NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 3/10/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
a group of top comedy writers: Brian Kiley (genius writer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien since 1994),
Bryan Tucker (writer for Saturday Night Live; previously written for Chappelle's Show and Mad TV), Roger Hailes (written for Comedy Central and MTV), and Caroline Waxler (written for VH1 and The New York Times) at Liam McEneaney's free show Tell Your Friends (8:00ish pm),
delightfully unique free comedy show from the sexy Heather Fink & Adam Newman that includes
Timmy Williams and Sam Brown of comedy troupe & IFC TV show The Whitest Kids U' Know,
Mike Drucker (SNL), Jamie Lee (VH1), Sean Patton, and street performers Gil & and Jill Bumby—who
provide "a fair and honest appraisal of your appearance" for $2—at Street Meat (8:00ish pm),
political sketch comedy, plus New York Times bestselling author Craig Unger being interviewed about his new book The Fall of the House of Bush, at Liz Winstead's Shoot the Messenger (8:30 pm),
and comedic chameleon Brett Gelman hosting stand-up comics at the free show Cavalcade! (11:00 pm).
From the creators of Centralia comes this series of sketches, monologues, and short films exploring "the end of the road: love, loss, losing grip, holding onto hope, seeking revenge, and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Breaking up is hard to do, so why not enjoy it?"
The scheduled performers are Kevin Allison, Jeremy Brisel, Chris Caniglia, Centralia (Matt Highins, Jay Rhoderick, and Kevin Scott), Daiva Deupree, Scott Eckert, Ali Farahnakian, Brendan Gallagher, Kimmy Gatewood, Becca Greene, Grace Helbig, Rebekka Johnson, Megan Neuringer, Will Nunziata, Matt Oberg, Stephanie Silver, Ptolemy Slocum, Nate Starkey, Shelly Stover, Maryln Torrez, Ashley Ward, and Tracey Wilson.
7:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
Roger Hailes, Caroline Waxler (with Norman Baker), and Brian Kiley
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 Roger Hailes (exceptionally sharp, personable stand-up; Chappelle's Show,
VH1's All Access; writer for Comedy Central and MTV; for sample videos, please click here and here),
and the superb guests are
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),
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), and
Caroline Waxler (written for VH1's Best Week Ever, The New York Times,
Forbes, Newsweek, Glamour, The Huffington Post; author of book Stocking Up on Sin).
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.
Mike Drucker, Timmy Williams & Sam Brown of Whitest Kids, and street performers Gil & Jill Bumby...
...and hosts Adam Newman & Heather Fink
Street Meat is a free monthly comedy show in which
superb NYC comics are on the same lineup as quirky street performers.
It's hosted by Adam Newman (CMT's Prankville'd, VH1's Best Week Ever blog; co-host of
weekly NYC live comedy show Faux Show; host of weekly NYC live open-mic comedy show
Blowtorch Slaughter; half of musical comedy duo Uber Luber Death Metal) and
Heather Fink (sly & sexy nominee for this year's NY Emerging Comic Award;
for videos demonstrating Heather's acting skills, please click here and here).
Joining the fun are some of the freshest comics in NYC:
Timmy Williams & Sam Brown (members of popular comedy group The Whitest Kids U' Know,
which stars in its own TV show on IFC; hosts of weekly free NYC live comedy show
Scum and Villainy Sundays at Pianos),
Mike Drucker (SNL; McSweeney's; winner of Disney's 2007 So You Think You're Funny
competition and performer on Comedy Central's The Watchlist; for Drucker's explanation
of how life is like video games and comic books, please click here; and to learn
why Drucker's girlfriend wouldn't give him a gold star, 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),
Jamie Lee (VH1's Best Night Ever, Archers of Ha), and
Gil and Jill Bumby (street performers who promise to provide
"a fair and honest appraisal of your appearance" for $2).
8:00ish pm at Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow Street (between Rivington & Stanton); free
Amy Beckerman, Gloria Bigelow, Jackie Monahan, and Leah Dubie
Free gay-themed stand-up comedy show featuring the gals above
as regulars/hosts, plus different guest comics every week.
8:00 pm at RubyFruit Bar & Grill, 531 Hudson Street (between West 10th & Charles);
no cover, one item (food or drink) minimum
Student writers, performers, and directors at UCBT try out their sketch comedy routines.
Tonight features four groups:
At the 8:00-9:15 pm show, Stone Cold Fox and mixtape '98; and
at the 9:30-10:45 pm show, The Skuntz and 27 Kidneys.
Some of the material will probably be very funny.
And a lot of it probably won't.
But if you enjoy the raw energy of young artists trying out bits,
come and support tonight's experiments, live on stage.
8:00 pm & 9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5 per show
Craig Unger, author of The Fall of the House of Bush, 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 Craig Unger, the New York Times bestselling author of House of Bush, House of Saud and the new book The Fall of the House of Bush.
To get a feel for STM, view a fun interview with cartoonist David Rees by clicking here.
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.
Concerned citizens, and the many faces of Brett Gelman
This razor-sharp stand-up extravaganza is no place for the innocent.
However, it's enormous fun...and free.
Tonight's scheduled guests are
Brett Gelman (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Colbert Report, ace improv troupe Death by Roo Roo; for samples of Brett's mind-blowing work with partner Jon Daly, please click here and here, and also check out their new hip-hop parody album Fleetwood Cracked),
Matt Braunger (Mad TV; for sample stand-up video, please click here),
Hannibal Buress, and Raj Desai.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 3/11/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
Jess Wood, Claudia Cogan, and other sharp stand-ups at Carolyn Castiglia's Chicks & Giggles (8:00 pm),
a lively & fun discussion about the state of the comic book industry by four top comics journalists—
Heidi MacDonald, Brian Heater, John DiBello, and Kiel Phegley—at the laugh-packed Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),
an improvised parody of The View, with actual book author Marty Beckerman as tonight's guest, at Focus (8:00 pm),
Pat Dixon (Comedy Central, CBS, FOX), Eric Drysdale (The Daily Show, The Colbert Report), Thomas
Middleditch (Baby Wants Candy), and other terrific comics at John Morrison's The Morrison Motel (8:30 pm),
and genius comedy stars, including Kristen Schaal (HBO, NBC, MTV, 2008 ECNY Award for Best Female Stand-Up),
TJ Miller (co-star of ABC's Carpoolers and recent hit movie Cloverfield), Brett Gelman (The Colbert Report,
Late Night with Conan O'Brien, ace improv troupe Death by Roo Roo, and the New York Lottery's ubiquitous
Little Bit of Luck guy) at one of the finest comedy shows in NYC, the fabulous Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm).
Jess Wood, Carolyn Castiglia, and Claudia Cogan
The wonderful Carolyn Castiglia (VH1, MTV2, Sirius Satellite Radio,
The Huffington Post) hosts a lineup of talented female stand-up comics.
Tonight's scheduled guests are
Jess Wood (smart, brassy, very funny stand-up; HBO's Def Jam Comedy;
for documentary about her, 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),
Raquel D'Apice (writes blog titled The Ugly Volvo; for touching video
about lesbians who met in Eastern Europe, please click here),
Shane Webb (Carolines; for stand-up video about the gym, please click here),
Jessimae Peluso, and Mariko Star Shine.
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)
Acclaimed comic book journalists Brian Heater, Heidi MacDonald, and Bully the Little Stuffed Bull
Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight's show is a State of the Industry Summit with some of
the comic book biz's most knowledgeable and respected journalists:
Heidi MacDonald, daily reporter on comic books for Publishers Weekly: The Beat,
co-editor of PW Comics Week, and writer of the monthly column
Hey Kids! Comics! for the Comics Buyer's Guide,
Brian Heater, Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Crosshatch,
a Web news magazine about alternative comics,
John DiBello, who runs the comics blog Bully Says in the guise of a stuffed bull doll
(along with the motto "Comics Oughta Be Fun!"),
and Kiel Phegley, writer for Wizard Universe.
If you want to know what's going on in comics, and what's likely
to happen in the near future, this is a great event to attend.
8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
This new 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!"
Tonight's guest is Marty Beckerman, author of the books Generation S.L.U.T.: A Brutal Feel-up Session with Today's Sex-Crazed Adolescent Populace, Death to All Cheerleaders: One Adolescent Journalist's Cheerful Diatribe Against Teenage Plasticity, and the upcoming—and mercifully short-titled—Dumbocracy.
8:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
The Harold is longform improv, pioneered by Del Close.
Tonight, five improv troupes—
Twelve Thousand Dollars, Tantrum, fwand, 1985, 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, Pat Dixon, and Eric Drysdale
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:
Pat Dixon (Comedy Central Presents ½-hour special, Comedy Central's Premium Blend,
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, E!, FOX, syndicated movie reviews on radio),
Eric Drysdale (writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 2000-2005; writer for
The Colbert Report 2005-2008; winner of five Emmy Awards),
Thomas Middleditch (member of the renowned Second City and genius musical improv troupe Baby Wants Candy; for cartoon that prompted the comment "wow i think i actually feel my intelligence melting away as i watch this," please click here),
Carmen Lynch (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central's Premium Blend;
for stand-up video about being tall, please click here),
Charles Star (Onion News Network, Stay Free! Daily blog,
host of monthly Brooklyn live comedy show Pant-Hoot), and
Lisa Kaplan (Carolines, The LOL Tour).
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
Brett Gelman, Little Bit of Luck, TJ Miller, and Kristen Schaal...
...and Seth Herzog, Nick Stevens, and Craig Baldo
Hosted by the razor-sharp, dynamic, and hilarious Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).
This is always one of the finest comedy shows in NYC;
but tonight is extra special, even for Sweet. The awesome lineup includes
Kristen Schaal (lovely, brilliant, breathtakingly talented writer/actress/comic;
co-star of HBO's Flight of the Conchords; writer for MTV's Human Giant;
AMC's Mad Men; upcoming feature film Cirque du Freak (with Salma Hayek);
co-star of Web video series Penelope: Princess of Pets; co-host of NYC live Hot Tub Variety Show with Kurt Braunohler; winner of numerous comedy awards, including the prestigious 2nd Annual Andy Kaufman Award and the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Female Stand-Up;
to read about Kristen's killer set headlining at Comix, please click here),
TJ Miller (co-star of ABC's Carpoolers; co-star of recent hit movie Cloverfield; razor-sharp
stand-up who's performed on Late Show with David Letterman and Opie & Anthony;
co-host with Pete Holmes of UCBT's monthly open-mic stand-up show Gutbucket),
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; 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 new hip-hop parody album Fleetwood Cracked),
Craig Baldo (performed over 30 sketches on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Comic Remix; VH1, Bravo, The Onion), and
Nick Stevens (VH1's All Access; Boston fan Fitzy on ESPN; hosted 2001-2007 NYC live comedy production The Shark Show).
9:00 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5
A new sketch comedy show by Lizzie Goldberg-Redner, Dave Maulbeck,
Lauren Olson, and Jana Schmieding. The official description:
"Inept characters and human folly give rise to this original compilation of sketches.
Employing witty transitions and the occasional dance number, Les Encompentent
is a fresh reminder of how silly sketch can become. "
9:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 3/12/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
sketch shows from fine comedic actress Aubrey Plaza and sharp duo Greg Burke & Lou Perez (6:30 pm),
delightful & hilarious comics Margaret Champagne, Joselyn Hughes, and Brooke Van Poppelen inviting
some of the coolest gals and guys they know—including Livia Scott (Late Night with Conan O'Brien) and
Adam Lowitt (The Daily Show)—for stand-up comedy fun at their Slumber Party (8:00 pm),
book authors Susan Shapiro and Matthew Vescovo, stand-up comics Jenny Rubin and Hannibal Buress,
and more telling very funny tales of woe at the wonderful Jon Friedman's The Rejection Show (8:00 pm),
smartly silly sketch comedy from Matt Fisher, Alden Ford, and Justin Tyler of Sidecar (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
Lou Perez & Greg Burke, and Aubrey Plaza
Two fine sketch shows for five bucks.
Kicking off this double-bill is smart writing and committed performances from Greg & Lou:
Greg Burke (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Law & Order, Guiding Light) and
Lou Perez (co-star with Greg in sketch comedy group The Wicked Wicked Hammerkatz;
also a talented short story writer & contributor to Fiction Magazine as Luis Amate Perez).
For a video sample, please click here.
The fun then continues with comedic actress & improvisor Aubrey Plaza.
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.
6:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Your party hosts Margaret Champagne, Joselyn Hughes, and Brooke Van Poppelen...
...and Adam Lowitt and Livia Scott
This twice-monthly event is "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? The lovely & hilarious hosts 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 superb guests are
Livia Scott (brilliant, magical comedic chameleon; Late Night with Conan O'Brien,
world-class sketch group Meat, acclaimed one-woman show Goodnight, O.J.,
Livia's Castle of Enchantment; will be spilling the beans tonight about a very recent
trip to Las Vegas with her dad, which is a tale I'm guessing is not to be missed),
Adam Lowitt (staffer at The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; host of twice-monthly NYC
live comedy show It Is It! at Pianos; for a stand-up video, please click here),
Deb Downing (improv at Second City, Happy Hour at UCBT), and
Andy Ross (Onion News Network, founding member of Chicago Underground Comedy).
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)
Jenny Rubin, Jon Friedman, and Susan Shapiro
Jon Friedman hosts a delightful parade of rejected material
by exceptional writers and performers. Tonight's guests include
Susan Shapiro (author of the books Lighting Up, Secrets of a Fix-Up Fanatic, Five Men Who Broke My Heart, and Only As Good As Your Word, and co-editor of Food for the Soul),
Matthew Vescovo (author of the books Life and Death of Bling Bling and
Instructoart: Informative Yet Aesthetically Pleasing),
Jenny Rubin (host of NYC live comedy shows Max! and The Back Room),
and Hannibal Buress (Chicago's Finest).
There'll also be music from fabulous comedic rockabilly band The Defibulators.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Matt Fisher, Alden Ford, and Justin Tyler of Sidecar
Two shows for five bucks.
The top half of this double-bill is absurdly fun sketch/improv troupe Sidecar,
which consists of very talented & brave comedic trio Alden Ford, Matt Fisher, and Justin Tyler.
For a sample sketch about their interrogation technique, please click here.
The other half of this show is Disenchanted...about which I know absolutely nothing.
But Sidecar alone is well worth your five bucks, so consider whatever
Disenchanted offers to be a happy bonus.
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 3/13/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include