NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 10/1/07
More favorites from Steven Wright:
"Did you sleep well?"
"No, I made a couple of mistakes."
Officer, I know I was going faster than 55mph,
but I wasn't going to be on the road an hour.
I went to the museum where they had the heads and arms
from the statues that are in all the other museums.
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
Brian Stack and (tentatively) David Cross in Comedy by the Numbers (8:00),
the return of improv greats Dan Bakkedahl, Peter Grosz, and John Lutz in 3 Square (9:30 pm),
and quite possibly the funniest stand-up show in NYC, Crash Test (11:00 pm).
For details, please click here.
Please also note the 2007 New York Underground Comedy Festival
is running September 28-October 7. You can get info directly from the
NYUCF site by clicking here; and, rather impressively, listen to the audio
of complete shows from the festival, at no charge, by clicking here.
Funny songs with NYC guitar-strummin' comics: Mark Manne (singer/songwriter of the
blockbuster hit The Paris Hilton Song a.k.a. Everything That Is Wrong With America Today);
Mindy Raf (VH1's Best Week Ever, relationship columnist for CollegeHumor.com,
comedy writer for WABC, actor on SuperDeluxe.com's The Post Show);
Leibya Rogers (character played by Mindy Raf; "When I sing, your soul jumps out
of your body and nestles in between my legs;" for video sample, please click here);
Poppi Kramer (Suddenly Stand-Up every Wednesday at The Duplex); and
Jason Maniscalco (founder & lead singer of parody punk rock group Inclement Weather).
7:00 pm at Mo Pitkin's, 34 Avenue A (between East 2nd & 3rd Streets); tickets are $10
A one-time-only seminar on what is funny by book authors
Eric Hoffman (Mr. Show) and Gary Rudoren (Annoyance Theatre),
with special guests such as Brian Stack and (tentatively) David Cross.
Advance tickets for this show quickly sold out, but if you show up early
and wait on a standby line you might be able to nab tickets at the door.
According to the book's description, it's "perfect for people
who are funny and for those who aren't funny—thus it is marketable
to 100% of the population. As we all know, true creativity comes
from simple formulas and the memorization of data...
One no longer need worry about originality. Just find the right comedy
number and apply as needed—and you're on your way to Popularityville©!"
To learn more, please click here.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Hosted by Joe Mande and Noah Garfinkel (for dueling birthday videos, please
click here and here; and for other videos, please click here and here).
Tonight's guests include Kurt Braunohler (co-host, with the brilliant Kristen Schaal, of the enormously popular NYC biweekly live comedy extravaganza Hot Tub Variety Show, and co-star with Kristen in the Web video series Penelope: Princess of Pets),
Sean O'Connor (VH1; New York Posts Top 20 Entertainers to Watch For in 2006; upcoming album Shmeat is Shmurder; for hilarious stand-up samples, please click here and here),
Rory Albanese (senior producer at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart;
VH1's A2Z; has opened for Lewis Black, Ed Helms, and Caroline Rhea),
and Adam Lowitt (host of Magical Show at Pianos; Saturday Night Rewritten).
8:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
Jamie Kilstein, Rachel Sklar, and Lizz Winstead
Lizz Winstead is co-creator and former head writer of the original The Daily Show, and former Executive VP of Air America Radio. (She's also a character; e.g., for a memorable anti-apology after canceling her appearance on the live NYC show Drink at Work, please click here.)
Tonight's funny political guest is Rachel Sklar, Media & Special Projects Editor of the Huffington Post and of its online Eat The Press page. Sklar was previously the editor of FishbowlNY, a New York-based media industry blog, and she currently runs the blog Tomatoes Are Delicious. Sklar's also written for The New York Times, The Village Voice, New York Magazine, and The Financial Times, and is a frequent guest on MSNBC's Scarborough Country. She's currently working on Jew-ish, a humorous book about cultural identity to be published by HarperCollins.
And tonight's political funny guest will be stand-up comic Jamie Kilstein (for video samples, please click here and here).
8:30 pm at Ace of Clubs, 9 Great Jones Street (3rd St. between Lafayette and Broadway);$10
This theatre is downstairs from the Acme restaurant. Nearest subway stops are
Bleecker Street on the #6 and Broadway-Lafayette on the F/V/D/B.
John Lutz, Peter Grosz, and Dan Bakkedahl
Brilliant comics Dan Bakkedahl (correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart),
Peter Grosz (writer for The Colbert Report, star of over 100 Sonic fast-food commercials),
and John Lutz (writer & occasional actor on SNL since 2004; recurring character on 30 Rock)
perform a three-man improv show (a version of their previous long-running and acclaimed
Chicago show 4 Square, which then also included Rob Janas).
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Hosted by Aziz Ansari (one of the best stand-up comics on the planet,
and co-star with fellow genius comics Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer
of MTV hit comedy series Human Giant).
I was sick in bed last week, so missed everything playing on a stage
(though I caught up on a whole bunch of TV...). That said, last week's Crash Test
reportedly featured the Human Giant guys, plus Leo Allen, AD Miles,
and Kurt Braunohler. That's about as fine as a lineup gets.
As for this evening, the hosts are again scheduled to be Human Giant
—i.e., Aziz, Paul, Rob, or some duo combination—
along with such stellar guests as John Mulaney,
who did a brilliant job of guest hosting Crash Test this summer
and is one of the sharpest & funniest comics around.
Guests are typically superb comedians trying out new material;
and tonight's show is likely to be among the flat-out funniest in New York.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 10/2/07
Some readers have gotten the idea that because I see
so many live shows that I must hate TV.
This greatly amuses those who really know me.
I actually watch way, way more TV than anyone oughta.
(And this season am currently very much enjoying
Prison Break, Heroes, Dexter, Stargate Atlantis, etc.)
Point is, tonight is the premiere of a comedy you should check out.
It's called Cavemen. And it airs on ABC at 8:00-8:30 pm Eastern Time.
It might be hilarious, or dreadful. Doesn't much matter.
What's important is, Nick Kroll co-stars in it.
And Nick is one of the most brilliant performers working today.
(I wouldn't be at all surprised if he ends up with a Jim Carrey-calibre career.)
So tune into Cavemen, if only to give it a chance.
However the shows turns out, you'll be able to say,
"I saw Nick Kroll at the start of his ascendence to superstardom..."
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
Scott Adsit, cast member of both 30 Rock and Moral Orel, at Comic Book Club (8:00),
a stellar group of comedic storytellers at Speakeasy (8:30),
and terrifically inventive comics such as Victor Varnado and Brett Gelman at Sweet (8:30).
For details, please click here.
Please also note the 2007 New York Underground Comedy Festival
is running September 28-October 7. You can get info directly from the
NYUCF site by clicking here; and, rather impressively, listen to the audio
of complete shows from the festival, at no charge, by clicking here.
Novelist Perry Moore and comedic writer/director/performer Scott Adsit
Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight's industry guest is Perry Moore (writer of Hero, a novel about superheroes;
executive producer of The Chronicles of Narnia movies);
and tonight's funny guest is Scott Adsit (cast member of 30 Rock;
co-director of Moral Orel and voice of Orel's dad; formerly acted
on TV series Mr. Show and Tenacious D).
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
Carolyn Castiglia hosts a lineup of female comics.
Tonight's scheduled guests are Ophira Eisenberg (VH1),
Vicki Ferentinos (Laugh Factory), Liz Miele (Caroline’s),
Susan Prekel (Live at Gotham), Debbie Shea (Premium Blend),
and Jodie Wasserman (BET).
8:00 pm at Mo Pitkin's, 34 Avenue A (between East 2nd & 3rd Streets); free
The Harold is longform improv, pioneered by Del Close.
Tonight, five improv troupes—Beverly Hills, T.R.U.C.K.S.,
1985, Tantrum, and Raynard—each give it a go for 30 minutes,
with short breaks in between, for a total of 3 hours.
Some of the groups are great; some are less so. And this show
is designed more for students of improv than the general public.
But if you're interested, and patient, a mere $5 will buy you
a full evening's education...and periodic solid laughs.
8:00-11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
SpeakEasy: Stories from the Back Room
There is little as satisfying as a well-told funny story...
that is, unless you can have an entire evening packed with them.
Sherry Weaver hosts this lovely show, which she says she created because
"she couldn't convince people to climb into bed with her at night and tell her stories."
Tonight's stellar guests are Margot Leitman (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, VH1, ESPN;
co-host of red-hot NYC live comedy show Stripped Stories; for her fun reel, please click here), Giulia Rozzi (VH1's Best Night Ever podcasts; co-host with Margot of Stripped Stories; for a video sample, please click here), James Braly (only two-time winner of the Moth Storytelling GrandSLAM), DJ Hazard (founding member of the Ding Ho Club whose members include Steven Wright, Bobcat Goldthwait, Paula Poundstone, and Denis Leary; newest cast member of American Misfits on Fuel TV), Jeffery Rudell (Moth 2003 StorySLAM Champion; graphic designer who guest starred on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart), Cyndi Freeman (comedic actress/writer who's appeared on HBO, Comedy Central, and Showtime), and Greg Walloch (writer and performing artist who's toured the world).
8:30 pm at Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street (between West 4th Street and Bleecker);
$10 ticket plus one item (food or drink) minimum
Victor Varnado, Brett Gelman, and Greta Gaines
Hosted by the sharp & witty Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).
Tonight's scheduled guests are the razor-sharp Victor Varnado (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, NBC's My Name is Earl, Chicago City Limits; for a video stand-up sample, please click here), always inventive comedic chameleon Brett Gelman (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report, Death by Roo Roo; for samples of Brett's unique work with partner Jon Daly, please click here and here, and also check out their new hip-hop parody album Fleetwood Cracked), Keith Farnan (Irish comic crossing the pond to try and win over the US; for a video stand-up sample, please click here), and Greta Gaines (popular indie singer/songwriter with albums It Was Hot and The Flavor; host of ESPN's BassCenter; frequent guest on ESPN's New American Sportsman).
8:30 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5
Lisa Levy (Psychotherapy LIVE!, Naked New York) attempts to recreate the classic
Groucho Marx game show—complete with cash prizes for audience contestants
(with the amount of money based on how much comes in via the evening's ticket sales).
9:00 pm at Mo Pitkin's, 34 Avenue A (between East 2nd & 3rd Streets); tickets are $7
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 10/3/07
Final (for now) favorites from Steven Wright:
If you were going to shoot a mime,
would you use a silencer?
What's another word for Thesaurus?
I can't stop thinking like this.
In my house there's this light switch that doesn't do anything.
Every so often I flick it on and off, just to check.
Yesterday I got a call from a woman in Germany.
She said, "Cut it out."
Someone sent me a picture postcard of the Earth.
On the back it said, "Wish you were here."
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
Eugene Mirman's & Bobby Tisdale's great stand-up show Invite Them Up (9:00),
and the magical Glennis McMurray & Eliza Skinner making up a musical in I Eat Pandas (9:30).
Please also note the 2007 New York Underground Comedy Festival
is running September 28-October 7. You can get info directly from the
NYUCF site by clicking here; and, rather impressively, listen to the audio
of complete shows from the festival, at no charge, by clicking here.
The Franco & Billy Show and Life Vontastic
The Franco & Billy Show is comedy duo Peter Blomquist and Jeff Wiens (above left), who create mockumentary short films. For a video describing the saga of Franco & Billy, please click here.
The other half of this double bill showcases Von Von Von, who should probably meet Nick Kroll's Fabrice Fabrice. Quoting from the bio: "Von Von Von is a dynamic recording artist from the South Side of Antwerp. After several years working in the European entertainment industry, he has moved to New York City. His exciting U.S. career is heating up, with star turns at Showtime at the Apollo, Chinese Pop Star, Thirty Seconds to Fame, and guest spots at Lollapalooza 2003, plus extensive New York City night club engagements. Thousands of fans are downloading his sexy hit singles, learning to Get It On, Do the Von, and, of course, Making Love." Of course.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Hosted by comedy greats Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale (above).
The lineup—which is usually stellar—tends to be posted late afternoon
on the day of the show. To check whether the Web page
has been updated yet, please click here.
9:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
Glennis & Eliza: I Eat Pandas and Film Noir: Improv in Black & White
Glennis McMurray and Eliza Skinner are simply geniuses
at taking a suggestion from the audience and creating
an entire musical based around it, using only their imaginations,
immense talent, and the aid of their wonderful improv pianist
Frank Spitznagel. Each of these gals is a powerhouse performer;
what they manage to create together tends to be sheer magic.
Kudos to UCBT for giving them a stage; and don't miss
this chance to enjoy these comedic wizards at play.
The other half of this double bill is Film Noir, in which
an improv troupe pretends it's living in a 1940s/50s B movie.
The group members are Marcus Bishop-Wright, Guy Cohen,
Kassi Dougherty, Nick Gibbons, Amey Goerlich, Birch Harms,
LeMar McLean, and J.B. Roté; the group coach is Jackie Clarke;
and the sound/lighting director is Peter Olson.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Host Justin Purnell provides a mix of guests who perform stand-up, improv, music,
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.
Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises,
that this free show makes possible.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 10/4/07
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
the sexy and funny gals of Variety Shac (8:00)
versus the sexy and funny gals at Stripped Stories (8:00);
the always entertaining mix of theatre and improv at Gravid Water (9:30);
and a clash of improv group titans at Cage Match (11:00).
For details, please click here.
Please also note the 2007 New York Underground Comedy Festival
is running September 28-October 7. You can get info directly from the
NYUCF site by clicking here; and, rather impressively, listen to the audio
of complete shows from the festival, at no charge, by clicking here.
The hard-to-resist members of this popular group are musical host Shonali Bhowmik, and comics Andrea Rosen, Chelsea Peretti, and Heather Lawless. The show features songs, sketches, and funny short films made by the foursome; for samples of the latter, please click here and here.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Margot & Giulia are two fun-lovin' gals...who are world-class storytellers
Sexual storytelling with a comedic slant...and for a change of pace, at Comix
(as opposed to the show's usual home at Mo Pitkin's).
Offering frank confessions tonight will be Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever, host of superb NYC weekly live comedy show Sweet), Greg Walloch (one man show White Disabled Talent, concert documentary film F**k The Disabled), and comedy goddess Shayna Ferm (wonderfully funny singer/songwriter with an upcoming album, and member of stellar sketch group Fearsome; for samples of Shay's songs, please click here ); plus the two sensual hosts, Giulia Rozzi (VH1's Best Night Ever podcasts) and Margot Leitman (Late Night With Conan O'Brien)—or, as Margot likes to describe it, "newly married Giulia Rozzi and the eternal bridesmaid Margot Leitman." In addition, there'll be "a spontaneous audience interview, sex games, and hookups...hopefully."
Cost is $10 plus a two-item food or drink minimum. To offset that, Margot provided
a $5 discount code for buying online; but Margot, the code ain't workin'...
Nonetheless, this is a wonderful show, and recommended.
8:00 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues); $10 plus 2-item minimum
This one-man show by Paden Fallis tells the comedic story of a football coach "in the final three minutes of the defining game of his career...(when his) world comes crashing down around him. As the clock ticks away, the coach comes head-to-head with a backstabbing assistant, a gifted adversary, a God-like referee, and a mysterious stranger who repeatedly phones down to the bench—all the while trying to pull his team through to victory."
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
Free stand-up comedy show by Matt Ruby.
Tonight's scheduled guests are the wonderful Dave Hill (Variety Magazine's
2007 pick for 10 Comics to Watch; written for The New York Times, Salon, HBO,
and the eerie Web site Black Metal Dialogues; written & performed for VH1,
Spike TV, The Learning Channel, and the fabulous Smoking Gun TV series),
Baron Vaughn (MTV's new The Gamekillers, VH1's Awesomely Oversexed and
Best Week Ever, cast member on weekly NYC live comedy show
Shoot the Messenger; for a radio interview, please click here),
Mike Burns (contributor to Blerds.com),
Adam Lowitt (segment producer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart),
Jena Friedman (creator of Chicago's The Refugee Girls), and Joe List.
9:00 pm at Mo Pitkin's, 34 Avenue A (between East 2nd & 3rd Streets); free
Dan Bakkedahl and Brian Stack
Classic theatre scenes performed by professional actors who stay on book—
and an improv comic who hasn't read the play and has to make up lines on the fly.
Featuring genius improvisers such as Michael Delaney (The Stepfathers, The Swarm),
Anthony King (UCBT Artistic Director, Reuben Williams), Christina Gausas (The Stepfathers),
Dan Bakkedahl (correspondent for The Daily Show, 3 Square), and Brian Stack
(longtime staff writer and frequent sketch performer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien).
Created and hosted by Stephen Ruddy.
If you want to introduce an actor friend to the world of improv, start with this show.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
After spending four months as professional "sea comedians," Leah Gotcsik and Marty Johnson have created this sketch show based on their experiences entertaining on a cruise ship "where the drinks start flowing at 9:00 am, mullets and sequined gowns are commonplace, and once a week male crewmembers strip for "Ladies Night."
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
vs. 
Cage Match: Derrick vs. DeCoster
This delightful show pits two improv teams against each other while creating the
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...).
I was sick in bed all last week, but Derrick—Dominic Dierkes, Donald Glover,
and DC Pierson—clearly continued to be on fire, winning against UCBT
Harold troupe Twelve Thousand Dollars with an unequivocal audience vote of 130-24.
Tonight is likely to prove a closer contest. The challenger is DeCoster, which consists of highly talented veteran improvisors: Matthew DeCoster (Kill Your Darlings), Eric Bernat (Creep), Eugene Cordero (Baby Wants Candy, Creep, the Buffoons), Kirk Damato (Kill Your Darlings, Cagney, Blackout), Pamela Murphy (Kill Your Darlings), Megan Neuringer (Creep), Ari Voukydis (Mark & Ari)...and DC Pierson! (though DC will presumably be sticking with Derrick this evening).
This is a clash between two great improv troupes; and DC having ties
to both camps could give it some Shakespearean-level drama.
There's no telling what will 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
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 10/5/07
Want to be a Part of TV History?
Human Giant, one of the finest comedy shows in television history,
needs lots of extras to help them shoot scenes in New York
for the upcoming second season.
There's no pay; being the best doesn't mean being the richest,
and the guys have to be creative in stretching their budget.
However, you can experience how a classic HG scene is created
and tell your grandchildren that you contributed to this phenomenal series.
(Plus, you'll be fed.)
To sign up, please send an email to thehumangiant@gmail.com
with the word AUDIENCE in the Subject line.
(And please do so ASAP, because shooting starts next week...)
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
a terrific comedy lineup hosted by J. Edgar Hoover (7:30 pm),
a sketch show by some of the writers of The Colbert Report (8:00 pm),
Aziz Ansari, Brett Gelman, and long-time Conan writer Brian Kiley at Power Hour (8:00 pm),
and a very funny solo stand-up show from The Daily Show's John Oliver (8:00 pm & 10:45 pm).
Please also note the 2007 New York Underground Comedy Festival
is running September 28-October 7. You can get info directly from the
NYUCF site by clicking here; and, rather impressively, listen to the audio
of complete shows from the festival, at no charge, by clicking here.
Photo on left: Rebekka Johnson, Kimmy Gatewood, and Sarah Lowe
The Apple Sisters Variety Show
The lovely Kimmy Gatewood, who is an exceptionally talented writer, director, and comedic performer, demonstrates that she's also great at singing and dancing—partnered beautifully with Rebekka Johnson and Sarah Lowe, and Tom Thomsen on keyboard—in this homage to 1940s girl groups like The Andrew Sisters. 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 show, please click here & here & here & here.
7:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street; tickets are $10
Livia Scott as Johnny Depp and Jack Palance
Host Livia Scott (world-class sketch group Meat, Late Night with Conan O'Brien)
pretends to be a different celebrity for every show. Tonight, she's J. Edgar Hoover.
And her scheduled guests include the delightful Sara Schaefer
(VH1's Best Week Ever, E! Network's Rise of the Geeks; host of AOL's The DL,
UCBT's Video Gaga, and Brooklyn Union Hall's Name That Tune),
Baron Vaughn (MTV's new The Gamekillers, VH1's Awesomely Oversexed and
Best Week Ever, cast member on weekly NYC live comedy show
Shoot the Messenger; for a radio interview, please click here),
Patrick Borelli (Late Night With Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central's Premium Blend),
and band Children of the Unicorn.
7:30 pm Mo Pitkin's, 34 Avenue A (between East 2nd & 3rd Streets); tickets are $5
Peter Gwinn on his way to tonight's show
The Steve Miller Band and Other Annoying Monsters, Or: Oceanquake!
A sketch show in which "children deal with mortality, loaves of bread break out in song,
and a monster drunkenly hits on bridesmaids. And, as the title hints, the
Steve Miller Band is indirectly responsible for several deaths."
Written and performed by The Second City comedy veterans
Deb Downing, Peter Gwinn, Peter Grosz, and Abby Sher.
Peter Grosz and Peter Gwinn are currently writers for The Colbert Report.
Directed by Jason Mantzoukas.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
Aziz Ansari, Brett Gelman, and Brian Kiley
Hosted by Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy (Cartoon Network's Assy McGee, Home Movies, etc.).
Tonight's stellar guests include Aziz Ansari (awesome stand-up comic, co-star of MTV hit comedy series Human Giant, and host of UCBT's Crash Test); Brett Gelman (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report; comedic chameleon who's always pushing the envelope with unusual characters; for samples of his unique work with partner Jon Daly, please click
here and here, and also check out their new hip-hop parody album Fleetwood Cracked);
Brian Kiley (writer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien since 1994; has performed on Late Show with David Letterman, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Comedy Central Presents);
Tom McCaffrey (Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Shorties Watchin' Shorties).
8:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
"They're all street, all the time." Five women—pictured left to right, Jessica Allen, Bayne Gibby, Stephanie Kasen, Caitlin Miller, and Tara Copeland—who've won the 2004 ECNY award for Best Improv Group, and have repeatedly been a Time Out New York Critic's Pick.
8:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Some of the best improv comics in NYC—Michael Delaney, Christina Gausas, Chris Gethard, Bobby Moynihan, Silvija Ozols, and Zach Woods—make stuff up, and make you laugh.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
Jess Wood and Lang Fisher
Chicks & Giggles—Hell's Angels
Chicks & Giggles has a Tuesday slot at Mo Pitkin's, but has
now expanded to this second weekly show on Fridays.
Tonight's scheduled comediennes are host Jess Wood
(HBO's Def Jam Comedy; for documentary about her, please click here),
Lang Fisher (writer and performer of funny videos for The Onion News Network,
Comedy Central, etc.; for a sample, please click here),
Heather Fink (host of monthly live NYC comedy show Street Meat),
and Katina Corrao (Daddy on HBO).
10:00 pm at Time Out NY Lounge at New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street (off 8th Avenue); $5
Veteran improvisors Scott Glover and John O'Donnell,
accompanied by a rotating cast that might include
such talents as Eliza Skinner or Tara Copeland or Jeff Hiller
—and with Frank Spitznagel on piano—
turn an interview with an audience member
into a musical they make up on the spot.
10:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
John Oliver, the delightful news correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
(and co-writer/star of The Department for BBC Radio 4),
delivers a solo show of thoughtful, sharp-witted stand-up comedy.
Playing at 8:00 pm and 10:45 pm tonight and Saturday, and at 7:30 pm on Sunday.
10:45 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues); $22 plus 2-item minimum
Death by Roo Roo: Your F*cked Up Family
Comedic powerhouses Jackie Clarke, Curtis Gwinn, Brett Gelman, Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, and John Gemberling interview an audience member about family and then act out his or her life story via improv scenes. Scary and funny.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
The ultimate in audience participation: any group can submit a sketch and perform it!
If all you want is to be entertained, this show probably isn't a good choice.
But if you'd like to act on the UCBT stage, and/or have your sketch writing judged by an exceptionally savvy audience, this is a golden opportunity.
Sign-up begins at 10:30 pm and runs till 11:45 pm; sketches will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's wise to arrive early. For a complete list of the rules, please click here.
Midnight at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 10/6/07
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
four stellar storytellers, one of whom is telling a pack of lies (6:00 pm),
long-form improv from 30 Rock writer/performers Scott Adsit & Tami Sagher (7:30 pm),
and a stand-up show consisting of naked comics (8:00 pm).
Want to be a Part of TV History?
Human Giant, one of the finest comedy shows in television history,
needs lots of extras to help them shoot scenes in New York
for the upcoming second season.
There's no pay; being the best doesn't mean being the richest,
and the guys have to be creative in stretching their budget.
However, you can experience how a classic HG scene is created
and tell your grandchildren that you contributed to this phenomenal series.
(Plus, you'll be fed.)
To sign up, please send an email to thehumangiant@gmail.com
with the word AUDIENCE in the Subject line.
(And please do so ASAP, because shooting starts next week...)
Please also note the 2007 New York Underground Comedy Festival
is running September 28-October 7. You can get info directly from the
NYUCF site by clicking here; and, rather impressively, listen to the audio
of complete shows from the festival, at no charge, by clicking here.
Four funny people tell amazing stories. Three of the tales are absolutely true...but
one of them is a pack of lies. The audience then asks questions to try and identify the fibber.
Host Andy Christie (The New York Times) welcomes tonight's terrific yarn-spinners:
Tara Clancy (one-woman show Channel Rat at 2005 FringeNYC),
Martin Dockery (four-time Moth Grandslam finalist),
Peter Lubell (producer/director for NPR and TV), and
Rob Gorden (co-host of NYC's The Rob and Mark Show, and of Spike TV's Geek-Ray Vision).
6:00 pm at Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street (between West 4th Street and Bleecker);
tickets are $12, which includes one house drink
Writer/producer/performer Tami Sagher and writer/director/performer Scott Adsit
Scott Adsit (cast member of the Emmy-winning 30 Rock, writer, co-director,
and cast member [voice of the dad] of Adult Swim's brilliant & Emmy-winning
Moral Orel; formerly acted on TV series Mr. Show and Tenacious D) and
Tami Sagher (writer for 30 Rock; writer and producer for Mad TV 2001-2006;
also wrote for HBO's Lucky Louie and USA's Psych) tonight revive their
popular long-form improv show, which they used to perform in LA.
7:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
Magnet instructors & Second City veterans such as Rachel Hamilton, Ed Herbstman, Abby Sher, and Miriam Tolan, plus stars of Mother: The Soundtrack (see below) Jason Mantzoukas, Tara Copeland, James Eason, Christine Walters, plus occasional special guests (such as superstar Mike Meyers), turn a tiny suggestion into larger-than-life improvised scenes.
7:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Andy Ofiesh, creator of The Naked Comedy Showcase
Oddly enough, this is just what it sounds like;
stand-up comics performing in the buff.
A reviewer from The Boston Globe observed, "The dynamic of nude comedian
and clothed audience added an extra dimension to self-deprecating material."
For a New York Magazine review, please click here.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street; tickets are $10
Jason Mantzoukas leads a vibrant team of improv comics—Scot Armstrong, Tara Copeland, Jon Daly, James Eason, Jesse Falcon, Doug Moe, and Christine Walters—who make up scenes based on CD tracks contributed by the audience. One of UCBT's most beloved shows.
9:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
Sketch show that was an official selection of the 2007 Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival,
written & performed by Marianne Fichtel, Jason Kalter, Jon Pack, and Jessie Strauss.
Odd, surreal, unnerving. For video samples, please click here and here and here.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $8
Reuben Williams: As Seen on TV
Anthony King demonstrates that in addition to running UCBT-NY brilliantly, he's a formidable improv performer. Joining him are stellar talents Lennon Parham (see my review of her Showgirls parody), Chris Kula, Charlie Sanders, Eric Scott, Kate Spencer, Charlie Todd, and Joe Wengert.
10:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $8
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 10/7/07
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
UCBT's playground for celebrities and top improvisors, ASSSSCAT 3000 (7:30 & 9:30 pm),
a very funny solo stand-up show from The Daily Show's John Oliver (7:30 pm), and
fun in Brooklyn with Eugene Mirman & Michael Showalter (7:45 pm) and Sara Schaefer (9:15 pm).
Want to be a Part of TV History?
Human Giant, one of the finest comedy shows in television history,
needs lots of extras to help them shoot scenes in New York
for the upcoming second season.
There's no pay; being the best doesn't mean being the richest,
and the guys have to be creative in stretching their budget.
However, you can experience how a classic HG scene is created
and tell your grandchildren that you contributed to this phenomenal series.
(Plus, you'll be fed.)
To sign up, please send an email to thehumangiant@gmail.com
with the word AUDIENCE in the Subject line.
(And please do so ASAP, because shooting starts next week...)
Please also note the 2007 New York Underground Comedy Festival
is running September 28-October 7. You can get info directly from the
NYUCF site by clicking here; and, rather impressively, listen to the audio
of complete shows from the festival, at no charge, by clicking here.
The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre's signature show, which features a monologist telling stories based on audience suggestions and a group of top improvisers (sometimes including stars such as SNL's Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz) creating scenes based on the stories. There are two shows every Sunday which share the same format, but are otherwise entirely different because everything is improvised. The 7:30 pm show is $8; advance tickets might be sold out by the time you read this, but a limited number of seats are available at the door for those who arrive early enough to nab 'em. The 9:30 show is free, with tickets distributed outside the theatre at 8:15 pm; but again, you may need to come early and wait on line to ensure getting into this first come, first served performance.
7:30 pm & 9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue)
John Oliver, the delightful news correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
(and co-writer/star of The Department for BBC Radio 4),
delivers a solo show of thoughtful, sharp-witted stand-up comedy.
7:30 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues); $22 plus 2-item minimum
Eugene Mirman and Michael Showalter
If you live in Brooklyn, or simply don't mind going a few subway stops
beyond Manhattan, some of the best comedy minds in New York can be found
at this weekly show hosted by Eugene Mirman (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central's
Premium Blend and Jump Cuts, HBO's Flight of the Conchords, VH1,
The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman and En Garde, Society! comedy albums)
and Michael Showalter (MTV's The State, Stella comedy troupe,
co-writer & co-star of comedy feature film Wet Hot American Summer).
Tonight's guests haven't yet been announced, but they're usually superb.
7:45ish pm at Union Hall, 702 Union Street at 5th Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn; tickets are $7
Take the R train to Union Street and walk 1 block east; or take
the F train to 4th Avenue, walk north on 4th Avenue and turn right on Union Street, and go 1 block up;
or take the 2/3/4/5/Q train to Atlantic Avenue, walk south on 5th Avenue, and make a left on Union Street.
A showcase for talented improvisation twosomes.
Tonight's duos are Megan Gray & Louis Kornfeld,
Corey Grimes & Charlie Whitcroft, and
Roy Koshy & Henry Kaiser.
And this evening's host is Peter McNerney.
8:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
If you're looking for a good time, this might not be it.
But if you're interested in getting on the Mo Pitkin's stage and
performing stand-up—or any other kind of act—a mere $4 will buy you
a chance at being selected via the show's lottery system. The rules are:
Sign-up is at 9:00 pm sharp.
You get eight minutes maximum for your act.
You can do anything you'd like on stage, with two exceptions:
1. Don't damage the stage or equipment (respect the space).
2. Don't pick out people in the audience, even just to say something nice (respect the audience).
No online reservations available; simply pay at the door.
Again, this show isn't for everyone.
But if you're a performer, you've probably risked
a lot more that $4 to nab an NYC stage credit...
9:00 pm at Mo Pitkin's, 34 Avenue A (between East 2nd & 3rd Streets); tickets are $4
Name That Tune with Sara Schaefer
Directly following Brooklyn's Tearing the Veil of Maya comes the delightful
Sara Schaefer (VH1's Best Week Ever, E! Network's Rise of the Geeks;
host of AOL's The DL, and UCBT's Video Gaga) hosting this free comedic
musical game show. Tonight's guests haven't been announced, but expect fun.
9:15ish pm at Union Hall, 702 Union Street at 5th Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn; free
Take the R train to Union Street and walk 1 block east; or take
the F train to 4th Avenue, walk north on 4th Avenue and turn right on Union Street, and go 1 block up;
or take the 2/3/4/5/Q train to Atlantic Avenue, walk south on 5th Avenue, and make a left on Union Street.
Alternatively, consider seeing a funny and/or musical
Broadway, off-Broadway, or off-off-Broadway show.
To learn how theatre tickets can be purchased for around 50% off—
or, in some cases, for as little as $3 each—
please read Hy on Theatre Discounts.
Return to Previous NYC Comedy Picks
Copyright © 2007 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
