: Hey We Live There!: Hey We Love There!
[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] 11:00 pm: 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; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. Tonight's scheduled lineup includes Sasheer Zamata (smart, innovative rising star; Doppelganger, The Prom), Matt Fisher (razor-sharp improvisor & sketch comic; The Law Firm, Sidecar), Katey Healy-Wurzburg (hilarious run-on stand-up; host of The Fascinator), and the delightful Andrée Vermeulen (visiting from LA); for the complete list, 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: 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
[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
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 2/16/12
Star stand-up Rich Vos headlines for one night only at the Carolines
Comedy Club;
Nicole Byer will be a standout tonight at both a parody of The
Bachelor and
raucous improv competition Cage
Match
Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight
(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $12 marked with $) include:
[FREE] 6:00 pm: Kambri Crews (author of Burn Down the Ground) is tonight's guest at this weekly open mic storytelling show, with each performer given a whopping eight minutes to captivate & impress, at UCB East hosted by John Flynn: Oh, Hey Guys!
[FREE] 6:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up with comics' names drawn from a bucket and each chosen one receiving three minutes at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Corby Haas
6:30 pm ($5): Two shows about which I know nothing audition for a regular spot on the prestigious UCB Chelsea schedule: Immatured and Death Wears Stilettos. These might be great or awful; but at $2.50 per show, you can't go far wrong either way. That's part of the fun of Spank
[TOP PICK] [$] 7:00 pm ($15): A comic excavation of teen angst artifacts (journals, letters, poems, lyrics, home movies, stories, and more) are shared by their original authors before total strangers at 92Y Tribeca (200 Hudson Street): Mortified
7:00 pm ($5): Two singing improv troupes make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT upstairs theatre: Hot Diner and THEM
7:00 pm ($5): Improv duo Steve Soroka (BoF) & Jen Curran team with improv troupe The Imposters at The PIT downstairs lounge to kick off your Evening Bliss
[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 ($5): "If you were alive in the 70's, you may have attended some 'Key Parties' where you were randomly paired with someone to go home with and engage in free spirited coitus. (Today we either stay at home alone or congregate at an improv theater.) Key Party combines the 70's arrangement with modern anxiety, exploring the rich moments leading up to that act of coupling and the fallout that follows" at UCB East with stellar comics Jordan Klepper, Laura Grey (delightful old-time radio style theatrical podcast Horrorgasm), and guest improvisors: Key Party; plus in the second half of this double-bill, improv based on the iPods, CDs, and mp3 players provided by audience members, executed by superb performers Fran Gillespie, Ryan Karels, Megan Neuringer, Jesse Falcon, Silvija Ozols, Doug Moe, Lou Perez, Sue Galloway, and Emily Axford: Soundtrack USA
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($22 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who's starred on two seasons of Last Comic Standing; has performed a very popular Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; was a regular on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn; was the first white comic on Def Jam; wrote for Chris Rock; played Lenny Bruce on NBC's American Dreams; was an unlikely guest on The View; and is a regular on the Opie and Anthony radio show, headlining for one night only at the Carolines Comedy Club: Rich Vos
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Comedy duo Nick Kocher & Brian McElhaney perform new sketches at UCB Chelsea, as well as host stand-up and improv guests: BriTANicK: The Monthly Mankerthon
8:00 pm ($5): Two singing improv troupes make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT upstairs theatre: Frogmen and Harvey
8:00 pm-MIdnight ($7 for the entire evening): The Magnet house troupes The Boss, Junior Varsity, Hello Laser, and Phooka performing improv, followed at 10:00 pm by the brilliant Ed Herbstman directing improvisors to perform in the style of a feature film for The Director Series: The Movie, and then at 11:00 pm improv competition Inspirado (like UCBT's Cage Match, but with a game-like challenge component) with last week's winner competing against The Surge: The Magnet's Night Out
8:00 pm ($5): NYC comics Raquel D'Apice, Lauren Maul, Eric Frost, Red Tie Mafia, and Peter Oasis performing at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by the delightful Abbi Crutchfield (VH1) and comedic rapper Andrew Singer: Positively Awesome
[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/or comedy genius Sean Patton: Comedy as a Second Language
9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central Presents, Jimmy Kimmel), Jermaine Fowler, Jaqi Furback, and more performing stand-up at Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) for this weekly comedy show hosted by Sean Crespo & Dan Wilbur and produced by Carol Hartsell: Lasers in the Jungle
9:00 pm ($5): NYC stand-ups Lang Fisher, Adam Conover, and more performing at UCB East with host Noah Garfinkel (co-host Joe Mande is at UCBT-LA this week): Totally J/K
9:30 pm ($5):A parody of The Bachelor written by UCB Chelsea faves Caitlin Bitzegaio (MTV, PBS, ESPN, writer or director of numerous UCBT sketch shows) and Leila Cohan-Miccio (Stone Cold Fox, Pig: A Restaurant), and worth catching if only to experience the delicious comedic performances of standouts Morgan Grace Jarrett (Big Fish, Love Liza, Buffy fan) and Nicole Byer (Doppelganger)—who are especially fun when they turn into an unlikely a comedy duo...: The Bachelor: Romance, Roses, and Romance...
...and in the second half of this double-bill, a one-woman show by Sue Smith about anger, directed by the always inventive and delightful Laura Grey: Minimum Rage
9:30 pm ($5): Brilliant comedy writer Eric Drysdale (The Daily Show, The Colbert Report) will deliver a monologue to launch improvisors making up scenes—further inspired by the music of Lianne Smith—at The PIT upstairs theatre: Beauty Love Truth
9:30 pm ($5): Improvisors (not announced) make up one-act plays on the spot at The PIT downstairs lounge for The Scene
[FREE] 9:30 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] 11:00 pm ($5): Juggernaut improv force for chaos Fuck That Shit has stomped three challengers in a row. Tonight Its formidable opponent is improv troupe Dance Break (which includes powerhouses Ellena Chmielewski and Nicole Byer). Expect trouble as these mavericks compete for audience laughs and votes at UCB Chelsea for the raucous Cage Match
11:00 pm ($5): Murderfist (NYC's fearless heavy metal version of a sketch troupe; winner of the 2010 ECNY Award), Seth Herzog (staff comic for Jimmy Fallon; Comedy Central, CBS, VH1, film actor; host of Sweet), Zhubin Parang (The Daily Show), Adam Newman (MTV, College Humor, comedy CD Not for Horses), and Jason Kanter (FOX's Red Eye) performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Chris Wilkes (Thunder Gulch): After Dark
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 2/17/12
Judah Friedlander headlines at Eastville; Fran Gillespie and other top comics create an interactive adventure at Crisistown
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 start at 5:30 pm) at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with hosts Mike Recine (Comedy Central) and Annie Lederman (Comedy Central): The Shinebox
[FREE] 7:00 pm: Adam Newman (MTV, College Humor, comedy CD Not for Horses), Erik Bergstrom (cartoonist/author of Grimmer Tales, The New Yorker), Frank Liotti (Law & Order, FOX), and Phil Hanley (Craig Ferguson) performing at Beauty Bar (231 East 14th Street) for this biweekly stand-up show hosted by Peter Ostrovski and tonight's guest-host Josh Carter (College Humor): Beautiful Comedy
7:00 pm ($7): Improv that flows from moment to moment, with no sweeps or tag outs—"each exit starts a new scene, while performers use devices ranging from monologues to in-scene questions to break into characters and relationships quicker and deeper:" Scoresby
7:00 pm ($5): PIT improvisors Nate Starkey & Chris Grace makes stuff up as Starkey & Grace
[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 more than earned the slot with its first Friday effort, This is Not Art, which was one of the very best comedy shows of 2011. In this second show, Crisistown, the cast has developed into one of the finest in comedy, with every single performer demonstrating star potential. Unfortunately, the writing wasn't up to the same standards on opening night; but in the hope the script has evolved since then I'll be catching the production again tonight. The idea is definitely fun: "A scripted interactive comedy show that puts you, the audience, in charge. You get to vote on what happens next." It's an approach designed to tempt you to see the show repeatedly (just as people will return to a favorite improv group week after week). So whether you've already experienced it or are a Crisistown virgin, come join me tonight in checking how the show's progressed—and for the love of god, ignore the Kevin Costner option and vote for investigating the giant mice: Stone Cold Fox: Crisistown
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): Sharp improvisors at UCB East making up a musical on the spot: Diamond Lion
[FREE] 7:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Jeffrey Joseph (Jay Leno, HBO, Comedy Central, FOX), Seaton Smith, Allison Castillo, Mike Brown, Pat Rigby, Tom Steffen, Nathan Rand, and James Oakes celebrating the One Year Anniversary of this show at the Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) with hosts Calvin S. Cato & Justin Murray: The Pregame Comedy Show
[$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($20 [vs. $25] online or at the box office using discount code BOOK): Telly Savalas returns to life to entertain you and provide life guidance in this 50-minute show that was a hit at FringeNYC 2011 and is now enjoying an open-ended Friday night run at the Soho Playhouse's downstairs Huron Club. The script is at times very smart, especially in its choices of hilarious video clips and music tracks from the real Savalas...who, in his more intense moments, apparently rivaled William Shatner at his silliest. But even when Hunter Nelson's writing isn't consistent, actor Tom DiMenna—who is a professional comic with great timing and skill at engaging an audience—will keep you entertained: Who Loves You, Baby?
[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups delivering their A game—since they're being videotaped as they perform sets—at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City, with a different host each week: Mixed Tape
[FREE] 8:00 pm: An open mic show that's first come, first serve (sign-ups start at 7:30 pm), with each comic getting five minutes on stage at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' Long Island City: Mic and Cheese
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who's toured with Jerry Seinfeld for 10 years—and who Jerry hired to host The Marriage Ref—and has appeared numerous times on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, CBS, and Comedy Central headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Tom Papa
8:30 pm ($5): Sketch troupe Shelby Company performs oddball bits for this Magnet sketch show show that in the past has included two-timing monsters and presidential ninjas: Ephemerama
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from UCB Chelsea's all-star members of The Stepfathers
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 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): Judah Friedlander (30 Rock, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly, author of How to Beat Up Anybody), Greer Barnes (Comedy Central; for problems he'd have being a black Batman, please click here), Andrew Schultz (MTV2's Guy Code), and more performing at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Unique and relentlessly silly performer Brandon Gulya does a one-man sketch show that's at times hilarious (the restaurant bit, which is an instant classic) and other times settles too quickly for the lightweight (the "does she like me" diary). A lot more hard, disciplined work is needed before his show's title comes true; but this is a promising start from a comic with a memorable style, genuine potential, and the faith that Brandon Gulya Will Be Famous Soon...
...and in the other half of this UCB East double-bill, genius voice artist Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan supplies the improv "beats" while Patrick Noth makes stuff up in rap for MC Harold
9:30 pm ($10): A PIT improv troupe making up a musical on the spot after a friendly greeting: Hello
9:30 pm ($5): "Where there is a stage and a piano, she will be there. Where there are strangers with embarrassing stories, she will be there. Where there is a group of people willing to sit and watch someone make up songs, she will be there. A one-woman musical improv journey through the lives of the audience. You tell the story, Rebecca Vigil sings the soundtrack" at The PIT downstairs lounge: The Vigilante
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: Gary Vider (hilarious writer & deadpan stand-up; for sample jokes, please click here), Joe List (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), and the Lucas Brothers participate in this "comedy chat show with boundary issues" that has stand-ups perform sets and then be interviewed about their personal lives at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Matt Ruby & Mark Normand (who says "all these guys were hand-picked because they're funny and have some serious problems; when you read this lineup you're gonna be like "oh yeah, that guy is a mess"): We're All Friends Here
10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors at The Magnet using an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Fran Gillespie, Jon Gabrus, Nate Lang, Craig Rowin, Matt Fisher, Sue Galloway, and other superb improvisors at UCB Chelsea making up scenes about an audience member's legal dispute: The Law Firm: Law & Disorder
10:30 pm ($5): NYC comics (not announced) performing at UCB East hosted by Emily Axford, D'Arcy Carden, Alden Ford, Brandon Scott Jones, and/or Justin Tyler: Gentrify
11:00 pm ($8): Comics make up character monologues on the spot—a feat that can be breathtaking when done by geniuses such as Ian Roberts and Daniel Kitson. Come see if tonight's performers rise to the challenge at The PIT upstairs theatre: Mixed Nuts: An Improvised Character Jamboree
11:30 pm ($10): improvisers Bianca Casusöl as Madam Ant, Nina Klemow as Fanny Price, and Alex Marino as Larry Lazlo use burlesque dancing at The Magnet to tell a story "and titillate the audience with some seductively fun choreographed burlesque numbers:" Whisky Tango Foxtrot: Burlesque Improv Revue
[FREE] Midnight: NYC stand-ups—not announced—performing at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City—with the host also not announced...but how far wrong can you go with free midnight stand-up?: Fridays at The Creek
[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. Hosted by Maude troupe Onassis: Liquid Courage
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 2/18/12
Tom Papa headlines at the Gotham Comedy Club; rising star Lauren Olson performs in new improv trio Mr. Gorsky...
...and Todd Bieber hosts his delightful open mic storytelling show in which stage tales are turned into cartoons: Animated Stories
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 at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by RG Daniels & Jared Fried: It Starts at 4
[FREE] 5:30 pm: New improv teams experimenting with new forms at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City, hosted by Andy Rocco and Jon Monje: Anybody Vs. Everybody: An Improv Show for You
6:00 pm ($5): Improv troupes Bear Project, Upstate, and Swartzlander at The Magnet kicking off your Saturday evening: The Rundown
[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): Todd Bieber (Commercial Interruption, Director of Content & Production for UCBComedy.com) hosts this monthly open mic storytelling show at UCB East that at the end selects a favorite from the audience tales to be turned into an animated short film premiering the following month. Tonight's guests are Kumar Pallana (Pagoda from Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore), Lang Fisher (Onion News Network), and Adam Newman (MTV, College Humor, comedy CD Not for Horses): Animated Stories
7:00 pm ($5 plus 2-drink min.): Mike Lawrence (nerd persona but razor-sharp mind has made this stand-up a rapidly rising star; Comedy Central's John Oliver's NY Stand-Up), Jason Messina, and Hot Topic open for this sketch comedy troupe at The PIT upstairs theatre: The Upset Triangle
[$] 7:00 ($5 & 2-drink min.): Real-life therapist Jude Treder-Wolff performing a one-man show about psychopaths and "how authentic a completely fake person can be" at the Broadway Comedy Club (318 West 53rd Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues): Crazytown
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisors Joe Bill, Ed Herbstman, Becky Drysdale, Kay Cannon, Christina Gausas, Brandon Gardner, Jed Resnik, and/or other stellar performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, and legendary Chicago improv institutions at UCB Chelsea all joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball
7:30 pm ($7): Improv veterans Mark Grenier, Louis Kornfeld, and Charlie Whitcroft at The Magnet making up a play on the spot: Theory of Everything
[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who's toured with Jerry Seinfeld for 10 years—and who Jerry hired to host The Marriage Ref—and has appeared numerous times on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, CBS, and Comedy Central headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Tom Papa
8:00 pm ($10): Two of the most respected PIT improv troupes performing on this weekly double-bill—and occasionally with comedy giants Kristen Schaal and/or Kurt Braunohler participating: Big Black Car and The Baldwins
8:00 pm ($5): From the producers of The Scene, improvisors make up one-act plays on the spot at The PIT downstairs lounge: Act One
[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Danny Lobell (Comical Radio), Selena Coppock (Connotation), Adam Chisnall (Killer Comedy), Trevor Williams (College Humor), Jesse Jones (Comedy BrewHaha), and Amanda Baramki (Arab Comedy Festival) performing stand-up at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Ray DeVito, Ben Kronberg, Nick Cobb, and/or Tim Dimond: Shoot the Shite
8:30 pm ($10): Erin Lennox (co-host of Fresh and The I Like You Too Show; for a sample of Erin's dynamite Seriously Sports show, please click here), Adam Newman (MTV, College Humor, comedy CD Not for Horses), Erik Bergstrom (cartoonist/author of Grimmer Tales, The New Yorker), Rob O'Reilly, Thomas Dale, and Danny Kallas performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Kara Klenk: If You Build It
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Improv troupe Grandma's Ashes—which includes stellar talents Ryan Karels, Morgan Grace Jarrett, and Brandon Scott Jones—promises to "take your stories of the tragic and depraved and scatter them into laughter" as this UCB Chelsea show: Grandma's Ashes Get Dark
[$] [DISCOUNTED] 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): Greer Barnes (Comedy Central; for problems he'd have being a black Batman, please click here), Andrew Schultz (MTV2's Guy Code), and more performing at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($7): Musical improv from one of The Magnet's best troupes: Choral Rage
9:30 pm ($15): "A cabaret of darkly funny songs and topical sketch comedy about culture and politics," following sold out shows at Joe's Pub and now enjoying a long run at The PIT upstairs theatre: Political Subversities
[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 10:00 pm ($15 both online and at the door using discount code SBWC, 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. Come to the Soho Playhouse tonight to see why BWC won a FringeNYC Award for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Event: Baby Wants Candy
[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($5): Comics performing as characters at The PIT downstairs lounge, with tonight's packed show featuring Arthur Meyer (Pangea 3000), Jen Curran (Harvard Sailing Team, The Baldwins), Beth Appel (UCBT), Scott Eckert (Big Black Car, The Faculty), Jeremy Bent (UCBT, Thank You Robot), Doug Smith (See You In Hell), Matt Hobby (New Exc!tement, Borealis), and Matt Little (Left Handed Radio), hosted by Rob Stern: Overload the Machine
[TOP PICK] [$] 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: Stand-up, sketch, and who knows what else at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by a stand-up/sketch duo: Team Submarine and Friends
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Ben Rodgers, Charlie Todd, Jim Santangeli, and/or other stellar improvisors at UCB Chelsea interview an audience member about where he or she grew up and then create an entire show based on the mini-bio: The Curfew: Not From Around Here
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($7): One of the my favorite writer/actress/improvisors, the brilliant and luminous Lauren Olson, teams with Jon Bander and Karsten Cross at The Magnet to perform at improv trio Mr. Gorsky
10:30 pm ($10): UCBT Harold Night improv troupe Airwolf makes stuff up at UCB East: Airwolf: Let's Go Back to Your Place
11:00 pm ($8): A young new all-guy improv troupe making stuff up at The PIT upstairs theatre: Gentlemen Party
Midnight ($5): Joe Pera (very funny deadpan comic; for reasons to hire Joe, please click here), Emily Heller (staff writer for Rooftop Comedy; for ruminations on pregnancy, please click here), Anthony P. Devito, Brad Austin, Robert Dean performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Adam Conover: Fresh Out
Midnight ($5): UCBT's longest running Harold Night troupe reunites for its Five Year Anniversary at UCB Chelsea to once more make up scenes on the spot: Bastian
[FREE] Midnight: A weekly chance for you to shine at The Magnet, as students and veteran improvisors share the stage to form "rare and wonderful one-night-only teams," with sign-up starting at 11:30 pm: Magnet Mixer
Midnight ($10): Typically disturbing and semi-obscene sketches at The PIT downstairs lounge from troupe FUCT
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 2/19/12
Jessi Klein is at Pretty Good Friends; Brooke Van Poppelen performs at Comedy at the Beauty Bar
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] 2:00 pm ($8): Select best clips of Muppets in films screened at Brooklyn's Union Hall, plus Muppet-themed drink specials, cool giveaways, sing-along fun, and more:" The Muppet Vault: Movies!
[FREE] 4:00 pm: An unusually early walk-in open mic stand-up show at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Face-Plant Comedy Showcase
[FREE] 5:30 pm: Improv duo The Bedtime Brothers begin by making up scenes based on an audience member's horrible dating or break-up experience, and end with scenes springboarding off an audience-supplied movie quote; and in between invited stand-ups and sketch comics perform. It all happens at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Love Sucks! Movies Rock!
[TOP PICK] 6:00 pm ($5): Stellar comics Adam Wade (two-time Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Champion (2006 & 2009) and record-breaking 17-time StorySlam Champion; The New York Times Magazine; host of hilarious monthly storytelling extravaganzas Tales of the Cosmos and The Adam Wade show; for Adam's award-winning tale of being an NBC page on Conan O'Brien, please click here), John Murray (30 Rock, Death by Roo Roo, Stone Cold Fox), and Frank Hejl (Dance Break, Onassis) participate in "a weekly podcast that assembles a new panel of comedians and weird characters to give funny advice, or at the very least relate to the people's problems with their own stories" at UCB East hosted by Andy Rocco: Here to Help
6:30 pm ($5): Two tough guys from the 1930s explaining the ins and outs of Hollywood at Magnet improv show Listen Kid!
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCB Chelsea's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000
7:30 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
[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): Jessi Klein (fresh, unique, deliciously organic comic who's one of the best stand-ups in the country; former staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, CNN, Adult Swim), Liam McEneaney (host of Tell Your Friends), and Michael Che performing stand-up at Brooklyn's Union Hall hosted by comedy giant Eugene Mirman: Pretty Good Friends
[FREE] 8:00 pm: Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central Presents, Jimmy Kimmel), Annie Lederman (Comedy Central), Danny Kallas, Matt Wayne, and more performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups lounge (83 First Avenue at 5th Street): Sunday Night Stand-Up
8:00 pm ($5): At The Magnet, a mini-play from Chris Nester & Ross Taylor about aspiring Country Western musicians: The Oakwood Boys
[FREE] 8:00 pm: "Funny people on the Internet being funny on stage" at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted by Mikala Bierma & Tyler Coates: IRL
[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing at The PIT downstairs lounge for a free weekly show typically hosted by Chris Grace: Cold Soda Comedy
9:00 pm ($5): Improv veterans Brandon Gardner, Chelsea Clarke, and Phillip Jackson hosting & performing in a show at UCB East with guest improvisors: Improv Nerds
[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups John Moses, Damien Lemon, Jacqueline Novak, Danny Kallas, and Joey Gay performing at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Avenue) with guest host Hadiyah Robinson: Comedy Night
[FREE] 9:00 pm: Brooke Van Poppelen (brilliant stand-up, writer, and storyteller; trutV, TLC, co-host of Dive Comedy; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here), Chris Waelti, Lucas Molandes. and Michael Sanchez performing stand-up in the East Village's Beauty Bar for this free weekly show hosted by Brad Austin, Nate Fridson, and/or Adam Sokol: Comedy at the Beauty Bar
9:30 pm ($5): NYC stand-ups (sadly, not announced this month; the Joe & Marina lineup listed is from way back last year...) perform sets at The PIT, and then improv troupe Before the Accident makes up scenes springboarding off the material, at Daws of Jeath
9:30 pm ($5): Jarret Berenstein performs a one-man show at The Magnet that "mixes stand-up, sketch, and poorly executed animation:" Boosh. Kla-Klau.
[FREE] 9:30 pm: 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: Ophira Eisenberg (brilliant storyteller with notable bangs; VH1, Showtime, host of TV pilot of The Liar Show), Liz Miele (Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central), Adam Lehman (Here! TV’s Hot Gay Comics), and Neil Thornton (host of Standup @ Rock Bar) performing stand-up at this free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour
Copyright © 2012 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
