NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 7/21/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy
(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:
the perfect 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 PICK] Daily Show correspondents John Oliver (Comedy Central's Terrifying Times),
Rob Riggle (Saturday Night Live, The Office), and newest addition Wyatt Cenac, plus
This Is It! host Adam Lowitt, at a show created by the former Co-Executive Producer
of The Daily Show: Rory Albanese and Friends (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] political sketch comedy, plus an interview with renowned wit and author Kurt Anderson about his upcoming humor book The Real Thing—and undoubtedly about a great deal more—
at Liz Winstead's Shoot the Messenger (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] top storytellers, writers, and stand-ups Tom Shillue (Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central),
Rob Kutner (writer for The Daily Show), Rick Shapiro (HBO), Chris Mata (Comedy Central),
and more at Liam McEneaney's free Tell Your Friends (8:00ish pm),
[TOP PICK] razor-sharp & hilarious stand-up comic John Mulaney (Conan O'Brien, VH1)
and versatile comedic actress Ann Carr at a pseudo talk show hosted by a
a made-up Hollywood icon at Andres du Bouchet: Born With A Stage Name (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] and some of the best improvisors in NYC—tonight including Michael Delaney,
Bobby Moynihan, and John Gemberling—performing in pairs at Couples Skate (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 (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
John Oliver, Rory Albanese, and Rob Riggle
The Daily Show's Rory Albanese and Friends
The Daily Show's former co-executive producer & multiple Emmy Award winner Rory Albanese hosts this monthly show; and he's put together quite an event.
Tonight's thoroughly wonderful guests include three Daily Show correspondents:
John Oliver (genius who's one of the very finest—and nicest—stand-up comics in the biz;
delightful & hilarious news correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart;
recently aired a superb hour-long Comedy Central special, Terrifying Times; is co-writer/star
of The Department for BBC Radio 4, and host/star of BBC stand-up radio show Political Animal),
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),
Wyatt Cenac (newest correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart;
for a blacks vs. gays competition, please click here), plus
Adam Lowitt (staffer at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; host of NYC live comedy show It Is It!; for a video stand-up sample, please click here).
Please Note: You can save $5 off the $20 cover (i.e., $15 per ticket)
by ordering online with discount code HyReviews.
8:00 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
$15 online with code HyReviews, plus two-item food or drink minimum
Kurt Anderson and his upcoming book The Real Thing, 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 NYC show Drink at Work, please click here.)
Tonight's guest is Kurt Anderson, founder of legendary satire magazine Spy (to which I owe some of my proudest article sales), previously a columnist for The New Yorker and now for New York magazine, contributor to such other renowned mags as Vanity Fair and Time; writer for TV , film, and stage; co-creator and host of Studio 360, a Peabody Award-winning cultural radio show reaching 500,000 listeners weekly; and author of the novels Heyday and Turn of the Century. Tonight he'll be discussing his upcoming book of humor essays titled The Real Thing.
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
Tom Shillue, Liam McEneaney, and Rick Shapiro
This free weekly comedy show is produced by Liam McEneaney
(VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Premium Blend,
former writer for Standup Nation with Greg Giraldo).
Tonight's host is "Mr. Mystery."
And the superb guests are
Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; storytelling podcasts; host of acclaimed NYC monthly comedy show Moonwork; comedy CD Overconfident!; for stand-up samples, please click here and here),
Rick Shapiro (when at his best, a hilarious hyper & unrestrained stand-up who's a breath of fresh air—but Rick can be wildly inconsistent, so expect an adventure; credits include HBO's Lucky Louie and PoCreations Radio; a hit show at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival; performances at virtually all the top comedy clubs in NYC; and comedy CD Unconditional Love),
Rob Kutner (writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and author of the new book Apocalypse How: Turn the End-Times into the Best of Times! about how to cheerily meet the inevitable upcoming End of Days), and
Chris Mata (Comedy Central's Premium Blend, mun2's Loco Comedy Jam,
SITV's Latino Laugh Festival; blogs for 236.com and The Huffington Post).
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
John Mulaney, Andres du Bouchet, and Ann Carr
Andres du Bouchet: Born With A Stage Name
Andres du Bouchet is a writer for & performer on FOX's Talkshow with Spike Feresten, and has also performed on Late Night With Conan O'Brien, and Comedy Central's Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn, and ESPN's Cheap Seats. To watch Andres explain song lyrics, please click here; and for lots more videos, please click here.
Tonight Andre pretends to be a tad more famous than he actually is, "celebrating his 35 fictional years as a Hollywood icon with fascinating interviews, powerful film clips, titillating stories, and stiff drinks." Helping pull off this show that mixes stand-up with semi-improvised sketch are two superb performers:
John Mulaney (one of the most razor-sharp and hilarious stand-up comics in the country; frequently appears on VH1's Best Week Ever; performed stand-up twice on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Male Stand-Up Comedian; to watch videos of John's two Conan sets, please click here and here) and
Ann Carr (Comedy Central Motherload's Honesty Wedding, UCBT's High School Talent Show,
The PIT's Keith & Donna's Grateful Dead Listening Hour).
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Bobby Moynihan, John Gemberling, and Michael Delaney
Some of the best improvisors in NYC pair up tonight
and perform, often for the first time, as duos.
Hosted by Sean Clements (30 Rock) & Brandon Gardner (for sample sketch, please click here).
Tonight's superb lineup consists of
Michael Delaney & John Gemberling,
Bobby Moynihan & Birch Harms, and
Craig Rowin & Jesse Falcon.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 7/22/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy
(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:
a screening of charming & funny political cartoons followed by a panel discussion about the news with opinionated NYC comedians at the Scott Bateman Animation Show (7:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] razor-sharp stand-ups Pete Holmes (one of the quickest, funniest comics in the country;
VH1, Comedy Central), Greg Johnson (co-host of award-winning NYC Friday comedy show),
Joselyn Hughes (exceptionally smart, down-to-earth comic; co-host of Slumber Party),
Sean Patton (founder of New Orleans Comedy Festival), Allyson Smith (Montreal Festival),
and more at a hot new show mixing sketch & stand-up: Sweet Haven (8:00ish pm),
Alex Robinson (writer/artist of graphic novels Box Office Poison, Tricked, and the upcoming Too Cool to
be Forgotten) joining in on a lively & fun discussion about comic books at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),
three full hours of improv for only five bucks at Harold Night (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] world-class comics John Oliver (genius stand-up and correspondent for The Daily Show),
Chris Gethard (brilliant storyteller and UCBT star improvisor for troupe The Stepfathers), and
Greg Johnson (co-host of award-winning NYC Friday comedy show), plus Josh Charles (star actor)
and more at one of the finest & funniest shows in NYC, the wonderful Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm),
and two top NYC improv troupes, Hot Sauce and The Brothers Hines (11:00 pm).
Scott Bateman self-portrait
Finally—the perfect lead-in for The PIT's 8:00 pm Comic Book Club.
Scott Bateman is a prolific and witty cartoonist who produced an animated short
a day for an entire year. Scott's work can be found at Plum TV's Scott Bateman Presents; at Salon.com, for which he creates a weekly animated series; and on YouTube, where you'll find such unlikely stuff as Scott's animated versions of PIT improv troupes. To get a feel for his work, check out Scott's public service announcement about VD (which actually aired on prime time) by clicking here.
Tonight Scott will show some of his political cartoons and then host a panel discussion about the news with sharp NYC comics. As the official description puts it, "Think The McLaughlin Group, but funny on purpose."
7:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
This exciting new show comes from sketch troupe Peoples Republic of Komedy, whose members learned how to be funny in Seattle and then sunk all their savings into making a mark in NYC. They're off to a great start with this new weekly extravaganza, which uses sketch (and even a theme song) to create a comedic framework for their stand-up guests.
Tonight's superb lineup consists of
Pete Holmes (razor-sharp & lightning-fast mind, and one of the finest stand-ups in the country;
VH1's Best Week Ever, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Motherload;
writer for CollegeHumor.com; cartoonist for mags ranging from
The New Yorker to Cosmo Girl; host of UCBT's monthly open-mic extravaganza Gutbucket),
Greg Johnson (sharp, quick-witted stand-up comic who co-hosts the weekly
NYC comedy extravaganza The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show,
which won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Variety Show),
Joselyn Hughes (co-host of biweekly NYC live comedy show Slumber Party; for video questioning the effectiveness of rape whistles, please click here),
Sean Patton (LES' The Tommy Danger Show, founder of the New Orleans Comedy Festival;
for a stand-up audio clip about vitamin-coated condoms, please click here), and
Allyson Smith (popular Vancouver-based comic; Montreal Just for Laughs Festival; "soft yet honest approach to humor").
8:00ish pm (doors open at 7:30) at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); $5
Alex Robinson self-portrait
Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight's guest is award-winning comics writer/artist Alex Robinson, whose graphic novels
include Box Office Poison, Tricked, and the upcoming Too Cool to Be Forgotten.
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.
(And for my fave, a delightful show with Kevin "Batman" Conroy, please click here).
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—
RAGNARÖCK, The F*cking Kennedys, The Law Firm, Bangs, and Whorenado—
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 Oliver and Chris Gethard...
...and Seth Herzog and Greg Johnson
Hosted by the razor-sharp, dynamic, and hilarious Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).
Seth is one of the finest hosts around—and this is one of the best comedy shows in NYC.
Tonight's thoroughly wonderful guests include
John Oliver (genius who's one of the very finest—and nicest—stand-up comics in the biz;
delightful & hilarious news correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart;
recently aired a superb hour-long Comedy Central special, Terrifying Times; is co-writer/star
of The Department for BBC Radio 4, and host/star of BBC stand-up radio show Political Animal),
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),
Greg Johnson (sharp, quick-witted stand-up comic who co-hosts the weekly
NYC comedy extravaganza The Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show,
which won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Variety Show), and
Josh Charles (superb actor who's performed in HBO's In Treatment and ABC's Sports Night; movies including Hairspray, Dead Poets Society, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, S.W.A.T., and Four Brothers; and NYC theatre including Neil LaBute's The Distance From Here, for which he and other cast members won a 2004 Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble).
Also promised are "some very special guests."
9:00 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5
Hot Sauce and The Brothers Hines
Two top NYC improv troupes for a mere five bucks.
First up is sharp-witted & lightning-quick Hot Sauce, winner of
the 2006 Cage Match Improv Championship. The trio consists of
Gil Ozeri (SNL; animator and creator of Team Gibba),
Adam Pally (written for ABC; performed for MTV, Comedy Central,
UCBT's The Nights of Our Lives), and
Ben Schwartz (freelance writer for SNL's Weekend Update and
Late Show's David Letterman monologues;
staff writer for Adult Swim's wonderful Robot Chicken;
short filmmaker for SuperDeluxe.com; co-author of upcoming humor
postcard book Grandma's Dead: Breaking Bad News with Baby Animals).
For video samples of these talented guys' work, please click here and here).
The double-bill then continues with The Brothers Hines. This two-man team is Will Hines (member of genius UCBT Friday night troupe The Stepfathers; produces videos for AOL), and Kevin Hines (member of UCBT Harold team The Scam). And yes, they really are brothers—which, when they're cookin', lets this duo create amazing improv scenes by virtually reading each other's minds.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 7/23/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy
(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:
[TOP PICK] dozens of the finest talents at the Upright Citizen Brigade—meaning many of the best
best improv and sketch comedy performers in New York—gathering to strut their stuff and provide
sneak peeks of upcoming productions at UCBT's Happening Summer Showcase (7:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] some of the finest comedic music talent in NYC, including wonderful singer/songwriters
Shayna Ferm and Mindy Raf, plus the Wau Wau Sisters, Dynasty Handbag, and Stace & Kell,
hosted by Logo TV's Julie Goldman: Offensive Women (8:00ish pm),
[TOP PICK] eight stellar storytellers trying to fool the audience, ably abetted by
host Andy Christie (The New York Times) at The Liar Show (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] genius comics Todd Barry (HBO, Conan, Letterman) and Andy Blitz (staff writer for Conan),
plus stellar stand-ups Jared Logan, Heather Fink, Megan Ganz, Brent Sullivan,
and more at a spectacular edition of Gelmania (9:00ish pm),
deliciously funny & luminous gals Brooke Van Poppelen, Joselyn Hughes, and
Margaret Champagne entertaining you with their own stand-up & stories, and also
bringing in sharp NYC comics to perform, at their Slumber Party (9:00 pm),
improvised political satire, and an improvised soap opera, in the double-bill
The Spin Room and Hot Lather: As the Diamond Burns (9:30 pm),
and a laid-back free variety 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 funniest shows in TV history—
and also one of the most consistently superb, over an amazing 11 seasons.
On tonight's repeat, Stan learns the true meaning of Easter...and wishes he hadn't.
Set your TiVo to 10:00 pm or midnight at Comedy Central
to shatter your illusions.
A horde of UCBT stars show how high they can soar at this fun event
UCBT's Happening Summer Showcase
Many of UCBT's shining stars—a small army of talented improv and sketch comedy performers, who you can explore by clicking here and then clicking the photos on the right—will be demonstrating off what they can do via back-to-back shows running for over two hours. This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know some of the finest comics in New York...and to nab a sneak peak at productions coming up this summer and fall.
7:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
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 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 (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Shayna Ferm, the Wau Wau Sisters, and Mindy Raf
This monthly event hosted by Julie Goldman (cast member of Logo TV's
The Big Gay Sketch Show) spotlights top female comics.
Tonight's show focuses on superb comedic singer/songwriters and musical acts:
Shayna Ferm (one of the sharpest and finest comedic singer/songwriters in the biz; recently released her first album, Blonde; member of world-class sketch group Fearsome; for samples of Shay's songs, please click here),
Mindy Raf (like Shay, brilliantly funny and sexy writer/singer;
VH1's Best Week Ever, relationship columnist for CollegeHumor.com,
comedy writer for WABC, actor on SuperDeluxe.com's The Post Show,
plays super-feminist character Leibya Rogers: "When I sing, your soul jumps out
of your body and nestles in between my legs;" for video sample, please click here),
Wau Wau sisters (Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Isaac Mizrahi Show, John Cameron Mitchell's feature film Shortbus, NPR's The Next Big Thing),
Dynasty Handbag (performance artist Jibz Cameron, described as "a hybrid of Charlie Chaplin and Gumby;" for an assortment of quirky video clips, please click here), and
Stace & Kell ("sorority sister singing duo").
8:00ish pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $10
Eight funny people tell amazing stories. Six of the tales are absolutely true...but two of them are a pack of lies. The audience then asks questions to try and identify the fibbers. Hosted by Andy Christie (The New York Times).
The storytellers are Ophira Eisenberg (Comedy Central; Backstage's "Ten Standout Comics"), Peter Lubell (NPR; Independent Film Channel), Jim O'Grady (The New York Times), Steve Osborne (NYPD Gang Squad Detective), Faye Lane (Beauty Shop Stories), Jeffery Rudell (NBC's The Apprentice), Ed Gavagan (Moth GrandSlam Champion), and Juliet Wayne (Moth finalist).
Please Note: You can save $5 off the $20 cover (i.e., $15 per ticket)
by ordering online with discount code HyReviews.
8:00 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
$15 online with code HyReviews, plus two-item food or drink minimum
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
Wow. It doesn't get much better than this lineup:
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;
recently acted in the upcoming Darren Aronofsky film The Wrestler;
check out Todd's newest comedy CD From Heaven),
Andy Blitz (comedy genius best known for being a writer and performer for
Late Night with Conan O'Brien since 1999; to read about Andy's memorable
hosting of Crash Test last year at UCBT, please click here),
Jared Logan (hilarious kinetic comic; named Best Comedian by the Chicago Comedy Awards; won Detroit's contest for Comedy Idol; for stand-up video about fast food and comic books, please click here; for set on scary things, including toy ads for girls, please click here),
Heather Fink (nominated for the 2008 NY Emerging Comic Award;
for videos demonstrating Heather's acting skills, please click here and here),
and more.
This show will likely be incredible. If you can attend, do.
9:00 pm (doors open at 8:00) at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); $5
Your hosts Margaret Champagne, Joselyn Hughes, and Brooke Van Poppelen at...
This twice-monthly event is described as "the sort of variety show that happens when
three girls are delirious from staying up all night boozing and slap-happy from crank-calling!"
Actually, it's a show hosted by three of the most talented women in comedy. And just being in the same room with Brooke, Joselyn, and Margaret—who in "real life" are the best of friends—is a cause for joy.
More specifically, these lovely & hilarious gals are
Margaret Champagne (Carolines, UCBT; for acting reel, please click here),
Joselyn Hughes (for video questioning the effectiveness of rape whistles, please click here), and
Brooke Van Poppelen (Carolines, Laugh Factory; for a video sample, please click here).
Tonight's stand-up comedy guests haven't been announced, but this powerhouse trio have lots of friends and admirers, so expect some fine comics to come by.
And also keep an eye out for a sketch show titled Macho: Grow a Pair that Joselyn and Brooke will be premiering in Chicago on July 10-11. Anything from this duo is bound to be special.
9:00 pm at Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)
Hot Lather: As the Diamond Burns and The Spin Room
Two unique improvisation shows for a mere five bucks.
First up is As The Diamond Turns from Hot Lather, an improv group that specializes
in the soap opera format. Its members include some powerhouse performers:
Mike Cavanaugh, Matt Fisher, Jon Gutierrez, Molly Lloyd, Anna Rubanova, Achilles Stamatelaky, Mike Still, Abra Tabak, Andree Vermeulen, and Paul Welsh,
with direction by Rob Webber.
The double-bill then continues with The Spin Room, which takes a current political news story chosen by the audience and then improvises scenes about it. The troupe consists of Jeremy Bent, Beth Cartier, Guy Cohen, Timothy Cooper, Eric Hollerbach, Barry Lank, Beth Newell, David Siegel, Matt Stillman, and John Robert Wilson, with direction by Doug Moe.
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
Justin Purnell
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 7/24/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy
(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:
a quirky sketch duo and a new comedy troupe in Rue Brutalia and Sexual Sexual Sketch Show (6:30 pm),
Dave Ahdoot and Ethan Fixell relating their YouTube-documented romantic adventures
live on stage—possibly accompanied by visits from some of the gals—on Double Date Us (7:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] superb comedic storytellers Kambri Crews, David Cope, and Leslie Goshko, plus top comics including Peter Grosz (writer for The Colbert Report), John Morrison, Ross Hyzer, and Diana Saez, telling funny, poignant, and at times unforgettable tales about their relatives at this summer's final edition of the vivacious Sara Benincasa's Family Hour (7:30 pm),
[TOP PICK] one of the most charming & entertaining groups in NYC (and winner of the 2008 ECNY Award
for Best Musical Comedy Act), fresh off appearances on Comedy Central and the prestigious
Montreal Comedy Festival, performing a laugh-packed musical: The Apple Sisters (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] Pangea 3000, one of the best sketch troupes in the country and a highlight of last month's
SketchFest NYC 08, plus ace improvisor/writer/storyteller Anthony Atamanuik (30 Rock, Death by Roo Roo)
performing an autobiographical one-man show about his experiences with drugs & booze, in
the double-bill Pangea 3000 Recommends the Beatles and Pissing My Pants on Vine (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] superb comics Wyatt Cenac (correspondent on The Daily Show), Leo Allen (Conan O'Brien,
Comedy Central, writer for SNL), Donald Glover (Conan O'Brien, troupe Derrick, writer for 30 Rock),
and Vince Averill (Comedy Central) at the hilarious Joe Mande's & Noah Garfinkel's Totally J/K (8:30 pm),
[TOP PICK] genius comic John Oliver (The Daily Show), plus razor-sharp Kumail Nanjiani (Comedy Central),
Todd Levin (Comedy Central, The Onion), and Ophira Eisenberg (Comedy Central, VH1)
at Dan Allen's & Ray Devito's stand-up showcase ¡Sacapuntas! (9:00 pm),