NYC Comedy Picks for Week of March 21, 2011

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 3/21/11

The Onion Features Editor Joe Garden (Hot Tub Variety), and Colin Quinn (Whiplash)

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: Kevin Allison (legendary MTV sketch series The State, HBO, Comedy Central, VH1, host of award-winning storytelling show Risk!) hosts this free open mic show for storytellers, in which you can put your name in a hat for the chance to tell a five-minute true story...and if it's a good one, possibly be included in Kevin's popular podcasts on the Web: Risk! Storyslam

7:00 pm: Musical improv from two gals performing as troupe Warbucks

[FREE] 7:30 pm: Jamie Lee (MTV's Ridiculousness, Last Comic Standing), Hugh Moore (Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing), Joe List (Comedy Central), Kevin Barnett (College Humor), and David Lee Nelson performing stand-up at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub guest-hosted tonight by Miguel Dalmau (TruTv): Case of the Mondays Comedy

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($6.50 online or $8 at the door): Andrea Rosen (HBO's Flight of the Conchords, Comedy Central's Stella, Variety SHAC, superb UCBT one-woman show Ding Dong Meow, winner of the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Stand-Up), Joe Garden (Features Editor of The Onion, author of The New Vampire's Handbook), Roger Hailes (Comedy Central, MTV, written for Jimmy Fallon), and "a secret musical guest" 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): A double-bill of vibrant improv troupes: Neil Casey & Anthony Atamanuik make up an entire feature film as The Two-Man Movie; and Laura Grey & Jordan Klepper "explore the inevitably rich moments leading up to the act of coupling, and the fallout that follows" in Key Party

8:00 pm ($5): "Ever wonder how you become a writer for an Emmy winning TV show? So does J. D. Durkin. Since no one has told him, here is his one-man show performing all original material to become a writer for The Colbert Report. Durkin channels Colbert live on stage to present political punditry as only The PIT could do it...and only The PIT, since he was escorted off the Comedy Central premises:" Stephen Colbert: Hire Me

9:30 pm ($5): Two of UCBT's fine house sketch comedy troupes, Stone Cold Fox and Arbuckle, trying out new bits at Maude Night

9:30 pm ($5): Young, adorable performers make up a musical on the spot as Zamboni Musical Improv

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest stand-ups in the world—who tonight include John Mulaney, Colin Quinn, Christian Finnegan, and Jamie Lee—hosted by the wonderful Chris Gethard (star of Comedy Central sitcom Big Lake; The Stepfathers, The Nights of Our Lives, The Chris Gethard Show, author of book Weird New York) 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 3/22/11

Kristen Schaal plays it rough tonight at Sweet

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): Six improvisors play themselves on stage (similar to Naked in a Fishbowl) in Self Image; and in the second half of this double-bill, Jenny Dunne and Rick Andrews improvise a single moment in two characters' lives again and again, exploring three parallel realities, and the difference that a look or tone can make, in The Cascade

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Superb veteran improvisors—including Tara Copeland, Matt Higgins, and Matt Oberg—performing as new troupe HugeTown

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm ($5): Comics creator Jesse Blaze Snider, plus lots of news from the just-concluded Chicago Comics Con related by super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club

8:00 pm to Midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Standard Oil, CAPTCHA, Ragnaröck, Sandino, and Grandma's Ashes; and at 11:00 pm improv from advanced UCBT students—all at Harold Night

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($35.50): Mike Birbiglia's credits include the hour-long Comedy Central special What I Should Have Said is Nothing; two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; multiple appearances on David Letterman and Conan O'Brien; comedy CDs Two Drink Mike and My Secret Public Journal—Live; the book Sleepwalk with Me & Other Painfully True Stories; and his hit off-Broadway show Sleepwalk with Me. He's doing the stage thing again,performing an all-new one-man show at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street, just one block from the #1 subway's Christopher Street stop) slated to run through May 15th: Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend's Boyfriend

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Kyle Bostic, Tim Warner, and Killer Kelly Dwyer performing at Cellar 58 (58 Second Avenue) hosted by the delightful Abbi Crutchfield and comedic rapper Andrew Singer: Positively Awesome

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: Tambourine & The Sound and the Fury

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): TV & movie star Kristen Schaal (one of the funniest women alive; shining star correspondent on The Daily Show; co-star of HBO's Flight of the Conchords; Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets; award-winning co-host of Hot Tub Variety; co-author of bestselling book The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex), Jordan Rubin (writer for the Oscars and the MTV Movie Awards), Colin Jost (staff writer for SNL; Jimmy Fallon), and more performing at Ella (9 Avenue A) hosted by the wonderful Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet

[FREE] 9:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Nat Towsen, Aaron Glaser, David Cope, Stephanie Fagan, and Joe Pera performing at The PIT's basement lounge with host Bob Walles (The Moon Show): Moonshine

9:30 pm ($5): Mike Lane, Nunzio Randazzo, and Amos Vernon performing sketch comedy at troupe Boat

[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 3/23/11

2011 ECNY Best Stand-Up winner Andrea Rosen will show off her range at her stellar one-woman show Ding Dong Meow,
while SNL's John Mulaney will kill with his special brand of observational comedy at his one-man show For the Hour

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] 8:00 pm ($5): Andrea Rosen is already famed as a comic—in fact, she recently won the prestigious 2011 ECNY Award for Best Stand-Up—but what's not as well-known is that Andrea's among the finest comedic storytellers in the country. This new one-woman show should fix that. It offers smart, fearless, hilarious material ranging from fast food you should avoid to the medicinal power of a boyfriend's penis. It also provides one of the sharpest comedic performances that will grace NYC this year (for which kudos are also deserved by the show's superb director, John Flynn). Plus if you sit in the first few rows, expect free home-baked cookies. Don't miss Andrea's unique blend of dark comedy and silliness: Ding Dong Meow...

...and in the other half of this double-bill, Dan St. Germain (quick-witted rising star; Jimmy Fallon, MTV) and Jared Logan (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central) do a show about history's most infamous rivalries that includes putting God on stage and hitting on Her for a date: They Hated Each Other

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($5.50 & 2-drink min.): Two of the finest stand-ups in the country, John Mulaney (writer/performer for Saturday Night Live; Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, VH1's Best Week Ever; for John's great bit on Weekend Update, please click here) and Jessi Klein (fresh, unique, deliciously organic comic; staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, CNN, Adult Swim), plus "a very special guest," and more performing for one night only at the Carolines Comedy Club with host Joe Mande: Above 14th Street

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5—which includes a free drink!): A blow-out lineup including 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.), 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), Eddie Pepitone (Conan O'Brien, The Sarah Silverman Program, Old School), and Dan Soder (Comedy Central) performing stand-up at The Creek in Queens' Long Island City with host Nick Turner: Monsters

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($15 online or at the door using code MOON): Star comedic storyteller Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents, winner of the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Storyteller) performing a smart, engaging, and often hilarious one-man show at PS 122 (150 First Avenue off 9th Street ) running through April 2nd: Tom Shillue is Supernormal

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($35.50): Mike Birbiglia's credits include the hour-long Comedy Central special What I Should Have Said is Nothing; two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; multiple appearances on David Letterman and Conan O'Brien; comedy CDs Two Drink Mike and My Secret Public Journal—Live; the book Sleepwalk with Me & Other Painfully True Stories; and his hit off-Broadway show Sleepwalk with Me. He's doing the stage thing again, performing an all-new one-man show at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street, just one block from the #1 subway's Christopher Street stop) slated to run through May 15th: Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend's Boyfriend

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Robin Gelfenbien (superb musical comic & storyteller; one-woman show My Salvation Has a First Name: A Wienermobile Journey), Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting (terrific sketch duo), Katey Healy-Wurzburg (energy-charged UCBT improvisor, ECNY nominee), Sean Crespo (The Electric Company), and Rob Crean performing at this free weekly show at the Luca Bar (119 St. Marks Place) hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink

[TOP PICK] 9:30 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 new improv duo who should not be missed: John & Scott

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: Brad Loekle, Shawn Hollenbach, Paul Case, Michelle Buteau, and more will roast host Adam Sank on his 40th birthday at the Bar-Tini Ultra Lounge (542 Tenth Avenue, between 40th & 41st Streets) in a special edition of That Sank Show

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): A writer/performer for Saturday Night Live (for a sample, please click here) who's also one of the very finest stand-ups in the country—with appearances on Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Presents, VH1's Best Week Ever, etc.—performing a deliciously long set tonight that's likely to leave you breathless with laughter and chuckling weeks later: John Mulaney: For the Hour

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 3/24/11

Janeane Garofalo (Comedy Below Canal) and Richard Lewis (Headlining at Carolines)

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] [$] 8:00 pm ($38.25 & 2-drink min.) A comedy star who's snared just about every major credit a comic can—and is a long-time cast member of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm—headlining tonight through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Richard Lewis

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Jordan Klepper and Laura Grey perform an acclaimed sketch show in which "they're bringing their baggage to the stage and dumping it all on you in Baggage; and in the other half of this double-bill, Abbi Jacobson (Broad City) "takes you through a journey of your first day at Camp Kweebec" in Welcome to Camp!

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Veteran improvisors Jesse Falcon (Mother) and Rachel Hamilton (30 Rock, Second City) perform as duo Hamilton & Falcon

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($35.50): Mike Birbiglia's credits include the hour-long Comedy Central special What I Should Have Said is Nothing; two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; multiple appearances on David Letterman and Conan O'Brien; comedy CDs Two Drink Mike and My Secret Public Journal—Live; the book Sleepwalk with Me & Other Painfully True Stories; and his hit off-Broadway show Sleepwalk with Me. He's doing the stage thing again, performing an all-new one-man show at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street, just one block from the #1 subway's Christopher Street stop) slated to run through May 15th: Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend's Boyfriend

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Terrific sketch duo Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting (Leah Rudick and Katie Hartman) host a comedy variety show, with tonight's stand-up & sketch guests Claudia Cogan (Last Comic Standing), Nat Towsen (co-host of The Moon Show), Dave and Ethan (Sketchfest NYC), and Andrea Alton as Molly Equality Dykeman (FringeNYC, Miss Fag Hag Pageant, co-host of Mortified) performing at The PIT's basement lounge: Daddy's Basement: A Comedy Variety Freakshow

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($12): TV & movie star Janeane Garofalo, amazing & award-winning comedic singer Adira Amram, and stand-ups Pat Stango (co-host of Don't Touch Me There), Giulia Rozzi (Jimmy Kimmel, MTV, VH1, Playgirl Magazine, co-host of Dive comedy and Stripped Stories), and Greg Walloch performing at Comedy Below Canal

[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 guest-host Jeffrey Josephs (while Sean Patton shares his gifts with other cities): Comedy as a Second Language

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Three of my favorite musical comedy performers—Jessica Delfino, Ben Lerman, and Jen Kwok—host this show revolving around "brand new songs based on a theme, special guests, surprises, and an improvised jam session featuring all of the evening's outstanding guests." Tonight's theme is Fooled; and the wonderful guests are Stuckey & Murray, Leibya Rogers, and Wayne Federman, all performing at Playlist with Jess, Ben, and Jen

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): The Emmy-winning writers of The Colbert Report gather on stage to perform an all-improvised show at Seize the Mustard

[FREE] 10:00 pm: A free debut screening of a new Web series starring Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting, Adam Newman, Peter Aguero, and singer Rachel Cole at The PIT's basement lounge: Connections

[$] 10:00 pm ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): All-star improv troupe The Stepfathers (Michael Delaney, Chris Gethard, Will Hines, Bobby Moynihan, Shannon O'Neill, Silvija Ozols, Andy Secunda, and Zach Woods) competing with stellar troupe The Law Firm for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 3/25/11

Movie superfans Kevin Maher & Tom Blunt host a not-to-be-missed collection of jaw-dropping film clips: Dream Sequences

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 ($8): Award-winning improv duo Lucas Kavner and Bradford Jordan make stuff up with "a celebrity guest improvisor' at Swords, while all-gal improvisors Alexis Saarela, Brigid Boyle, Elizabeth Findlay, and Ashley Ward perform as troupe Taco Supreme

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($12; buying online highly recommended because this will very likely sell out): An amazing array of oddball haunting film clips, plus a delightful set of guests—ranging from authors to harp players—guide you through some of Hollywood's worst nightmares and most enchanting fantasies, hosted by movie superfans Kevin Maher & Tom Blunt at 92 Y Tribeca for a show you'll probably remember for years to come (whether you want to or not...): Dream Sequences

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Mamrie Hart is a rising star who somehow manages to be razor-sharp yet immensely warm & accessible at the same time. Don't miss this rare talent, who seems to be getting better every month, with her comedy partner Stephen Soroka performing as Best of Friends in their new sketch show which educates you about how to effectively promote it when you tell all your pals to see it: BoF: It's Pronounced 'Boaf'!; and in the other half of this double-bill, a two-man sketch show from Two Fun Men

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($35.50): Mike Birbiglia's credits include the hour-long Comedy Central special What I Should Have Said is Nothing; two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; multiple appearances on David Letterman and Conan O'Brien; comedy CDs Two Drink Mike and My Secret Public Journal—Live; the book Sleepwalk with Me & Other Painfully True Stories; and his hit off-Broadway show Sleepwalk with Me. He's doing the stage thing again, performing an all-new one-man show at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street, just one block from the #1 subway's Christopher Street stop) slated to run through May 15th: Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend's Boyfriend

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Groundbreaking and highly acclaimed improvisors Matt Higgins, Jay Rhoderick, and Kevin Scott performing with a three-piece rock ensemble: Centralia

8:00 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

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Sharp NYC stand-ups (lineup not announced) performing at O'Hanlon's (14th Street off 1st Avenue): Hot Soup

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A star stand-up duo—whose numerous comedy credits include starring in their own MTV show Apartment 2F; performing a Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; guest-starring in an Emmy-winning episode of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, on Entourage, on ABC's Grey's Anatomy (as conjoined twins), and FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia; and performing in four seasons of ESPN's Cheap Seats—headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: The Sklar Brothers

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: "Jonathan Blank and Samara Doucette say what everyone else thinks on dates, but never says... so join them and guest comedians as they divulge all of their wildest and most embarrassing dating stories! This monthly storytelling show contains the truth and nothing but the truth. However, most of the stories are more surreal than if David Lynch directed romantic comedies. Everything from wild hookups to emotional breakups are on the table at This is Awkward

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

9:00 pm ($7): Duo improv set in the roarin' 1920s from David Levin & Alex Marino in The Cousins Zell

[TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($15): Always fresh and imaginative world-class sketch troupe that uses song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about awkward goodbyes at the end of a party, please click here) delivering a brand new collection of sketches titled Ms. Larsen's Class: The Harvard Sailing Team

10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical

10:30 pm ($10): Jonathan Gabrus, Sue Galloway, and other fine improvisors make up scenes about an audience member's legal dispute at The Law Firm: Law & Disorder

11:00 pm ($5): "Actors enter with cell phones, not knowing what the night will hold. Their job: To speak aloud whatever they hear through their earpieces. The phones start to ring and the real-time adventure begins. Spontaneous conversations, narrated journeys, and unique experiences overlap as the night's theme sporadically emerges: Line One

[FREE] 11:00 pm: A free show featuring stand-up and sketch comedy guests hosted by improv troupe Bad Luck Rising

11:30 pm ($5): Five women performing an improvised, and possibly tipsy, parody of The View at Focus

Midnight ($5): Sketch comedy troupes Hammerkatz NYU and Atomic Age compete for audience laughs and votes, with troupe Sidecar hosting, in Backyard Brawl

[$] 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 3/26/11

C. LeMar McLean (a.k.a. "What The Fuck Is This!") fights for the last time at tonight's epic UCBW WrestleSlamMania VI

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] 7:00 pm ($8; includes superb free home-baked cookies): Terrific NYC comics Dan St. Germaine, Emily Epstein, Beth Hoyt, H. Alan Scott, and Griffin Newman telling funny, poignant, and at times unforgettable tales about their relatives for a show hosted by Sara Benincasa (CBS, CNN, MTV, The Sarah Palin Vlogs): Family Hour with Auntie Sara

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisors Anthony King, Christina Gausas, Ed Herbstman, Becky Drysdale, and more—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors who've included writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—all joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball

7:30 pm ($7): Improv veterans Mark Grenier, Louis Kornfeld, and Charlie Whitcroft making up a play on the spot in Theory of Everything

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & 11:45 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A star stand-up duo—whose numerous comedy credits include starring in their own MTV show Apartment 2F; performing a Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; guest-starring in an Emmy-winning episode of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, on Entourage, on ABC's Grey's Anatomy (as conjoined twins), and FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia; and performing in four seasons of ESPN's Cheap Seats—headlining tonight at the Gotham Comedy Club: The Sklar Brothers

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($35.50): One of the finest comics in the country, Mike Birbiglia's credits include the hour-long Comedy Central special What I Should Have Said is Nothing; two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; multiple appearances on David Letterman and Conan O'Brien; comedy CDs Two Drink Mike and My Secret Public Journal—Live; the book Sleepwalk with Me & Other Painfully True Stories; and his hit off-Broadway show Sleepwalk with Me. Mike's now returned to the stage, once again creating his unique blend of stand-up and storytelling, for an all-new one-man show at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street, just one block from the #1 subway's Christopher Street stop) slated to run through May 15th: Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend's Boyfriend

[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

[TOP PICK] 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), DC Benny (Comedy Central Presents), Wil Sylvince (HBO, FOX), Dante Nero (Comedy Central), and more performing stand-up at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club's A-List

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

9:30 pm ($10): "A cabaret of darkly funny songs and topical sketch comedy about culture and politics," following sold out shows at Joe's Pub: 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 see why BWC won a FringeNYC Award for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Event by catching tonight's edition of Baby Wants Candy

[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): 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 (Statues of Liberty) and Leslie Korein as comedy trio Trike

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): "For over five years, you have been able to count on the UCBW to bring you hot comedy wrestling action each and every Thursday night at Cage Match. For an unprecedented sixth year, UCBW will present its signature show—the grandpappy of 'em all—WrestleSlamMania VI! Rivalries have been brewing, and everything will come to a full boil when the full stable of UCBW MegaStars appears in the squared circle! Hilarious wrestling matches live on Pay-Per-View! C. LeMar McLean (a.k.a. The Black Planet Marz) vows to retire after tonight! Get your tickets NOW! Only 14,000 seats available!:" WrestleSlamMania VI: The Final Orbit

[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 3/27/11

Stellar stand-ups perform at a surprisingly low-cost event to raise money for a very good cause: We Love You

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] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 5:00 pm ($18.50 online using discount code ADVANCE ): 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. Please read my review by clicking here, and then take advantage of this revival running Sundays through April 17th to experience the hilarious and unforgettable Faye Lane's Beauty Shop Stories

[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

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Stellar stand-ups Jessi Klein (fresh, unique, deliciously organic comic who's one of the best stand-ups in the country; staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, CNN, Adult Swim), Sara Schaefer (inventive, luminous comic; Emmy-nominated staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; VH1's Best Week Ever), Andrea Rosen (HBO's Flight of the Conchords, Comedy Central's Stella, Variety SHAC, winner of the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Stand-Up), Joe Mande (Comedy Central, VH1; co-host of Totally J/K; author of new book Look at This F*cking Hipster), and Jared Logan (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, co-host of Righteous Kill) performing an absurdly low-cost event hosted by Rose Surnow there's no good excuse to miss: We Love You: A Benefit for Planned Parenthood

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($38.25 & 2-drink min.) A comedy star who's snared just about every major credit a comic can—and is a long-time cast member of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm—headlining one last night at the Carolines Comedy Club: Richard Lewis

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($7): 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), a "special musical guest," and more performing at Brooklyn's Union Hall guest-hosted by Greg Johnson: Pretty Good Friends

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): "Strange, mysterious, beautiful, and disgusting, experience the minds of the Weird Sisters as they dazzle you with sketch comedy—and magic!" at the debut of The Weird Sisters Present...; and in the other half of this double-bill, sketch comedy that leaves the show description to the title and your imagination, from duo Dave & Carl: Zombies and Vikings

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Jamie Kilstein (Conan O'Brien), Jeff Wesselschmidt, Tim Warner, Annie Lederman, and more performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Adrienne Iapalucci, Neil Statsny, Jessie Richardson, and Rob Stern performing at The PIT's downstairs lounge for a free weekly show hosted by Chris Grace: Cold Soda Comedy

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: Chris "Shockwave" Sullivan (amazing human boombox; The Daily Show, The Electric Company, Freestyle Love Supreme, co-host of The BEATdown), 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), Claudia Cogan (Last Comic Standing, MTV, Logo, here! TV), Jamie Lee (Last Comic Standing), and Joyelle Nicole performing 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, Comedy Central): Comedy Night

[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not yet announced) performing in the East Village's Beauty Bar at Vince Averill's & Jesse Popp's free weekly show Beauty Bar Comedy

9:30 pm ($5): Two improv groups competing for audience laughs and votes—yes, like UCBT's Cage Match, but with less well-known troupes and an escalating challenge component—at Magnet Inferno

[FREE] 10:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not yet announced0 performing at this free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle (TruTV): 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

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