NYC Comedy Picks for Week of March 5, 2012

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 3/5/12

New Yorker editor David Remnick hosts a panel of the renowned magazine's newest cartoonists at The Future of Funny;
wonderful comedy writer Eric Drysdale (Daily Show, Colbert Report) performs at Hot Tub Variety...

...and true tales of young romance doomed to failure, accompanied by singing & piano playing
from the irresistible Camille Harris, at My High School Boyfriend Was Gay

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 upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with host Chris Gaynor: Open Mic Mondays

[FREE] 6:30 pm: Open-mic storytelling, with each of the four audience members chosen from the bucket of names getting to tell tales for 7 minutes each at The PIT downstairs lounge along with host Jake Hart: Storytelling Jam

[MEGA-TOP PICK] [FREE; but only a few tickets left, so show up way early if you want to get in...] 7:00 pm: David Remnick, Editor of The New Yorker, hosts a showcase of the beloved magazine's newest cartoonists at the Highline Ballroom (431 West 16th Street): The Future of Funny

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($10): Confessional storytelling about a first kiss, a first hook-up, and other traumatic events by the delightful Michelle Markowitz & Saida Cooper at Shetler Studios (244 West 54th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue): Hookups & Hangups

7:00 pm & 9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4 minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2 hours—with an early show hosted by Sean Donnelly & Blaine Perry at 7:00 pm, and an entirely different group of stand-ups hosted by Dan Cartwright & Dave Greek at 9:00 pm—at the Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) for Carol Hartsell's & John Morrison's Motel Luca

[FREE] 7:30 pm: Four improvisers form teams with comics they've never performed with before at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: The Kaleidoscope

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): At UCB Chelsea, first up is 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...

...and in the second half of this double-bill, a one-woman show by Sue Smith about anger, directed by the always inventive and delightful Laura Grey: Minimum Rage

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($9.47 online or $8 at the door): Eric Drysdale (brilliant writer for such comedy shows as The Daily Show and The Colbert Report), Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central Presents, Jimmy Kimmel), Lane Moore (writer for The Onion), and James Patterson (Comedy Central) 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): Improv troupe Grandma's Ashes—which includes stellar talents Ryan Karels, Morgan Grace Jarrett, and Brandon Scott Jones—promises to "take your stories of the tragic and depraved and scatter them into laughter" as this UCB East show: Grandma's Ashes Get Dark

8:30 pm ($5): At The Magnet, a mini-play from Chris Nester & Ross Taylor about aspiring Country Western musicians: The Oakwood Boys; and in the other half of this double-bill, Kevin Cobbs & Alessandro King perform sketch or improv set in old-time Hollywood: Listen, Kid!

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Relentlessly silly Brandon Gulya performs a one-man sketch show that's at times hilarious (the restaurant bit is an instant classic) but other times settles too quickly for the lightweight (the "does she like me" diary). A lot more hard, disciplined work is needed before his show's title comes true; but this is a promising start from a comic with a unique and memorable style, genuine potential, and the faith that Brandon Gulya Will Be Famous Soon...

...and in the other half of this UCB East double-bill, Inspired by the popular blog My High School Boyfriend Was Gay, this superb show "celebrates our most tragic, hilarious, and heinous teenage memories, full of chaste hugs, Grease sing-alongs, and trips to the stage door to accost the cast of Rent," with true stories tonight from Brian Fass (The Law Firm), Tricia Olds (Viralcom), and H. Alan Scott (stand-up and ace baker) hosted by Damian Bellino and the super-delightful Camille Harris (whose piano playing and singing will make you grin and dance in your seat): My High School Boyfriend Was Gay

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:30 pm: Improv spinning off stand-up sets by Myq Kaplan (one of the quickest minds in comedy, and rapidly rising star; finalist on most recent Last Comic Standing; David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Comedy Central Presents, hit comedy CD Vegan Mind Meld), with the improvisors including such talents as Micah Sherman, Cathleen Carr, Nick Vatterott, and Sarah Nowak, all performing at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with host Micah Sherman: Fun

9:30 pm ($5): Two UCB Chelsea house sketch troupes try out fresh material: Gramp's (which was the best sketch troupe at UCBT when spearheaded by Kate McKinnon—who's now living in LA—but hopefully will get back to glory with the recent addition of such talents as Laura Grey, Abbi Crutchfield, and Don Fanelli) and Onassis (which has seldom been strong on the writing side but includes such talents as Lauren Conlin Adams): Maude Night: Gramp's and Onassis

[FREE] 9:30 pm: Mike Lawrence (nerd persona but razor-sharp mind has made this stand-up a rapidly rising star; Comedy Central's John Oliver's NY Stand-Up), Hilary Schwartz, Nimesh Patel, Maggie Nuthall, Kevin McCaffrey, Ray DeVito, Bob Powers, and Matt Nagin performing stand-up at Brooklyn's Freddy's Backroom (627 5th Avenue) with host Pat O'Shea: Ed Sullivan on Acid

[FREE] 10:00 pm: Open-mic storytelling show at The Magnet hosted by Kelly Buttermore: Storytelling Mixer

[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 been announced yet for tonight, but you can check for an update by clicking here—performing at UCB Chelsea and possibly hosted by comedy genius Chris Gethard: 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 3/6/12

Al Madrigal and Neal Brennan perform at Jared Logan's ComedyJuice...

...and Mike Lawrence and Camille Harris perform at Hot Dang

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): An improv troupe that freestyle raps & beatboxes while making up a play at The Magnet: North Coast

7:00 pm ($5): A one-woman show from Darcy Burke about Kenny Rogers and Jean Claude Van Damme at The PIT downstairs Lounge: Rocky Mountain Van Damage

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

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Wyatt Cenac (star correspondent of The Daily Show, one-hour Comedy Central special), Ted Travelstead (co-author of Sex: Our Bodies, Our Junk), Myka Fox, and "a secret musical guest" performing at Lolita Bar hosted by Liam McEneaney: Tell Your Friends

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Comedian and comic book fan Aaron Haber 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, plus prize giveaways that include advance tickets to John Carter: Comic Book Club

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Mike Lawrence (nerd persona but razor-sharp mind has made this stand-up a rapidly rising star; Comedy Central's John Oliver's NY Stand-Up), Camille Harris (rising star singer/sketch comic/cutie; featured player on The Moon Show, co-host of My High School Boyfriend Was Gay), Carolyn Castiglia (Last Comic Standing, VH1; sharp stand-up & white rapper Miss CKC), Jacqueline Novak, and Alison Bennett performing at UCB East for a comedy variety show hosted by the delightful Sara Schaefer and Scott Moran: Hot Dang

8:00 pm-Midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv at UCB Chelsea for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Very Good Kiss, Mr. Crime, Sandino, Grandma's Ashes, and Dance Break—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): A one-man show by Pat Bellatina "being selected as the keynote speaker at his former high school’s commencement. Will he be brave enough to admit that he knows nothing? This comedic musical memoir explores the illusion of success, the joys of lying, and growing up in the Bronx while pretending you didn't" at The PIT upstairs theatre following a sold-out run at Ars Nova: No No No Yes

[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 ($10 at the door, $12.75 online): A monthly storytelling show from Jeff Simmermon (NPR's This American Life), Cyndi Freeman (The Moth, burlesque star) and Brad Lawrence (Moth GrandSlam champion) at Brooklyn's Union Hall, with tonight's guests stand-up Wil Sylvince, sideshow performer Albert Cadabra, and burlesque star Little Brooklyn: And I Am Not Lying

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 and BEEES!

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Typically stellar comics (not yet announced, but please check for an update by clicking here) performing at Ella (9 Avenue A) hosted by Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central, VH1): Sweet

9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): NYC stand-ups Jerry Shack, Chris Griggs, and Tyler Fole performing stand-up at Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) hosted by twins Adam & Todd Stone, who for this weekly show leave behind their trademark suits: Jackets Off

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): At The PIT, the worlds of "magic, mind-reading, and mutilation" are explored by Matthew Holtzclaw & Prakash Puru in this all-new show: Strange Things

9:30 pm ($5): This Sunday stand-up show moves to Tuesdays (replacing Righteous Kill, which ended when Jared Logan was hired to host Comedy Juice at Gotham—see 10:00 pm.) Tonight features star storyteller Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents, 2011 ECNY Award for Best Storyteller), David Cope (co-host of Hot Soup), and Adam Cozens performing at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Chris Grace: Cold Soda Comedy

[FREE] 9:30 pm: Stand-up, sketch, videos, and more at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre with Jeffrey Joseph and hosts Ron Krasnow & Joel Walkowski: The Short Bus

[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 Annie Lederman (Comedy Central), Scott Moran (Rubber Bullets, co-host of Hot Dang), and Eli Olsberg: The Tony and Johnny Show

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15 & 2-drink min.): Al Madrigal (newest correspondent of The Daily Show), Neal Brennan (HBO, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, co-creator of Chappelle's Show), and more performing stand-up at the Gotham Comedy Club hosted by Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central): ComedyJuice

[FREE] 10:15 pm: In this free Magnet show, audience members can join in with musical improv troupe Aquarius 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 3/7/12

Sherlock Holmes and Battlestar Galactica are among the Science: Fact & Fiction topics at this month's Adult Education

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

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:00 pm: Witty writers offering delightfully wry lectures about this month's topic "Science: Fact & Fiction," which range from The Pathology of Battlestar Galatica to Everything I Needed to Know About Psychology I Learned from Sherlock Holmes, at the Housingworks Bookstore Cafe for Charles Star's comedic show Adult Education

7:00 pm-12:30 am ($7 for the entire evening): Magnet house troupes Grappler, Leviathan, The Surge, Horses, Featherweight, Brick, The Wrath, and Chet Watkins performing improv, followed by a free audience interactive show with Horses at 11:30 pm: The Magnet's Megawatt

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): For this double-bill at UCB East, 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; and then Nicole Byer, Sasheer Zamata, and Keisha Zollar are the fiercely energetic & entertaining all-gal improv troupe Doppelganger

[$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($15 [vs. $25] online or at the box office using discount code BBOX): 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?

[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

[FREE—plus FREE PIZZA for first 30 people, from Artichoke Pizza!] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced, but you might find an update here) performing at the East Village's Beauty Bar with hosts Negin Farsad, Amy Albert, and Beth McGregor for their free weekly show Comedy School Dropout

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups do sets "and then have a discussion about what’s going on in the world and the mysteries of life" at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City, hosted by Chris Laker: The Show

[FREE] 8:30 pm: Typically terrific NYC comics (not announced) performing at this free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn's Cameo (behind Lovin' Cup) typically hosted by Jenny Slate, Gabe Liedman, and/or Max Silvestri: Big Terrific

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): At UCB East, Neil Casey & Anthony Atamanuik, both genius members of Death by Roo Roo, perform the jaw-dropping feat of making up an entire feature film as The Two-Man Movie

9:00 pm ($5): An all-gal stand-up show—unfortunately, with no announced lineup, but you might be able to get an update here—at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Ester-Kay Steinberg: Your Perfect Housewife

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Confessional storytelling about a first kiss, a first hook-up, and other traumatic events by the delightful Michelle Markowitz & Saida Cooper at Shetler Studios (244 West 54th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue): Hookups & Hangups

9:30 pm ($5): A parody of The Bachelor written by UCB Chelsea faves Caitlin Bitzegaio (MTV, PBS, ESPN, writer or director of numerous UCBT sketch shows) and Leila Cohan-Miccio (Stone Cold Fox, Pig: A Restaurant), and worth catching if only to experience the delicious comedic performances of standouts Morgan Grace Jarrett (Big Fish, Love Liza, Buffy fan) and Nicole Byer (Doppelganger)—who are especially fun when they turn into an unlikely a comedy duo...: The Bachelor: Romance, Roses, and Romance...

...and in the second half of this double-bill, a meta-comedy about a real estate agent who tries to convince a couple that the actual theatre you're in would be a great home for them. He does this by putting on a series of sketches that are presented as a random sampling of what UCBT has to offer but that, directly or indirectly, each promote the stage as a wonderful residence. It's a way fun idea—for a 5-minute sketch. However, this entire show is handled like a single multi-jointed sketch, and 30 minutes is an awfully long time to essentially tell one joke. If the script was further developed to use the internal sketches as stepping stones to achieve a larger and emotionally compelling story, this could become something quite special. Even as is, though, it's great fun at the start; and if you find it wearing out its welcome after that, you'll still enjoy sporadic laughs from individual bits and performers—especially standouts Brandon Gulya and Brandon Scott Jones—in the a-bit-too-clever-for-its-own-good This is Not a Sketch Show—A Sketch Show

[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($5): The instructors of UCB's classes include some of the finest improvisors in the country. In this new weekly show a bunch of them get on stage at UCB East, along with hosts Betsy Stover and Ari Voukydis: Hot for Teacher: The UCB Faculty Show

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: As many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. (Tonight's scheduled lineup includes Sasheer Zamata, Adam Newman, and host Sean Hart; 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 3/8/12

Wonderful talents Dave Hill and Erin & Her Cello perform with Margot Leitman at Stripped Stories;
Margot also tells comedic tales tonight at John Flynn's Oh, Hey Guys and Tom Shillue's Funny Story

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 6:00 pm: Margot Leitman (Conan O'Brien, VH1, Spike TV, co-host of sexy & funny Stripped Stories) is tonight's guest at this weekly open mic storytelling show, with each performer given a whopping eight minutes to captivate & impress, at UCB East hosted by John Flynn: Oh, Hey Guys!

[FREE] 6:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up with comics' names drawn from a bucket and each chosen one receiving three minutes at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Corby Haas

[TOP PICK] 6:30 pm ($5): Improvisor Brandon Gardner (The Curfew, Let's Have a Ball) turns to scripted comedy with this mini-play he wrote & directed as an audition for a spot on the UCB Chelsea schedule, starring Aaron Kheifets as sexiest man in America John Wilkes Booth, Matthew Dennie as Booth's biggest fan Abraham Lincoln, and Brandon Scott Jones as femme fatale Miss Laura Keene: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln: A Comedy

7:00 pm ($5): Two singing improv troupes make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT upstairs theatre: Hot Diner and THEM

7:00 pm ($5): A sketch show about loneliness at The PIT downstairs lounge: How to Stay Single Forever

[FREE] 7:00 pm: In this free Magnet show, audience members (signing in at 6:00) can join in with improv troupe Junior Varsity to make up scenes on the spot: Magnet Mixer

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): Star storyteller Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents, 2011 ECNY Award for Best Storyteller) gathers top comics to tell funny stories at UCB Chelsea, with tonight's guests Margot Leitman (Conan O'Brien, VH1, Spike TV, co-host of sexy & funny Stripped Stories), Stephen Gevedon (Nurse Jackie, Rubicon), Amine Zaitzeff (owner of Zaitzeff Burger), and Mike Albo: Tom Shillue's Funny Story

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): UK stand-up David O'Doherty, who in February recorded a special for Comedy Central, and is co-author of the book 100 Facts About Sharks, performs a one-man show at UCB Chelsea for one night only: David O'Doherty Is Looking Up

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: "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"—not to mention a monthly podcast—at Queens LIC's The Creek hosted by Pat Dixon (Comedy Central Presents), NYPD Detective Reynolds, Chris Laker, and Marcus Parks: The New York City Crime Report

8:00 pm ($5): Two singing improv troupes make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT upstairs theatre: Frogmen and Harvey

8:00 pm-MIdnight ($7 for the entire evening): The Magnet house improv troupes Hello Laser, Junior Varsity, The Boss, and Phooka performing improv for two hours, followed at 10:00 pm by Alan Fessenden directing The Monoscene (an improvised play that takes place entirely in one location with no edits of any kind), and then at 11:00 improv competition Inspirado (like UCBT's Cage Match, but with a game-like challenge component) with BEEES! and Junior Varsity competing: The Magnet's Night Out

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): UK star David O'Doherty (Comedy Central special, co-author of 100 Facts About Sharks), Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, host of ComedyJuice), Matt Koff (Onion News Network, WitStream, 9 Am Meeting), and Kate Berlant performing stand-up at UCB East with best bud hosts Noah Garfinkel & Joe Mande (author of Look At This F*cking Hipster) at Totally J/K

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00ish pm: Terrific NYC stand-ups (the lineup is typically announced around 3:00 pm; for an update, please click here) performing on this free weekly show at the Kabin Bar and Lounge hosted by Chesley Calloway and comedy genius Sean Patton: Comedy as a Second Language

[$] 9:00 pm ($15): Producers & writers for The Daily Show, including Al Madrigal, Adam Lowitt, JR Havlan, and Oren Brimer, perform stand-up at 92Y Tribeca: The Daily Show Does Stand-Up

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Greg Behrendt (bestselling author of He's Just Not That Into You and It's Called A Breakup Because It's Broken; HBO, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno), Karen Kilgariff, Jessie Geller, and Matt Wayne performing at Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) for a weekly comedy show with hosts Dan Wllber & Sean Crespo and producer Carol Hartsell: Lasers in the Jungle

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Dave Hill (one of the most original and hilariously sharp alternative comics in the country; HBO, Comedy Central, Sundance, MTV, VH1, NPR, star of The King of Miami, band Diamondsnake, champion rapper; The New York Times, The Huffington Post), and Blaise Kearsley (How I Learned) joining sensual hosts Margot Leitman (VH1, Spike TV) and Giulia Rozzi (MTV, VH1.com, co-host of Dive Comedy) telling erotic true tales on this month's theme Awkward Encounters—plus hot songs from the delightful Erin & Her Cello—at the best sexy storytelling comedy show in NYC: Stripped Stories

9:30 pm ($5): Improvisors make up one-act plays on the spot at The PIT downstairs lounge, produced by Dan Hodapp & Micah Sherman: The Scene

[FREE] 10:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (lineup not announced) performing at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City, hosted by Justin Williams: Death Comedy Jam

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Freestyle rapping, beatboxing long-form improv troupe North Coast goes up against the most formidable improv troupe in NYC, Death by Roo Roo, in what's likely to be an incredible competition for audience laughs and votes at UCB Chelsea for the raucous Cage Match

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Shannon O'Neill (breathtakingly innovative improvisor/sketch comic and rising star; The Stepfathers, Diamond Lion), Matt McCarthy (HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm and Bored to Death, host of AMC's Action Pack, Comedy Central, hilarious shorts with Pete Holmes for Front Page Films, national TV ads as Verizon FIOS guy, feature film The Other Guys, host of Marking Out), and Adrienne Iapalucci (Last Comic Standing) perform at this dark comedy stand-up show that promises to "test your limits of good taste and push the boundaries of what you consider funny" at UCB East hosted by Chris Wilkes (Thunder Gulch): After Dark

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 3/9/12

Genius improvisor Shannon O'Neill performs at Diamond Lion; rising star Julie Sharbutt improvises at Smart & Attractive...

...and the spectacular cast of FOX's Bob's Burgers, including Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Jon Benjamin,
Larry Murphy, and Kurt Braunohler, perform for free at Brooklyn's The Bell House

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

[FREE] 6:00 pm: An open mic show on a lottery system (sign-ups start at 5:30 pm) at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with hosts Mike Recine and Annie Lederman: The Shinebox

7:00 pm ($5): Improv that flows from moment to moment, with no sweeps or tag outs—"each exit starts a new scene, while performers use devices ranging from monologues to in-scene questions to break into characters and relationships quicker and deeper"—at The PIT downstairs lounge: Scoresby

7:00 pm ($7): Improv house troupes at The Magnet focusing respectively on dating and hyper energy: Double Date and Honey

[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 every scene won't necessarily be of consistent quality. That actually was a huge problem on opening night; 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 Kevin Costner material hasn't been entirely cleaned up yet...). 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—tonight featuring ace guest improvisors Shannon O'Neil (ironically, competing against her sketch show directly above) and Doug Moe (Mother), plus monologues from Jessica Renee Williams (The Daily Show): Diamond Lion

[TOP PICK] [FREE; wrist bands for admission provided at box office starting at 5:00 pm until they run out...] 8:00 pm: The super-talented cast of FOX's animated Bob's Burgers—Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Jon Benjamin, Larry Murphy, Kurt Braunohler, and more—perform at Brooklyn's The Bell House to help promote the show's season premiere this Sunday March 11th: Bob's Burgers Live

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: All-gal stand-ups Carmen Lynch (Last Comic Standing finalist, Comedy Central), Phoebe Robinson (TV Guide), Jess Dweck (writer for Comedy Central's Indecision 2012), Carrie Gravenson, and Lauren Maul performing stand-up at Brooklyn's Postmark Cafe (326 6th Street) hosted by Abbi Crutchfield & Luke Thayer: The Living Room

8:00 pm ($5): Improvisors perform as duos at The PIT downstairs lounge: Couples' Retreat

[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

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($49 & 2-drink min.) A TV and movie star who first earned fame on Chappelle's Show headlining through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Charlie Murphy

[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): Theatrical sketch comedy at The Magnet that tonight features "three cowboys settling their score the old-fashioned way; an old Broadway star attempting her long-anticipated comeback; in a blatantly self-referential sketch, a young comedian trying to convince his friend to come see his show," and more at Citizen Models

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Stellar storyteller John Flynn, and superb stand-ups Dan St. Germain (quick-witted & enormously likeable rising star; Jimmy Fallon, The Electric Company, MTV, VH1), Mike Lawrence (nerd persona but razor-sharp mind has made this stand-up a rapidly rising star; Comedy Central's John Oliver's NY Stand-Up), Mark Normand (hilarious stand-up; Last Comic Standing; co-host of We're All Friends Here), Matt Ruby (co-host of We're All Friends Here, wonderful blog Sandpaper Suit), and Jerrod Carmichael performing at UCB East hosted tonight by David Cope: Hot Soup

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

[$] [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): Stand-up star Judy Gold, Mike Britt (Comedy Central), and more performing 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): "Where there is a stage and a piano, she will be there. Where there are strangers with embarrassing stories, she will be there. Where there is a group of people willing to sit and watch someone make up songs, she will be there. A one-woman musical improv journey through the lives of the audience. You tell the story, Rebecca Vigil sings the soundtrack" at The PIT downstairs lounge: The Vigilante

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

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: An all-musical comedy night with Jessica Delfino (enjoys singing songs about her vagina, as demonstrated by her CD Dirty Folk Rock; created the hilarious and wildly popular YouTube animated short film I Wanna Be Famous; to get a feel for Jessica's range and talent, please click here), Jen Kwok, Adam Lerman, and David Cope's "Harp Secrets" performing at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Ben Lerman and Tim Dimond: Now That's What I Call Musical Comedy

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Fran Gillespie, Jon Gabrus, Nate Lang, Craig Rowin, Matt Fisher, Sue Galloway, and other superb improvisors at UCB Chelsea making up scenes about an audience member's legal dispute: The Law Firm: Law & Disorder

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($5): Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, host of ComedyJuice), Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central Presents, Jimmy Kimmel), Emily Heller (staff writer for Rooftop Comedy; for ruminations on pregnancy, please click here), Adam Newman (MTV, College Humor, comedy CD Not for Horses), Dan Soder, and Michael Che 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 ($10): Smart, fun sketch comedy & talk show that's happening at The PIT upstairs theatre but is actually a TV series in development from host/creator Kurt Braunohler (Comedy Central, IFC, Hot Tub Variety), with tonight's guests including Wyatt Cenac (star correspondent of The Daily Show, Comedy Central special), plus phenom house band Adira Amram and the Experience and "a surprise musical guest:" Night of the Living with Kurt Braunohler

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): One of my favorite people, Julie Sharbutt—who's performed with some of the greatest improvisors alive at UCBT's Gravid Water—tonight goes for improv gold herself with comedy partner Liz Wisan at The PIT downstairs lounge in a very accurately named show: Smart & Attractive

[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] [FREE] Midnight: NYC stand-ups—sometimes stellar ones—pushing boundaries for a show designed for looseness and experimentation at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with hosts Jacqueline Novak and Chris Laker: Permission to Fail

[FREE] Midnight: This show might not be much fun for audience members, but it's an amazing opportunity if you want to perform sketch for free and with almost zero hurdles on the prestigious UCB Chelsea stage. Hosted by Maude troupe Onassis: Liquid Courage

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 3/10/12

UCBT Artistic Director Nate Dern and ace improvisor/actress Sasheer Zamata are among
the razor-sharp panelists tonight at Katey Healy-Wurzburg's witty game show The Fascinator

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 P.i.G., Old Timey Radio, and LD50 at The Magnet kicking off your Saturday evening: The Rundown

[FREE] 6:00 pm: An improv show that asks you to drop written suggestions into a box before it begins and then dips into the collection of suggestions throughout to propel new scenes at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: The Drop Box

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): A comedy quiz show full of heavily researched quirky facts in which brilliant contestants Nate Dern (UCBT Artistic Director), Sasheer Zamata (innovative rising star; Doppelganger, The Prom), Taylor Moore, and Halle Kiefer get points if their answers are correct but get more points if their answers are "quite interesting" at UCB East created & hosted by Katey Healy-Wurzburg: The Fascinator

[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

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: From the producers of The Scene, improvisors at The PIT downstairs lounge make up one-act plays on the spot: Act One

[FREE] 8:00 pm: "Seth Olenick has spent the last five years of his life capturing the major players and up-and-comers in the comedy world in portrait form. He never felt like the photos should be displayed anywhere other than a Mexican restaurant, viewed under the influence of margaritas and horchadas. Luckily, tonight offers him just that opportunity. And so what hangs before you represents a portion of the blood, sweat, and tears that he has spilled since 2007. If you don't enjoy looking at the 200 photos as much as he enjoyed taking them, then a little piece of him will die inside" at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Seth Olenick Birthday Show

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($49 & 2-drink min.) A TV and movie star who first earned fame on Chappelle's Show headlining through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Charlie Murphy

[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($10): Mark Normand (hilarious stand-up; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central; co-host of Hot Soup and We're All Friends Here), Seaton Smith (Opie & Anthony Virus Tour), Dan Soder (Comedy Central), Kate Berlant, Kate Hendricks, and Josh Gondelman performing 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] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 9:00 pm & 11:00 pm (FREE TICKETS if you reserve in advance by calling (212) 260-2445 and mention HyReviews.com, but there's still a 2-drink min. per person): Judah Friedlander (30 Rock, Meet the Parents, Along Came Polly, author of How to Beat Up Anybody), Mike Britt (Comedy Central), and more performing at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club

9:00 pm ($7): Five veteran improvisors make stuff up at The Magnet as troupe Lead McEnroe

9:30 pm ($15): "A cabaret of darkly funny songs and topical sketch comedy about culture and politics," following sold out shows at Joe's Pub and now enjoying a long run at The PIT upstairs theatre: Political Subversities

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 10:00 pm ($15 both online and at the door using discount code SBWC, otherwise $20): This top musical improv troupe has wowed audiences around the world with its skill at making up an hour-long musical moment by moment. The plot and characters, the musical accompaniment, even the song lyrics and the "choreography" are invented on the spot, with no pre-planned structure. Come to the Soho Playhouse tonight to see why BWC won a FringeNYC Award for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Event: Baby Wants Candy

[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($8): NYC's heavy metal version of a sketch troupe, which provides odd, unsettling, and fearless dark comedy—and won the 2010 ECNY Award for Best Sketch Group—performing this monthly show at The PIT downstairs lounge: Murderfist

[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($11.34 online; or $10 at the door—but this show typically sells out in advance): Stand-up and burlesque are weirdly blended together based on the reasoning "The nude female form is truly a work of art. That's why people the world over like to jerk off to it. Who are we to disagree with the world?"at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Pat Dixon (Comedy Central Presents): Pat Dixon's (Nearly) Naked Lady Hour: Now with Bacon Bar

[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 ($7): Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney perform at The Magnet as comedy duo Trike

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Ben Rodgers, Charlie Todd, Jim Santangeli, and/or other stellar improvisors at UCB Chelsea interview an audience member about where he or she grew up and then create an entire show based on the mini-bio: The Curfew: Not From Around Here

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

[FREE] Midnight: 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

Midnight ($5): Two sketch troupes that are relatively obscure (I don't know why, that's just how the show is done) compete 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

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

NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 3/11/12

Elliott Kalan and Julie Klausner discuss their creative formations at Beginnings

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

[FREE] 4:00 pm: An unusually early walk-in open mic stand-up show at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: Face-Plant Comedy Showcase

[TOP PICK] 6:00 pm ($5): Julie Klausner (razor-sharp comic & storyteller, and author of I Don't Care About Your Band) and Elliott Kalan (brilliant writer for The Daily Show) are interviewed about "their earliest creative experiences and the nuances of having a creative career" for a weekly podcast that once a month goes live on the UCB East stage with hosts Andy Beckerman & Mark Bisi: Beginnings

[FREE] 6:00 pm: "Short-form improv teams battle it out for the most points and a prize. C’mon, admit it! You miss the quick-witted fun and audience involvement of short-form improv. A different short-form team joins Mishmash! each month and struts their stuff for a panel of judges (including one judge chosen from the audience) until a winner emerges. There will be a series of completely improvised scenes, stories and musicals all based on your suggestions. Come ready to shout out suggestions, and even shout at the judges," at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City: The Scrimmage

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

[$] 8:00 pm ($49 & 2-drink min.) A TV and movie star who first earned fame on Chappelle's Show headlining one more night at the Carolines Comedy Club: Charlie Murphy

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Mike Recine (Comedy Central), Matt Koff (Onion News Network, WitStream, 9 Am Meeting), Reid Faylor, and Nate Fernald 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 ($8): Improv performed by talented duos at The PIT upstairs theatre: Ampers&nd

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Magnet sketch comics performing new material (for a fun sample co-starring Danielle Tolley about dating a telemarketer, please click here): Alchemy

8:00 pm ($5): Short-form improv at The PIT downstairs lounge: The Sunday ShortForm Show

9:00 pm ($5): Improv veterans Brandon Gardner, Chelsea Clarke, and Phillip Jackson hosting & performing in a show at UCB East with guest improvisors: Improv Nerds

[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Avenue) typically hosted by the wonderful Hannibal Buress: Comedy Night

[FREE] 9:00 pm: Becky Yamamoto, Robert Dean, Adam Conover, Alex Grubard, and Reid Faylor 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 Beauty Bar

9:30 pm ($5): Magnet improvisors team up with poets at Kiss*Punch*Poem

[FREE] 9:30 pm: Open-mic stand-up, with four minutes per comic, at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Molly Austin & Mike Brown: Vicious Cycle

[FREE] 10:00 pm: NYC gal stand-ups Naomi Ekperigin (VH1, BET), Harriet Halloway, and Kristin Manna performing at this free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour

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

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