HyReviews.com

 

Hy Bender

 

Last updated Thursday, August 28th 2008

 

Note: To go directly to tonight's NYC Comedy Picks, please click here.

 

The FringeNYC 2008 festival is over, but a dozen of its shows will be living on via the FringeNYC Encore Series running August 28 through September 16th. For details—including a discount code that lets you order tickets online with no service charge—please click here.

For assorted news & tips—such as where to find a FringeNYC 2008 show that's being extended outside of the Encore Series—please click here.

The FringeNYC Awards Winners include China: The Whole Enchilada, Love is Dead: A NecRomantic Musical Comedy, Sailor Man, Hot Cripple, Gem!: A Truly Outrageous Parody, There Will Come Soft Rains, Zombie, and The Fabulous Kane Sisters in Box Office Poison. For complete details, please click here.

With the time pressures of the festival over, I'll be slowly but steadily filling in missing show ratings and reviews. Meanwhile, for a rated & ranked list of most of the 67 shows I've caught to date, please click here; and for reviews (including write-ups of five Encore Series shows), please click here.

A scene from Michael Laurence's Krapp, 39, one of

the dozen shows extended for the FringeNYC 2008 Encore Series

 

For NYC comedy info, please keep reading this home page.

 

Tonight's Hot Comedy Picks: Thursday, August 28th

Photo on left: Rebekka Johnson, Kimmy Gatewood, and Sarah Lowe

Photo on right: Sarah Lowe, Rebekka Johnson, and Kimmy Gatewood

The Apple Sisters: The Musical

The delicious Apple SistersKimmy Gatewood, Rebekka Johnson, and Sarah Lowe, with Tom Thomsen on keyboard—have sung, danced, and naughtily joked their ways into New York City's heart. This homage to 1940s girl groups like The Andrew Sisters has been one of the great successes of 2007, having done 10 original shows, sold-out performances at comedy festivals around the country, and recently winning the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act.

Tonight the gals have put together their best bits, along with new material, to create a laugh-packed musical running over an hour. Featuring FDR, pickles, and God, it's full of fun and surprises.

From the official description: "The Apple Sisters are Candy, Cora, and Seedy. Their mother, Ms. Reddy Apple, was a vaudeville star and she passed down the legacy to her three girls! The trio present their live show, broadcast on WXYZ AM Radio, straight to the troops in Germany, and present the show on stage at the Peoples Improv Theater in their first and favorite home, the Big Apple! Be a chum and always use Doramad Toothpaste, now with Thorium!"

To get a feel for the production, please click here & here & here & here.

The show tends to sell out, so it's recommended you buy an advance ticket

online ($9.19, including service charge) by clicking here.

8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street; tickets are $8 at the door

 

 

vs.

Cage Match: Death by Roo Roo vs. Krompf

This delightful show pits two improv teams against each other while creating the

atmosphere of a professional wrestling arena—and providing such side-shows

as a bout to the death between guys costumed as an alcoholic wolf and TV's Alf.

(For a spirited weekly report on the wrestling aspect of Cage Match, please click here.)

The current reining champ at Cage Match is arguably the gutsiest improv group in NYC: Death by Roo Roo, consisting of uniformly brilliant comics Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, Jackie Clarke, Brett Gelman, John Gemberling, and Curtis Gwinn. So far this season, DBRR has trounced 14 troupes in a row—tying the all-time record for winning streaks set by Optimist International in 2002! And this juggernaut doesn't merely walk over opponents, it pounds them into the ground: DBRR has won a total of 1,367 audience votes vs. a mere 588 for all its opponents combined.

Tonight's contender is another of NYC's very best comedy troupes: Krompf, consisting of Neil Casey (who happens to also be a member of Death by Roo Roo, and just completed starring in the FringeNYC play Untitled Masterpiece), Ryan Karels, Amey Goerlich, and Joe Wengert (member of UCBT's star improv troupe Reuben Williams). At a memorable 2007 appearance on Cage Match, these improvisors took the kickoff suggestion Christendom to heights of delicious absurdity, in which young children about to be initiated into Catholicism are made to wear suits of armor and engage in swordplay while a voracious winged monster (played memorably by Ryan Karels) perches ready to gobble up the head of any who show hints of wavering. And in another subplot, Neil Casey was hilarious as a perpetually grieving cab driver who tells every passenger about his bride dying on their wedding day. At the end, we learn that as he backed up the cab preparing to drive them both to the Church, he accidentally ran her over...

With two such brilliant teams competing—not to mention, with Neil Casey being on both of them, effectively fighting himself—this show promises to be special and memorable.

There's no telling what'll happen...which is one of the great pleasures of this extravaganza.

11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

 

 

Great Inexpensive Live Comedy

For other terrific low-cost NYC comedy, please visit the Web sites of

Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre

The Peoples Improv Theater

Ochi's Lounge at Comix

The Magnet

 

Comedy Club Discounts

If you'd enjoy an elegant evening at an NYC comedy club

but also want to save some money, please click here.

Currently available are discounts for select shows at the Comix Comedy Club

and a 50% discount on all tickets for the Broadway Comedy Club.

Upcoming Hot Club Show: Comix Musical Revue

($10 off the $20 cover charge for HyReviews.com readers before day of show)

 

For Video Clips of the Month (featuring clips from FringeNYC 2008 shows), please click here.

For previous top video picks, please click here.

 

To explore other NYC theatre and comedy sections of HyReviews.com, please click here

(or use the search box and/or site index below).

 

 

Great Inexpensive Live Comedy

Previous Comedy Picks

Comedy Club Discounts

Video Clips of the Month

Show Report 3/28/08: Kumail Nanjiani's Unpronounceable

Show Report 2/28/08: Invite Them Up Ends Glorious Six-Year Run

Show Report 2/10/08: Alternative, Alshmernative—Kristen Schaal

Show Report 11/12/07: Andy Blitz Sees the Future

Show Report 9/24/07: Dave Hill Turns Things Around

Shockingly Delightful: Offensive Fest 2007

Comedy in the Moment: 2007 Del Close Improv Marathon

Comedy Scene by Scene: SketchFest NYC 07

Exceptional Comics

The 2008 ECNY Awards

Search This Site

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Hy's Book Proposal Service

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FringeNYC 2008 Coverage

FringeNYC 2007 Coverage

FringeNYC 2007 Performers Gallery

FringeNYC 2006 Coverage

FringeNYC 2005 Coverage

Hy On Theatre

Hy on Theatre Discounts: See Great Shows for as Little as $3.50

Actors of the Month

Hy on Human Giant

Hy on TV

Previous Video Clips of the Month

A New Force for Comedy: "UCB's Third Stage"

 

Video Clips of the Month:

Best FringeNYC 2008 Show Promos & Sneak Peeks

Usher: "Twelve Hours"

Carl and Shelly, Best Friends Forever

Nightlife Jesus

Kansas City or Along the Way: "Lullaby" (audio only)

The Complete Performer

Becoming Britney

The Sound of One Hanna Clapping: "Ode to Britney" (audio only)

The Refugee Girls Revue

The Home for Wayward Girls and Fallen Women

Shots: A Love Story

Kansas City or Along the Way: "Hammer" (audio only)

Zombie

Operation Adelmo

Oatmeal and a Cigarette

The Dershowitz Protocol

III

Kansas City or Along the Way: "Adelaide Hall" (audio only)

Dreadful Penny's Exquisite Horrors

Usher: "I Might Have Taken You Dancing"

 

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HyReviews.com Highlights

Please check out these New York City theatre sections of HyReviews.com:

FringeNYC 2008 Coverage

FringeNYC 2007 Coverage

FringeNYC 2007 Performer's Gallery

FringeNYC 2006 Coverage

FringeNYC 2005 Coverage

FringeNYC 2004 Coverage

Hy On Theatre

Hy on Theatre Discounts: See Great Shows for as Little as $3.50

Actors of the Month

Please also check out these comedy sections of HyReviews.com:

Comedy Club Discounts

Great Inexpensive Live Comedy

Previous Nightly NYC Live Comedy PIcks

Previous Video Clips of the Month

UCBComedy.com: A New Force for Comedy on the Web

Hy on Human Giant

Comedy in the Moment: The Annual Del Close Improv Marathon

Comedy Scene by Scene: SketchFest NYC 07

Shockingly Delightful: Offensive Fest 2007

Show Reports: Kristen Schaal  Dave Hill  Andy Blitz

Show Reports: Kumail Ali (formerly Nanjiani)  Invite Them Up

Exceptional Comics

The 2008 ECNY Awards

And if you need any help with a book or a screenplay, please visit Hy's writer sites:

HyOnYourBook.com

HyOnYourScript.com

 

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Previous Video Clips of the Month

Zach Galifianakis

Characters

Visit to Jimmy Kimmel

Getting Canceled...and Starting Over

More Stand-Up from Fat Jesus

On Physical Comedy

Ad for Absolut Vodka

Another Ad for Absolut Vodka

 

The Unsettling Artistry of Comedy Troupe Quiet Library

 

Violet Krumbein and Greg Tuculescu

Quiet Library: Chris Cooper, David Hale, Dave Cederquist, & Greg Tuculescu

The Secret Strikes Back

Blind Date

Porn Writer's Meeting

Parents of Miss Teen South Carolina

Miss Teen South Carolina vs. Bush

Brown Noser

Der Tourist (The Tourist)

 

Rob Paravonian

Pachelbel Rant

Life as a Comic: Nooners

Life as a Comic: College Conventions

Life as a Comic: Downtown Comedy

Life as a Comic: Reels

Life as a Comic: Guitar Comics

 

Memorable Award Show Moments

Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert at the 2006 Emmys

Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Steve Carell at the 2007 Emmys

Jon Stewart's Opening Monologue at the 2008 Academy Awards

Jon Stewart Presenting a Baby at the 2008 Academy Awards

 

Sarah Silverman: I'm F*cking Matt Damon

For Jimmy Kimmel's Fifth Anniversary show,

his long-time girlfriend Sarah Silverman

gave him a video gift.

To enjoy it yourself, please click here.

 

The Writers Guild Strike

Most Concise & Dead-On Explanation of the Strike

Tim Kazurinsky Succinctly Explains the Strike

The WGA Explains the Strike

Neal Pollack's 5-Year-Old Elijah Explains the Strike

David Letterman Explains the Producers' Side of the Strike

Tim Carvell & Jason Ross of The Daily Show on Viacom Paradox

Yet More Paradox in Voices of Uncertainty

Heroes of the Strike

Strike You!

The Office is Closed

Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane on the Strike

Animals in Solidarity

David Letterman—Bless Him—Negotiates Separate Deal with WGA

(news article about why you should tune into new episodes of Late Show with David Letterman starting 1/2/08)

Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert—Bless Them—Facing Tougher Situation

(New York Times article about these comedy genius writer/performers also returning to the air, but sans writing staffs)

A Ninja Offers Advice to the Writers Guild

How Moonlighting Handled the Writers Strike of 1988

For the Best Strike Coverage: Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily

 

Jessica Delfino

I Wanna Be Famous

Jessica Does Ireland

Don't Rape Me (played on rape whistle)

A Message to All Men

My Pussy is Magic

Lullaby

 

Aziz Ansari

What Shoulda Happened... (co-starring Eugene Mirman)

Aziz Stand-Up #1 (Kanye West & Val Kilmer)

Aziz Stand-Up #2 (Enemies List)

Aziz Stand-Up #3 (Gay Marriage)

Aziz Stand-Up #4 (Harsh)

Aziz on Amateurish YouTube Editing

Complete Stand-Up Routine (MP3 audio clip)

 

Minnie the Moocher

Bimbo's Initiation

Snow White

(If you don't happen to know your Betty Boop, please click the links above

to play three 1930s cartoon gems. Each one starts out slowly,

but please be patient and watch all the way through...and then observe

what happens to your mind after experiencing these black & white dreams.)

 

Bread Expert

 

Charlie the Unicorn

Animation vs. Animator

Animation Medley

(uncooperative animated characters)

 

Seinfeld: The Lost Episode

 

Free Hugs

Free Hugs: Backstory

 

First four minutes of Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat

Trailer for Borat

Borat interviewed by Jon Stewart

Sacha Baron Cohen torturing supermarket manager

Borat Q&A at Toronto Film Festival

 

Chad Vader, Day Shift Manager:

Episodes #1, #2, #3, and  #4

 

The Horror...

 

Amanda Congdon Bids Farewell to Rocketboom

Amanda Explains Things on MSNBC

Amanda Tries a New Job

(The lovely and super-talented Amanda Congdon's split

with her producer Andrew Baron has been the focus of the

biggest soap opera to hit the Web since Microsoft vs. Google.

If this drama has somehow slipped by you, these clips cover the highlights.)

 

We Like the Moon

(animated music video you're unlikely to forget...no matter how hard you may try...)

 

The Evolution of Dance

(comedian Judson Laipply dances through several musical generations—in just six minutes)

 

Our Legal System at Work

(actual deposition conducted in April 2006 by famed Texas attorney Joe Jamail)

 

The Real Simpsons

(investigative videojournalists uncover the true-life Springfield)

 

Star Wars: Brokeback Empire

Brokeback to the Future

Top Gun 2: Brokeback Squadron

(the secret Brokeback trilogy)

 

Throw the Jew Down the Well

(Jewish comic Sacha Baron Cohen—a.k.a. Borat and Ali G—shines a light on anti-semitism)

 

Rainbow, a 1972-1992 UK version of Sesame Street

(shot for the show's 1979 Christmas party; and the funniest children's TV episode, ever...)

 

Never Trust a Penguin

(infamous deleted scene from March of the Penguins)

 

Jack Nicholson's Heartwarming New Dramedy

 

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Hy's Book Proposal & Script Analysis Services

 

Hy Bender (who runs this NYC comedy & theatre Web site for free) also runs two commercial editorial services: HyOnYourBook.com for anyone with a strong nonfiction book idea who needs expert help creating a winning book proposal, and HyOnYourScript.com for writers seeking expert analysis and repair for their screenplays. More specifically:

 

 

If you have any other type of writing or editing need, Hy can probably tackle it as well. To get in touch, please write to email address hy@hyreviews.com.

 

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Hy's Other Web Sites:

HyOnYourBook.com

HyOnYourScript.com

 

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Copyright © 2008 Hy Bender

Email: hy@hyreviews.com