NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 11/17/08
Greg Johnson (Whiplash), and Glennis McMurray & Eliza Skinner (I Eat Pandas)
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 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours, tonight including Jena Friedman, Emily Epstein,
Vicky Kuperman, Margie Kment, Karen Batista, Dan Cartwright, Mark Normand, Sean Donnelly,
Blaine Perry, and John Morrison—at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel (6:30 pm & 9:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] an entirely improvised musical from a genius improv duo (and among Eliza Skinner's
final NYC performances before moving to LA), and an improvised soap opera,
in the double-bill I Eat Pandas and Hot Lather: As the Diamond Burns (9:30 pm),
[TOP PICK] and a free weekly show featuring some of the finest comics in the country—tonight including two of the best comedy hosts in NYC, Seth Herzog (VH1, Sweet) and Greg Johnson (Greg Johnson & Larry Murphy Show)—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central) at Whiplash (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 25 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.
There are two shows, at 6:30 and 9:00 pm (with entirely different sets of comics).
Tonight's 6:30 lineup includes such fine stand-ups as Jena Friedman, Karen Batista, Margie Kment, Vicky Kuperman, Dan Cartwright, and Mark Normand.
And the 9:00 pm show includes such talents as Emily Epstein, Sue Funke, Sean Donnelly, Blaine Perry, and John Morrison.
Ochi's Motel is hosted by Sean Donnelly and Blaine Perry.
To be entered into the weekly random drawing for performers,
please send email to ochismotel@gmail.com.
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)
Glennis & Eliza: I Eat Pandas and Hot Lather: As the Diamond Burns
Two unique improvisation shows for a mere five bucks.
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 won the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Improv Group; and they
recently starred in the Fringe festival hit Gem! A Truly Outrageous Parody,
which won two FringeNYC 2008 Awards.
Eliza will soon be moving to LA. Don't miss one of your final chances
to enjoy these comedic wizards at play on an NYC stage.
The double-bill then continues with 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.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Three of the best comedy hosts in NYC: Seth Herzog, Greg Johnson, and Leo Allen
Whiplash with Leo Allen: The Finest in Stand-Up Comedy, Free
Leo Allen is one of the most sharp, honest, and likeable stand-ups working in NYC. Leo was a writer for Saturday Night Live from 2002 through 2005. He's also performed two Comedy Central Presents 1/2-hour specials (one by himself and one with his writing partner Eric Slovin); done stand-up on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.; and acted on Ed and Sex and the City. Leo has now taken over the Monday-at-11:00 pm UCBT spot made super-special by Aziz Ansari's Crash Test and Jeremy Levenbach's Cavalcade! (in fact, Whiplash is produced by Jeremy).
Tonight's wonderful guests include two of the best comedy hosts in New York:
Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever and All Access, Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show, host of superb NYC weekly live comedy show Sweet), and
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).
If you love comedy, make a habit of attending this wonderful free weekly extravaganza.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 11/18/08
Livia Scott (Empowerment), Seth Herzog (Sweet) and Pete Holmes (VH to the One Showcase)
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 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours, who tonight include Vicky Kuperman, Margie Kment, Doug Adler,
Gilad Foss, Sarah Fearon, and John Morrison—at John Morrison's Broadway Motel (6:00 pm),
a blowout fundraiser featuring some of the most talented and hilarious female comics in NYC—
Livia Scott, Shayna Ferm, Carolyn Castiglia, Becky Donohue, Ophira Eisenberg, Helen Hong,
and host Leah Bonnema—at a 3-hour bash of Empowerment, Pampering, and Great Entertainment (7:00 pm),
16 NYC stand-ups—including Taylor Williamson (Late Late Show), Josh Homer (Comedy Central),
Andy Pitz (David Letterman), Julian McCullough (2008 NYCF Champion), Liz Miele (Comedy Central), and
Mike Drucker (The Onion)—competing for audience laughs and votes at Eric I's Comedy Showdown (7:30 pm),
[TOP PICK] brilliant stand-up Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1, The New Yorker), rising star
Kumail Nanjiani (Comedy Central), Big Jay Oakerson (HBO, Comedy Central , Showtime, MTV),
Joselyn Hughes (Macho!), Sean Patton (Just for Laughs Festival), and Cassidy Henehan
in the debut of VH1's biweekly live comedy show VH to the One Comedy Showcase (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] comics journalist Brian Heater (The Daily Cross Hatch), and comics creators Tom Hart,
Sarah Glidden, and John Kerschbaum, joining in on a lively & hilarious
discussion about comic books at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),
three full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes
DeCoster, Ragnaröck, Bangs, Bastian, and The Law Firm—at Harold Night (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central), Wyatt Cenac (correspondent
for The Daily Show), and Max Silvestri (VH1) at one of the finest and funniest shows
in NYC, the wonderful Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] and sharp stand-ups Tom McCaffrey (Comedy Central, VH1, The Onion),
Marina Franklin (Last Comic Standing, Chappelle's Show), Jared Logan (Chicago Comedy Awards),
Liz Miele (Comedy Central), plus Team Submarine (hilarious sketch comedy duo) at Sweet Haven (9:00ish 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, Broadway's one-item food or drink minimum applies to everyone.)
A breathtaking 25 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.
Tonight's lineup includes such talents as Vicky Kuperman, Margie Kment, Doug Adler, Gilad Foss, Sarah Fearon, Chanelle Futrell, and John Morrison.
Broadway Motel is hosted by Cory Jarvis and Doug Adler.
To be entered into the weekly random drawing for performers,
please send email to motelme@gmail.com.
6:00 pm at Broadway Comedy Club, 318 West 53rd Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);
$5 cover plus one-item food or drink minimum
Brilliant comics Livia Scott, Shayna Ferm, and Becky Donohue...
...and Carolyn Castiglia, Ophira Eisenberg, and Helen Hong
An Evening of Empowerment, Pampering, and Great Entertainment
To raise funds for a film project, some of NYC's finest female comics are getting together to entertain you from 8:00 to 10:00 pm. Further, from 7:00 to 8:00 pm you can come enjoy a spa and cocktail hour that includes manicures, tarot readings, and life coaching.
The entertainment was organized by Ken Simon (razor-sharp and hilarious actor; I Am Star Trek, Harry in Love, Men—What Can You Do?), and will be hosted by Leah Bonnema (XM and Sirius Radio).
Tonight's wonderful comics are
Livia Scott (brilliant comedic chameleon who's a stellar stand-up and sketch comic, and also an extraordinary actress; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, world-class sketch groups Meat and Dirty Jeans & Thunderchief, host of NYC comedy show Livia's Castle of Enchantment, 2008 ECNY Award-nominated one-woman show Goodnight, O.J.),
Shayna Ferm (singer/songwriter stand-up who's one of the sharpest and finest comics in the biz; member of world-class sketch group Fearsome; comedic music album Blonde; for samples of Shay's songs, please click here),
Carolyn Castiglia (VH1's White Rapper Miss CKC, MTV, Sirius Satellite Radio, The Huffington Post, host of NYC live comedy shows Meat & Potatoes and Chicks and Giggles),
Becky Donohue (Comedy Central's Premium Blend, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, and
Shorties Watchin' Shorties; TLC's Trading Spaces; Fashion Police writer for US Weekly),
Helen Hong (TLC's What Not to Wear; E!'s Exposed: 25 Most Notorious Fashion Week Moments; Helen says " I love it when people ask me 'Where are you from?' and I say 'New York' and they say 'No, where are you really from???' I know they want me to name some Asian country like Japan or Korea. Instead I just stab them in the eye with a chopstick and scream 'I'm from the Land of Deadly Chopsticks, you evil Round Eye!' And then I shuffle away like a dainty geisha...;"
for Helen's hilarious stand-up video about false assumptions
and verbal misunderstandings, please click here), and
Ophira Eisenberg (Comedy Central's Premium Blend, VH1's Best Week Ever,
E!; Fashion Police writer for US Weekly),
plus singer-musician Susan Oetgen.
7:00 pm-10:00 at R Bar, 218 Bowery (between Rivington and Prince Streets);
$15 for admission alone, or $20 for admission plus six raffle tickets
Take the R/W subway to Prince Street, or 6 subway to Spring Street, or F/V subway to 2nd Avenue stop
Liz Miele, Julian McCullough, and Taylor Williamson
This biweekly extravaganza is a comedy competition hosted by Eric I.
Tonight's small mob of 16 participating stand-ups are, in scheduled order, Taylor Williamson (Late Late Show), Josh Homer (Comedy Central), Andy Pitz (David Letterman), Julian McCullough (2008 NY Comedy Festival Champion), Liz Miele (Comedy Central), Mike Drucker (The Onion), David Baker (UK comic), Maddog Mattern (Sirius Radio, XM), Kevin McCaffrey (writer for David Letterman), Joe Pontillo (Village Lantern), Craig Hillelson (The Buy Back Show), Sean Donnelly (sketch show Don’t Touch Me There), Gabe Pacheco (Joy!), Leanna Conley (Broads Of Broadway), Stephanie Acevedo (Funny Chick For Whom I Need A Credit), and Meghan Hanley), each of whom will perform a short set.
The audience will then vote on which of the comics was the most hilarious. The two winners will receive additional stage time to make comedic fun of the losers; and also move on to a final round later this year to determine a season champion (with a prize of $500, and bragging rights).
7:30 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)
Pete Holmes and Joselyn Hughes...
...and Cassidy Henehan, Kumail Nanjiani, and Sean Patton
TV network VH1 kicks off this new NYC live comedy show tonight, which will play
every other Tuesday at famed rock club The Bitter End.
The comics at this opening evening are superb:
Pete Holmes (one of the quickest & sharpest minds in comedy; 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 stand-up show Gutbucket),
Kumail Nanjiani (rising stand-up star; Comedy Central's Open Mic Fight; terrific one-man show Unpronounceable about experiences with Islam—for my review, please click here; co-host of monthly NYC live comedy show Game Bros. Live!; to get a feel for Kumail's style, please check out his very funny stand-up about the dark side of video games, odd memories, and the many ways cell phones are eliminated in horror films by clicking here), and
Big Jay Oakerson (Comedy Central Presents, HBO, Showtime, MTV),
Joselyn Hughes (Comedysmack.com, Maxim radio, half of sketch duo Macho!; for video questioning the effectiveness of rape whistles, please click here),
Sean Patton (2008 Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, LES' The Tommy Danger Show, founder of the New Orleans Comedy Festival; for stand-up audio clip about vitamin-coated condoms and stand-up video about drugs & weapons, please click here and here), and
Cassidy Henehan (for very long video attempt to break a bottle over a guy's head post-Katrina, please click here).
8:00 pm at The Bitter End, 147 Bleecker Street (bet. La Guardia Place and Thompson Street);
tickets are $5; take the A/C/E/F/V subway To West 4th Street stop
Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight's industry guests are Brian Heater (Editor-in-Chief of comics Web magazine The Daily Cross Hatch), Tom Hart (Hutch Owen), Sarah Glidden (How to Understand Israel in 60 Days), and John Kerschbaum (Petey and Pussy) .
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 two current faves, a delightful visit from Kevin "Batman" Conroy and a hilarious evening with Daily Show writer Eliot Kalan, please click here and here.)
Also be sure to watch a Penguin vs. Batman debate that uncannily predicted John McCain's campaign strategy by clicking 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—
DeCoster, Ragnaröck, Bangs, Bastian, and The Law Firm—
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
Leo Allen and Wyatt Cenac...
...and Seth Herzog and Max Silvestri
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 wonderful guests include
Leo Allen (one of the most sharp, honest, and likeable stand-ups working in NYC; writer for Saturday Night Live from 2002 through 2005; performed two Comedy Central Presents 1/2-hour specials (one by himself and one with his writing partner Eric Slovin); done stand-up on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.; acted on Ed and Sex and the City; host of NYC weekly live comedy show Whiplash),
Wyatt Cenac (correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; cast member on upcoming HBO Kanye West show; star of upcoming indie feature film Medicine for Melancholy; former staff writer/editor for three years on King of the Hill; for a blacks vs. gays competition, please click here), and
Max Silvestri (VH1's Best Week Ever, weekly podcast Best Night Ever, videos for 236.com, co-host of NYC live comedy show Big Terrific).
9:00 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5
This 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 weekly extravaganza which uses uses sketch (and even a theme song) to create a comedic framework for their talented stand-up guests—who tonight are:
Marina Franklin (Last Comic Standing, Chappelle's Show, Comedy Central's Premium Blend),
Tom McCaffrey (Comedy Central's Premium Blend, Shorties Watchin' Shorties, and Secret Stash Movie; VH1's All Access; The Onion),
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), and
Liz Miele (Comedy Central; took third place at the March Comedy Madness competition;
for 12-minute set at Carolines, please click here), and
Team Submarine (hilarious comedy duo Nate Fernald & Steve O'Brien who were one of the highlights of SketchFest NYC 08; these guys perform very smartly written dialogues, delivered with a crisp timing and comfortable camaraderie that will remind you of such classic teams as Abbott & Costello...and will have you on the floor with laughter).
9:00ish pm at SB3, 33 Avenue B (red & gold building at corner of 3rd Street); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 11/19/08
Rhys Darby (Comedy Below Canal), Demetri Martin (Hold for the Laughs), and John Mulaney (Hold for the Laughs)
Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy
(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:
five free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday (7:00 pm-midnight),
[TOP PICK] Violet Krumbein demonstrating she's one of the most breathtakingly original
and darkly funny talents in NYC, and Thomas Middleditch (member of genius improv troupe Baby Wants Candy)
showing off a myriad of comedic characters via a dynamic one-man show, in a don't-miss double-bill:
Human Painkiller and Littlebitch (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] a fun auction of dreadful art, hosted with style by the hilarious Judah Friedlander (30 Rock)
and featuring a musical full set by indie band Xiu Xiu, at New York Magazine's Bad Art Auction (8:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] three of the finest stand-ups in NYC—Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1), Chelsea Peretti (Comedy Central, Variety SHAC), and Seth Herzog (VH1, Sweet)—plus New Zealand/UK star Rhys Darby (HBO's Flight of the Conchords) at a new weekly show hosted by 92YTribeca: Comedy Below Canal (9:00 pm),
[TOP PICK] some of most razor-sharp and uproariously funny storytellers in the country—Anthony Atamanuik, Jonathan Gabrus, Curtis Gwinn, Joe Mande, and Dave Martin—telling tales of "The Guiltiest Night Of My Life" at one of the finest shows in NYC, The Nights of Our Lives (9:30 pm),
[TOP PICK] an exciting monthly event bringing NYC theatre and comedy folks together,
tonight featuring a networking party at 9:30, and then a comedy show at 10:00 with top stand-ups
Demetri Martin (The Daily Show, star of upcoming series Important Things), John Mulaney
(Conan O'Brien, writer for Saturday Night Live), Dan Mintz (HBO, Comedy Central, MTV),
and Giulia Rozzi (VH1, Stripped Stories) at Margie Kment's Hold for the Laughs (9:30 pm),
[TOP PICK] and typically stellar stand-up comics who perform their sets but are periodically interrupted by the host—one of the funniest men on the planet, Doug Benson—at a very special show called The Benson Interruption (11:00 pm).
Kurt Braunohler and Pat Shay
The PIT's Super Free Wednesday
For four hours every Wednesday, The PIT provides free shows featuring its improv house troupes. Vacation Island and The Wilhelm perform at 7:00 pm; Big Black Car and Fancy Dragon go on at 8:00 pm; and The Baldwins and Sid Viscous show their stuff at 9:30. Rounding out the evening are The Faculty, consisting of The PIT's superb improv instructors, including such talents as Ali Farahnakian, Kurt Braunohler, Ptolemy Slocum, Jen Nails, Pat Shay, Kevin Scott, and Rebekka Johnson.
If you then feel sufficiently inspired, you can participate in the free show Improdome at 11:00 pm, which allows audience members to get on stage and improvise with each other in trios for 5-7 minute sets.
7:00 pm-midnight at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
A couple of the many faces of Thomas Middleditch...
...and the uniquely dark comedy of Violet Krumbein
Violet Krumbein: Human Painkiller and Thomas Middleditch: Littlebitch
A superb one-man show and mind-blowing one-woman show
from two rising comedy stars you shouldn't miss...all for a mere five bucks.
The evening kicks off with Violet Krumbein, an immensely appealing rising star who's performed on Comedy Central, Adult Swim, and UCBT Harold Night improv troupes Tantrum and Whorenado. (For a sample of Violet's sharp acting and vocal skills, please click here.) Tonight Violet demonstrates she has one of the most disturbingly inventive comedic minds to ever grace an NYC stage via a show she wrote and performs solo—with the aid of a dancer's grace, impeccable timing, and myriad props...including an unforgettable life-size doll. Imagine combining the playfulness of Sesame Street with the dark side of Andy Kaufman and you'll get some glimmer of what's in store for you. Not for every taste; but if you feel adventurous, don't miss this breathtakingly original show by the stunningly beautiful and delightfully twisted Ms. Krumbein. Directed by Megan Neuringer (VH1's Best Week Ever, All Access).
The double-bill then continues with Thomas Middleditch, a quick-witted organic talent who honed his improv & comedy skills at Second City and iO Chicago, and is currently a member of superb improv troupes Baby Wants Candy, Broad Shoulders, and The Improvised Shakespeare Co. Thomas is also the star of the upcoming film Splinterheads; the co-host of monthly UCBT show Game Bros. Live!; and a wildly popular character performer at the monthly Morrison Motel. It's the latter skills Thomas will be drawing on for this one-man show as he literally jumps around on stage, and switches among different voices and body postures in split seconds, to create a small mob of colorful people interacting with each other—and, at one point, even physically fighting each other! Come catch this rapidly rising star.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
New York Magazine's Second Annual Bad Art Auction, Hosted by Judah Friedlander
Last year New York Magazine auctioned off terrible art—to the great enjoyment of audience members. (To check out some highlights, please click here.) This year features even more dreadfulness, including velvet canvases, paper-mâché catastrophes, and anything having to do with ponies. Bidding on bad art feels especially good in this case, as the proceeds benefit the charity New York Cares.
And even if you're not interested in buying, you should come delight in this fun event hosted by Judah Friedlander (hilarious stand-up comic; cast member of NBC's 30 Rock; actor in such movie hits as Meet the Parents, Zoolander, and Full Grown Men), and featuring a full set from experimental/pop indie band Xiu Xiu.
Plus there'll be complimentary cocktails from Cape North Vodka; complimentary drinks from Glaceau; the chance to win a brand new Gibson Guitar or a pair of Saucony Originals; and a guaranteed 46-issue subscription to New York Magazine.
Because alcohol will be served, attendees must be 21 or over with valid ID.
To order a ticket for $28.75—which, again, includes a year's subscription to
New York Magazine—please click here.
8:00 pm at Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street
(between Sullivan and Thompson Streets); nearest subway stops are
1 at Houston, C/E at Spring, 6 at Bleecker, B/D/F/V at Broadway-Lafayette;
ticket is $28.75 online (includes 46-issue subscription to New York Magazine)
Pete Holmes and Chelsea Peretti...
...and Seth Herzog and Rhys Darby
Three of NYC's best comics, plus a TV & film star from New Zealand and the UK,
gather tonight to entertain you at new venue 92YTribeca:
Pete Holmes (one of the quickest & sharpest minds in comedy; 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 stand-up show Gutbucket),
Rhys Darby (New Zealand comic who played the band manager in HBO's Flight of the Conchords and Jim Carrey's boss in recent movie Yes Man),
Chelsea Peretti (exceptionally fresh, smart stand-up comic; Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; member of superb comedy troupe Variety Shac; writer for Village Voice, Details, Playgirl, Jest,
blackpeopleloveus.com, and Rejection Line: 212/479-7990), and
Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever and All Access, Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show, host of superb NYC weekly live comedy show Sweet).
9:00 pm at 92YTribeca Mainstage, 200 Hudson Street (intersection of Canal & Hudson Streets);
tickets are $12; take the 1/6/E subway to Canal Street stop
The Nights of Our Lives: The Guiltiest Night of My Life
This is one of the best shows in New York.
The format is simple: A bunch of razor-sharp writer/performers tell stories
about themselves revolving around the evening's theme—which tonight
is "The Guiltiest Night Of My Life."
The only rules of the show are that the tales must be true, and must be funny.
The brutal honesty, and jarring bravery, of some the participants can be hair-raising.
What they offer aren't merely jokes, but resonant, humane perspectives on life.
At the same time, there are very few shows, on or off Broadway,
that will make you laugh as consistently and as loud.
Enormous kudos go to host David Martin; and to brilliant storytellers
Anthony Atamanuik, John Flynn, Chris Gethard, Curtis Gwinn, Anthony King,
Margot Leitman, Adam Pally, and the other comedy soldiers who've bared
some of their darkest and funniest secrets on the Nights of Our Lives stage.
This evening's scheduled yarn-spinners are stellar core regulars Anthony Atamanuik, Curtis Gwinn, and Dave Martin, plus Joe Mande (winner of the 2008 ECNY Award winner for Best Emerging Comic; co-host of superb weekly NYC show Totally J/K) and Jonathan Gabrus (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, VH1's Best Week Ever, writer and star of Spike TV sitcom The Void, member of improv troupes Tybrus and Outlook of the Poet).
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Brilliant star stand-ups Demetri Martin and John Mulaney...
...and Margie Kment, Giulia Rozzi, and Dan Mintz
This show is an exciting attempt to mix NYC's vibrant comedy and theatre worlds together.
It opens at 9:30 pm with a networking event in which theatre and comedy folks can meet each other, and also get to know the artists involved in upcoming theatrical shows produced by the sponsor, Small Pond Entertainment.
It then shifts gears at 10:00 pm with a full-blown comedy show hosted by the
lovely Margie Kment (for stand-up video about dating a stoner, please click here).
Tonight's wonderful stand-up comics are
Demetri Martin (immensely popular comedy star with his own segment, Trendspotting,
on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart [13
appearances]; Demetri has also been on Late Night with Conan O'Brien [4
appearances]; performed a Comedy Central Presents 30-minute
special, and a Comedy Central 2007 one-hour special titled Demetri
Martin. Person. [both specials now available
on DVD
John Mulaney (one of the funniest stand-up comics in the country; since August 2008 has been staff writer for Saturday Night Live; 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; selected by Variety as among the 10 Comics to Watch for 2008; to check out videos of John's two Conan sets, please click here and here), and
Dan Mintz (sharp deadpan stand-up; Late Night with Conan O'Brien, HBO's Lucky Louis,
Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, MTV's Human Giant, writer of upcoming
Demetri Martin show Important Things; "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;"
for stellar stand-up video, please click here), and
Giulia Rozzi (VH1's Best Night Ever podcasts; monthly video series The Message Board, which makes fun of brides, on ComedyNet.com; co-producer of East coast version of hit national show Mortified; co-host of red-hot comedy show Stripped Stories;
for a video sample, please click here).
Please Note: It's recommended that you reserve in advance by emailing holdforthelaughs@gmail.com. First, this will allow you to purchase tickets for $10 instead of $12. Second, this will give you the opportunity to fill out a short questionnaire about your role in the NYC comedy and/or theatre community; your answers will be included in an information packet handed out to everyone to enhance networking both before and after the show.
9:30 pm for networking, 10:10 pm for comedy show at the Sage Theatre,
711 Seventh Avenue, 2nd floor (between 47th & 48th Streets);
tickets are $10 if you reserve by emailing holdforthelaughs@gmail.com, otherwise $12
Doug Benson
Doug Benson (finalist on Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, VH1's Best Week Ever) is one the sharpest stand-ups in the world.
In this superb show, Benson invites some of the funniest people he knows—who include some of the most sought-after comics in the country—to perform stand-up. And whenever he feels like it, Benson interrupts the act with a sharp observation to make the audience laugh even harder...and, with luck, crack up the comedian on stage as well.
Tonight's guests haven't been announced, but expect high-powered talent...and what promises to an unforgettable night of comedy.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 11/20/08
Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy
(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:
[TOP PICK] two brilliant comics who enjoy pushing at boundaries:
Glennis McMurray and Jawnee Conroy (6:30 pm),
[TOP PICK] stellar stand-up Andrea Rosen (VH1, Comedy Central, Variety SHAC) and
superb comedic singer/songwriter Mindy Raf (VH1) as guests on the best sexy
storytelling comedy show in NYC: Margot Leitman's & Giulia Rozzi's Stripped Stories (9:30),
[TOP PICK] and the final raucous evening of 2008 quarter-final competition
at Pat Baer's 3-on-3 Improv Tournament (11:00).
Glennis McMurray and Jawnee Conroy
Two stellar experimental comics for a mere five bucks.
Glennis McMurray is half of the award-winning musical improv group I Eat Pandas (with Eliza Skinner). She's also appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, writes a popular blog, creates sketch comedy and funny films (for samples, please click here and here), and this August starred in the FringeNYC hit musical Gem!: A Truly Outrageous Parody. Come help Glennis test out material tonight as she tries to delight you.
The double-bill then continues with Johnny Conroy, a fearless, darkly inventive, and relentlessly honest comedic performer who's likely to make you alternative between shock and uncontrolled laughter.
6:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Margot & Giulia are two fun-lovin' gals...who are world-class storytellers