NYC Comedy Picks for Week of November 21, 2011

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 11/21/11

Julie Klausner brings her special brand of sunshine to Comedy Central Corporate Retreat,
while Australian comic The Birdmann demonstrates his own way to enjoy beverages at Hot Tub Variety

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

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:00 pm ($15): My #1 pick for the 2007 FringeNYC Festival, this wonderful group of actresses/improvisors portray characters as if they were in a play, but improvise everything they say and do. The luminous performers include Katharine Heller, Brenna Palughi, Lynne Rosenberg, Lauren Seikaly, and Molly Knefel, each of whom is immensely appealing and quick-witted. Further, they have an intimate, lovely chemistry with each other; and they've all committed to baring their personal lives, thinly disguised via their characters (hence the title's Naked). As a result, this is one of the most honest & nuanced improvised shows you'll ever see. Tonight is the next-to-last show of the season at the elegant Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street, near the #1 subway's Christopher Street stop): Naked in a Fishbowl

[FREE] 7:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Liz Miele (Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central), Chris Lamberth, Phillip Burke, Jim VanBlaricum, Dan Frigolette, and Nathan Macintosh performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub hosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy

7:00 pm ($5): A long-form improv troupe spawned at Yale in 1985 that tours the country—and will be performing for one night only at The Magnet: Purple Crayon

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 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

8:00 pm ($5): Improv troupe Grandma's Ashes promises to "take your stories of the tragic and depraved and scatter them into laughter" as this UCB Chelsea show: Grandma's Ashes Get Dark

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Top comics Julie Klausner (razor-sharp sketch writer/performer & storyteller, and author of I Don't Care About Your Band), Gabe & Jenny (SNL's Jenny Slate & Gabe Liedman), Leo Allen (former writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central Presents, Conan O'Brien, HBO's Funny or Die, director/co-writer of Comedy Central's Jon Benjamin Has a Van, host of top NYC comedy show Whiplash), Mike Lawrence (shrewdly funny curmudgeon; Comedy Central), and Hari Kondabolu (Comedy Central Presents, Jimmy Kimmel) performing at UCB East for this biweekly show whose lineups have the official Comedy Central seal of approval: Comedy Central Corporate Retreat

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($8.50 online or $8 at the door): The Birdmann (surreal & silly Australian comic Trent Baumann, who was a huge hit at the Glastonbury Festival), Griffen Newman (College Humor), Max Silvestri (The Onion's AV Club, co-host of BIg Terrific), and musical guest Brittain Ashford 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 (unless Kristen doesn't get back to NYC in time) and Kurt Braunohler (for sure): Hot Tub Variety with Kurt & Kristen

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Sean Patton (red-hot rising star; killer set on Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central, VH1; co-host of Comedy as a Second Language, frequent guest-host of Whiplash), Harrison Greenbaum (writer for Mad Magazine; head writer of Tu Nite con Lorenzo Parro on NBCU/Telemundo), Kate Hendricks (Bravo TV), and Brendan Eyre performing at the One and One Bar (1st Street & First Avenue) for this brand new weekly stand-up show hosted by Louis Katz, Tim Dimond, and J. F. Harris: Raw Guts

8:00 pm ($10): Twins Todd & Adam Stone perform stand-up and more at this monthly show at The PIT, along with comedy guests (not announced): Stone and Stone Show

[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] 8:30 pm ($15, which includes 1 drink, if you mention HyReviews.com [otherwise $20]; call 212.989.9319 to reserve seats because this will sell out): Todd Barry (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents, FX's Louie, HBO's Flight of the Conchords and Bored to Death, Adult Swim, feature films The Wrestler and Pete Smalls is Dead), Leo Allen (former writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central Presents, Conan O'Brien, HBO's Funny or Die, director/co-writer of Comedy Central's Jon Benjamin Has a Van, host of top NYC comedy show Whiplash), Dan St. Germain (quick-witted & enormously likeable rising star; Jimmy Fallon, MTV, VH1; for reenactment of Dan's breakup, please click here), Mike Lawrence (shrewdly funny curmudgeon; Comedy Central), Helen Hong (Comedy Central, TLC), and John Knefel (co-host of John & Molly Get Along) performing stand-up at the Cornelia Street Cafe for John Morrison's Morrison Motel

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm ($18): The winning team that created Pope!: An Epic Musical (a big hit at last year's FringeNYC) and The Spidey Project (a media sensation) is now developing a pirate musical at The Magnet about "the dashing young hero Declan as he seeks out the vicious Martin La Foe, the second most famous pirate ever," with book and lyrics by Justin Moran & Jon Roufaeal, and music by Adam & Matt Podd: Nightfall on Mirango Island

[$] 8:30 pm ($21.78, plus 2-drink min. or $20 unlimited nonalcoholic drinks): 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), Paul Mecurio (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents), Brian Scott McFadden (Conan O'Brien, MTV), Jim David (Comedy Central Presents, FringeNYC), Michelle Balan, Mike Burton, Brian Scolaro, Ryan Reiss, Tom Van Horn, and host DF Sweedler performing stand-up at the Comic Strip Live Comedy Club (1568 2nd Avenue off 81st Street): Franklin, Mecurio, and More at Comic Strip Live

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: PIT owner Ali Farahnakian and the school's razor-sharp instructors perform improv at The PIT downstairs lounge in The Faculty Part 2: Electric Boogaloo; plus improv troupe Technicolor

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): UCB Chelsea has developed several terrific in-house sketch comedy troupes, but one of them has risen above the rest to rival the finest groups in the country: Stone Cold Fox, which is performing a stellar "best of" show virtually every Friday at 7:30 pm (and which you should definitely go see—and then go see again with cherished friends, who will thank you for it). Tonight is slated to be Stone Cold Fox's last Maude Night performance; after this the group will laser-focus on Friday, as it's the first sketch troupe to ever be given a prestigious permanent weekend time slot at UCBT. Also on this double-bill is house troupe Arbuckle, which isn't in the same league, but includes such notable performers as Violet Krumbein (currently in a national TV ad for an investment firm, and soon to be on 30 Rock)—all at Maude Night

9:30 pm ($10): From the wonderful Jen Nails' Do It Yourself class, the debut of two one-person shows at The PIT upstairs theatre: Two Solo Shows

[FREE] 9:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Luke Thayer (co-host of The Living Room), Kimmie Dee, Nate Rand, Diane DeLuna, Victor Pleacoff, Joe Pontillo, Boris Khaykin, and Matt Nagin performing at Pat O'Shea's free biweekly Brooklyn showcase at Freddy's Backroom (627 5th Avenue): Ed Sullivan on Acid

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

10:00 pm ($5): A new monthly show featuring NYC comics performing characters, sketch scenes, stand-up, and more at The Magnet, tonight featuring the wonderful Lauren Olson (powerhouse one-woman show Our Condolences at last year's FringeNYC; sketch troupe Good Morning, Ladies), Dave Thunder, Matt Koff, Louis Kornfeld, Corey Grimes, Karsten Cross, and Arthur Meyer with host Jon Bander: What's to Get?

10:00 pm ($5): Improv veterans Brandon Gardner, Chelsea Clarke, and Phillip Jackson hosting & performing in a show at UCB East with guest improvisors: Improv Nerds

[FREE] 10:30 pm: Improv students are welcomed onto the stage at The PIT downstairs lounge for this weekly open session hosted by Gary DeNoia & Keith Huang: Base Jam

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the world—who haven't yet been announced, but you can check for an update by clicking here—hosted at UCB Chelsea by the wonderful Leo Allen (HBO, Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central): 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 11/22/11

Cyndi Freeman preps for Thanksgiving with a Brooklyn storytelling show about family gatherings: The Standard Issues:
the delightful Ellena Chmielewski and her improv troupe Tesla host variety show The Lab...

...plus TV & movie stars Janeane Garofalo (Tell Your Friends) and Justin Long (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): In this double-bill of shows auditioning for a spot on the Magnet schedule, Dreagn Foltz performs original comedic songs with such titles as Beer Goggles, Ethnomonogamy, and Let Me Be That Douche in Love Songs Gone Wrong ; and then a sketch troupe does a show with no description titled 100 Years of Ballitude

[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): TV & movie star Janeane Garofalo, Rob Paravonian (Comedy Central, VH1; to watch his hit video Pachelbel Rant, which has been viewed by over 9 million people on YouTube, please click here), Eric Kirchberger (Comedy Central), Aidan BIshop (visiting from Dublin), Jermaine Fowler, and musical guest Eden & John's East River String Band performing at the Lolita Bar at Liam McEneaney's Tell Your Friends

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Host Cyndi Freeman (FringeNYC, burlesque star) and fellow storytellers Brad Lawrence (Moth GrandSlam Champion, FringeNYC), Alex Gallefant, Steven Berkowitz, and more tell tales about this month's pre-Thanksgiving topic "Gatherings" at Brooklyn's Pacific Standard (82 Fourth Avenue): The Standard Issues: Gatherings

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Jeff Simmermon (writer), Matt Mercier (writer), Olivia Henderson (real estate agent), Jordan Reeves (concierge), Joanne Solomon (performer), and host Ben Lillie (scientist) tell funny tales at this science-based monthly show that tonight focuses on a potentially hot topic—Bodies in Motion—at Brooklyn's Union Hall : The Story Collider

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Adira Amram (fresh, hilarious rising star singer/songwriter; winner of the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Musical Act), Becky Yamamoto (rave reviews from The New York Times and The New Yorker; former beard-wearing member of band Stickerbook), and Ben Kronberg (Jimmy Kimmel) performing at UCB East for a comedy variety show produced by Sara Schaefer & Scott Moran on behalf of a great late actor: After Hours with Gene Hackman and Friends

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Comics industry pros joining super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at The PIT downstairs lounge: Comic Book Club

8:00 pm ($10): This intriguing-sounding show at the Gershwin Hotel (7 East 27th Street) is "a showcase for performers who appropriate the space of stand-up comedy to stage projects that, while undeniably humorous, don’t always deliver a punch line. Along with providing a legitimate venue for creative misfits known to disingenuously market themselves as musicians, dancers, singing telegrams, novelty strippers, college professors, and perfect for your child’s next birthday party, it explores the intersection of popular forms of entertainment and performance art. The talent featured tonight draws from diverse artistic backgrounds, and each performance dislodges stand-up from its current trajectory and points it in a strange, new direction:" Chuckles Plus

8:00 pm ($10): At The PIT upstairs theatre, the worlds of "magic, mind-reading, and mutilation" are explored by Matthew Holtzclaw and Prakash Puru: Strange Things

8:00 pm-11:00 pm ($5): Three full hours of improv at UCB Chelsea for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Dance Break, Mr. Crime, Creature, Very Good Kiss, and Sandino—followed at 11:00 by advanced improv students (plus Pat Baer) making up The Lost Stories of Philip K. DIck: Harold Night

[FREE] 8:00 pm: This weekly show features "a swarthy selection of fine stand-up comics and mildly entertaining recurring segments" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre, hosted by Jim Tews & Brendan Eyre: Chest Hair

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: Wyatt Cenac (star correspondent for The Daily Show), Larry Murphy (brilliant voiceover actor for FOX's Bob's Burgers, Comedy Central's Ugly Americans, Adult Swim's Assy McGee and Home Movies, and numerous other shows), and delightful singer Shonali Bhowmik & her band (Variety SHAC, recent solo album 100 Oaks Revival) performing at Brooklyn's Public Assembly (70th North 6th Street, by the L subway's Bedford Avenue stop) along with sketches from Moon regulars Camille Harris, Jordan Clifford, Bryan Condon, James Beard, and hosts Nat Towsen & Bob Walles: The Moon Show

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm ($21.78, plus 2-drink min. or $20 unlimited nonalcoholic drinks): 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.), 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), Paul Mecurio (Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents), Andy Pitz (David Letterman, Craig Ferguson), Brian Scott McFadden (Conan O'Brien, MTV), host Dean Obeidallah, and more performing stand-up at the Comic Strip Live Comedy Club (1568 2nd Avenue off 81st Street): Alexandro, Franklin, Mecurio, and More at Comic Strip Live

[$] 8:30 pm ($20 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who's appeared on Last Comic Standing and Comedy Central, and starred in her own CBS series Costello, headlining for one night only at the Gotham Comedy Club: Sue Costello

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 Rosencrantz

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Justin Long (NBC's Ed, Galaxy Quest, Going the Distance, Live Free or Die Hard, the Mac in Apple Computer commercials), 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), Rob Lathan (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, ABC), and more performing at Ella (9 Avenue A) hosted by Seth Herzog (Jimmy Fallon, VH1): Sweet

9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): NYC stand-ups Craig Baldo (Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, VH1, The Onion), Katrin Hier, Tyler Gildin, and Ramzi Bautista performing 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 ($5): Terrific comedy duo Leah Rudick & Katie Hartman, a.k.a. Skinny Bitch Jesus Meeting, back from their second year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where they were proclaimed "biggest revelation" by the Guardian, performing a new sketch show about reality TV at The PIT upstairs theatre: The Underdeveloped and Overexposed Life and Death of Deena Domino

9:30 pm ($5): Rachel Feinstein (finalist on Last Comic Standing; Comedy Central; opens for Sarah Silverman on tour), Shannon Hatch (blog I Hope The Worst Isn't Over), and Jeff Klinger performing at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Joe DeRosa (HBO’s Down and Dirty, Comedy Central Presents) and Jared Logan (hilarious angry rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, co-host of Righteous Kill): Righteous Kill

[FREE] 9:30 pm: Stand-up and sketch at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre, typically hosted by sketch troupes Savage Animal and/or Jerk Practice: Savage Animal

[TOP PICK] 10:00 pm ($5): Improv troupe Tesla—which includes one of my favorite young comics, Ellena Chmielewski—takes the UCB East stage for one night only, accompanied by troupes Sven, The Mondays, and musical group Jonny Tables, for a variety show it calls: Tesla Presents: The Lab

[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 11/23/11

Gilbert Gottfried headlines at Carolines; and magical chameleon Livia Scott welcomes you to her Castle of Enchantment

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

(in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $12 marked with $) include:

[FREE] 6:00 pm to midnight: Six free hours of improvisation at The PIT's Super Free Wednesday

[FREE] 6:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up providing four minutes per comic, with "15 people chosen randomly through e-mail, and five walk-ins; and a guaranteed spot to anyone who performs in character as a famous explorer" at Queens LIC's The Creek upstairs theatre: Comedic Exploration Club of Long Island City, West

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

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): Championing chaos for comedy, a team of improvisers perform: "What form? What type of show? Fuck that shit, just come and laugh." The experiment in anarchy takes place at UCB East starring Don Fanelli, Dru Johnston, Tim Martin, Josh Patten, Kate Riley, and Terry Withers: Fuck That Shit

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm ($24.50 & 2-drink min.) A unique comedy star headlining for one night only at the Carolines Comedy Club: Gilbert Gottfried

8:00 pm ($5): At this UCB Chelsea double-bill, Doug Moe is a Bad Dad will convince you that Doug Moe is actually a quite good dad, and also a skilled and highly likeable performer...but not so much an experienced writer. The production feels like a bunch of improvised bits glued together rather than a carefully planned and executed journey, providing little emotional satisfaction; and worse, not a whole bunch of laughs. Doug's real-life experiences as a dad, and the videos of his little angel of a five-year-old daughter, offer the potential for a fine show, but cry out for more focused scripting. As for Everybody's Dumb and Boring, I arrived late for it so will simply say that Joanna Bradley is also a talented performer, and is neither dumb nor boring; but once again, there were script problems. You may well end up a fan of both performers, though—and look forward to more developed work from them.

8:00 pm ($5—which includes a free beer!): NYC stand-ups (not yet announced this week) performing stand-up at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City for this weekly show hosted by Nick Turner & Jason Sáenz: Too Cool for School

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Three teams of six UCB improvisors, each a mix of students and such veterans as John Frusciante, Amey Goerlich, Kevin Hines, and John Murray, performing an annual improv tradition at UCB East—a show that's not about the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, but something that precedes it: The Macy's Day Before Thanksgiving Day Parade

[FREE—plus FREE BROOKLYN BEER] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Rose Surnow, Mara Herron, Justy Dodge, and George Gordon performing at a new free weekly show at Brooklyn's Sandbox Underground (257 Grand Street, near the L subway's Bedford stop) hosted by Mike Denny, Michael Che, and Nimesh Patel, and featuring free beer: Broken Comedy

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): A beloved show that brings dead celebrities back to life is itself resurrected tonight at UCB Chelsea, as magical comedic chameleon Livia Scott (Conan O'Brien, Law & Order, Dirty Movie) hosts as JonBenet Ramsey and guest host Paul Downs pitches in as Michael Jackson. Adding to the comedic darkness will be sketch comedy from UCBT house troupe Onassis, music from phenom singer/songwriter Corn Mo, and "special surprise guests:" Livia's Castle of Enchantment

[TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($38.25 & 2-drink min.): Stellar Australian comic who's been a regular on Opie & Anthony and starred in his own HBO special, I Swear To God, headlining tonight through Saturday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Jim Jefferies

[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 11/24/11

Jim Jefferies, an Australian unfazed by US-specific holidays, headlines tonight 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:

[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] [$] 8:00 pm ($38.25 & 2-drink min.): Stellar Australian comic who's been a regular on Opie & Anthony and performed his own HBO special, I Swear To God, headlining tonight through Saturday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Jim Jefferies

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00ish pm: James Adomian (hilarious, super-charged character comic/impressionist; finalist on last summer's Last Comic Standing), Mark Normand (hilarious stand-up; Last Comic Standing; co-host of Hot Soup and We're All Friends Here), Pat Dixon (Comedy Central Presents, FOX, VH1, E!), and more performing stand-up for the Thanksgiving edition of this weekly show at the Kabin Bar and Lounge hosted tonight by comedy genius Sean Patton: Comedy as a Second Language

[TOP PICK] [$] 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 the Carolines Comedy Club: Paul Mooney

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 11/25/11

Ted Alexandro and Myq Kaplan perform at the Eastville Comedy Club...

...and comics from SNL, Jimmy Fallon, Last Comic Standing, and Comedy Central join Rob Lathan in analyzing
the so-bad-it's-almost-good Schwarzenegger holiday film Jingle All the Way at Stinson's Awesome Movie Night

Recommendations for the best in New York City comedy tonight

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

[FREE] 6:00 pm: 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): Young improvisors at The PIT make up a musical on the spot based on an audience suggestion: The Shady Bunch

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Sharp improvisors at UCB East making up a musical on the spot: Diamond Lion

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Three sketch comics—who tonight are Adam Wade (one of the finest and most award-winning comedic storytellers in the country, but not a sketch comic—which actually makes me even more interested in seeing what Adam does tonight), Ann Carr (Web series The Actress), and Dan Chamberlain (Maude troupe Fambly)—each performing one of their most popular sketches and one of their personal favorites in a fun revue at UCB Chelsea hosted by Aaron Kheifets: A-Side/B-Side

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($38.25 & 2-drink min.): Stellar Australian comic who's been a regular on Opie & Anthony and who performed his own HBO special, I Swear To God, headlining tonight and Saturday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Jim Jefferies

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($35 using discount code FTBBOX online or at the box office): One of my favorite FringeNYC shows (for my 2006 review, please click here) is finally enjoying a commercial run. The mostly-true tale of a man who became the toast of Paris by making music with his ass—executed by a Broadway-caliber cast, and with several memorable show-stoppers—is playing at Sofia's Downstairs Theater (221 West 46th Street): The Fartiste

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

[$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($20 [vs. $25] online or at the box office using discount code BOOK): Telly Savalas returns to life to entertain you and provide life guidance in this 50-minute show that was a hit at FringeNYC 2011 and is now enjoying an open-ended Friday night run at the Soho Playhouse's downstairs Huron Club. The script is at times very smart, especially in its choices of hilarious video clips and music tracks from the real Savalas...who, in his more intense moments, apparently rivaled William Shatner at his silliest. But even when Hunter Nelson's writing isn't consistent, actor Tom DiMenna—who is a professional comic with great timing and skill at engaging an audience—will keep you entertained: Who Loves You, Baby?

[FREE] 8:00 pm: 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.): A stand-up who's appeared frequently on David Letterman and Craig Ferguson, and starred in his own Comedy Central Presents special, headlining through Sunday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Nick Griffin

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

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Rob Lathan (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, ABC) as his cinema connoisseur character Stinson screens the highlights of notoriously awful Arnold Schwarzenegger film Jingle All the Way ("I'm not a pervert! I just was looking for Turbo Man doll!") at UCB East along with James Adomian (hilarious, super-charged character comic/impressionist; finalist on last summer's Last Comic Standing), Pete Schultz (writer for Saturday Night Live), Mike O'Gormon (Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central's Ugly Americans), and Jessie Cantrell (VH1): Stinson's Awesome Movie Night

[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): 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.), 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), and more performing stand-up at the only comedy club in the East Village: Eastville Comedy Club

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Jimmy Fallon writer Casey Jost performs a one-man show at The PIT in which he plays a myriad of characters revolving around the theme music: Fooling Around with Casey Jost

9:30 pm ($5): "Where there is a stage and a piano, she will be there. Where there are strangers with embarrassing stories, she will be there. Where there is a group of people willing to sit and watch someone make up songs, she will be there. A one-woman musical improv journey through the lives of the audience. You tell the story, Rebecca Vigil sings the soundtrack" at The PIT downstairs lounge: The Vigilante

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($5): Round 4 of a beloved annual November tradition at UCB Chelsea—Pat Baer's 3-on-3 Improv Tournament

11:00 pm ($5): NYC comics (not announced) performing at UCB East hosted by Emily Axford, D'Arcy Carden, Alden Ford, Brandon Scott Jones, and/or Justin Tyler: Gentrify

[FREE] Midnight: 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

[$] 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 the Carolines Comedy Club: Paul Mooney

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 11/26/11

It's a spectacular night for improv, with Magnet co-owner Armando Diaz pairing with Christina Gausas as Diaz & Gausas,
legendary improvisor Joe Bill leading a super-group of Chicago & NYC performers at The PIT for Screw Doggies...

... and Pat Baer hosting the final rounds of UCB Chelsea's annual 3-on-3 Improv Tournament

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] 2:00 pm & 8:00 pm ($35 using discount code FTBBOX online or at the box office): One of my favorite FringeNYC shows (for my 2006 review, please click here) is finally enjoying a commercial run. The mostly-true tale of a man who became the toast of Paris by making music with his ass—executed by a Broadway-caliber cast, and with several memorable show-stoppers—is playing at Sofia's Downstairs Theater (221 West 46th Street): The Fartiste

[FREE] 4:00 pm: An unusually early weekly open mic stand-up show at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by RG Daniels & Jared Fried: It Starts at 4

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): Based on her years inside the velvet trenches of Wall Street, Michelle Wolf (co-host of Fresh) introduces you to the characters who deserve every penny of their 20 billion dollars in cash bonuses (actual 2010 figure, via CNNMoney) via this one-woman show at The PIT downstairs lounge: Wall Street Analysis

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($5): The debut of a comedy quiz show full of heavily researched quirky facts in which contestants Amy Whitehouse, Johnny McNulty, Matt Little, and Shaun Diston 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

7:00 pm ($5): Asian-American improvisors from UCBT, The Magnet, The PIT, and elsewhere all gather for one night to perform at The PIT upstairs theatre—"These guys are taking everything they know about math, dry cleaning, nursing, academically demanding parents, Tony Jaa, online role-playing games, fish, outsourced call centers, Gojira, and cab driving, and tossing it all in the wok for you to eat up with a hot cup of tea:" InvAsian

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

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): One of the finest improvisors alive, Joe Bill (Bassprov, iO, co-founder of the Annoyance Theatre), spearheads a breathtakingly brilliant group of improvisors from Chicago and New York who'll blow the roof off for this show at The PIT downstairs theatre where the lights might go off or on at any time. The other players are Jodi Lennon (Comedy Central's Exit 57), Ari Voukydis (UCB instructor, VH1's Best Week Ever), Doug Stoley (Conan O'Brien, UCB), Jordan Klepper (iO, UCB, Klepper & Grey), Rick Andrews (Magnet performer), Mark Grenier (Magnet instructor, Theory of Everything), Jen Sanders (Magnet performer, Mint Condition), and Chet Siegel (Magnet performer, The Boss). It's kind of unfortunate this is opposite the first semi-finals round of the 3-on-3 Tournament at UCBT and the one-night-only pairing of Gausas & DIaz (see below); but let's just call it an embarrassment of improv riches on a magical Saturday night: Screw Doggies

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 8:00 pm, 9:30 pm, and 11:00 pm ($5): The semi-finals (at 8:00 & 9:30) and finals (at 11:00) of a beloved annual November tradition at UCB Chelsea—Pat Baer's 3-on-3 Improv Tournament

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): One of the most respected PIT improv troupes performing on this weekly show—and occasionally with comedy giants Kristen Schaal and/or Kurt Braunohler participating: Big Black Car

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($38.25 & 2-drink min.): Stellar Australian comic who's been a regular on Opie & Anthony and who performed his own HBO special, I Swear To God, headlining one last night at the Carolines Comedy Club: Jim Jefferies

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: Adam Newman (MTV, College Humor, comedy CD Not for Horses), Justy Dodge (co-host of Too Much Information on comicalradio.com; "I was kind of a tomboy growing up. Like, I had Barbies, but only because my Ninja Turtles needed bitches;" for dark bio video, please click here), and Chris Distefano (Carolines) performing sets and then being interviewed about their personal lives at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Matt Ruby & Mark Normand (who says "all these guys were hand-picked because they're funny and have some serious problems; when you read this lineup you're gonna be like 'oh yeah, that guy is a mess'"): We're All Friends Here

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & 11:45 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who's appeared frequently on David Letterman and Craig Ferguson, and starred in his own Comedy Central Presents special, headlining through Sunday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Nick Griffin

[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($10): 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), Murderfist (NYC's fearless heavy metal version of a sketch troupe; winner of the 2010 ECNY Award), John Flynn (The Nights of Our Lives, host of storytelling show Oh, Hey Guys!), Joe List (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), and Jamie Lee (Last Comic Standing, VH1) performing stand-up at UCB East, hosted by Kara Klenk and Nick Turner: If You Build It

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($7): Two of the most respected improvisors in the country, Magnet co-owner Armando DIaz and UCBT star Christina Gausas, team up for one night only: Diaz & Gausas

[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

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

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

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): A post-holiday very dark comedy show, with Chris Gethard (brilliant improvisor and comedic storyteller; star of Comedy Central sitcom Big Lake and UCBT's The Chris Gethard Show; Magic Box of Stories, The Stepfathers, The Nights of Our Lives, author of book Weird New York; winner of 2011 ECNY Award for Best Tweeter), Sean Patton (red-hot rising stand-up star; killer set on Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central, VH1; co-host of Comedy as a Second Language, frequent guest-host of Whiplash), Leslie Meisel as Holly Hunter, and Dan Shaki performing at UCB East with host Chris Wilkes (Thunder Gulch): After Dark

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

Midnight ($5): Caitlin Tegart directed this UCB Chelsea sketch show that's "a super-positive lifestyle program for teenage girls hosted by two guys with a huge passion for glossy pop music, Lisa Frank school supplies, and all that the world presents as 'hip' to young women during the melodramatic years of adolescence. With help from their outstanding panel of experts, Dan Chamberlain & Jason Flowers rap about entertainment, fashion, boys, and more in an effort to bring empowerment and enlightenment to the teen girl inside all of us:" Cool Show 4 Teen Girlz

[FREE] Midnight: NYC stand-ups Ben Kronberg, Kate Berlant, Seaton Smith, and Grant Gordon participate in the fake taping of a bad late-night TV comedy show at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City with host Brad Steuernagel: Comedians Off Of the Leash

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

[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

NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 11/27/11

Writers for David Letterman & Jimmy Fallon: Jena Friedman (Comedy Night) & Sara Schaefer (Sunday Night Stand-Up)

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] 3:00 pm & 7:00 pm ($35 using discount code FTBBOX online or at the box office): One of my favorite FringeNYC shows (for my 2006 review, please click here) is finally enjoying a commercial run. The mostly-true tale of a man who became the toast of Paris by making music with his ass—executed by a Broadway-caliber cast, and with several memorable show-stoppers—is playing at Sofia's Downstairs Theater (221 West 46th Street): The Fartiste

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

6:00 pm ($5): Dan St. Germain (quick-witted & enormously likeable rising star; Jimmy Fallon, MTV, VH1; for reenactment of Dan's breakup, please click here), John Frusciante (UCBT Artistic Associate Director, improv troupe Airwolf), and Seth Herzog (staff comic for Jimmy Fallon; Comedy Central, CBS, VH1, film actor; host of Sweet) participate in "a weekly podcast that assembles a new panel of comedians and weird characters to give funny advice, or at the very least relate to the people's problems with their own stories" at UCB East hosted by Andy Rocco: Here to Help

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

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

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCB Chelsea's signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000

7:30 pm ($5): Improv troupes not affiliated with any comedy school compete at UCB East for audience laughs and votes—and the privilege to go on to perform at the primary Cage Match show at UCB Chelsea—in this show hosted by the delightful Amey Goerlich & Ryan Karels (Krompf): Indie Cage Match

[FREE] 7:30 pm: Sketch, improv, and more at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City from comedy troupe Froduce

[$] 8:00 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 at the Carolines Comedy Club: Paul Mooney

[FREE] 8:00 pm: 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), Jackie Monahan (Here TV's Hot Gay Comics, Dykes on Mics, ), Adrienne Iapalucci (Last Comic Standing), Robert Dean, and David Foster performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups lounge (83 First Avenue at 5th Street): Sunday Night Stand-Up

8:00 pm ($5): A troupe that performs a sketch show with an improv segment at the end directed by Magnet co-owner Armando Diaz: Dumbrowsky

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced) performing at The PIT downstairs lounge for a free weekly show typically hosted by Chris Grace: Cold Soda Comedy

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced, so I'm not positive this new show's happening this week) performing at the One and One Bar (1st Street & First Avenue) for this free weekly stand-up show hosted by Jessimae Peluso (Last Comic Standing, TruTV, Tyra Banks) & Sergio Chicon: Comedy Punch

[$] 8:30 pm ($20 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who's appeared frequently on David Letterman and Craig Ferguson, and starred in his own Comedy Central Presents special, headlining through Sunday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Nick Griffin

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): 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), Gary Gulman (Last Comic Standing, Tourgasm, Comedy Central 1-hour special), Ryan Hamilton (Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing), and Karl Hess performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Mark Normand, Matt Ruby, Andy Haynes, and/or David Cope: Hot Soup

[FREE] 9:00 pm: Jena Friedman (wry dark comedy stand-up; staff writer for David Letterman), Mara Herron (Web series That Chick Mara Herron), Byron Bowers, and Rodney Laney performing at Brooklyn's Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Avenue) guest-hosted by Seaton Smith (Hannibal Buress is out of town, but will be back...): Comedy Night

[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not announced, so I'm not positive this newly revived show's happening this week) performing in the East Village's Beauty Bar for this free weekly show hosted by Brad Austin, Nate Fridson, and Adam Sokol: Beauty Bar Comedy

9:30 pm ($5): Improvised episodes of the never-made third season of Twin Peaks at The PIT upstairs theatre: In These Woods

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 Rob Stern: Vicious Cycle

[FREE] 10:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Shecky Beagleman (star of indie comedy film Hacks), Naomi Ekperigin (5 Funny Females tour), and Yamaneika (TruTV, VH1) performing at this free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour

11:00 pm ($5): Dan St. Germain (quick-witted & enormously likeable rising star; Jimmy Fallon, MTV, VH1; for reenactment of Dan's breakup, please click here), Seth Herzog (staff comic for Jimmy Fallon; Comedy Central, CBS, VH1, film actor; host of Sweet), and Josh Rabinowitz (College Humor) performing stand-up at UCB East hosted by Danny Jolles: The Most Fun Show Ever

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