NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 11/5/07
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
Jim Jeffries performing his recent Edinburgh Comedy Festival hit 30 (8:00 pm),
the legendary Roseanne Barr and beloved Mo Rocca interviewed at Shoot the Messenger (8:30 pm),
and superb stand-ups at one of the funniest shows in town, which happens to be free: Crash Test (11:00 pm).
Having enjoyed sold-out performances at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival for two years running, Jim Jeffries visits UCBT tonight to also win over New York. The theme of his show springs from recently reaching age 30: "It has not been an easy year so far; narrowly avoiding bombs in Iraq, split up from his long-time girlfriend, and having a tumor cut from his private parts." If you're ready for stand-up that goes beyond complaints of lame TV commercials and crowded subways, check out this one-time-only appearance.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Four funny people tell amazing stories. Three of the tales are absolutely true...but
one of them is a pack of lies. The audience then asks questions to try and identify the fibber.
Host Andy Christie (The New York Times) welcomes tonight's terrific yarn-spinners:
Elna Baker (one of my favorite storytellers; also a brilliant writer and
comics creator whose If You See Something was the best one-woman show
at last year's FringeNYC; has contributed to The Onion,
ELLE Magazine, and Jon Friedman's upcoming book The Rejection Show),
DJ Hazard (cast member of American Misfits on Fuel TV),
Dave Dickerson (contributor to NPR's This American Life, The Atlantic Monthly),
and Michele Carlo (a.k.a. Carmen Mofongo).
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 the adorable and foul-mouthed Gabe Liedman & Jenny Slate.
The duo typically don't provide advance notice about their guests,
but expect the unexpected; and to be entertained by this sly, funny pair.
For a hilarious video starring the very sexy Jenny, please click here.
8:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
Roseanne Barr, Lizz Winstead, and Mo Rocca
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 guests are two shining comedy stars...
One of the most famous female comics of our time: Roseanne Barr.
And a beloved former correspondent of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Mo Rocca.
What more can one ask for?
If you want to buy advance tickets online (each $10 plus $2.50 service charge), please click here.
8:30 pm at Ace of Clubs, 9 Great Jones Street (3rd St. between Lafayette and Broadway); $10
This theatre is downstairs from the Acme restaurant. Nearest subway stops are
Bleecker Street on the #6 and Broadway-Lafayette on the F/V/D/B.
Screenings of select films running five minutes or less—most of them funny—crafted in the style of TV pilots. The shorts receiving the most audience votes get to continue with additional episodes, while the others are "canceled." UCBT fans will recognize one of the current success stories: Julie Klausner's & Jackie Clarke's Welcome to Our House, a hilarious recent parody of a 1987 video by Brenda Dickson, is already moving forward to its fourth episode.
Channel 102 was selected this week by Time Out New York as one of NYC's 50 Essential Secrets. Why not set your TiVo for Prison Break and Heroes, and come enjoy fresh comedic TV with a live audience?
9:00 pm at Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick Street (at Laight Street); tickets are $5
All-female improv group Frank consists of Elizabeth Blue, Leslie Collins, Julie Dulude, Caroline Goldrick, Mary Jacobson, Desiree Nash, and Abigoliah Schaumaun.
Tonight the gals will be joined by guest improv duo Jen Curran and Steve Soroka:
"Jen and Steve are in love. Just not with each other."
9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5
Black Habanero, and The Lance & Ray Show
A double bill of up-and-coming talent.
Troupe Black Habanero performs a sketch show titled High Fives & Hands Jobs (above left).
And Lance Rubin & Ray Munoz perform sketch comedy as The Lance & Ray Show (above right).
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Normally hosted by Aziz Ansari (one of the best stand-up comics on the planet,
and co-star with fellow genius comics Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer
of MTV hit comedy series Human Giant). However, Aziz, Paul and Rob are
pretty tied up shooting the second season of Human Giant, so none of them
have managed to come to Crash Test for the past couple of weeks.
(For insider notes about the HG production and sneak peaks at new videos,
please visit the guys' Web site at thehumangiant.com.)
Last week the razor-sharp John Mulaney hosted, and brought with him
such stellar guests as Greg Johnson and Todd Barry.
And speaking of Todd: Please note he'll be performing at Carnegie Hall
this Wednesday, November 7th, along with Sarah Silverman and Doug Benson.
For more info and/or to buy tickets, please click here.
I won't even begin to guess who'll be hosting Crash Test tonight,
but guests are typically superb comedians trying out new material;
and this is often among the flat-out funniest shows in New York.
11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free
NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 11/6/07
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
the launch of this year's New York Comedy Festival with a Lincoln Center show from Rosie O'Donnell (8:00 pm),
some of the finest stand-ups and musical comics around—including Adira Amram, Tom Shillue,
John Mulaney, Andrea Rosen, and God's Pottery—at the East Village show FatSmiles (8:00 pm),
a group of expert funny storytellers at the West Village show SpeakEasy (8:30 pm),
and an all-star show with Todd Barry, Jim Jeffries, and Giulia Rozzi at Sweet (9:00 pm).
Rosie O'Donnell kicks off this year's New York Comedy Festival.
For more info and/or to buy tickets online, please click here.
8:00 pm at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, 1941 Broadway (at 65th St.); tickets are $45-$85
Tom Shillue, Adira Amram, and John Mulaney...
...and Andrea Rosen and God's Pottery
Hosted by brilliantly talented singer/songwriter/performer Adira Amram.
Tonight's lineup includes some of the best comics around:
Tom Shillue (Comedy Central Presents, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Daily Show with
Jon Stewart, storytelling podcasts; for stand-up samples, please click here and here),
John Mulaney (VH1's Best Week Ever, Late Night with Conan O'Brien;
for stand-up samples, please click here and here),
Judah Friedlander (cast member of 30 Rock; Meet the Parents, Zoolander, Full Grown Men),
Andrea Rosen (Comedy Central's Stella, VH1's All Access, comedy troupe Variety Shac),
God's Pottery (Wilson Hall & Krister Johnson's delightful parody of a Christian folk singing duo)...
and possibly some surprise guests.
8:00 pm at The Green Room, 45 Bleecker Street (off Lafayette); tickets are $12
Margot Leitman thinking of stories she could tell
Carolyn Castiglia hosts a lineup of talented female comics.
Tonight's scheduled guests are
Margot Leitman (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, VH1, ESPN;
co-host of red-hot NYC live comedy show Stripped Stories;
for Margot's fun reel, please click here),
Joanne Morton and her doll Tom 4 Prez,
Jeni Aron (the Urban Cowgirl),
Amanda Baramki (Broadway Comedy Club),
Selena Coppock (Laugh Lounge),
Hadiyah Epstein (BETs Comic View),
and Summer Kriegshauser.
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 Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,
who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.
Tonight's guests haven't been announced
(to check for a Web site update, please click here);
but if you like comic books, you're almost sure to get a kick
out of this smart, fun show.
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—
Beverly Hills,T.R.U.C.K.S., Bastian, fwand, 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
SpeakEasy: Stories from the Back Room
There is little as satisfying as a well-told funny story...
that is, unless you can have an entire evening packed with them.
Sherry Weaver hosts this lovely show, which she says she created because
"she couldn't convince people to climb into bed with her at night and tell her stories."
Tonight's guests are
Martin Dockery (four-time Moth Grandslam finalist),
Edwin Lee Gibson (writer, actor, and 2006 OBIE Award Winner for Outstanding Performance),
Dave Dickerson (contributor to NPR's This American Life, The Atlantic Monthly),
Faye Lane (Carolines, Comix, The Moth),
Tara Clancy (one-woman show Channel Rat at 2005 FringeNYC), and
Joanne Morton (presumably racing from her set tonight at Chicks & Giggles).
8:30 pm at Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street (between West 4th Street and Bleecker);
$10 ticket plus one item (food or drink) minimum
Todd Barry, Jim Jeffries, and Giulia Rozzi
Hosted by the sharp & witty Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).
Tonight's world-class guests include Jim Jeffries (Australian star comic who's enjoyed sold-out performances at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival for two years running; the theme of his current show springs from recently reaching age 30: "It has not been an easy year so far; narrowly avoiding bombs in Iraq, split up from his long-time girlfriend, and having a tumor cut from his private parts;" performed his first NYC gig last night at UCBT, and was great);
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; delightful co-host of monthly NYC red-hot live comedy show Stripped Stories; for a video sample, please click here); and the phenomenal
Todd Barry (Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien,
Comedy Central Presents, HBO's Flight of the Conchords, HBO's Lucky Louie,
Comedy Central's Freak Show, Dr. Katz, and Shorties Watching Shorties,
Adult Swim's Space Ghost, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Tom Goes To The Mayor).
Please note Todd will be performing at Carnegie Hall tomorrow night (11/7)
along with Sarah Silverman and Doug Benson.
For more info and/or to buy tickets, please click here.
9:00 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5
NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 11/7/07
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
a New York Comedy Festival highlight, two of the most brilliant stand-up comics anywhere,
Doug Benson and Todd Barry, supporting the magical Sarah Silverman at Carnegie Hall (8:00 pm),
wondrous & hilarious comedic chameleons Livia Scott and Mindy Raf at Max! (8:00 pm),
star stand-ups including Anthony Jeselnik, Jim Jeffries, the Sklar Brothers, and Rob Cantrell,
plus cartoonist Emily Flake, at Eugene Mirman's & Bobby Tisdale's Invite Them Up (9:00 pm),
an entirely improvised musical from genius duo McMurray & Skinner as I Eat Pandas (9:30 pm),
and a laid-back free show where virtually anything can happen on a School Night (11:00).
Pat Shay and Elna Baker
Comedy troupe Red tells stories off the top of their heads; then improvise scenes
based on the tales; and finally script & perform sketches based on the same material.
The group consists of Kevin Allison, Elna Baker, Chris Caniglia, Scott Eckert, Sarah Lowe,
Sarah Nowak, Pat Shay, Nate Starkey, Shelly Stover, and Kevin Townley.
6:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free
Todd Barry, Sarah Silverman, and Doug Benson
Sarah Silverman at Carnegie Hall
One of the highlights of this year's New York Comedy Festival is likely to be this show, starring Sarah Silverman (Comedy Central's The Sarah Silverman Program, Jesus is Magic) plus two of the sharpest & funniest stand-ups in the world, Doug Benson and Todd Barry.
For more info and/or to buy tickets online, please click here.
8:00 pm at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street & 7th Avenue; tickets are $33.50-$57.50
Countdown to 08: Only 363 Days Left
Andy Borowitz (award-winning humorist for The New Yorker) hosts a fun look
at the 2008 U.S. Presidential elections with an all-star panel of guests:
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock, SNL, tons of other credits...and an exceptionally sharp guy),
Arianna Huffington (co-founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Huffington Post, nationally syndicated columnist, author of 11 books, co-host of public radio's Left, Right & Center),
and Mo Rocca (beloved former correspondent of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno, CBS' Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood,
NPR's weekly quiz show Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me).
Part of the New York Comedy Festival.
Note: This show is sold out. To check for audience cancellations and/or
standby options, please call the box office at (212) 415-5500.
8:00 pm at 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Avenue (at 92nd Street); tickets are $26
Livia Scott, Jenny Rubin & Matt McCarthy, and Mindy Raf
Stand-up comedy hosted by the very funny Jenny Rubin and Matt McCarthy.
Tonight's superb lineup includes comedic chameleon
Livia Scott (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, world-class sketch group Meat, host of popular
NYC live comedy show Livia's Castle of Enchantment, one-woman show Goodnight, O.J.),
Mindy Raf (VH1's Best Week Ever, relationship columnist for CollegeHumor.com,
comedy writer for WABC, actor on SuperDeluxe.com's The Post Show,
plays popular 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),
Craig Baldo (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Last Comic Standing,
Comedy Central's Premium Blend, The Onion),
Ann Carr (Comedy Central Motherload's Honesty Wedding),
Laura Mannino (California Comedy Festival), and
John Knefel (member of Bare Hand Wolf Chokers Association).
To get a feel for the show overall, please click here.
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)
Franco & Billy share their filmed adventures
The Franco & Billy Show and Film Noir: Improv in Black & White
The Franco & Billy Show is Peter Blomquist and Jeff Wiens, who create mockumentary short films. For a video describing the saga of Franco & Billy, please click here.
The other half of this double bill is Film Noir, in which
an improv troupe pretends it's living in a 1940s/50s B movie.
The group members are Marcus Bishop-Wright, Kassi Dougherty, Nick Gibbons,
Amey Goerlich, Birch Harms, and C. LeMar.; the group coach is Jackie Clarke;
and the sound/lighting director is Peter Olson.
8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Anthony Jeselnik (being lauded by Robin Williams), Rob Cantrell, and Jim Jeffries
Hosted by comedy greats Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale (above).
Tonight features a small mob of talented comics, including
Anthony Jeselnik (brilliant stand-up specializing in darkly shocking jokes;
Comedy Central's Premium Blend, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live,
NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly, MTV's Walk of Shame;
for a video stand-up sample, please click here),
Jim Jeffries (Australian star comic who's enjoyed sold-out performances
at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival for two years running; the theme of his
current show springs from recently reaching age 30: "It has not been an easy year
so far; narrowly avoiding bombs in Iraq, split up from his long-time girlfriend,
and having a tumor cut from his private parts"),
the Sklar Brothers (writers/stars of MTV's Apartment 2F and ESPN's Cheap Seats;
Comedy Central Presents, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, ABC's Grey's Anatomy,
voiceover performers for animated series The Oblongs),
Rob Cantrell (Last Comic Standing, Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, CBS's Late Late Show, VH1),
Emily Flake (writer/artist of weekly alternative comic strip Lulu Eightball),
Jamie Kilstein (2007 Montreal Just for Laughs Festival; has opened
for Lewis Black, Dave Chappelle, Dave Attel, and Marc Maron), and
Debbie Shea (Comedy Central's Premium Blend).
9:00 pm at Rififi, 332 East 11th Street (between 1st & 2nd Avenues); tickets are $5
Glennis & Eliza: I Eat Pandas and Sunny-Side Up: Improv for Kids!
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.
Kudos to UCBT for giving them a stage; and don't miss
this chance to enjoy these comedic wizards at play.
The other half of this double bill is Sunny-Side Up: Improv for Kids!
The one time I caught this, it didn't match the wit or dark humor of, say,
last year's musical Oedipus for Kids; but since it's improv,
tonight will be an entirely different and, chances are, much better show.
There's certainly nothing wrong with the delightful cast, which includes
brilliant comedy star DC Pierson of Derrick, as well as Timothy Cooper,
Amey Goerlich, Don Hooper, Katie Schorr, Ari Scott, Nate Shelkey, and Michael Short.
9:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5
Kurt Braunohler, Pat Shay, and Kimmy Gatewood
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.
Afterwards, house improv troupe The Baldwins takes the stage.
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 11/8/07
Tonight's recommendations for the best in NYC live comedy include
a New York Comedy Festival highlight, an Onion interview with Matt Besser, Amy Poehler,
Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh—the brilliant members of the Upright Citizens Brigade (6:00 pm),
an insider's look from staff writers and performers for Late Night with Conan O'Brien (8:00 pm),
a sketch show from the thoroughly charming Kate Hess & Shelly Stover, and a dark comedy
one-woman show from LA's Molly Prather, in We Kate Shelly and That Girl (8:00 pm),
hilarity from the razor-sharp Dave Hill, stand-up cross-dressing by Hedda Lettuce, and
some of the most original comedy in NYC from superb writers/performers Julie & Jackie (9:30 pm),
and unpredictable & fun comedy battles at tonight's 3-on-3 Improv Tournament (11:00).
The Onion Interviews The Upright Citizens Brigade
Todd Hanson, Head Writer of The Onion, interviews four of the finest improvisors alive: Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh, who are the Upright Citizens Brigade.
If you can't attend this show but would like to experience the Upright Citizens Brigade,
consider buying the new DVD of the troupe's second season of its TV series.
To learn more, please click here.
6:00 pm at The Paley Center for Media, 25 West 52 Street (off Sixth Avenue); tickets are $25
The Engagement and The Situation Room
One of the finest talents in NYC is Kimmy Gatewood, who produces, directs, writes, acts, sings, dances, performs improv & sketch comedy—and tonight is doing this one-woman show.
The scenario: "Kim's getting married! It's the rehearsal dinner, and everyone is there—family, friends, co-workers...everyone, that is, except her husband-to-be. Kim runs into the coat room and refuses to come out. The whole family rallies: her best friend, her sister Val, her mother, her stepmother, her Youtubing younger cousin, and even Monkey the family dog. Things only gets worse when the best man tries to hit on her..." The script isn't perfect; but Kimmy's performance of it is definitely worth catching.
The other half of this double-bill is sketch group The Situation Room,
headed by David Juliano and Scott Courlander (above right).
6:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); $5
An Evening with Writers of Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Brian Kiley, who's written for Conan since 1994, hosts this look at the late-night staple,
aided by others who've written and/or performed for the show—
including Andy Blitz, Jon Glaser, Leo Allen, and Margot Leitman. Tonight will feature
sketches, jokes that never made it to air, and Kiley & friends performing favorite material.
Tickets are $15 plus a two-item food or drink minimum,
with the least expensive items on the showroom menu
being coffee, tea or soda for $5, beer for $6, and sides for $7
(to view the full menu, please click here),
8:00 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues); $15 plus 2-item minimum
Kate Hess & Shelly Stover, and Molly Prather
We Kate Shelly and Molly Prather: That Girl
This all-female extravaganza kicks off with We Kate Shelly,
a lively sketch show featuring singing, dancing, and crying,
written and starring the irresistible Kate Hess & Shelly Stover,