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Last updated Thursday May 17th 2012
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Best NYC Live Comedy Tonight (updated daily)
Red-Hot Shows Likely to Sell Out: Freak Dance screening, with Matt Besser live, on 5/19
HyReviews.com's Comedy Videos of the Month: Greatest Storytellers: Baker, Wade, Eisenberg
HyReviews.com Joke of the Week: Drew Carey
Previous HyReviews.com Jokes of the Week
Previous HyReviews.com Comedy Videos of the Month
NYC Comedy Club Discounts—NO COVER on all Eastville & select Broadway & Dangerfield's shows!
(Eastville Comedy, Broadway Comedy, Dangerfield's)
Hy's Latest (15th) Book: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Thyroid Disease
Hy's Book Proposal, Screenplay Doctoring, and Ghostwriting Services
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 5/17/12
The lovely Julia Wiedeman is both playful and fearless in her memorable
sketch show
Naked
People
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: Eliza Skinner (Conan O'Brien, Showtime, MTV, TBS, AMC, co-host of weekly stand-up show Magic Bag with DC Pierson in LA) is tonight's guest at this weekly open-mic storytelling show, with each performer given a whopping eight minutes to captivate & impress, at UCB East hosted by John Flynn: Oh, Hey Guys!
6:00 pm ($5): Two shows about which I know nothing audition for a regular spot on the prestigious UCB Chelsea schedule: Kathy and Emily Regret Everything and Small Men. These might be great or awful; but at $2.50 per show, you can't go far wrong either way. That's part of the fun of Spank
[FREE] 6:00 pm: Veteran musical improvisors at The PIT mix with novices on-stage at Pitch
[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
7:00 pm ($5): Two singing improv troupes make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT downstairs lounge: Hot Diner and THEM
7:00 pm ($5): Improv duo Steve Soroka (BoF) & Jen Curran (Harvard Sailing Team) team with improv troupe The Imposters at The PIT upstairs theatre to kick off your Evening Bliss
[FREE] 7:00 pm: In this free Magnet show, audience members (signing in at 6:00) can join in with improv troupe Hello Laser to make up scenes on the spot: Magnet Mixer
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($5): TV & movie star Janeane Garofalo, Nikki Glaser (Jay Leno, Last Comic Standing, podcast You Had to Be There), Joe List (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), Matt Koff (Onion News Network, WitStream, 9 Am Meeting), and Michael Che performing at UCB East produced by Mark Normand, Matt Ruby, and David Cope, and hosted tonight by David Cope: Hot Soup
[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): At UCB Chelsea, a witty and ultimately exhilarating exploration of baring it all by fabulous long-time nudist Julia Wiedeman. Julie is a charismatic actress whose star is just starting to rise, and is well worth catching even beyond the enjoyment of her playful beauty. Check out promo videos here and here, and then run to see Naked People...
...and in the other half of this double-bill, a one-man sketch show by George Kareman about which I know nothing, but it has a fun title: Incredibly Extreme and Extremely Incredible
8:00 pm ($5): Two singing improv troupes make up entire musicals on the spot in this double-bill at The PIT downstairs lounge: The East Side Orphan Riot and Harvey
8:00 pm ($5): Sketch comedy from a group that met as college students in Boston now performing at The PIT upstairs theatre: Astronaut Theatre
[$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm ($15 [vs. $25] online or at the box office using discount code BBOX): Telly Savalas returns to life to entertain you and provide life guidance in this 50-minute show that was a hit at FringeNYC 2011 and is now enjoying an open-ended Friday night run at the Soho Playhouse's downstairs Huron Club. The script is at times very smart, especially in its choices of hilarious video clips and music tracks from the real Savalas...who, in his more intense moments, apparently rivaled William Shatner at his silliest. But even when Hunter Nelson's writing isn't consistent, actor Tom DiMenna—who is a professional comic with great timing and skill at engaging an audience—will keep you entertained: Who Loves You, Baby?
8:00 pm-MIdnight ($7 for the entire evening): The Magnet house troupes The Boss, Hello Laser, Phooka, and Junior Varsity performing improv, followed at 10:00 pm by Christina Gausas directing The Subject (improvised scenes that focus on one character who never leaves the stage, while other characters from the past, present, and future come and go), and then at 11:00 improv competition Inspirado (like UCBT's Cage Match, but with a game-like challenge component) with troupes Upstate and Pumpkin battling for laughs & votes: The Magnet's Night Out
[$] 8:00 pm ($35 & 2-drink min.) A regular on ABC's Happy Endings headlining through Saturday at Carolines: Daman Wayans Jr.
[FREE] 8:00 pm: "A stand-up comedy showcase and baking competition—come to eat or come to compete" at The Creek's upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City hosted by Cody Hess & Jessica Gross: Cookies!
[$] 8:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A stand-up who's performed on Jay Leno, Craig Ferguson, Showtime, and his own hour-long Comedy Central special headlining through Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Sebastian Maniscalco
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Sean Patton (one of the finest stand-ups in the country; killer sets on Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central, VH1; co-host of Comedy as a Second Language, frequent guest-host of Whiplash), plus Max Silvestri and Gabe Liedman (co-hosts of Big Terrific), performing at UCB East with best bud hosts Noah Garfinkel & Joe Mande (author of Look At This F*cking Hipster): Totally J/K
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00ish pm: Terrific NYC stand-ups (the lineup is typically announced by 3:00 pm; for an update, please click here) performing on this weekly show at the Kabin Bar and Lounge hosted by Chesley Calloway: Comedy as a Second Language
[MEGA-TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Todd Bieber, the razor-sharp Director of Content & Production for UCBComedy.com, has had his video/film work viewed over 25 million times via such sites as YouTube.com, NewYorkTimes.com, and EntertainmentWeekly.com. But before his success, Todd spent a couple of years churning out, as he bluntly puts it, "shitty local commercials in rural Pennsylvania." If you're a filmmaker, a fan of ridiculously awful late-night TV ads, or someone who likes to laugh, come enjoy this fascinating and hilarious insider look at microbudget commercials and the creative process (for a trailer, please click here). Directed by UCBT Artistic Director Nate Dern, this is one of the very best solo shows in NYC: Commercial Interruption...
...plus in the other half of this double-bill, "Matt Hobby & Mary Grill have a love deeper than one thousand really deep oceans. Through storytelling and sketch comedy, Matt & Mary show you the characters who helped them on their journey from fiancés to newlyweds:" Tying the Knot
9:30 pm ($5): Improvisors (not announced) make up one-act plays on the spot at The PIT downstairs lounge for The Scene
9:30 pm ($5): Sketch comedy written by Ryan Darden & Melissa Somosky that purports "love is like eating an entire cake all by yourself—it'll make you sick, but deep down you secretly like it" at The PIT upstairs theatre: Fetish: Dirty Talk is for Amateurs
[FREE] 9:30 pm: A monthly showcase of both stand-ups and improvisors at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens' Long Island City, hosted by stand-up Zach Broussard and improv troupe Priest & the Beekeeper: Pig Pile
[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Airwolf is crushing all opposition, winning its eight victory in a row last week 116-49. Tonight Airwolf will be seeking to stamp out The Pox. Don't miss this medicinal competition for audience laughs and votes at UCB Chelsea for the raucous Cage Match
11:00 pm ($5): Adrienne Iapalucci (Last Comic Standing), Andy Hendrickson (Comedy Central), Luis Gomez (MTV's Guy Code), John Milhiser (The Prom), and musical group Thin Skin Jonny performing at UCB East with host Chris Wilkes (Thunder Gulch): After Dark
To view HyReviews.com NYC Comedy Picks from previous weeks, please click here.
HyReviews.com's Joke of the Week
Do you hate your job?
There's a support group for that.
It's called everybody.
And it meets at the bar.
—Drew Carey
To read HyReviews.com's Favorite Jokes from previous weeks, please click here.
Red-Hot Shows Likely to Sell Out
Matt Besser, co-founder of the legendary Upright Citizens Brigade,
makes a rare NYC appearance to introduce,
screen, and discuss afterwards his 2010 feature film musical comedy
parody Freak
Dance
[TOP PICK] Midnight on May 19th, i.e., Saturday night ($5.90 in advance online): A screening of a 2010 feature film by the Upright Citizens Brigade written, co-directed, and co-starring Matt Besser, and also co-starring Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts, Horatio Sanz, and other comedy giants, at UCB East—which is a perfect venue for films because it used to be an indie movie theatre. I'll be seeing the movie for the first time at this show, but in the meanwhile you can check out some festival reviews. Come and join me—especially since the wonderful Matt Besser will be making a rare NYC appearance to both introduce the movie and stick around afterwards to answer your questions: Freak Dance
P.S. If you can't make this screening, you can also see the movie (sans Matt) at UCB East on Monday May 21st at 10:00 pm, Tuesday May 22nd at 9:30 pm, Wednesday May 23rd at 10:00 pm, Thursday May 24th at 11:00 pm, and Friday May 25th at midnight (at which point the run will probably be eligible for a New York Times review...). You can also purchase the movie and /or its soundtrack to enjoy anytime via iTunes starting May 15th.
Hannibal Buress and Janeane Garofalo perform on Monday, May 21st at the Morrison Motel
[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] Monday May 21st at 8:30 pm ($15 if you mention HyReviews.com [otherwise $20], which includes one drink; calling 212.989.9319 to reserve seats is highly recommended): TV & movie star Janeane Garofalo, Hannibal Buress (staff writer for 30 Rock, Saturday Night Live; David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon, Louie, 2012 Comedy Awards' "Best Club Comic," one-hour Comedy Central special Animal Furnace), Rob Cantrell (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, VHI, documentary Metaphysical Graffiti, High Times), Jimmy Tingle, Andy de la Tour, and Johnny Watson performing stand-up at the Cornelia Street Cafe for John Morrison's Morrison Motel
HyReviews.com's Comedy Videos of the Month:
NYC's Greatest Storytellers, Part 1
Elna Baker
Adam Wade
Ophira Eisenberg
Getting Him Back (jump to 37-minute mark for Ophira)
Previous HyReviews.com Comedy Videos of the Month
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Special thanks to comedy photographer supreme Anya Garrett for creating so many of the stellar photos that grace this site...and the sites of hundreds of NYC comics.
Please check out these New York City theatre sections of HyReviews.com:
Hy on Theatre Discounts: See Great Shows for as Little as $4
Please also check out these New York City comedy sections of HyReviews.com:
Previous HyReviews.com Videos of the Month
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If you'd enjoy an elegant evening at an NYC comedy club
but also want to save some money, please click here.
You can get free tickets for all shows at the Eastville Comedy Club,
free tickets to most shows at the Broadway Comedy Club, and
free & 50% discount ticket offers for Dangerfield's Comedy Club.
Top NYC Comedy Venues
The following are the primary theatres hosting notable NYC comedy shows:
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre West (UCB West)
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre East (UCB East or UCBeast)
The Creek and the Cave (Queens LIC)
I'm trying to keep this section super-concise,
but If a top site isn't listed that you think oughta be,
please drop me a note and I'll take a close look.
Comedy Coverage
(in alphabetical order):
Comedy Providers
(in alphabetical order):
Hy's Current Favorite Craigslist Ads
Please note: Note a word has been changed in the ads below. My comments are in boldface.
Poet/Artist/God's Wife Looking for a Literary Agent or Publisher
Date: 2010-02-04, 10:19 am EST
Reply to: kristiedono@yahoo.com
I have a wonderful poetry book, creative, wild images and a really good magical story to tell.
[You have a poetry book—um, with images and a story?]
I am looking to sell my poetry book with images and then my story
to someone.
[So you have a poetry book with images...and you also have a story in an undefined form. And for some reason you need to sell the poetry before you sell the story...to "someone." That's a bit confusing, but whatever; it's not like you're claiming to be a wordsmith...]
I am God's wife, and the story is about our life together.
[Ah.]
It's got spirituality, love, tragedy, adventure, crime, violence,
music, sex, a little bit of everything.
[Actually, you left out drugs.
But that's okay; at this point,
drugs are heavily implied...]
I have a diary of our letters to each other, and the poems are like letters I wrote to God in a creative way.
[As opposed to the non-creative steamy porn that you actually wrote to your stud boyfriend God.]
This will be a big hit, it is a beautiful story, you won't be disappointed.
[The odds are good. God's last book was a huge bestseller.]
God is a black man on Earth and a musician. I have proof.
[It's a hip-hopera DVD titled Trapped in the Closet.
Thing is, God turned insane in 2000.
(Which explains a lot...)]
This is a great story. I am also a great writer and poet and artist.
[And 100% real. You can check out Kristie's Web site at http://www.harttherapy.blogspot.com.]
Need Urban Ghost Writers (Metro Atlanta)
Date: 2009-11-13, 6:33PM EST
Reply to: writelikeyoufeel@yahoo.com
Looking for creative ghost writers with excellent grammar skills and ideas.
[Because that's what makes a writer great: killer grammar, and concepts.]
Male and females are encouraged to apply.
[Translation: Sorry, I don't work with hermaphrodites.]
Serious inquiries only...Please do not respond if you are not serious!
[Translation: I'm sooo tired of people making fun of me...]
Writer Wanted for Book to be Published (Hartland, WI)
Date: 2009-09-29, 1:52AM CDT
Reply to: job-tvm4r-1397614923@craigslist.org
I am writing a book and need someone who can
help me with writing my story.
I am seeking someone who is spiritual in nature
and believes that by reading this
you are the person designed to write it.
Give me a call at 262-xxx-xxxx and introduce yourself.
[Hello. I have been designed to write your book.
Thank you for fulfilling my destiny.
The days, months, and years of constantly reading
Craigslist ads in search of purpose have finally
been rewarded. I am eager to start work on
our spiritual instant classic I Was Born
to Ghostwrite Someone Else's Book.]
Writers for Wheelchair Book (San Diego—Mission Valley)
Date: 2009-09-28, 10:41AM PDT
Reply to: bouncesdtalent@gmail.com
Easy Life Inc. is looking to write a book about purchasing a new wheelchair.
We are looking for 2-3 writers to provide 200 pages of content each.
[In other words, we want a 600-page book...about buying a wheelchair.]
We want fresh ideas that relate to buying a wheelchair.
[Idea #42: Raise cash as drug mule.
Cops
will never suspect crippled old coot like you.]
Please send a sample or two of your writings, your rates,
and 2-3 BRIEF topics that you would contribute to this book.
Writings will be submitted weekly for originality
and to assure you are going in the right direction.
[If you're going in the wrong direction, we'll grab
hold of your wheelchair and point you the right way.]
We want you to exhaust any and all ideas
that go into purchasing a motorized wheelchair.
[At which point the Seventh Seal will be broken,
commencing the Apocalypse.]
Once you have exhausted that
go into manual wheelchairs,
then walkers, crutches, etc.
[And after you've exhausted all hope of support,
we want to you to crawl on your belly before us.
Crawl like the worm you are.]
Previous SEO experience a plus. Local to San Diego preferred.
In the subject line: WHEELCHAIR
[Or just: END OF THE WORLD.
Either way.]
Take a look at our Web site at http://www.powerchairatnocost.com.
Compensation: $750 to $1,500 DOE
[Again, this ad is 100% real. If you have
fresh ideas about buying a wheelchair...]
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