NYC Comedy Picks for Week of February 20, 2012

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 2/20/12

Comedy genius John Oliver will consider rolling around the floor for your amusement at the Morrison Motel...

...Lauren Conlin Adams stars in the smart comedic sketch play Pig: A Restaurant; and on the same double-bill,
Todd Bieber screens terrible TV commercials to create one of the best solo comedy shows in NYC: Commercial Interruption

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

7:00 pm ($5): Young improvisors at The PIT upstairs theatre make up a musical on the spot based on an audience suggestion: The Shady Bunch

7:00 pm ($5): An audience interactive one-woman show at The Magnet described as follows: "Tarot cards are an ancient system of divination, steeped in mystery and esoteric wisdom. Marcy Currier is a 33-year-old woman with a million ideas and an unreasonable point of view. Together, they will answer your questions about the great mysteries of life: love, sex, money, and getting the dishes done. This show is about you, so bring questions for...:" Tarot Live!

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

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Todd Bieber, the razor-sharp Director of Content & Production for UCBComedy.com, has had his video/film work viewed over 25 million times via such sites as YouTube.com, NewYorkTimes.com, and EntertainmentWeekly.com. But before his success, Todd spent a couple of years churning out, as he bluntly puts it, "shitty local commercials in rural Pennsylvania." If you're a filmmaker, a fan of ridiculously awful late-night TV ads, or someone who likes to laugh, come enjoy this fascinating and hilarious insider look at microbudget commercials and the creative process (for a trailer, please click here). Directed by UCBT Artistic Director Nate Dern, this debuted in December and was instantly one of the very best solo shows of 2011: Commercial Interruption...

...and in the second half of this UCB Chelsea double-bill, a sketch play about the opening of a trendy restaurant that serves nothing but pig (including "bacon-infused martinis"), written with wit and bite by Leila Cohan-Miccio (Stone Cold Fox), directed with style by Caitlin Bitzegaio (MTV, PBS, ESPN), and performed superbly by comedic actress Lauren Conlin Adams (keep an eye out for her Aurora, a hot and hilariously bubble-headed waitress): Pig: A Restaurant

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($9.47 online or $8 at the door): Superstar stand-up whose name I'm not allowed to say, but he's pale and tells a lot of jokes about food including Hot Pockets; plus Rory Scovel (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central), 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), Seth Herzog (staff comic for Jimmy Fallon; Comedy Central, CBS, VH1, film actor; host of Sweet), and Jackie Kashian performing at Brooklyn's Littlefield (622 Degraw Street) with guest host Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, co-host of ComedyJuice): Hot Tub Variety

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Some of the most talented women in NYC comedy—Adira Amram, Shannon O’Neill, Sasheer Zamata, Katina Corrao, Emily Heller, and more—performing at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted by Glennis McCarthy: Gorgeous Women

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Practicing for their upcoming 30-minute Comedy Central Presents specials are 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) and Nick Vatterott (Jimmy Fallon, MTV, Second City) at UCB East for this two-set edition of Comedy Central Corporate Retreat

8:00 pm ($5, which includes FREE BEER): Mike Recine, Phoebe Robinson, David Foster, Chris Doucette, and Corinne Fisher performing at this weekly show at Brooklyn's Matchless (557 Manhattan Avenue) hosted by Mike Denny, Michael Che, and/or Nimesh Patel, and featuring free beer: Broken Comedy

[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] 8:30 pm ($15 if you mention HyReviews.com [otherwise $20], which includes one drink; calling 212.989.9319 to reserve seats is highly recommended because this will sell out): John Oliver (star correspondent of The Daily Show, co-star of NBC's Community, star of Comedy Central's New York Stand-Up Show, screenwriter, and genius stand-up comic), Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central Presents, Jimmy Kimmel; just returned from India!), Liam McEneaney (host of Tell Your Friends), and more performing at the Cornelia Street Cafe for John Morrison's Morrison Motel

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Storytellers Elizabeth Blue, Gardiner Comfort, Eloise Eonnet, Chad Hoeppner, Phil Pickens, Matt Moses, and David Lee Nelson tells tales of New York at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted by Matt Dellapina: This Island

9:30 pm ($5): Two UCB Chelsea house sketch troupes try out fresh material: The Prom (which includes such talents as Sasheer Zamata, Stephen Soroka, Amber Nelson, and Ari Scott), and Everything Rabbits (which includes the lovely & uniquely hilarious Violet Krumbein): Maude Night: The Prom & Everything Rabbits

[FREE] 9:30 pm: "In moments of exhaustion, in the space of a hesitation, when a faltering spirit looms large, the sixth man comes off the bench and sparks a revolt against complacency and routine. The sixth man powers the team and washes over that faltering spirit with a cleansing energy. A show in which awesome teams are made even greater with the addition of a special guest improviser. Tag-ins, walk-ons, lay-ons, swinging doors, all manner of support work is allowed and encouraged" at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Andy Beckerman and Cory Palmer: Sixth Man

[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($5): After hosting her weekly comedy variety show for years in a shrunken venue, Sharon Spell tonight breaks out into the lovely UCB East theatre to present the delightful Reformed Whores (raunchy comedic singing duo Marie Cecile Anderson & Katy Frame), Ann Carr (Louie, The Actress), Mitch Magee (HBO's Funny or Die Presents), The Shrink Dancers, and more: The Big Shrink

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

10:00 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] 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 haven't yet been announced, but you can check for an update here—performing at UCB Chelsea hosted by I have no idea who (but probably someone great): 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 2/21/12

Ted Alexandro is at Sweet; Kumail Nanjiani is among the stars at ComedyJuice

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: 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 ($5): Lizz Winstead (Comedy Central Presents, The Daily Show, Air America), Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central Presents, Jimmy Kimmel), Charles Star (host of Adult Education), and Laura Prangley performing at Lolita Bar hosted by Liam McEneaney: Tell Your Friends

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Todd Glass (Last Comic Standing, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central), Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, host of ComedyJuice), Rory Scovel (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central), Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central Presents, Jimmy Kimmel), and Subhah Agarwal performing at UCB East for a comedy variety show produced by Sara Schaefer & Scott Moran: Hot Dang

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Comic book industry pros 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-Midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv at UCB Chelsea for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Sandino, Still Mike, Mr. Crime, Grandma's Ashes, and Deckard—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

8:00 pm ($5): Veteran improv troupe SidViscous debuts a change-of-pace scripted comedic play about "what happens when a gay single father gets caught in a lie and has to pretend his daughter is his wife whenever these mobsters are around, but can’t let his ex-wife or the private investigator she’s hired find out what he’s up to" at The PIT upstairs theatre: My Daughter, My Wife

[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] 8:30 pm ($5): Wyatt Cenac (star correspondent for The Daily Show), 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), sketch troupe Elephant Larry, accordianist Franz Nicolay, and more performing at Brooklyn's Union Pool (484 Union Avenue) along with sketches from Moon regulars Camille Harris, Jordan Clifford, Bryan Condon, James Beard, Tim Skinner, and Timothy Whitney, and hosts Nat Towsen & Bob Walles: The Moon Show

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: Aquarius & Rosencrantz

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Ted Alexandro (one of the very finest stand-ups in the country; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; frequently opens for Louis C.K.), Todd Glass (Last Comic Standing, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central), Jackie Kashian (Comedy Central Presents, NPR's This American LIfe), and Will Forte (Saturday Night Live alum, MacGruber) and more performing at Ella (9 Avenue A) hosted by Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, 30 Rock, VH1): Sweet

9:00 pm (no cover, one drink min.): Emily Heller, Selena Coppock, Noah Garfinkel, and Robert Dean performing stand-up on tonight's topic of Reincarnation for this weekly show at Sidewalk NYC (94 Avenue A) hosted by George Gordon: The Afterlife

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): An award-winning rock musical debuting a brief run at The PIT with a terrific mostly-gal cast, including its wonderful star and choreographer Ashley Wren Collins: Mother Eve's Secret Garden of Sensual Sisterhood

9:30 pm ($5): At this unique new comedic storytelling show, "each performer narrates while panelists interrupt and interject until the funniest truth comes out," with tonight's guests Micah Sherman (Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, The Scene), Nick Vatterott (Jimmy Fallon), and Nate Fernald (Team Submarine) at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Nina Mozes (Risk!, Stuckey & Murray): Please Interrupt Me

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15 & 2-drink min.) Al Madrigal (newest correspondent of The Daily Show), 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), Rory Scovel (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central), Jay Pharoah (cast member of Saturday Night Live), and Colin Jost (writer for Saturday Night Live) performing stand-up at the Gotham Comedy Club with host Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central): ComedyJuice

[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 Jena Friedman (wry dark comedy stand-up; staff writer for David Letterman), Victor Varnado (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central, NBC's My Name is Earl, Adult Swim, Comedy Central’s The Awkward Comedy Show; films Pluto Nash, End of Days, A Guy Thing), and Jim Santangeli (The Curfew) : The Tony and Johnny Show

[FREE] 10:00 pm: "Want to see your favorite stand-up comics get slapped by Satan himself? He only hosts bringer shows, but join Matt Wayne and Doug Smith as they step into the Big Man's shoes and put NYC's finest through comedy purgatory. Hula-hoops, celebrity impressions, unwanted audience participation, all incorporated into each performance! Will they triumph or will the nether world eat their souls? Come see for yourself in this monthly showcase" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre: See You in Hell

[FREE] 10:15 pm: In this free Magnet show, audience members can join in with musical improv troupe Rosencrantz 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 2/22/12

Comedic chameleon Livia Scott will resurrect Janis Joplin tonight,
while guest Chris Gethard will bring his own musical tastes, at Livia's Castle of Enchantment

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 Grappler, The Surge, The Wrath, Chet Watkins, Horses, Brick, Leviathan, and Featherweight performing improv, followed by a free audience interactive show with Leviathan at 11:30 pm: The Magnet's Megawatt

7:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The Vigilante (improvised musical performer backed by rock band), and stand-ups Rob O'reilly (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), Jason Marcus, and Tim Warner, performing at Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) with hosts Selena Coppock, Dan Cartwright, and Emily Epstein: 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

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): A beloved show that brings dead celebrities back to life is itself resurrected tonight at UCB Chelsea, as magical comedic chameleon Livia Scott (Conan O'Brien, Law & Order, Dirty Movie) hosts as Janis Joplin, accompanied by guests Chris Gethard (brilliant improvisor and comedic storyteller; star of Comedy Central sitcom Big Lake and Manhattan Cable Access' The Chris Gethard Show; The Stepfathers, The Nights of Our Lives, author of new bestseller A Bad Idea I'm About to Do and Weird New York) and sketch troupe Chess Club: Livia's Castle of Enchantment

[$] [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 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

[TOP PICK] 9:30 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, a witty and ultimately exhilarating exploration of baring it all by fabulous long-time nudist Julia Wiedeman (who I had the great fortune of seeing about a decade ago as she walked around with zero clothing, like a glorious tigress, in broad daylight on the streets of the East Village): Naked People

[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 delightful stand-up Katey Healy-Wurzburg (The Fascinator), delightful sketch comic Andrée Vermeulen (visiting from LA), and delightful hosts Sasheer Zamata (Doppelganger, The Prom) and Matt Fisher (The Law Firm, Sidecar); 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 2/23/12

A movie star & killer great impressionist headlines tonight through Sunday at Carolines: Kevin Pollak ...

...and genius comedic storytellers Dave Hill & Chris Gethard perform for the wonderful Leslie Goshko's Sideshow Goshko

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: Seth Lind (NPR's This American Life, host of Told) 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!

6:00 pm ($5): Three shows about which I know nothing audition for a regular spot on the prestigious UCB Chelsea schedule: The State vs. Josh: The Trial of the Millenials, Murder Abbey, and The Spin: Improvised Political. These might be great or awful; but at $1.66 per show, you can't go far wrong either way. That's part of the fun of Spank

[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

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($12): Two of the finest storytellers in the world, Chris Gethard and Dave Hill, are among the performers joining host Leslie Goshko (delightful storyteller/stand-up; WNYC, Sirius XM, Manhattan Monologue champion) for this unique storytelling show at 92YTribeca (200 Hudson Street) that features such charms as accordion playing by Dr. Michelle-Leona Godin: Sideshow Goshko

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

[FREE] 7:00 pm: In this free Magnet show, audience members (signing in at 6:00) can join in with improv troupe Hello Laser 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 (awesome Chicago-style improv show Lights Out, Shirley!), 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] 7:30 pm ($5): Sketch comics Mary Grill, Team Submarine, and Todd Womack join terrific sketch duo Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting (Leah Rudick and Katie Hartman) performing at The PIT basement lounge: Daddy's Basement: A Comedy Variety Freakshow

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

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($35 & 2-item min.): A razor-sharp comic and pitch-perfect impressionist who's also a movie star in such classics as The Usual Suspects headlining tonight through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Kevin Pollak

[$] 8:00 pm ($15...because it's a fundraiser for Gilda's Club): Two singing improv troupes make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT upstairs theatre: Frogmen and Harvey

[FREE] 8:00 pm: "A stand-up comedy showcase and baking competition—come to eat or come to compete" at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Cody Hess & Jessica Gross: Cookies!

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): The Magnet's Night Out

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): 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), Jackie Kashian (Comedy Central Presents, Last Comic Standing), and Alex Koll (Comedy Central) performing at UCB East with best bud hosts Noah Garfinkel & Joe Mande (author of Look At This F*cking Hipster): Totally J/K

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00ish pm: Terrific NYC stand-ups (the lineup is typically announced by 3:00 pm; for an update, please click here) performing on this 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 (no cover, 1-item min.): Nick Vatterott (Jimmy Fallon, MTV, Second City), Phoebe Robinson, Rob O'Reilly, and Eli Grober 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 ($10): Scott Rogowsky (writer for The Onion, co-host of 12 Angry Mascots) hosts "a unique talk show experience that needs to be experienced to be experienced. There will be plenty of bits, skits, chits and chats, and maybe that pretty girl you saw on the 6 train last night will be in the audience! It's a big city, but you run into people," including tonight's guests Charlie Todd (ImprovEverywhere), Al Jacobs, Joe Moses, and Matt Koff performing at 92YTribeca (200 Hudson Street): Running Late with Scott Rogowsky

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Top comics and comedic storytellers (unusually, not announced) performing at The PIT upstairs theatre to share tales on tonight's theme Betrayal at one of the finest storytelling shows in the country: Risk!

9:30 pm ($5): If you're a fan of CollegeHumor.com, you can see the folks behind it on the UCB West stage—along with stand-ups Streeter Seidell, Adam Newman, Aaron Glaser, David Cope, and more—at CollegeHumor Live

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: The debut of a variety show featuring stand-up, sketch, improv, and music at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Chris O’Neil & Anna Suzuki: All Aboard the Holland America

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Improv troupe Fuck That Shit has steamrolled over four challengers in a row—which is especially impressive since the latter have included some powerhouse talents. Tonight's likely victim of FTS is improv troupe North Coast, as they compete for audience laughs and votes at UCB Chelsea for the raucous Cage Match

11:00 pm ($5): NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing at UCB East hosted by Amber Nelson and Rob Stern: Late Night Stand

11:00 pm ($5): NYC stand-ups (not announced) bringing their A-game—because their sets are captured at this monthly show as audition tapes—performing at The PIT downstairs lounge: The Grass Route

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 2/24/12

Kevin Pollak headlines at Carolines; Molly Lloyd is among the stellar cast members of Stone Cold Fox: 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:

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 5:30 pm: Comics perform solo sketches, monologues, etc. as characters at The PIT upstairs theatre: It's a Character Thing

[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

7:00 pm ($5): At this PIT double-bill, 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" as Hodapp & Rothwell, and then all-gal improvisors Alexis Saarela, Brigid Boyle, Elizabeth Findlay, and Ashley Ward perform as troupe Taco Supreme

7:00 pm ($5): All-gal Improvisors who've previously created viral sketch videos performing at The PIT downstairs lounge (and why this venue would "pit" two rare all-gal improv troupes opposite each other—see directly above—instead of placing them back to back is beyond me, but I hope a bit more thought goes into scheduling in the future...): Candy Slice Comedy

7:00 pm ($7): Improv at The Magnet 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

[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 one of the finest in comedy, with each performer strong enough for potential stardom; and, at their best, the troupe's writers sizzle too. Both strengths are evident in Crisistown, an interactive sketch show in which the audience is periodically asked to choose which of two paths it wants to go down next. This highly playful approach puts you in charge; and it also tempts you to see the show repeatedly (just as you might return to a favorite improv group week after week), because each performance is a never-to-be-repeated event. The down side is a vast amount of writing is needed to cover every possible audience-driven scenario...which means select scenes can end up sloppy and dull. That actually was a huge problem on opening night, following a "Kevin Costner" storyline. But now that the production's had time to mature, it's delivering gold (though you might consider playing it safe and voting for the "giant mice" story just in case the Costner material hasn't been entirely cleaned up...). A vibrant, brilliant cast and mostly terrific comedy writing—plus what was probably a near-superhuman directorial effort by comedy giant Shannon O'Neil—equals a wonderful way to kick off your Friday evening: Stone Cold Fox: Crisistown

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): Sharp improvisors at UCB East making up a musical on the spot: Diamond Lion

[$] [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?

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($35 & 2-item min.): A razor-sharp comic and pitch-perfect impressionist who's also a movie star in such classics as The Usual Suspects headlining tonight through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Kevin Pollak

[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 ($7): Veteran improv duo Megan Gray & Louis Kornfeld are joined at The Magnet by improv star Christina Gausas (Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report, Let's Have a Ball) for this monthly event: Gausas & MegaLou

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm ($15):Actor/storyteller John Grady (Blue Man Group; one-man show Spalding Gray: Stories Left To Tell; NPR; Moth champion) performs a one-man show at The Kraine Theatre (85 East 4th Street, off Second Avenue) about "the peculiar and misguided true adventures of a man and his therapy dog; a tale of true love and overcoming obstacles, while staring fear in the face:" Fear Factor: Canine Edition

[$] 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.):A TV movie star who was a cast member of Mad TV, and has also performed on NBC and HBO, headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Aries Spears

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from UCB Chelsea's all-star members of The Stepfathers

9:00 pm ($10): The writers and correspondents of Web site HelloGiggles.com performing at UCB East, with this month's theme The Sweetheart Special

[$] [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): DC Benny, Mike Yard, Dan Soder, and more performing stand-up at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club

9:30 pm ($10): A PIT improv troupe making up a musical on the spot after a friendly greeting: Hello

9:30 pm ($5): A comedy variety show featuring stand-up, improv, character scenes, music, and more from a variety of NYC comic at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Michael Newman: Minority Report

[FREE] 10:00 pm: The 2012 debut of an annual comedy tournament featuring 40 improv groups...only one of which will survive. Tonight four improv troupes battle for superiority, pride, and glory at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by James Ferrarella: The Arena 2012 Premiere

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, Matt Fisher, Craig Rowin, Nate Lang, 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 ($10): 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

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): "Jack Dishel is best known as a songwriter and musician, touring all over the world performing as Only Son and also playing lead guitar in The Moldy Peaches. This year he's exploded onto the comedy scene, doing a two-month run of hour-long shows at the Sidewalk Cafe—without ever repeating material. It’s sometimes hilarious, sometimes dark, but always interesting. Whether speaking as one of his many characters or in his own voice, his ideas come through loud and clear, and it’s a fast hour. Let's see what happens when Dishel brings the drunken night club insanity into The PIT downstairs lounge:" Jack Dishel: Party of One

11:00 pm ($5): NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted by Danny Jolles: Danny's Funhouse

[TOP PICK] 11:30 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, sketch/improv duo Klepper & Grey): The Friday Night Sh*w

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): Improv is dominated by guys...and for no good reason. A way to help remedy this situation are shows like this one, which is an open improv jam for any gal wanting to participate, at any experience level. This new monthly UCB Chelsea event is helmed by the wonderful Shannon O'Neill (The Stepfathers): The Lady Jam

[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

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 2/25/12

Week after week, world-class improv is delivered by the stars at Death by Roo Roo; Kevin Pollak continues to slay at Carolines;
and week after week, a stellar comedy troupe makes up a musical on the spot at Baby Wants Candy

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

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

6:00 pm ($5): Improv troupes GCA, Ryanna, and Double Date at The Magnet kicking off your Saturday evening: The Rundown

[FREE] 7:00 pm: Comedic storytelling at The Creek in Queens' Long Island City with host Eugene Aston-Gonzalez: 1001 Nights

7:00 pm ($5): Improvisors Jeremy Bent, Seth Lind, Matt Little, Chris Scott, and John Robert Wilson celebrate their Fifth Year Anniversary as a troupe at UCB East along with surprise guests: Thank You Robot 5th Year Anniversary

[FREE...plus FREE DINNER!] 7:00 pm: NYC stand-ups David Sidorov, Jack Quaid, Hallie Haglund, Andrew Tavin, Mookie Thompson, and Lucas Molandes performing at CultureFix (9 Clinton Street; take F subway to Delancey or J/M/Z to Essex) hosted by Aaron Glaser & Danny Jolles...plus "come at 6:30 and get some free dinner! CultureFix opens its one pot staff dinner to the public, but you gotta get there early cause it goes fast. Last time it was shrimp stew over grits; CultureFix does not fuck around:" Comedy Night at CultureFix

[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 & 10:30 pm ($35 & 2-item min.): A razor-sharp comic and pitch-perfect impressionist who's also a movie star in such classics as The Usual Suspects headlining tonight and Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Kevin Pollak

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

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC comics performing at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City for this talk & stand-up show hosted by Sarah Tollemache: Last Night

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & 11:45 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.):A TV movie star who was a cast member of Mad TV, and has also performed on NBC and HBO, headlining tonight at the Gotham Comedy Club: Aries Spears

8:30 pm ($10): Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, host of ComedyJuice), Nick Vatterott (Jimmy Fallon, MTV, Second City), Jackie Kashian (Comedy Central Presents, Last Comic Standing), Roger Hailes (Chappelle's Show, VH1, MTV; writer for FUSE's A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus), and Chris Wilkes (SNL, Thunder Gulch) performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Kara Klenk: If You Build It

[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

[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

9:30 pm ($5): Sketch comedy from a troupe born in a Boston college but tonight performing at at The PIT downstairs lounge: Astronaut Theatre

[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] [FREE] 10:00 pm: Sharp NYC stand-ups are invited to perform anything except stand-up—e.g., sketch, storytelling, improv, songs, dance, puppetry, and things we can't even imagine—at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with hosts Kelly Fastuca, Reid Faylor, and Andrew Short: Underbelly

[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

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Charlie Todd, Jim Santangeli, D'Arcy Carden, 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

10:30 pm ($10): UCBT Harold Night improv troupe Airwolf makes stuff up at UCB East: Airwolf: Let's Go Back to Your Place

10:30 pm ($7): Vibrant improv at The Magnet from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney as comedy duo Trike

11:00 pm ($5): Four sketch troupes compete for audience approval at The PIT, hosted by Bleak Comedy: Iron Sketch

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): A talk show at UCB East hosted by the razor-sharp writer/performers of Pangea 3000 (who also write for The Onion), with guests Steve Saturn (actor), Michael Che (stand-up), and Amy Vlastelica (junior exhibition & lighting designer at the American Museum of Natural History): The Night Night Show with Pangea 3000

Midnight ($5): Two sketch troupes, Dinner For One and Gentleman Party, competing for audience laughs and votes at UCB Chelsea hosted by sketch troupe Sidecar: Backyard Brawl

[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

[FREE] Midnight: NYC stand-ups (not announced) participate in the fake taping of a bad late-night TV comedy show at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with host Brad Steuernagel: Comedians Off Of the Leash

Midnight ($10): Typically disturbing and semi-obscene sketches at The PIT downstairs lounge from troupe FUCT

NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 2/26/12

Enjoy The Oscars tonight with snarky comics at The PIT or very gay comics at Therapy

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] [$] 1:00 pm ($15):Actor/storyteller John Grady (Blue Man Group; one-man show Spalding Gray: Stories Left To Tell; NPR; Moth champion) performs a one-man show at The Kraine Theatre (85 East 4th Street, off Second Avenue) about "the peculiar and misguided true adventures of a man and his therapy dog; a tale of true love and overcoming obstacles, while staring fear in the face:" Fear Factor: Canine Edition

[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

6:00 pm ($5): The debut of a sketch comedy radio show/podcast live on the UCB East stage, with tonight's guests Kelly Hudson, Kate Riley, Riley Soloner, and Vacation Jason Killer and regulars Adam Bozarth, Dan Chamberlain, Matt Little, Taylor Moore, and Anna Rubanova: Left Handed Radio

[FREE] 6:00 pm: "Are ready for something sweet and something spicy? Long form improv that will satisfy your hunger" hosted by sharp UCBT comic Andy Rocco at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: The Candy Taco Improv Hour

[FREE] 6:30 pm: Magnet sketch comics performing new material: Ripe Sketch Comedy

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): Instead of watching tonight's Academy Awards by yourself at home, why not see it with an audience at The PIT upstairs theatre and enjoy a bunch of comics making fun of it throughout? The latter will include J Hobart, Chris Grace, and Scott Eckert as the hosts, plus some surprise guests: The Oscar Show

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:00 pm: Instead of watching tonight's Academy Awards by yourself at home, why not see it with a very gay audience at Therapy hosted by stand-up Brad Loekle? "To add to the drama, let’s bet on it: whoever’s Oscar ballot has the most correct predictions will win a cash Grand Prize! There'll also be trivia drinking games, snacks to help keep you going all night, and two of Brad’s favorite muscle boys helping to serve up pure beefcake and Oscar Mayer Wiener!" It all happens at the Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour: The Oscars Edition

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm ($35 & 2-item min.): A razor-sharp comic and pitch-perfect impressionist who's also a movie star in such classics as The Usual Suspects headlining one more night at the Carolines Comedy Club: Kevin Pollak

[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): 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) and more performing stand-up at Brooklyn's Union Hall guest-hosted by Greg Johnson: Pretty Good Friends

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Jackie Kashian (Comedy Central Presents, Last Comic Standing), Nick Vatterott (Jimmy Fallon, MTV, Second City), Sheng Wang (Comedy Central Presents), Barry Rothbart (Jay Leno, Comedy Central, IFC), Sean Crespo (Conan O'Brien, The Onion), and John F. O'Donnell (50 First Jokes) 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

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

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: Wyatt Cenac (star correspondent for The Daily Show), Baratunde Thurston (The Onion), Charlotte Macdonald, Alex Koll, and Kyle Bostic performing stand-up at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Avenue) hosted by the wonderful Hannibal Buress (staff writer for 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live; David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon, Louie, upcoming one-hour Comedy Central special): Comedy Night

[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Jaqi Furback, Neil Constantine, Nathan Anderson, and Mike Kaiser performing 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

[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

10:00 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

10:30 pm ($5): Magnet improvisors team up with poets at Kiss*Punch*Poem

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