NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 4/21/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
the perfect comedy show for short attention spans—open-mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set
and around 30 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel (6:30 pm & 9:00 pm),
top comedy writers Brian Kiley (genius writer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien since 1994)
and Bryan Tucker (writer for Saturday Night Live; previously written for Chappelle's Show and
Mad TV), plus improv beatbox genius Reggie Watts, comedic chameleon Brett Gelman,
and more at Liam McEneaney's free show Tell Your Friends (8:00ish pm),
delightful stand-up Jackie Monahan and friends at Dykes on Mics (8:00ish pm),
political sketch comedy, plus an interview with author Eric Alterman (Why We're Liberals:
A Political Handbook to Post-Bush America), at Liz Winstead's Shoot the Messenger (8:00 pm),
the magical Livia Scott delivering a brilliant performance in her one-woman show about OJ Simpson fans,
and LOGO's Kate McKinnon premiering a one-woman show about pill-popping fairy princesses,
in Goodnight, O.J. and Disenchanted (9:30 pm),
the results of months of work from promising new sketch troupe As Sparks Fly Upward (9:30 pm),
and brilliant comics Anthony Jeselnik (Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central, MTV), Rob Riggle
(correspondent for The Daily Show), Chris Gethard (world-class storyteller), and more at
one of the finest comedy shows in NYC—which just happens to be free—Cavalcade! (11:00 pm).
Lottery-style open mic for stand-up comics trying out material,
with 4½ minutes per performer...in return for a $5 contribution to the weekly prize kitty.
(In addition, Ochi's 1-item food or drink minimum applies to everyone.)
A breathtaking 30+ comics perform in this 2½ hour show; producer
John Morrison (above) has described it as "comedy on crack."
If you're seeking consistent laughs, this might not be the best way to spend
your evening. But if you're patient and adventurous, it's a potentially wild ride.
And if you're a performer looking for some stage time, it's a nice opportunity.
Plus if you stick around till the show's end to support your fellow comics,
you have a chance at winning the cash from the kitty, along with smaller prizes.
Ochi's Motel is hosted & booked by Sean Donnelly and Joe Powers.
To be entered into the weekly random drawing for performers,
please send email to ochismotel[at]gmail.com.
There are two shows tonight, at 6:30 and 9:00 pm (with entirely different sets of comics).
6:30 pm & 9:00 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues)
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Liam McEneaney and Reggie Watts...
...and Brett Gelman, Byron Tucker, and Brian Kiley
This free weekly comedy show is produced by—and tonight, also hosted by—
Liam McEneaney (VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Premium Blend,
former writer for Standup Nation with Greg Giraldo).
This evening's wonderful guests are
Reggie Watts (musical improv comedy genius; winner of 2007 Andy Kaufman Award;
scary talented vocalist, beatboxer, and musician whose unique skills will likely amaze you;
to learn more, please visit ReggieWatts.com; and for video samples of what Reggie does,
Brian Kiley (brilliant 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),
Brett Gelman (comedic chameleon who's currently ubiquitous as the Little Bit of Luck guy in New York Lottery ads; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report; ace improv troupe Death by Roo Roo; host of new weekly NYC live comedy show Gelmania; for a recent interview
with Brett, please click here; for samples of Brett's mind-blowing work with partner Jon Daly, please click here and here, and also check out their hip-hop parody album Fleetwood Cracked),
Bryan Tucker (writer for Saturday Night Live; previously written for Comedy Central's
Chappelle's Show and Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, as well as Mad TV and
The Chris Rock Show; performed on Comedy Central's Premium Blend;
for a brief stand-up video, please click here), and
Bobby Miyamoto (Comedy Central's Premium Blend; Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson; for
stand-up about educational opportunities in Dallas and dating Tori Spelling, please click here).
8:00ish pm at Lolita Bar, 226 Broome Street (between Allen and Orchard Streets); free
Nearest subway stops are Delancey Street via the F or Delancey-Essex via the J/M/Z.
Amy Beckerman, Gloria Bigelow, Jackie Monahan, and Leah Dubie
Free gay-themed stand-up comedy show featuring the gals above
as regulars/hosts, plus tonight's terrific guests:
Susan Alexander, Tara Devlin, Chesslee Calloway, and Danny Leary.
8:00 pm at RubyFruit Bar & Grill, 531 Hudson Street (between West 10th & Charles);
no cover, one item (food or drink) minimum
Author Eric Alterman & his new book Why We're Liberals, and STM host Lizz Winstead
Lizz Winstead is co-creator and former head writer of the original The Daily Show; former Executive VP of Air America Radio; and a performer on such shows as Comedy Central Presents and HBO's Women of the Night. (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 guest is Eric Alterman, who runs the popular political blog Altercation, is a professor of English and Journalism at CUNY, and is the author of seven books including the brand new Why We're Liberals: A Political Handbook to Post-Bush America.
To get a feel for STM, please view a fun interview with cartoonist David Rees by clicking here
and read a March 2008 New York Times article about the show by clicking here.
8:00 pm at The Green Room, 45 Bleecker Street (off Lafayette); tickets are $12.50
Nearest subway stop is Bleecker Street on the #6 (which brings you virtually to the door of the theatre)
and Broadway-Lafayette on the F/V/D/B.
Storked: A Journey in Fatherhood
George Clark returns to The PIT with this one-man show
about becoming a dad.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
Livia Scott in Goodnight, OJ; and Kate McKinnon in Disenchanted
Livia Scott: Goodnight, O.J. and Kate McKinnon: Disenchanted
Two magical one-woman sketch shows for a mere five bucks.
Brilliant comedic chameleon Livia Scott (Late Night with Conan O'Brien,
world-class sketch group Meat, Livia's Castle of Enchantment), wrote and performs
this superb ECNY Award-nominated one-woman show, described as follows:
"In 1994, while he was in prison and on trial for murder, O.J. Simpson received
over 300,000 letters. To help pay for his defense and gain public support,
he had them published in a book called I Want to Tell You by O.J. Simpson: My Response
to Your Letters, Your Messages, Your Questions. Alternately humorous, disturbing,
and poignant, Goodnight, O.J. explores the minds of the people who wrote him."
The idea is clever; but Livia's thoughtful choices and hilarious performance make this truly special...and recommended. For a video sample, please click here. Directed by
Baron Vaughn (MTV's The Gamekillers, VH1's Best Week Ever, Shoot the Messenger).
The double-bill then continues with brand new sketch show Disenchanted from comedic actress Kate McKinnon (cast member on the LOGO TV series The Big Gay Sketch Show).
The official description: "Watch the beloved fairy princesses of your childhood
pop a few Klonopins and eat themselves into a coma."
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
As Sparks Fly Upward: Stories->Improv->Sketch
This comedy troupe has spent months telling stories off the top of their heads, then improvising
scenes based on the tales, and finally turning the best bits into scripted sketches.
It's a clever way of crafting a sketch show organically, week by week—and tonight
you can see the results. Performing will be Chris Caniglia, Scott Eckert,
Sarah Nowak, and Shelly Stover.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); $8
Chris Gethard, Rob Riggle, and Rob Cantrell...
...and concerned citizens observing with Anthony Jeselnik (being lauded by Robin Williams)
This razor-sharp stand-up extravaganza is no place for the innocent.
However, it's enormous fun...and free.
Tonight's thoroughly wonderful guests are
Anthony Jeselnik (phenomenal comic specializing in darkly shocking jokes and one of
my favorite stand-ups ever; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, MTV's Most Valuable Players;
for stand-up videos, please click here and here),
Rob Riggle (hilarious, organic, honest; correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart;
other credits include Saturday Night Live, The Office, Arrested Development, Human Giant),
Chris Gethard (one of the most talented and brilliant storytellers and improvisors in New York;
The Stepfathers, The Nights of Our Lives, Happy Hour, author of book Weird New York),
Rob Cantrell (Last Comic Standing, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, CBS's Late Late Show, VH1),
and Dan Mintz ("It's so much easier for kids to jerk off than it used to be.
When I was young, you had to find the Sears catalog, flip to the lingerie section.
Now, with the Internet, I just turn on my computer, get online, and go right to Sears.com.").
Tonight's show—produced by Jeremy Levenbach—is likely to be one of the funniest in NYC.
And it's free.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 4/22/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
razor-sharp stand-up Joe DeRosa (Carolines), the delightful Brooke Van Poppelen (Slumber Party),
Moody McCarthy (Last Comic Standing), and Carmen Lynch (Last Comic Standing) battling it out on stage
for audience votes in a new biweekly stand-up competition: Eric I's Comedy Showdown (7:00ish pm)
lively & fun discussions about comic books, with star bestselling writer Chris Claremont
(X-Men, New Mutants, New Exiles), at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),
a silly celebration of Earth Day by the superb Kimmy Gatewood, musical duo Pembroke and Lu,
witty sketch performer Daiva Deupree, and more at Mearth Day (8:00 pm),
sneak peaks at the two improv troupes that'll be going head to head later this week via Harold Night (8:00 pm),
typically terrific stand-up comics at Carol Hartsell & Sean Crespo's Drink at Work (9:00 pm),
and five women performing an improvised, and possibly tipsy, parody of The View at Focus (9:30 pm).
Joe DeRosa and Brooke Van Poppelen
This new biweekly extravaganza is a comedy competition hosted by Eric I.
Four established NYC comics, plus two up-and-coming comics selected at the show's start
from the audience, each get 8 minutes on stage to be funny. The audience then votes
on who it believes was most hilarious. The winner receives an additional 5 minutes
of stage time to make comedic fun of the losers; and also moves on to a semi-final round in June to determine a season champion (with a prize of $500, and bragging rights).
Tonight's four battling veteran comics are
Joe DeRosa (star stand-up who performs regularly at Carolines, Comix, etc.;
for a video sample, please click here),
Brooke Van Poppelen (sexy and adorable co-host of NYC biweekly live comedy show
Slumber Party; for a video sample, please click here),
Moody McCarthy (Last Comic Standing, Jimmy Kimmel Live;
for stand-up video about Web dating on NetZero, please click here), and
Carmen Lynch (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central's Premium Blend;
for stand-up video about being tall, please click here).
Expect sparks to fly.
7:00ish pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
X-Men writer Chris Claremont and friends
Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight's guest is Chris Claremont, who is one of the most popular writers in the industry,
and is largely responsible for turning The X-Men from an over-the-hill 1960s group
into one of the hottest properties in comics history.
In addition, the gang will probably have some fun anecdotes to relate
from this past weekend's ComicCon.
To get a feel for the smart, playful vibe of Comic Book Club, please check out its podcasts—
that is, audio recordings of previous shows in their entirety—by clicking here.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
Pembroke and Lu, Kimmy Gatewood, and Daiva Deupree
This show is sorta like Earth Day, only funny.
It's hosted by Louisa Banks, and features these superb guests:
Kimmy Gatewood (lovely and brilliantly talented comedic actress, singer, dancer,
improvisor, director, and writer; Apple Sisters Variety Show, Nerdcore Rising),
Pembroke & Lu (likeable singing duo; for video songs about gay marriage
and being scared of the homeless, please click here and here),
Daiva Deupree (half of witty & luminous sketch comedy duo Two Girls For Five Bucks),
Vicki Ferentinos (host of NYC weekly live comedy show Laugh Out Loud),
and the BTK Band.
Note: Please mention this site, HyReviews.com, to get half off the $10 ticket price.
8:00 pm at Broadway Comedy Club, 318 West 53rd Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
$5 per ticket (vs. $10) by mentioning HyReviews.com via phone (212/757-2323) or at the door,
plus two-item drink or food minimum (with tax & tip, figure on paying additional $13 or up)
The Harold is longform improv, pioneered by Del Close.
Tonight, five improv troupes—
Twelve Thousand Dollars, DeCoster, Bastian, 1985, and T.R.U.C.K.S.—
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.
Please Note: Two of these groups, Bastian and 1985,
will be going head to head in this week's Cage Match.
Tonight is therefore a great opportunity to get a sneak peak at the techniques
of both troupes before they head into battle on Thursday.
8:00-11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Gal comedy duo Sara McGowan and Jamie Marrs, fresh off a tour in LA,
perform an hour of sketch, improv, and games.
To get a feel for these redheads at play, please click here.
8:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Carol Hartsell and Sean Crespo
Weekly show produced by Carol Hartsell and hosted by Sean Crespo
(stand-up comic and prolific filmmaker; for samples, please click here & here & here).
Tonight's guests haven't been announced, but the show has recently been delivering
superb lineups. To check for a last-minute update, please click here.
9:00 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
This weekly comedy show is a parody of The View that's mostly improvised by performers
Brigid Boyle, Emily Bryan, Nicole Cascio, Caroline Ficksman, and Alexis Saarela.
The official description:
"Hey, Darlings! Come sit down with a cup of coffee (or perhaps a martini) and join the panel
of five of New York's most talkative and opinionated women as they discuss the week's events,
and interview alluring guests from the worlds of literature, politics, comedy, and more.
This show will keep you in Focus. Let's talk about issues, over drinks!"
9:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 4/23/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
comedy titans Michael Showalter (MTV, movie writer/director) and Reggie Watts (2007 Andy Kaufman Award),
along with surprise guest comics, at CBS/NYC Presents: Michael Showalter and Reggie Watts (8:00 pm),
a breathtaking gathering of uniformly brilliant comics, including Todd Barry (David Letterman, Conan O'Brien,
HBO, Comedy Central), Eugene Mirman (HBO, Comedy Central, Adult Swim), Nick Kroll (VH1, MTV,
star of ABC's Cavemen), Chelsea Peretti (Variety Shac), Tom McCaffrey (Comedy Central),
and host Brett Gelman (Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report) at a spectacular edition of Gelmania (8:30 pm),
open-mic stand-up in Queens' LIC, with ace sketch troupe Olde English as guest headliner,
at John F. O'Donnell's The Kingdom of Heaven (8:30 pm),
delicious comics Margaret Champagne, Joselyn Hughes, and Brooke Van Poppelen inviting
some of the coolest gals and guys they know for stand-up comedy fun at their Slumber Party (9:00 pm),
an unsettling sketch troupe and a soap opera improv troupe in the double-bill
Pangea 3000 Recommends the Beatles and Hot Lather (9:30 pm),
and a laid-back free show where virtually anything can happen on a School Night (11:00).
For details, please click here.
TV Alert: South Park is one of the very best comedies in TV history, and this season
has been especially superb—which, considering how long the series has been going,
is little short of astonishing. If you aren't already tuning in, for goodness sakes,
set your TiVo for the new episode on Comedy Central tonight at 10:00.
For NYC comedy club discounts, please click here.
Currently available are discounts for select Comix shows
and a 50% discount on all tickets for the Broadway Comedy Club.
As Sparks Fly Upward: Stories->Improv->Sketch
This comedy troupe tells stories off the top of their heads, then improvises
scenes based on the tales...which may later turn into scripted sketches.
It's a clever way of crafting a sketch show organically, week by week—and you can
watch the whole process, at no charge. The group consists of Kevin Allison,
Chris Caniglia, Scott Eckert, Sarah Nowak, Nate Starkey, and Shelly Stover.
6:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
Adam Newman and Shawn Pearlman
Weekly comedy show hosted by
Adam Newman (CMT's Prankville'd, VH1's Best Week Ever blog, co-host of
monthly NYC live comedy show Street Meat; host of weekly NYC live open-mic comedy show
Blowtorch Slaughter; half of musical comedy duo Uber Luber Death Metal) and
Shawn Pearlman ("If you're in a bad neighborhood, blowing a rape whistle
is like ringing a dinner bell;" for stand-up videos, please click here and here).
Tonight's guests haven't been announced, but they're likely to be
highly talented stand-up comics.
7:30 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (on low-cost menu; e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Michael Showalter and Reggie Watts
CBS/NYC Presents: Michael Showalter and Reggie Watts
Tonight is a showcase for two comedy giants:
Michael Showalter (brilliant comedic rebel without a cause; MTV's seminal sketch show The State,
legendary comedy troupe Stella, writer/director/star of feature film The Baxter,
co-writer/co-star of feature film Wet Hot American Summer, co-host of
the 2008 ECNY Award-winning weekly Brooklyn comedy show Tearing the Veil of Maya), and
Reggie Watts (musical improv comedy genius; winner of 2007 Andy Kaufman Award;
scary talented vocalist, beatboxer, and musician whose unique skills will likely amaze you;
to learn more, please visit ReggieWatts.com; and for video samples of what Reggie does,
Several unannounced guest comics will also perform.
This show is sold out on seats; but you can still get in if you're okay with standing.
(Then again, if you're not, consider tonight's other breathtaking lineup at Gelmania...)
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Big Black Car and Fancy Dragon
This free weekly show features the two PIT improv teams above,
each of which performs for about 30 minutes. For a video sample of Big Black Car,
please click here; and for a video sample of Fancy Dragon, please click here.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
Comedy geniuses Todd Barry, Eugene Mirman, and Nick Kroll...
...and Tom McCaffrey, Brett Gelman, Little Bit of Luck, and Chelsea Peretti
This wonderful weekly show is hosted by Brett Gelman, a comedic chameleon
who's currently ubiquitous as the Little Bit of Luck guy in New York Lottery ads.
Brett's numerous credits include Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report,
and ace improv troupe Death by Roo Roo. For a recent interview with Brett, please click here; for samples of Brett's mind-blowing work with partner Jon Daly, please click here and here,
and also check out their hip-hop parody album Fleetwood Cracked.
Tonight Brett welcomes an awesome collection of comedic talent:
Todd Barry (wryly brilliant stand-up who's one of the very best in the biz;
Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien,
Comedy Central Presents; HBO's Flight of the Conchords, Lucky Louie, and Sex in the City;
Comedy Central's Freak Show, Dr. Katz, and Shorties Watching Shorties;
Adult Swim's Space Ghost, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and Tom Goes To The Mayor;
check out his newest comedy CD From Heaven),
Eugene Mirman (comedy giant; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents half-hour special,
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,
co-host of the 2008 ECNY Award-winning weekly Brooklyn comedy show Tearing the Veil of Maya),
Nick Kroll (one of the most razor-sharp and hilarious comics working today,
exhibiting the versatility and brilliance of an Andy Kaufman;
VH1's Best Week Ever, MTV's Human Giant, highlight of ABC's recent Cavemen sitcom,
and the winner of the 2008 ECNY Award for Best One-Person Show—
Fabrice Fabrice, which was among the funniest shows I've ever seen;
for a few videos by this comic heading towards major stardom, please click here),
Chelsea Peretti (exceptionally fresh, smart stand-up comic; member of superb
comedy troupe Variety Shac; writer for Village Voice, Details, Playgirl, Jest,
blackpeopleloveus.com, and Rejection Line: 212/479-7990), and
Tom McCaffrey (Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Shorties Watchin' Shorties.
8:30 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); $5
