NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 2/11/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
sketch from fine comedic actress Aubrey Plaza and sketch/improv from ace troupe Hot Sauce (6:30 pm),
Emmy-winning writer/producer Alan Zweibel (SNL, Curb) interviewed by Carl Arnheiter at Inside Joke (8:00 pm),
funny and inventive songs from terrific comedic singing duo Stuckey & Murray (8:00 pm),
comedy geniuses Kristen Schaal (HBO, Comedy Central), Kurt Braunohler (recent ECNY Award winner),
Mike Birbiglia (Comedy Central, Dave, Conan), and more at Joe Mande's & Noah Garfinkel's Totally J/K (8:15ish pm),
sketches & other fun regarding the Presidential primary season, plus an interview
with gay marriage activist Evan Wolfson, at Lizz Winstead's Shoot the Messenger (8:30 pm),
an entirely improvised musical from magical duo McMurray & Skinner as I Eat Pandas (9:30 pm),
and MTV comedy stars previewing a live show they plan to perform on tour:
Aziz Ansari, Rob Huebel, and Paul Scheer of Human Giant (11:00 pm).
Kicking off this double-bill is comedic actress & improvisor Aubrey Plaza with a sketch show.
To get a feel for this young performer, check her out playing Liz Cackowski's daughter
on the hilarious YouTube series The Jeannie Tate Show (in an episode co-starring
SNL's Bill Hader) by clicking here; and to see her as a sex-crazed teen in
a parody of MTV's insipid dating show Next!, please click here.
The fun then continues with sharp-witted & lightning-quick sketch/improv group
Hot Sauce: Gil Ozeri, Adam Pally and Ben Schwartz.
(For some video samples of their work, please click here and here.)
These 2006 Cage Match champions will be trying out comedy sketches
and, most likely, tossing in some very funny improvisation.
6:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Alan Zweibel, and interviewer Carl Arnheiter
Inside Joke: SNL's Alan Zweibel
Host Carl Arnheiter (writer for ABC News, The Discovery Channel,
People Magazine, Time Out New York) interviews writer/producer/performer Alan Zweibel,
who's worked on such popular TV shows as NBC's Saturday Night Live,
PBS' Great Performances, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, and It's Gary Shandling's Show
(which he co-created and produced), winning five Emmy Awards along the way.
To learn more about Zweibel's impressive career, please click here.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Stuckey & Murray are a singing duo who write and perform hilarious songs.
The guys have appeared on The Discovery Channel, E!, VH1, Fuse, The College Sports Network; and two comedy music series for NBC Digital Media and Heavy.com. They also create wildly popular comedy videos for YouTube, Funnyordie.com, and their own Web site. And they co-host the weekly NYC live comedy show Slightly Buzzed Thursday nights at Rififi.
If you like music and laughter, you'll probably have great fun at this show.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
Amy Beckerman, Gloria Bigelow, Jackie Monahan, and Leah Dubie
Free gay-themed stand-up comedy show featuring the gals above
as regulars/hosts, plus guests who tonight include
Joselyn Hughes.
8:00 pm at RubyFruit Bar & Grill, 531 Hudson Street (between West 10th & Charles); free
Hosted by quick-witted best buds Noah Garfinkel and
Joe Mande, this year's ECNY Award winner for Best Emerging Comic.
(For dueling birthday videos, please click here and here; and
for other videos, please click here and here.)
Tonight's thoroughly wonderful guests include
the lovely Kristen Schaal (one of the sharpest and most talented comics around;
to read about her recent killer set, please click here);
Kurt Braunohler (frequent comedy partner of Kristen's, and also terrifically talented;
performs in sketches that are hilariously indescribable;
co-star of Web series Penelope, Princess of Pets, for which
Kurt won the 2008 ECNY Award as Best Director),
Mike Birbiglia (razor-sharp stand-up comic who just performed an hour-long Comedy Central special titled What I Should Have Said is Nothing; also performed two Comedy Central Presents
half-hour specials; Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien;
comedy CDs Two Drink Mike and My Secret Public Journal—Live;
for sample stand-up videos, please click here and here), and
Gary Gulman (finalist on Seasons 2 and 3 of Last Comic Standing;
Late Show with David Letterman, Tonight Show with Jay Leno;
comedy CDs/DVDs Conversations with Inanimate Objects and Boyish Man).
8:15ish pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
Author & gay activist Evan Wolfson, 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 Evan Wolfson, author of Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry and founder of Web site Freedom to Marry.
To get a feel for STM, view a fun interview with cartoonist David Rees by clicking here.
Please note this is STM's first show at its new venue (just a few blocks from its previous one).
8:30 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.
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.
You don't have to take my word for it, either;
the duo just won this year's ECNY Award for Best Improv Group.
Don't miss any chance to enjoy these comedic wizards at play.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, and Aziz Ansari are Human Giant
Human Giant: Live Tour Preview!
The brilliant stars of MTV comedy hit Human Giant—
Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer, and recently-shaved Aziz Ansari—
will be previewing a show they plan to perform on tour,
as well as showing off clips-in-progress for their
upcoming second season (slated to air in March).
There's no one better at working an audience than these guys;
and their first season was, in my opinion, one of the funniest shows in TV history.
(For details, please click here.)
This is likely to be one of the funniest shows in NYC.
And it's free.
Advance reservations for seats were quickly snapped up; but
if you're okay with standing, go for this...and expect a great time.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 2/12/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
Lang Fisher, Claudia Cogan, and other delightful stand-ups at Carolyn Castiglia's Chicks & Giggles (8:00 pm),
Timmy Williams, member of star sketch troupe The Whitest Kids U' Know, contributing to the
always-fun explorations of comic books with a comedic slant at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),
star John Oliver, the hilarious correspondent for The Daily Show (and a brilliant stand-up),
Bryan Tucker (writer for Saturday Night Live, Mad TV, and Chappelle's Show),
and a slew of other fine comics at John Morrison's The Morrison Motel (8:30 pm),
and a mix of funny musical talent and comedy hosts, including Jon Daly, Teddy Goldstein, Nick Stevens,
and Max Silvestri, at the Valentines Day edition of the fabulous Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm).
Lang Fisher, Carolyn Castiglia, and Claudia Cogan
The wonderful & witty Carolyn Castiglia hosts a lineup of talented female stand-up comics.
Tonight's scheduled guests are:
Lang Fisher (delightful writer and performer of funny videos for The Onion News Network,
Comedy Central, etc.; for a video sample, please click here),
Claudia Cogan (ECNY Award nominee for Best Female Stand-Up;
Logo Network, Sirius OutQ; for stand-up video about Claudia's aspirations to be
a stripper, please click here; for video about her being unemployed, please click here),
Allison Leber (Chicago Underground)
Diana Saez (DC Comedy Fest),
Carla Rhodes, and Mama Spell.
8:00 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)
Popular comedian & comic book fan Timmy Williams
Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight's industry guest is C.B. Cebulski (Loners).
And tonight's funny guest is Timmy Williams, member of popular comedy group
The Whitest Kids U' Know, which currently has a TV show on the Independent Film Channel.
In addition, Timmy is a huge comics fan and writes a sharp comic book blog.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
The Harold is longform improv, pioneered by Del Close.
Tonight, five improv troupes—
fwand, T.R.U.C.K.S., 1985, Bastian, 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
John Morrison and John Oliver
John Morrison, a wise & razor-sharp comic who produces the NYC weekly
open-mic show Ochi's Motel, welcomes exceptional stand-up talents in this monthly showcase:
John Oliver (brilliant stand-up comic; delightful & hilarious news correspondent for
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, co-writer/star of The Department for BBC Radio 4;
currently perfecting material for his first Comedy Central Presents special),
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 stand-up video sample, please click here);
Liam McEneaney (VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's
Premium Blend, former writer for Standup Nation with Greg Giraldo),
Keith Farnan (Irish comic crossing the pond to try and win over the US;
for a video stand-up sample, please click here),
Lee Camp (Sometimes Funny Hurts DVD; SharkBaby Comedy News Webcast; Spike TV,
E!, Law and Order: SVU; for stand-up video on political hypocrisy, please click here),
and Steve Rosso.
Discount Note: Please mention HyReviews.com at the door for $5 off the $10 cover!
8:30 pm at Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street (between West 4th Street and Bleecker);
$5 per ticket (vs. $10) if you mention HyReviews.com at door, plus $7 food or drink minimum
Seth Herzog and Jon Daly
Hosted by the razor-sharp, dynamic, and hilarious Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).
This is one of the finest comedy shows in NYC.
Tonight's lineup of funny musical talent and comedy hosts includes
Jon Daly (member of superstar improv group Mother; recently wrapped acting in feature comedy films College Road Trip and Stick It Detroit; for samples of Jon's unique work with partner Brett Gelman, please click here and here, and also check out their hip-hop
parody album Fleetwood Cracked),
Teddy Goldstein (highly popular funny singer/songwriter),
Nick Stevens (VH1, ESPN, host of NYC live comedy production The Shark Show), and
Max Silvestri (host of Brooklyn monthly live comedy show I Like Attention).
9:00 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 2/13/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
author Jonathan Ames, cartoonist David Rees, film & TV writer/director David Wain, and Mindy Kaling of
The Office performing from Ben Karlin's new book Things I've Learned From Women Who've Dumped Me (8:00 pm),
the delightful 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 (8:00 pm),
typically stellar stand-up comics at Eugene Mirman's & Bobby Tisdale's Invite Them Up (9:00 pm),
some of the freshest comedy, and finest timing, in NYC from exceptionally quick-witted duo Julie & Jackie (9:30 pm),
and a laid-back free show where virtually anything can happen on a School Night (11:00).
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
Things I've Learned From Women Who've Dumped Me
Perfectly timed for Valentines Day Eve is this hour-long comedy show. It's about
"the subject of failed relationships and the shit we endure to make them work even when God himself tells us they won't. Sprung from the book of the same name—an anthology of essays and short humor pieces by men, edited by Ben Karlin (former producer of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart)—the live show features a blend of read & performed pieces from the book, stand-up comedy, live music, special guests, and other material wrapped around the theme of relationships gone bad."
Tonight's edition is hosted by Jonathan Ames (author of such novels as Wake Up Sir!
and the essay "I Love You More Than You Know"), and includes guests
David Rees (witty cartoonist of such strips as My New Filing Technique is Unstoppable
and Get Your War On; for a sample of the latter, please click here,
and for a sample interview video of Rees, please click here),
David Wain (writer/director whose work includes the feature films Little Big Men, The Ten,
and Wet Hot American Summer, and Comedy Central's TV series Stella),
Mindy Kaling (The Office),
and music by Fountains of Wayne.
7:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Comedy show playing on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, hosted by
delightful trio Margaret Champagne, Joselyn Hughes, and Brooke Van Poppelen.
According to the official description, "it's the sort of variety show that happens when
three girls are delirious from staying up all night boozing and slap-happy from crank-calling!"
How can you resist?
Tonight's guests are
Mike Dobbins (A Stand-Upish Set of Koo Koo),
Alli Leber (Spitfire!),
Kumail Nanjiani (Chicago Underground Comedy, Unpronounceable),
Jordan Carlos (The Colbert Report, Live at Gotham),
Sean Donnelly (Comix, Ochi's Motel, Don't Touch Me There), and
Uber Luber (The Knitting Factory).
8:00 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)
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
Julie Klausner and Jackie Clarke are writer/performers
creating some of the freshest & most hilarious material in NYC—
please check out their recent short films by clicking here.
Tonight's guests are Gawker.com writers Mike Albo and Tionna Smalls.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Kurt Braunohler, Pat Shay, and Kimmy Gatewood
The Faculty and The Baldwins and Sid Viscous
Some of the PIT's instructors—who include such talents as Ali Farahnakian,
Kurt Braunohler, Ptolemy Slocum, Jen Nails, Pat Shay, Matt Donnelly, Kevin Scott,
Rebekka Johnson, and Kimmy Gatewood—perform improv for around 30 minutes.
And opening for them will be house improv troupes The Baldwins and Sid Viscous.
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
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 2/14/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
a spectacular Valentine's Day celebration of rejection and mortification, featuring
dozens of the funniest comics and most talented comedic musicians in NYC,
at Jon Friedman's The Rejection Show's Valentine's Day Heartbreak Haven (8:00 pm),
one of the most charming & entertaining groups in NYC, fresh off a sold-out three-city tour and winning
the ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act, and now aiming at Broadway: The Apple Sisters (8:00 pm),
and an unlikely matchmaker that's resulted in actually marriages, and even a baby: The PIT Dating Game (9:30 pm).
Stuckey & Murray, an audience member, and Leibya Rogers
The Rejection Show's Valentine's Day Heartbreak Haven
It's almost worth being lonely and unloved to catch this spectacular show.
Two superb comedy extravaganzas, The Rejection Show and Mortified,
join forces to present an evening of best breakup, heartbreak, and
love-related performances from previous productions.
In addition, there'll be love song karaoke, live music, free drinks, and partying.
The stellar comics on stage tonight include:
Jon Friedman (host)
Leibya Rogers (hilarious ultra-feminist played by Mindy Raf)
Stuckey & Murray (wonderful singer/songwriter duo)
The Defibulators (fabulous comedic rockabilly band )
Greg Johnson
Sara Schaefer
Baron Vaughn
Matt Goldich
Claudia Cogan
Katina Corrao
Adam Wade
Annabelle Gurwitch
Adrianne Frost
Michelle Collins
Mandy Stadtmiller
Meital Dohan
Gabriel Delahaye
Brandy Barber
Kaet Perna
Anne Altman
...and more!
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10
Photo on left: Rebekka Johnson, Kimmy Gatewood, and Sarah Lowe
Photo on right: Sarah Lowe, Rebekka Johnson, and Kimmy Gatewood
The Apple Sisters: Right to Bare Charms
The delicious Apple Sisters—Kimmy 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 nine original shows, sold-out performances at comedy festivals around the country, and recently winning the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act. The gals will now be working to develop their show into a musical aimed at Broadway.
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 consistently sells 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
The official description:
"This Valentine's Day dump the cliche cards, stale chocolates, and those ridiculous stuffed animals that make noises when you smack them, and head out to The PIT for the annual Valentine's Day PIT Dating Game. Three hot New York singles will ask outrageous questions to determine which of our hilarious PITizens will be their Valentine. The winners get a date and the losers get prizes that are way too inappropriate to mention here!
Past PIT Dating Game winners have gone on to get married, and one couple
has even had a baby. What will we come up with this year? Only time will tell...
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $10
NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 2/15/08
TV Tip: Set your VCR or TiVo to Comedy Central tonight for the debut of
Comedy Central Presents 30-minute specials from star stand-up comics
Bonnie McFarlane (10:00 pm) and Rich Vos (10:30 pm).
They're followed by an encore presentation of the wonderful Mike Birbiglia's
new hour-long special What I Should Have Said is Nothing (11:00 pm).
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
a post-Valentine's Day celebration featuring razor-sharp & hilariously raunchy singer/songwriter Jessica Delfino,
Penthouse Editor Rachel Kramer Bussel, and much more at Sara Benincasa's Family Hour (7:00 pm),
the delightful Amber Petty, Jessie Schupack, and Tricia McAlpin of comedy troupe Penny, and a
problematic but memorable celebrity-based sketch show, in White Orphans and Jen & Angie (8:00 pm),
typically stellar stand-up comics at one of the funniest productions in NYC—and winner of
the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Variety Show—The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show (8:30 pm),
some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers (9:30 pm),
singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical (10:00 pm),
and one of my all-time favorite improv troupes, the brilliant and daring members of Death by Roo Roo (11:00 pm).
Pembroke & Lu is a likeable singing duo. To get a feel for them, please check out