NYC Comedy Picks for Week of July 11, 2011

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 7/11/11

Star Michael Showalter stands up at Marking Out, while stellar troupe Baby Wants Candy makes up a musical at UCBT

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 stand-up show running about 90 minutes at The Creek 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 17-time StorySlam Champion; The New York Times Magazine; host of The Adam Wade Show; for Adam's award-winning tale of being an NBC page on Conan O'Brien, please click here), along with guest storyteller Andy Ross, with improv illustrator Sharon Spell drawing scenes as they're described and the rockin' BTK Band following up at 9:00 pm, all at Under St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place, off First Avenue): The Adam Wade from New Hampshire Show: Tales of Life, Love, and Little League

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): Stellar stand-ups Marina Franklin (developing into one of the finest stand-ups in the country, with an uncommonly gentle, graceful style that's pure joy; Last Comic Standing, Chappelle's Show, VH1, Comedy Central's Premium Blend) and Joe DeRosa (HBO’s Bored to Death and Down and Dirty, Comedy Central Presents, co-host of Righteous Kill, comedy CD The Depression Auction) telling jokes, and then having improvisors make up scenes springboarding off the material, at Daws of Death

7:00 pm ($5): "From the invocation of a name pulled from the obituary pages, the recently deceased gets a final chance to have his or her story told on stage through a series of improvised scenes." Come celebrate the life and death of a complete stranger—good taste optional—at Dearly Beloved Presents The Wake

7:00 pm & 9:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ 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 9:30 pm—at the Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) for John Morrison's Motel Luca

[FREE] 7:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Micah Sherman & Nick Vatterott, Sarah Tollemache, Richard Mercier, Jason Kanter, Dan Carroll, and Jono Zalay performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub hosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): 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 see why BWC won a FringeNYC Award for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Event by catching this special near-free edition (vs. the usual $20 ticket price) of Baby Wants Candy

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($6.50 online or $8 at the door): Eugene Mirman (Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, HBO's Flight of the Conchords, VH1, Adult Swim; pioneer of NYC downtown comedy), Sara Benincasa (Sex and Other Human Activities podcast, host of Family Hour), Mark Normand (hilarious stand-up; Last Comic Standing; co-host of Hot Soup and We're All Friends Here), and JC Coccoli (MTV, VH1, G4) 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

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Michael Showalter (MTV's The State, comedy troupe Stella, writer/star of feature films The Baxter and Wet Hot American Summer and Comedy Central's Michael & MIchael Have Issues; author of bestselling new book Mr. Funny Pants), Joe Mande (Comedy Central, VH1; host of Joe Mande Presents at Carolines, co-host of Totally J/K; author of new book Look at This F*cking Hipster), Adam Lowitt (Producer at The Daily Show), and musical guests Toys & Tiny Instruments performing at The Ace Hotel's Liberty Hall (20 West 29th Street) hosted by Matt McCarthy (TV, movies, commercials, you name it): Marking Out

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): One of UCBT's very finest house sketch comedy troupes Dweeb,spearheaded by brilliant writer/actress Amy Heidt (new UCBT sketch show The Last Resort with Jeff Hiller) and writer/actor Steve Soroka (sketch troupe BoF with Mamrie Hart); plus in the other half of this double-bill house troupe Thunder Gulch, which has devolved to a pale shadow of its former self in terms of material, but includes such talents as Leslie Meisel and Amber Nelson—all trying out new bits at Maude Night

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:30 pm: Comedy genius Chris Gethard—who's one of the rare masters of both improv and stand-up—plus Micah Sherman, Jesse Popp, Maddog Mattern, and Yannis Pappis, in a show "where improv and stand-up bleeds in and out of each other. One comedian starts with stand-up. Soon he or she is joined by a second comedian—and the two improvise scenes inspired by the first comic's stand-up. Eventually the first comic leaves and the second comedian performs stand-up. When that set is over, her or she's joined by the first comedian and a third comedian. The three improvise scenes inspired by the second comedian's set. Then comedians one and two exit, and the third comedian performs his/her set until being joined by comedians one, two and a new fourth comedian...and so on. The process continues till we run out of comedians stashed backstage." It's all the brainchild of Nick Vatterott, who hosts this bold & messy new format at The Creek in Queens' Long Island City: Klusterphuk

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Four sharp comedic talents each performing a monologue, with Matt Higgins (Centralia), Katie Northlich (four-time National Monologue Champion), Shawn Williams (National Monologue Champion), and Walter Murphy: The PIT-ologues

9:30 pm ($5): "A drama written by teen Jerome McDonough that teaches teens about the evils of alcohol abuse. A talented and twistedly funny group of adults (the Marumsco Valley Players) will present the hard-hitting play, stage directions and all—while under the influence!:" Alky

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the world—who tonight include John Mulaney (one of the finest stand-ups in the country; writer/performer for Saturday Night Live; Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Presents, VH1's Best Week Ever; for John's great bit on Weekend Update, please click here), Eric Andre (hilarious wild man; HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, TBS' Lopez Report, Comedy Central), Al Madrigal (The Daily Show), and Jesse Popp (co-host of NYC's Beauty Bar Comedy for over seven years, and now moving to LA to write for Conan O'Brien)—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (HBO, Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central) at 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 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 7/12/11

Top comics Julian McCullough, Sara Schaefer, Brooke Van Poppelen, and Ryan Hamilton comment on
cinematic scenes of NYC's destruction at Robbie Collier's fun new show at The Creek: Hey We Live There

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

7:00 pm ($5): Two tough guys from the 1930s will explain the ins and outs of Hollywood at improv show Listen Kid!; and duo improv from Snazzle Dazzle

[FREE] 7:00 pm: Open mic for comedy of all types (with sign-up starting at 6:00) at Queens LIC's The Creek hosted by Robert Dean: The Dean's List

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Jamal Igle (penciller for DC Comics) joins super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage for a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at The PIT's downstairs lounge: Comic Book Club

8:00 pm ($5): Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel), Rose Surnow, musical guest Eytan Mirsky, and more performing at the Lolita Bar for Liam McEneaney's Tell Your Friends

8:00 pm ($10): Jennifer Dziura performs a one-woman show about her experiences as a nude model, egg donor, subject of medical studies, and other ways to pay the rent, in answer to the question What Do Philosophy Students Do After College?

8:00 pm ($5; includes free tecate): "A panel of comedians give their hilarious takes on the more grim/sensational crime stories taken from NYC's daily newspapers. It's live comedy with a streak of yellow journalism and dark New York flavor" at Queens LIC's The Creek hosted by Pat Dixon (Comedy Central Presents): The New York City Crime Report

8:00 pm to Midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Mr. Crime, American Cousin, Sandino, Grandma's Ashes, and Airwolf, and at 11:00 pm advanced UCBT students making up theatrical plays on the spot—all at Harold Night

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: The Sound & The Fury and Rebound

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5):Matt Higgins (superb always-inventive comic; member of improv troupe Centralia); Tom Lennon & Ben Garant (The State, Reno 911), Wayne Federman (former writer for Jimmy Fallon; 40 Year Old Virgin, Step Brothers), and more performing at Ella (9 Avenue A) hosted by Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:30 pm: Some of the most inept movie scenes of New York City being destroyed by a natural disaster, with clips from Armageddon, Meteor and Deep Impact, guided by stellar stand-ups Sara Schaefer (inventive, luminous comic; Emmy-nominated staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; VH1's Best Week Ever; co-host of hit podcast You Had to Be There), Julian McCullough (fiercely funny rising star; Comedy Central Presents, MTV, VH1), Brooke Van Poppelen (brilliant stand-up, writer, and storyteller; blogger for trutV; TLC; co-host of Dive Comedy; for stand-up videos about overindulging at 30 and impersonating Morrisey, please click here and here), and Ryan Hamilton (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Last Comic Standing) at Queens LIC's The Creek downstairs lounge hosted by Robbie Collier: Hey We Live There!

[FREE] 10:15 pm: In this free show, audience members can join in with veteran musical improv talents 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 hosted with wit and energy by Jay Welch: Bring It

NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 7/13/11

Rich Vos and a fun mix of other comics tell stories for host Tom Shillue at Carolines,
while brilliant singer/songwriter Mindy Raf is a Comedy School Dropout

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

7:00 pm, 8:30 pm, and 10:00 pm ($5): Magnet house troupes performing improv, followed by a free show at 11:30 pm: The Magnet's Megawatt

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm ($11 & 2-drink min.): Star yarn-spinner Tom Shillue hosts a storytelling show with performances by an endrearing mix from our comedy community spectrum: Rich Vos, Kurt Braunohler, John Flynn, and Swords, all for one night only at—of all places—the Carolines Comedy Club: Tom Shillue's FunnyStory.biz

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Improv geniuses Gavin Speiller of Death By Roo Roo, Ben Rodgers of The Curfew, and Jonathan Gabrus of The Law Firm form one of the finest comedy troupes in NYC as Outlook of the Poet; plus in the other half of this double-bill, Chelsea Clarke & Brandon Gardner perform as the duo Improv Nerds

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Mindy Raf (brilliant singer/songwriter; VH1), Sara Schaefer (inventive, luminous comic; Emmy-nominated staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; VH1's Best Week Ever; co-host of hit podcast You Had to Be There), Abbi Crutchfield (MTV, VH1), and Annie Lederman (Comedy Central) performing stand-up at the East Village's Beauty Bar for Negin Farsad's & Amy Albert's free weekly show Comedy School Dropout

8:00 pm ($5—which includes a free beer!): Typically terrific NYC stand-ups (not announced this week) performing at The Creek in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Nick Turner: Monsters

[FREE] 9:00ish pm: Carla Rhodes (acclaimed ventriloquist), Calvin S. Cato (Game Show Network), Boris Khaykin (Comedy Central's Atom TV), Kristeen von Hagen (Showtime's Comics Without Borders), and Rae Sanni performing at this free weekly show at the Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink

9:15 pm ($5 if you say the code Not Guilty, What? at the door): Stand-up Adam Newman (College Humor), The People Sketch Association, and "a mystery guest from Toronto" performing at UNDER St. Marks for Sketch Block

9:30 pm ($5): A new UCBT sketch show by Ryan Karels: Radio Rogue; and in the other half of this double-bill, a mini-play that pleased the college-age audience I saw it with, but that I wish wasn't written to be so calculating and by-the-numbers (e.g., the ending was dead obvious within the first few minutes)...but is probably worth seeing if only for the genuinely fresh & funny tailor scene: Brad Sacks Gets a Handjob

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) providing 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. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible—and don't forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 7/14/11

Stars are headlining at the Carolines Comedy Club: For tonight only, Curb Your Enthusiasm's Susie Essman;
and for tonight through Sunday, 30 Rock's Judah Friedlander

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 stand-up with comics drawing names from a bucket, with each chosen one receiving three minutes at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Corby Haas

7:00 pm ($5): Lizzie Redner performs several odd characters in this one-woman show: Room Full of Bulldogs

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm ($20 & $15 food/drink min.): One of my favorite FringeNYC shows back in 2004—and which was later made into a movie!—about a husband who decides he wants his arms cut off. It's a mix of drama and very dark comedy...and well worth catching. This is a one-night-only staged reading as part of the gala FringeNYC 15th Anniversary All-Star Series at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, inside the West Bank Cafe (407 West 42nd Street, off Ninth Avenue): Armless

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm ($38.25 & 2-drink min.) A Curb Your Enthusiasm star and superb stand-up headlining at Carolines: Susie Essman

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): This revival of one of my all-time favorite UCBT shows involves a group of stellar comics taking an audience suggestion and, while sipping beers, telling personal tales related to it—with an emphasis on the ribald and ridiculous, just like what you'd want to hear from your friends while hanging out at a bar. The yarn spinning is great fun; but on top of that, when the performers hear a story that especially tickles them, they'll jump up and instantly create scenes revolving around it. And because these talents are razor-sharp improvisors, the results are hilarious. Just as a sidenote, this show used to include world-class storyteller Chris Gethard—and whenever Chris opened his mouth, everyone else went dead silent as if God was about to speak. (Yes, Chris is that respected by his peers.) Chris is no longer the lineup (he's too busy with his weekly TV series); but this is a fine show regardless thanks to such brilliant improvisors as Anthony King, Charlie Todd, Will Hines, John Frusciante, and Fran Gillespie, all at Happy Hour

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($8): Wonderful comic Kurt Braunohler "relates how he destroyed a 13-year relationship in the dumbest, most complicated way possible, with bar fights, naked men, walruses, and an audition for Sasha Baron Cohen" in the one-man show The Amish Guide to Fucking

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($7): Some of the Magnet Theatre's finest improvisors make up theatrical plays on the spot: Playhouse

[FREE] 9:00ish pm: Typically terrific NYC stand-ups 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

[FREE] 9:00ish pm: Jesse Popp (about to move to LA to write for Conan O'Brien), Reese Waters, Claudia Cogan, Craig Baldo, and Dan Goodman performing stand-up for this free monthly show at Brooklyn's Lincoln Park Tavern (49 Lincoln Road, between Flatbush & Ocean) hosted by Charles Star: Pant-Hoot Comedy

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Sara Benincasa (MTV, Sex and Other Human Activities podcast, host of Family Hour), and Joe DeVito (Last Comic Standing, Craig Ferguson, Chelsea Lately) joining sensual hosts Margot Leitman (VH1, Spike TV) and Giulia Rozzi (MTV, VH1.com) in telling true tales on tonight's theme "Dumped"—plus comedic songs from the wonderful Shayna Ferm—at the best sexy storytelling comedy show in NYC: Stripped Stories

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Steve Soroka has a talent for working with brilliant, beautiful women—e.g., Mamrie Hart in sketch duo BoF, and Amy Heidt in UCBT Maude team Dweeb. Tonight Steve does it again, teaming up with Jen Curran for an improvised relationship: An Evening with Jen & Steve

9:30 pm ($5): Improvisors (not announced) make up one-act plays on the spot at The PIT's basement lounger for The Scene

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($27.50 & 2-drink min.) Judah Friedlander is a hilarious stand-up and occasional agent of chaos. Judah is a cast member of 30 Rock, and has also performed on VH1’s Best Week Ever, HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, MTV’s Wonder Showzen, and NBC's The Tonight Show. In addition, Judah has acted in over 20 films, including such hit comedies as Meet the Parents, Zoolander, and Full Grown Men. Judah was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his role in American Splendor. When asked in an interview about his influences, Judah responded: "Audiences. They are often the forgotten ingredient in stand-up comedy. Stand-up is live entertainment, and a live audience is needed. Also, whatever is happening at the moment. I play off of that. The moment is a big influence. If you’re not playing the moment you’re not doing stand-up comedy–someone just reciting material but not responding with what’s going on in the room is not stand-up comedy." This playful, anarchic, in-the-moment comedy veteran—and author of the book How to Beat Up Anybody—is headlining tonight through Sunday at Carolines: Judah Friedlander

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Improv troupe Doppleganger has a history of toppling champions. So when it up against relatively young troupe Dance Break last week, it not only won but crushed, garnering a staggering 117 audience votes to a mere 16 for its opponent. Tonight the three gals of Doppleganger face a single opponent: Fran Gillespie. And it should be awesome. Come see these fierce competitors fight for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match

11:00 pm ($5): NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing at The PIT for this comedy club-style (i.e., long set) weekly show hosted by Harrison Greenbaum: The Big One

11:00 pm ($5): Magnet improv troupes Listen, Kid! and Great Lakes compete for audience laughs and votes—yes, like UCBT's Cage Match, but with a game-like challenge component—at Inspirado

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 7/15/11

J. K. Rowling is made acceptable for evangelical Christians tonight at A Harry Potter Musical...

....and—right here and now—the magical Mamrie Hart offers a transformative drink for Harry Potter fans

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 in Queens' Long Island City with hosts Mike Recine and Annie Lederman: The Shinebox

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:00 pm: Leslie Goshko (delightful storyteller/stand-up; Sirius XM, Manhattan Monologue champion) hosts this monthly storytelling show at the KGB Bar (85 East 4th Street, off Second Avenue), with tonight's stellar guests Margot Leitman (Conan O'Brien, VH1, Spike TV, co-host of sexy & funny Stripped Stories), Dan Allen (host of Sacapuntas!), Carter Edwards, and accordion playing by Dr. Michelle-Leona Godin: Sideshow Goshko

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($10): A beloved high-concept sketch troupe that delights in exploring silly ideas and wordplay (for example, demonstrating that a caveman and the Cookie Monster sound remarkably alike when saying such things as "Me have problem with subject/verb placement...") debuts an all-new show: Elephant Larry

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): Comedy veterans Laura Grey (stellar old-time radio style theatrical podcast Horrorgasm, sketch/improv duo Klepper & Grey), Jodi Lennon (Second City, Annoyance Theatre, iO, Exit 57), and Ari Voukydis (Conan O'Brien, VH1) performing an improvised play in What a Year!

7:00 pm ($7): "Strange, mysterious, beautiful, and disgusting, this show will dazzle you with sketch comedy... and magic!" by The Weird Sisters

[TOP PICK] 7:30 ($10): Achilles Stamatelaky (book & lyrics), Ari Scott (music), and Ryan Karels (director), along with hilarious UCBT performers such as Mike Still, Timothy Dunn, and Amber Petty, create a Harry Potter-based musical with proper Christian values in which witchcraft is evil and Jesus is good. "The audience is encouraged to bring Harry Potter books and Leonardo DiCaprio DVDs to the show, as there will be a book and DVD burning during the performance:" The Kirk Cameron Repertory Players Present: A Harry Potter Musical

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($20 online using discount code BBOX1): One of the very best shows at FringeNYC 2010 was an award-winning comedy from NYC's own Faye Lane, a luminous storyteller and singer who will charm your socks off—and possibly give you a moon pie to boot—at the Soho Playhouse's downstairs Huron Club. This marvelous event recently received a 2011 Bistro Award for Musical Comedy and 2011 MAC Award for Special Production. Please read my review by clicking here, watch Faye make a pecan pie by clicking here, and then take advantage of this revival running Friday nights to experience the hilarious and unforgettable Faye Lane's Beauty Shop Stories

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Eric Andre (hilarious wild man; HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, TBS' Lopez Report, Comedy Central), Mike Recine, Jamie Lee, Sean Wilkinson, and Avid Angelo performing stand-up at O'Hanlon's (14th Street off 1st Avenue) hosted by Mark Normand: Hot Soup

8:00 pm ($10): An improv troupe making up a musical on the spot after a friendly greeting: Hello

8:00 pm ($7): Comics Jon Bander and Dave Thunder vow to lose weight (in real life) while performing sketch scenes in this show over the next few weeks: M4: Comedy's Biggest Losers

[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

[$] 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.): An acclaimed stand-up who co-stars on IFC's Z Rock, and has also performed on truTV, TBS, and her own Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Lynne Koplitz

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: Eric Andre (hilarious wild man; HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, TBS' Lopez Report, Comedy Central), Matt McCarthy (Comedy Central, AMC, hilarious shorts with Pete Holmes for Front Page Films, national TV ads as Verizon FIOS guy, feature film The Other Guys), Vince Averill (Comedy Central, host of Beauty Bar Comedy), Kara Klenk, and brilliant singer/songwriter Shayna Ferm performing at Brooklyn's Red Star Bar (37 Greenpoint Avenue) for hosts Nick Turner's & Jason Saenz's Too Cool for School

9:00 pm ($7): "In March of 2009 a gaggle of performers were born. Some died, some wandered off into the woods, others went to work in the private sector. Those that remained grew strong by feeding on the nectar of specific choices and the gruel of strong character work. The 2-year-old terror that exists today is akin to watching a Tsunami of hair and teeth attack a baby Blue Whale and destroy it with the will of a thousand hungry Burnese Mountain Dogs. What does it all mean? We don't know." In other words, improv from Chet Watkins

[TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($15): A fresh, imaginative, and award-winning sketch troupe using song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about how boys will be girls, please click here): The Harvard Sailing Team

[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors, including the breathtakingly talented Tara Copeland, using an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:30 pm ($27.50 & 2-drink min.) Judah Friedlander is a hilarious stand-up and occasional agent of chaos. Judah is a cast member of 30 Rock, and has also performed on VH1’s Best Week Ever, HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, MTV’s Wonder Showzen, and NBC's The Tonight Show. In addition, Judah has acted in over 20 films, including such hit comedies as Meet the Parents, Zoolander, and Full Grown Men. Judah was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his role in American Splendor. When asked in an interview about his influences, Judah responded: "Audiences. They are often the forgotten ingredient in stand-up comedy. Stand-up is live entertainment, and a live audience is needed. Also, whatever is happening at the moment. I play off of that. The moment is a big influence. If you’re not playing the moment you’re not doing stand-up comedy–someone just reciting material but not responding with what’s going on in the room is not stand-up comedy." This playful, anarchic, in-the-moment comedy veteran—and author of the book How to Beat Up Anybody—is headlining tonight through Sunday at Carolines: Judah Friedlander

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Comedy genius Thomas Middleditch (when he's not in LA), Nate Lang, Craig Rowin, Matt Fisher, Fran Gillespie Sue Galloway, and other superb improvisors make up scenes about an audience member's legal dispute at The Law Firm: Law & Disorder

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($8): J Hobart and Grace Helbig welcome NYC talents for a morning chat show...that's happening late at night. Tonight's guests include Kurt Braunohler (Comedy Central; creator & host of IFC game show Pointless; co-creator & co-star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets; co-host of Hot Tub Variety; triple 2011 ECNY Award winner), Mike O'Gorman (Comedy Central's Ugly Americans), and musical guest Shonali Bhowmik (Tigers and Monkeys, Variety SHAC): The Morning Show with Hobart and Grace

Midnight ($5): Young UCBT improvisors make up scenes as Harry Potter characters: The Hogwarts Improvisation Society

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 7/16/11

Andy Christie both performs at and host tonight's Liar Show; Judah Friedlander headlines at Carolines

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] [$] 6:00 pm ($15, which includes 1 drink; reservations highly recommended by calling 212.989.9319): Four funny people tell amazing stories. Three of the tales are absolutely true...but one of them is a pack of lies. The audience then asks questions to try and identify the fibber—and everyone who does gets a free t-shirt! This evening's yarn-spinners are Ophira Eisenberg (brilliant storyteller and sharp stand-up with notable bangs; Comedy Central, VH1, Showtime, host of TV pilot of The Liar Show), Kambri Crews (author of upcoming Jan. 2012 memoir Burn Down the Ground; comedy publicist), Ryan Britt (Nerve.com), and Andy Christie (The New York Times, NPR, Moth GrandSlam Champion, exceptionally nice guy). Come to the West Village's Cornelia Street Cafe (29 Cornelia Street) and let host Andy Christie attempt to mislead you at The Liar Show

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisors Anthony King, Joe Bill, Ed Herbstman, Becky Drysdale, Kay Cannon, Christina Gausas, and other stellar performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, and legendary Chicago improv institutions—all joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($27.50 & 2-drink min.) Judah Friedlander is a hilarious stand-up and occasional agent of chaos. Judah is a cast member of 30 Rock, and has also performed on VH1’s Best Week Ever, HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, MTV’s Wonder Showzen, and NBC's The Tonight Show. In addition, Judah has acted in over 20 films, including such hit comedies as Meet the Parents, Zoolander, and Full Grown Men. Judah was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his role in American Splendor. When asked in an interview about his influences, Judah responded: "Audiences. They are often the forgotten ingredient in stand-up comedy. Stand-up is live entertainment, and a live audience is needed. Also, whatever is happening at the moment. I play off of that. The moment is a big influence. If you’re not playing the moment you’re not doing stand-up comedy–someone just reciting material but not responding with what’s going on in the room is not stand-up comedy." This playful, anarchic, in-the-moment comedy veteran—and author of the book How to Beat Up Anybody—is headlining tonight through Sunday at Carolines: Judah Friedlander

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.): An acclaimed stand-up who co-stars on IFC's Z Rock, and has also performed on truTV, TBS, and her own Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, headlining tonight at the Gotham Comedy Club: Lynne Koplitz

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Raunchy singer Ben Lerman, and stand-ups Matt McCarthy, Pat O'Shea, and George Gordon, performing at The Creek downstairs lounge in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Ray DeVito, Ben Kronberg, Nick Cobb, and Tim Dimond: Shoot the Shite

[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—genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo

9:00 pm ($7): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): One of the most award-winning sketch troupes in the country, and a highly popular sketch troupe singing about politics, in a one-night-only double-bill: The Harvard Sailing Team and Political Subversities

[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): An all-star improv troupe led by brilliant UCBT artistic director Anthony King interviews an audience member about where he or she grew up and then creates an entire show based on the mini-bio: The Curfew: Not From Around Here

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

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): " It's revenge. It's vengeance. It's hot comedy wrestling action as only the UCBW can bring you. Don't miss a night of hilarious characters beating the shit out of each other. Get your tickets NOW! Only 14,000 seats available!:" UCBW: Revengeance

[FREE] Midnight: NYC stand-ups James Adomian, Barry Rothbart, Adam Newman, and more at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City, with hosts Andy Haynes & Nick Turner promising "a rowdy late night comedy melee with beers being thrown, jokes being told, partial nudity, audience participation...there's no telling what might happen:" Midnight Run

[FREE] Midnight: A weekly chance for you to shine, 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

NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 7/17/11

Judah Friedlander has been known to seek out audience members neglecting to see his show.
This is your final chance to avoid that fate as Judah headlines one last night at Carolines

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy today & tonight

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

[FREE] 2:00 pm: Leighann Lord (HBO, Showtime, ABC's The View, Comedy Central), Jim Mendrinos (HBO, Comedy Central; author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Comedy Writing), Phoebe Robinson (host of Case of the Mondays Comedy), Susan Prekel (Comedy Central), and Jermaine Fowler performing for a free outdoor show at Mineral Springs in Central Park: Laughter in the Park

[FREE] 4:00 pm: An unusually early walk-in open mic stand-up show (for details, please click here) at The Creek in Queens' Long Island City: Face-Plant Comedy Open

[FREE] 6:00 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 at The Creek in Queens' Long Island City: Love Sucks! Movies Rock!

8:00 pm ($5): A show auditioning for a run at The Magnet that's making life hard on itself by providing zero descriptive information behind this title: Life is Hard

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT'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

[FREE] 8:00 pm: 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), Barry Rothbart (TNT's Men of a Certain Age), Adam Newman (College Humor), Kara Klenk (host of If You Build It), and George Gordon performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Mark Normand (hilarious stand-up; Last Comic Standing; co-host of Hot Soup and We're All Friends Here), Will Hines (stellar improv/sketch comic; The Stepfathers), Justy Dodge, and George Gordon performing at The PIT's downstairs lounge for a free weekly show tonight guest-hosted by Amber Nelson: Cold Soda Comedy

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Sketch, improv, and more at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City from comedy troupe Froduce

[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced, but for a possible update please click here) performing at the East Village's Beauty Bar for Vince Averill's free weekly show Beauty Bar Comedy

9:30 pm ($5): A monthly screening of new short filmed sketch and comedy produced by members of the Magnet community: Flick Video Showcase

[FREE] 10:00 pm: Allison Castillo, Adam Lehman (Here! TV), and Shawn Hollenbach (Logo TV) performing stand-up at a free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour

[FREE] 10:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up, with 4 minutes per comic, at The PIT's downstairs lounge hosted by Rob Stern: Vicious Cycle

NYC Comedy Picks for Tonight

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