NYC Top Comedy Choices for Saturday 2/25/12

February 25, 2012

For more, please visit HyReviews.com.

Death by Roo Roo and Baby Wants Candy

Week after week, world-class improv is delivered by the gutsy stars at Death by Roo Roo; and week after week, a stellar comedy troupe makes up a musical on the spot at Baby Wants Candy...

Kevin Pollak

...while Kevin Pollak continues to slay at Carolines

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[FREE] 4:00 pm: An unusually early weekly open-mic stand-up show (“starts late enough to sleep off that hangover but ends just in time to begin a new one”) at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City hosted by Jhoel Walkowski & Evan Davis: The Amateur Hour

6:00 pm ($5): Improv troupes GCA, Ryanna, and Double Date at The Magnet kicking off your Saturday evening: The Rundown

[FREE] 7:00 pm: Comedic storytelling at The Creek in Queens’ Long Island City with host Eugene Aston-Gonzalez: 1001 Nights

7:00 pm ($5): Improvisors Jeremy Bent, Seth Lind, Matt Little, Chris Scott, and John Robert Wilson celebrate their Fifth Year Anniversary as a troupe at UCB East along with surprise guests: Thank You Robot 5th Year Anniversary

[FREE...plus FREE DINNER!] 7:00 pm: NYC stand-ups David Sidorov, Jack Quaid, Hallie Haglund, Andrew Tavin, Mookie Thompson, and Lucas Molandes performing at CultureFix (9 Clinton Street; take F subway to Delancey or J/M/Z to Essex) hosted by Aaron Glaser & Danny Jolles…plus “come at 6:30 and get some free dinner! CultureFix opens its one pot staff dinner to the public, but you gotta get there early cause it goes fast. Last time it was shrimp stew over grits; CultureFix does not fuck around:” Comedy Night at CultureFix

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisors Joe Bill, Ed Herbstman, Becky Drysdale, Kay Cannon, Christina Gausas, Brandon Gardner, Jed Resnik, and/or other stellar performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, and legendary Chicago improv institutions at UCB Chelsea all joyously declaring Let’s Have a Ball

7:30 pm ($7): Improv veterans Mark Grenier, Louis Kornfeld, and Charlie Whitcroft at The Magnetmaking up a play on the spot: Theory of Everything

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($35 & 2-item min.): A razor-sharp comic and pitch-perfect impressionist who’s also a movie star in such classics as The Usual Suspects headlining tonight and Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Kevin Pollak

8:00 pm ($10): Two of the most respected PIT improv troupes performing on this weekly double-bill—and occasionally with comedy giants Kristen Schaal and/or Kurt Braunohler participating: Big Black Car and The Baldwins

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC comics performing at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City for this talk & stand-up show hosted by Sarah Tollemache: Last Night

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & 11:45 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.):A TV movie star who was a cast member ofMad TV, and has also performed on NBC and HBO, headlining tonight at the Gotham Comedy Club: Aries Spears

8:30 pm ($10): Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, host ofComedyJuice), Nick Vatterott (Jimmy Fallon, MTV, Second City), Jackie Kashian (Comedy Central Presents, Last Comic Standing), Roger Hailes (Chappelle’s Show, VH1, MTV; writer for FUSE’s A Different Spin with Mark Hoppus), and Chris Wilkes (SNL, Thunder Gulch) performing stand-up atUCB East hosted by Kara Klenk: If You Build It

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—with honors including being Cage Match Champion for three years in a row, and winning the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Improv Group—UCB Chelsea’s genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo

[$] [DISCOUNTED] 9:00 pm & 11:00 pm (FREE TICKETS if you reserve in advance by calling (212) 260-2445 and mention HyReviews.com, but there’s still a 2-drink min. per person): DC Benny, Mike Yard, Dan Soder, and more performing stand-up at the only comedy club in the East Village:Eastville Comedy Club

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($7): Musical improv from one of The Magnet’s best troupes: Choral Rage

9:30 pm ($15): “A cabaret of darkly funny songs and topical sketch comedy about culture and politics,” following sold out shows at Joe’s Pub and now enjoying a long run at The PIT upstairs theatre: Political Subversities

9:30 pm ($5): Sketch comedy from a troupe born in a Boston college but tonight performing at atThe PIT downstairs lounge: Astronaut Theatre

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 10:00 pm ($15 both online and at the door using discount codeSBWC, otherwise $20): This top musical improv troupe has wowed audiences around the world with its skill at making up an hour-long musical moment by moment. The plot and characters, the musical accompaniment, even the song lyrics and the “choreography” are invented on the spot, with no pre-planned structure. Come to the Soho Playhouse tonight to see why BWC won aFringeNYC Award for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Event: Baby Wants Candy

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 10:00 pm: Sharp NYC stand-ups are invited to perform anything except stand-up—e.g., sketch, storytelling, improv, songs, dance, puppetry, and things we can’t even imagine—at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City with hosts Kelly Fastuca, Reid Faylor, and Andrew Short: Underbelly

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, fast-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience interaction and audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Charlie Todd, Jim Santangeli, D’Arcy Carden, and/or other stellar improvisors at UCB Chelsea interview an audience member about where he or she grew up and then create an entire show based on the mini-bio: The Curfew: Not From Around Here

10:30 pm ($10): UCBT Harold Night improv troupe Airwolf makes stuff up at UCB East: Airwolf: Let’s Go Back to Your Place

10:30 pm ($7): Vibrant improv at The Magnet from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney as comedy duoTrike

11:00 pm ($5): Four sketch troupes compete for audience approval at The PIT, hosted by Bleak Comedy: Iron Sketch

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): A talk show at UCB East hosted by the razor-sharp writer/performers of Pangea 3000 (who also write for The Onion), with guests Steve Saturn (actor), Michael Che (stand-up), and Amy Vlastelica (junior exhibition & lighting designer at the American Museum of Natural History): The Night Night Show with Pangea 3000

Midnight ($5): Two sketch troupes, Dinner For One and Gentleman Party, competing for audience laughs and votes at UCB Chelsea hosted by sketch troupe Sidecar: Backyard Brawl

[FREE] Midnight: A weekly chance for you to shine at The Magnet, as students and veteran improvisors share the stage to form “rare and wonderful one-night-only teams,” with sign-up starting at 11:30 pm:Magnet Mixer

[FREE] Midnight: NYC stand-ups (not announced) participate in the fake taping of a bad late-night TV comedy show at The Creek upstairs theatre in Queens’ Long Island City with host Brad Steuernagel: Comedians Off Of the Leash

Midnight ($10): Typically disturbing and semi-obscene sketches at The PIT downstairs lounge from troupe FUCT

For more, please visit HyReviews.com.

If you know anyone who might have a thyroid problem, please tell them about my latest book: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Saturday 7/2/11

July 2, 2011

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

If you know anyone who might have a thyroid problem, please tell them about my new book: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease.

Death by Roo Roo

Every Saturday at 9:00 one of the very finest comedy troupes in improv history performs at UCBT: Death by Roo Roo

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisors Anthony King, Joe Bill, Ed Herbstman, Becky Drysdale, Kay Cannon, Christina Gausas, and other stellar performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, and legendary Chicago improv institutions—all joyously declaring Let’s Have a Ball

7:30 pm ($5): Best friends perform duo improv in The Kristen & Amie Show

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & 11:45 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who’s performed on Jay Lenoand Comedy Central headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Mike Vecchione

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Mark Normand (hilarious stand-up; Last Comic Standing; co-host of Hot Soup and We’re All Friends Here), Jacqueline Novak, Craig Hillelson, Chrissie Mayr, Andre Mcsween, Emmy Blotnick, and Ryan Stanisz performing stand-up at Karma Lounge (51 First Avenue, off 3rd Street) with host Mara Herron: Free Karma Saturday

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—with honors including being Cage Match Champion for three years in a row, and winning the 2011 ECNY Award for Best Improv Group—genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo

9:00 pm ($7): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!

9:30 pm ($10): “A cabaret of darkly funny songs and topical sketch comedy about culture and politics,” following sold out shows at Joe’s Pub: Political Subversities

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, fast-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience interaction and audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer

10:30 pm ($7): Vibrant improv from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney as comedy duo Trike

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): An all-star improv troupe led by brilliant UCBT artistic director Anthony King interviews an audience member about where he or she grew up and then creates an entire show based on the mini-bio: The Curfew: Not From Around Here

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): Streeter Seidell (College Humor), Will Hines (The Stepfathers), MC Chris (Nerd Core Rapper), Matt Koff (The Onion), Mr. Ed (played by Rob Stern), and musical guest The Dang it Bobbys performing with host Andy Rocco at Underground Americana

[FREE] Midnight: A weekly chance for you to shine, as students and veteran improvisors share the stage to form “rare and wonderful one-night-only teams,” with sign-up starting at 11:30 pm: Magnet Mixer

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

If you know anyone who might have a thyroid problem, please tell them about my new book: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Friday 6/24/11

June 24, 2011

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

If you know anyone who might have a thyroid problem, please tell them about my new book: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease.

Death by Roo Roo

An epic improv battle for $10,000 to fund a short comedy film will be waged tonight by genius troupe Death by Roo Roo...

Jason Mantzoukas and Ed Herbstman

...equally genius duo Jason Mantzoukas & Ed Herbstman as The Mantzoukas Brothers...

Big Black Car and Doppelganger

...Big Black Car (which sometimes includes rising superstar Kristen Schaal), Doppelganger (a new group with a rep for toppling champs)...

Standards & Practices improv

...and Toronto troupe Standards & Practices at "The Friars Club Second Annual Improv Competition"

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[FREE] 6:00 pm: An open-mic show on a lottery system (sign-ups start at 5:30 pm) at The Creek in Queens’ Long Island City with hosts Mike Recine and Annie Lederman: The Shinebox

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:00 pm: A wonderful—and free!—outdoor concert at Brooklyn’s Red Hook Park with star Reggie Watts (musical improv comedy genius; Comedy Central special; Jimmy Fallon; Electric Company; Conan O’Brien’s Legally Prohibited tour; for video samples, please clickhere), famed DJ Stormin’ Norman, and more. Please note the F/G train’s Smith & 9th Street Station is very inconveniently closed, but you can take the F/G to Carroll Street and then walk a whole bunch to be rewarded with Reggie Watts at Red Hook Park

7:00 pm ($8): Award-winning improv duo Lucas Kavner and Bradford Jordan make stuff up with “a celebrity guest improvisor’ at Swords, while all-gal improvisors Alexis Saarela, Brigid Boyle, Elizabeth Findlay, and Ashley Ward perform as troupe Taco Supreme

7:00 pm ($5): Sketch comedy from two friends who, by a wild coincidence, have the same name: We’re Matt Weir: Universe Drugs

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm-10:30 pm ($12): Five improv troupes—Death by Roo Roo (UCBT-NYC), The Mantzoukas Brothers (The Magnet-NYC), Doppelganger (UCBT-NYC), Big Black Car (The PIT-NYC), and Standards & Practices (Toronto)—try hard to make you laugh for a prize of $10,000 (to fund the making of a stellar comedy short film) in this second annual contest sponsored by the Friars Club:The Friars Club Improv Competition

[MEGA-TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($49.50): Mike Birbiglia performing a unique blend of stand-up and storytelling that’s one of the best theatrical shows in NYC. For my more detailed write-up, please click here; and then grab tickets at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street, just one block from the #1 subway’s Christopher Street stop) for Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($53 & 2-drink min.) Former co-host of The Man Show and Loveline, and now host of one of the most popular comedy podcasts on the Net, headlining tonight at the Carolines Comedy Club: Adam Carolla

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:00 pm: TV & movie star TJ Miller (David Letterman, Opie & Anthony; co-stared in ABC sitcom Carpoolers; co-starred in such hit as movies Cloverfield and She’s Out of My League; member of awesome sketch troupe Heavyweight, which blew the roof off at SketchFest NYC 2011), Pat Dixon (Comedy Central Presents), Ryan Hamilton, Dan Soder, Justy Dodge, and Jeff Wesselschmidt performing stand-up at O’Hanlon’s (14th Street off 1st Avenue) hosted by Mark Normand: Hot Soup

8:00 pm ($5): Comics Jon Bander and Dave Thunder vow to lose weight (in real life) while performing sketch scenes in this show over the next month: M4: Comedy’s Biggest Losers

[FREE] 8:00 pm: An open-mic show that’s first come, first serve (sign-ups start at 7:30 pm), with each comic getting five minutes on stage at The Creek in Queens’ Long Island City: Mic and Cheese

[$] 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who’s appeared on NBC, MTV, Showtime, and a Comedy Central Presents special, and performed an award-winning one man show at last year’s FringeNYC, headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Jim David

9:00 pm ($7): “In March of 2009 a gaggle of performers were born. Some died, some wandered off into the woods, others went to work in the private sector. Those that remained grew strong by feeding on the nectar of specific choices and the gruel of strong character work. The 2-year-old terror that exists today is akin to watching a Tsunami of hair and teeth attack a baby Blue Whale and destroy it with the will of a thousand hungry Burnese Mountain Dogs. What does it all mean? We don’t know.” In other words, improv from Chet Watkins

[TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($15): Always fresh and imaginative world-class sketch troupe that uses song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about how boys will be girls, please click here) delivering a brand new collection of sketches: The Harvard Sailing Team

10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors who use an interview with a n audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Comedy genius Thomas Middleditch (when he’s not in LA), Nate Lang, Craig Rowin, Matt Fisher, Fran Gillespie Sue Galloway, and other superb improvisors make up scenes about an audience member’s legal dispute at The Law Firm: Law & Disorder

11:00 pm ($5): Stand-up and sketch comedy guests hosted by improv troupe Bad Luck Rising

11:00 pm ($10): Typically disturbing and semi-obscene sketches from troupe FUCT

11:30 pm ($5): Before the show, audience members may anonymously submit written confessions, secrets, rants, advice and opinions which will be used onstage by the improvisors—who include such talents as Laura Grey (Klepper & Grey): The Friday Night Sh*w

Midnight ($5): Sketch comedy troupes Hammerkatz NYU and Skit Job compete for audience laughs and votes, with troupe Sidecar hosting, in Backyard Brawl

[$] 12:30 am ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who’s written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle’s Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

If you know anyone who might have a thyroid problem, please tell them about my new book: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Thursday 1/20/11

January 20, 2011

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For my all-time favorite oddball comedy videos, please click here.

Mamrie Hart

The irresistible Mamrie Hart will demonstrate why she's a rising star tonight at her sketch show "BōF: It’s Pronounced ‘Boaf’!"...

...and Gavin Speiller will play both sides as improv giants Death by Roo Roo and Outlook of the Poet fight for the championship tonight at "Cage Match"

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

7:00 pm ($5): UCBT improv and sketch veteran and The Onion writer Eddie Brawley tries out new material in Eddie Brawley Unleashed

7:00 pm ($5): “Where there is a stage and a piano, she will be there. Where there are strangers with embarrassing stories, she will be there. Where there is a group of people willing to sit and watch someone make up songs, she will be there. A one-woman musical improv journey through the lives of the audience. You tell the story, Rebecca Vigil sings the soundtrack:” The Vigilante

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): The unsinkable Mamrie Hart and her comedy partner Stephen Soroka areBest of Friends, and their new sketch show educates you about how to effectively promote it when you tell all your friends to see it: BoF: It’s Pronounced ‘Boaf’!; and in the other half of this double-bill, a two-man sketch show from very smart and somewhat nerdy comics Dan St. Germain (MTV; quick-witted rising star) and Jared Logan (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central, co-host ofRighteous Kill) about history’s most infamous rivalries in They Hated Each Other

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Arden Myrin (Mad TV), Jon Friedman (Jimmy Fallon, The Rejection Show), Joe Schiappa (MTV), and other fine comics express themselves through poetry and dance in Dealing With My Feelings

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($28 online using discount code TMANIA): UK-based Daniel Kitson is one of the sharpest and most respected writer/performers alive. This is a rare opportunity to spend an intimate 90 minutes with a true genius of comedy. Please note this is a sprawling, detail-packed theatrical show, not stand-up…and not for every taste. But whether you’re ultimately grabbed by the story or not, it’s worth experiencing if only for Daniel’s lightning-quick flashes of humor. For example, at the performance I attended a woman sitting in the front row had the incredible gall to start reading. Daniel sweetly responded, “Ooh, that’s a subtle yet effective form of criticism. I’m certainly not cross with you, just too nosy about what you’re reading to plow on. Look, you’re still reading. What a lack of faith you have in live entertainment.” Place your faith in Daniel, check out write-ups in The New York Times by clicking here andhere, and catch this show running every day except Mondays through January 30th at Brooklyn’s St. Ann’s Warehouse (38 Water Street): The Interminable Suicide of Gregory Church

[$] 8:00 pm ($35 & 2-drink min.)  An energetic regular on Chelsea Lately who’s also appeared onJay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, VH1, and his own Comedy Central special headlining tonight through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Jo Koy

8:00 pm ($5): Veteran improvisors play with “elements of monoscene, deconstruction, and La Ronde” in Sleepover

9:00 pm ($12): Kurt Braunohler (Comedy Central, co-host of Hot Tub Variety), Jesse Joyce (Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing), DC Benny (Comedy Central Presents), Ray Elkin, and more performing stand-up at Comedy Below Canal

[FREE] 9:00ish pm: Typically terrific NYC stand-ups performing on this weekly show at the Kabin Bar and Lounge hosted by Chesley Calloway and comedy genius Sean Patton (red-hot rising star; killer set onJimmy Fallon, Comedy Central, VH1): Comedy as a Second Language

9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Star storyteller Tom Shillue (Conan O’Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents), and NYC including Jordan Carlos and Jon Rineman performing stand-up at the Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street) for a show hosted & produced by recently engaged couple Sean Crespo & Carol Hartsell: Lasers in the Jungle

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): A spectacular and unforgettable demonstration of the artful power of mime when combined with a wickedly sharp modern sensibility, executed with great wit and style. Street performers have given mime a bad rep; but if you think about it, what mime does is boil a situation down to its essential elements, and then express those elements in a manner that’s instantly and universally understood. That’s really what art is all about; and that’s also what Billy the Mime does, often brilliantly. (For my review of his FringeNYC show in 2006, please click here.): Billy the Mime

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($8): A unique sports-themed stand-up, sketch comedy, and interview show hosted by Scott Rogowsky and Neil Janowitz that features both professional sports stars and comics doing sports-themed comedy: 12 Angry Mascots

[$] 10:00 pm ($31.25 & 2-drink min.) A provocative comedy star who’s written for Richard Pryor, Red Foxx, and Saturday Night Live, and performed on Chappelle’s Show and David Letterman, headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Paul Mooney

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): The final showdown! Two of the finest improv troupes in the world, Death by Roo Roo (Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, John Gemberling, John Murray, Gil Ozeri, Gavin Speiller, and Mike Still) and Outlook of the Poet (Jon Gabrus, Ben Rodgers, and Gavin Speiller) square off to learn who Gavin Speiller really loves best as they compete for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match

For my all-time favorite oddball comedy videos, please click here.

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Saturday 1/30/10

January 30, 2010

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Cage Match Champions for two years in a row...

...and one of the finest & funniest improv troupes ever: Death by Roo Roo

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm ($10): One of my favorite sketch troupes, making great use of physical comedy and music, returns to the NYC stage tonight for what I hope is a long run. It consists of Mary Theresa Archbold (for my review of this star’s funny & touching 2007 FringeNYC show Jazz Hand, please click here), Tim Girrbach, Jason Salmon, Rodney Umble, and director Larry Rosen, and has received acclaim at numerous top comedy and theatre festivals. For a brief medley of memorable moments, please click here; and then come tonight to experience all-new material from Drop Six

7:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Sharp NYC stand-ups & sketch comics Pat Stango & Blaine Perry (hosts of Don’t Touch Me There), Luke Cunningham (The Colbert Report), Jason Saenz (co-host of Too Cool For School), Steve Bossous (CNN’s Breaking the News with DL Hughley), Team Submarine, Moe and Mary, Robert Dean, and James Harris performing in Ochi’s Lounge at Lil’ Seany Boy

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisor Christina Gausas and friends she originally made in Chicago—which include writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors, all joyously declaring Let’s Have a Ball

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($28 online if you use code VIPJAN [otherwise $35], plus 2-item minimum): A star stand-up and writer who’s also the author of the 2008 book Cancer on $5 a Day (Chemo Not Included): How Humor Got Me Through the Toughest Journey of My Life, headlining at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Robert Schimmel

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—and which this Thursday won the Cage Match Championship for two years in a row!—genius improvisors Death by Roo Roo

9:00 pm ($5): Organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track!

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($10): Always fresh and imaginative world-class sketch troupe that uses song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about awkward goodbyes at the end of a party, please click here): The Harvard Sailing Team

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, quick-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): An all-star improv troupe led by brilliant UCBT artistic director Anthony King: Reuben Williams

10:30 pm ($5): Vibrant improv from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney (Statues of Liberty) and Leslie Korein as comedy trio Trike

[TOP PICK] [$] 11:30 pm ($12): According to their Web site,”God’s Pottery is a Christian acoustic duo formed to spread the Word using their unique blend of music, people-skills and Biblical know-how to inspire all who are willing to listen with open hearts.” Some in the secular world have called them Wilson Hall and Krister Johnson; others have called them harsher things. But most have called them very funny. Come catch these stars of Last Comic Standing and authors of the book What Would God’s Pottery Do?, along with such stellar guests as Tom Shillue, performing at Joe’s Pub: The Wonderful World of God’s Pottery

Midnight ($5): A rotating comedic cast—tonight consisting of Dan Avidan, Alex Charak, Shaun Diston, Kelly Hudson, Ben Kissel, Matt Mayer, Jill Marie Morris, Amber Nelson, Ninja Sex Party, Jim Santangeli, Nate Smith, and Emily Strachan—performing very silly stage acts at Eliot & Ilana Glazer’s High School Talent Show

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Friday 7/24/09

July 24, 2009

About Last Night: Special kudos to Thursday’s Cage Match for putting on one of the greatest shows I ever expect to see. Musical improv troupe Veal delivered a wonderful series of scenes & songs about airplanes, and proved it deserves more appearances on the UCBT stage. And much love always to hosts Ben Rodgers and Eric Scott. But an extra special acknowledgement goes to the almost superhuman skill, timing, and comedic mastery displayed by last night’s Death by Roo Roo improv focused on, of all things, a bake-off, from Curtis Gwinn, Gavin Speiller, John Gemberling, Adam Pally, and Gil Ozeri. Guys, you are all superstars.

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

John Oliver demonstrates his genius at stand-up tonight at Comix

John Oliver demonstrates his genius at stand-up tonight at Comix

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[TOP PICK] [$] John Oliver, the star correspondent of The Daily Show and a genius stand-up, will show why he’s universally considered one of the finest comics alive tonight through Sunday as he delivers a deliciously long set Headlining at Comix (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] a blow-out farewell to this weekly free show’s co-host, Cassidy Henehan, with stellar stand-ups Baron Vaughn, Sean Patton, and Jesse Pop, superb sketch comedy troupes Bishop & Douch and The Straightmen, and sexy & hilarious singer/songwriter Shayna Ferm, in Brooklyn at Nick Turner’s Too Cool for School: Bon Voyage, Cassidy Henehan (8:00 pm),

[FREE] superb stand-ups Claudia Cogan, Pat Dixon, and Danny Solomon answering personal questions on stage at Matt Ruby’s & Mark Normand’s We’re All Friends Here (8:00 pm),

NYC stand-up comics Allison Castillo (Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, MTV), Giulia Rozzi (VH1, Playgirl Magazine, co-host of Stripped Stories), Eddie Sarfaty (Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, Logo’s Wisecrack), Jason Saft (here! TV’s Hot Gay Comics), and more at a gay-themed comedy show hosted by Jenny Rubin: The Back Room (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members of The Stepfathers (9:30 pm),

singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical (10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] top UCBT talents—including Neil Casey, Eugene Cordero, Sue Galloway, Curtis Gwinn, Anthony King, Adam Pally, Ben Rodgers, Charlie Sanders, Eric Scott, Gavin Speiller, and Caitlin Tegart—writing and/or performing sketch comedy Beneath Gristedes (11:00 pm),

[FREE] and a free opportunity for you to perform sketch on the UCBT stage at Liquid Courage (12:20ish am).

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Thursday 5/14/09

May 14, 2009

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Battle of Improv Titans: Death by Roo Roo vs. Reuben Williams

Battle of Improv Titans: Death by Roo Roo vs. Reuben Williams

Tonight’s recommendations for the best in New York City comedy (in chronological order, with top picks noted and shows over $10 marked with $) include:

[TOP PICK] an hour-long play made up on the spot by razor-sharp, passionate improvisors Scott Adsit (30 Rock, Moral Orel) and Christina Gausas (Conan O’Brien, The Colbert Report) at Adsit & Gausas (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] superb improvisors Tara Copeland and James Eason leading a semi-revival of legendary troupe Mother in this new Magnet show: Sleepover (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] Adira Amram, Ophira Eisenberg, Tom McCaffrey, Carla Rhodes, Brent Sullivan, and Chris Sifflet at a free weekly variety show in the East Village hosted by sharp dark comedy stand-up Jena Friedman: Entertaining the Bartender (8:30 pm),

[$] star comics Dave Attell, Greg Giraldo, Marina Franklin, Jessica Kirson, Paul Mercurio, and more performing—though not all on the same lineups—at Comedy Cellar (9:00 pm & 11:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] DC Pierson (brilliant improvisor, sketch comic, filmmaker, and book author; Derrick, Mystery Team), Christina Andrews, and musical guest Thin Skin Jonny performing at the best sexy storytelling comedy show in NYC: Margot Leitman’s & Giulia Rozzi’s Stripped Stories (9:30),

[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] brilliant improvisors making up plays on the spot using the language and themes of the Bard: Improvised Shakespeare (10:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] and two of the finest improv troupes ever, Death by Roo Roo and Reuben Williams, in a battle of titans to win audience laughs & votes at the raucous Cage Match (11:00 pm).

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

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Posted by hybender

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