NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 8/24/09
Two of my all-time favorite comics, Anthony Jeselnik and Pete Holmes, perform at free stand-up show Whiplash
Monday 8/24 at 6:30 pm & 9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel
[TOP PICK] Monday 8/24 at 8:00 pm ($5): Superb stand-ups Christian Finnegan ((three Comedy Central specials, commentator on MNBC's Countdown with Keith Oberman and VH1's Best Week Ever; Chappelle's Show, The Today Show), Lizz Winstead (co-creator of The Daily Show, commentator on MNBC, creator/star of Shoot the Messenger), Ritch Duncan, Gilad Foss, and more at performing at Lolita Bar in Liam McEneaney's Tell Your Friends
Monday 8/24 at 8:00 pm ($5): UCBT house comedy troupes High Treason and Slow Burn try out their newest sketch material at Maude Night
Monday 8/24 at 9:30 pm ($5): Superb comics Peter Grosz (writer for The Colbert Report, star of over 100 Sonic fast-food commercials, co-writer & co-star of UCBT sketch show The Steve Miller Band and Other Annoying Monsters) and John Lutz (writer & occasional actor on SNL since 2004; recurring character on 30 Rock) perform two-man improv in 2 Square
[TOP PICK] [FREE] Monday 8/24 at 11:00 pm: A gathering of some of the finest comics in the country—tonight including two of my favorite stand-ups ever, comedy giants Pete Holmes and Anthony Jeselnik—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 8/25/09-Friday 8/28/09
David Cross is the star guest on this Thursday's edition of John Roberts and Friends at Comix
[TOP PICK] Tuesday 8/25 at 8:00 pm ($5): Comics writer Marc Bernardin (Monster Attack Network, Genius, The Authority) and comics writer/artist Porter Mason (Bassist Wanted) joining in on a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club
Tuesday 8/25 from 8:00 pm to midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Scootch, Ragnaröck, Penthouse Riot, Law Firm, and The Bishop—followed by UCBT students at the top 600 level performing improv as citizens of Tiny Town, all at Harold Night
[FREE] Tuesday 8/25 at 8:00 pm: Dan St. Germain and Sean Donnelly host a free stand-up show at the Legion Bar in Brooklyn with terrific guests Kumail Nanjiani, Ali Wong, Kevin McCaffrey, Mike Drucker, and Jesse Pop: Sean and Dan Need Your Help
Tuesday 8/25 at 9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Delightful stand-up comics Jackie Monahan, Leah Dubie, Amy Beckerman, and Gloria Bigelow performing and hosting guest comics Ophira Eisenberg, Kendra Cunningham, and Shawn Hollenbach in Ochi's Lounge at Dykes on Mics
[FREE] Wednesday 8/26 from 6:00 pm to midnight: six free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday
[TOP PICK] Wednesday 8/26 at 8:00 pm ($5): Movie & TV comedy superstar Janeane Garofalo, and top NYC comics Leo Allen and Baron Vaughn, perform stand-up at an extravaganza hosted by the hilarious Joe Mande and Noah Garfinkel: Totally J/K
[FREE] Wednesday 8/26 at 8:00: Sharp NYC stand-ups Erin Judge, Claudia Cogan, Tom McCaffrey, and Dan Wilbur at a free weekly comedy show at Rodeo Bar hosted by the luminous Margie Kment and Matt Maragno: Now We're Talking
[FREE] Wednesday 8/26 at 8:00: Sharp NYC comics John Flynn, Chelsea White, Manson Family Singers, Rich Brooks, Rocco Supreme, and Michele Carlo at a free weekly show hosted by Sharon "Mama" Spell: Shrink
[TOP PICK] [FREE] Wednesday 8/26 at 8:30 pm: Superb stand-ups Dave Hill, Kumail Nanjiani, Roger Hailes, and Vince Averill at a free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn's Cameo (behind Lovin' Cup) hosted by Gabe Liedman & Max Silvestri: Big Terrific
[TOP PICK] Wednesday 8/26 at 9:30 pm ($5): One of the finest comedic storytelling shows in the country, in which brilliant writer/performers Chris Gethard, Jon Gabrus, John Mulaney, Ashley Ward, and wonderful host David Martin tell tales that are brutally honest and utterly hilarious, with tonight's theme "Sleepovers:" The Nights of Our Lives
[TOP PICK] [$] Wednesday 8/26 at 10:00 pm ($15 online if you order before day of show, plus 2-item min.): Superb stand-ups Judah Friedlander, Pete Holmes, James Smith, Jon Dore, and more—possibly including a surprise comedy star—performing at this terrific monthly comedy event: ComedyJuice
[TOP PICK] [FREE] Wednesday 8/26 at 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) provides a mix of guests who perform stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly—but for some (like me), that's part of the laid-back fun. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible: School Night
[$] Thursday 8/27 at 7:30 pm ($20 & 2-drink min.) A YouTube star whose special guest tonight is David Cross: John Roberts and Friends at Comix
Thursday 8/27 at 8:00 pm ($5): Sharp improvisors directed by James Eason "take an audience suggestion and break it into a million funny pieces" in The Deconstruction
Thursday 8/20 at 8:00 pm ($8): Clever wordplay, conceptual comedy, and relentless silliness—applied to a parody of the already-goofy film Con Air—from sketch troupe Elephant Larry
[TOP PICK] Thursday 8/27 at 11:00 pm ($5): The most winning improv troupe in UCBT history, Death by Roo Roo, tonight defends its championship against troupe Dead Presidents in a competition for audience votes and laughs: Cage Match
[TOP PICK] Friday 8/28 at 9:30 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers
Friday 8/28 at 10:00 pm ($5): Singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical
[TOP PICK] Friday 8/28 at 11:00 pm ($5): Stellar comics—Jon Gabrus, Sue Galloway, Thomas Middleditch, Ben Rodgers, Gavin Speiller, Andree Vermeulen, and Zach Woods—perform fresh sketch comedy from razor-sharp writers Neil Casey, John Frusciante, Dan Gregor, Dan Gurewitch, Anthony King, Craig Rowin, Eric Scott, Nate Smith, Caitlin Tegart, and Greg Tuculescu at a show directed by Will Hines and hosted tonight by superb stand-up Hannibal Buress: Beneath Gristedes
[FREE] Saturday 8/29 at 12:20ish am: Your opportunity to perform on the UCBT stage with improv veterans, hosted by stellar troupe The Law Firm: Jammin' with Ralph
[$] Saturday 8/29 at 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney
NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 8/29/09
Billy Scafuri & Adam Lustick(The Harvard Sailing Team) gather brilliant NYC musical comics who rap at Snakes
[TOP PICK] [$] 6:00 pm ($10 plus $7 drink min.): Four world-class storytellers—Adam Wade, John Flynn, Dina Pearlman, and Juliet Wayne—joining host Andy Christie (The New York Times, Moth GrandSlam Champion) in trying to mislead the audience at The Liar Show
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Improvisation from writers & performers at 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show joyously declaring Let's Have a Ball
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): The gutsiest improv troupe in NYC, Death by Roo Roo
[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Superb NYC stand-up comics Christian Finnegan (MSNBC's Countdown, VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central specials), Joe Devito (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), Hannibal Buress (Jimmy Fallon), Pat Stango & Blaine Perry (Don’t Touch Me There), and more performing in Ochi's Lounge at Lil' Seany Boy
[$] 9:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, quick-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer
9:30 pm ($10): Sara Benincasa performing her one-woman show AGORAFABULOUS
[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): All-star improv troupe Reuben Williams
[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): The hilarious Adam Lustick and Billy Scafuri of world-class sketch troupe The Harvard Sailing Team perform at & host this show devoted to top NYC comics who happen to be great at rapping from such genius troupes as Freestyle Love Supreme, I Eat Pandas, and more: Snakes: NYC's Top Comedic Rappers
[$] 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who's written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle's Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney
NYC Comedy Picks for Sunday 8/30/09
Michelle Buteau (Electro Shock Therapy), and Christian Finnegan (Sunday Night Stand-Up and Beauty Bar Comedy)
[TOP PICK] [$] 6:00 pm ($10 plus $7 drink min.): Four world-class storytellers—Jim O'Grady, Mike Albo, Nancy Balbrirer, and Jeff Simmerson—joining host Andy Christie (The New York Times, Moth GrandSlam Champion) in trying to mislead the audience at The Liar Show
[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT'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 ($5): Typically stellar stand-ups performing at a weekly LES show at Pianos hosted by Greg Johnson: The Comedians
[FREE] 8:00 pm: Stand-up star Christian Finnegan, plus sharp NYC stand-ups Jesse Pop, Rory Scovel, M. Dickson, and Catie Lazarus performing at RG Daniels' free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up
[FREE] 9:00 pm: Stand-up star Christian Finnegan, plus sharp NYC stand-ups Neal Stastny, Brent Sullivan, Jason Saenz, and Anthony Devito performing at Vince Averill's & Jesse Popp's free weekly East Village show Beauty Bar Comedy
[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: Terrific stand-ups Michelle Buteau (Comedy Central), Jessimae (TruTV), Scott Ryan (Here! TV), Yamaneika (BET), and Karith Foster (Imus in the Morning, Comedy Central) celebrating the one-year anniversary of this free weekly gay-themed show at Therapy hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour
[$] 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 Carolines: Paul Mooney
Copyright © 2009 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
