Best New York Comedy

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

The smartest & funniest comedy improv troupe in the world tonight begins a spectacular five-night run in NYC that must not be missed: The Improvised Shakespeare Company

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] [FREE] 6:00 pm (reservations highly recommended by calling 212.563.7488): The fearless darkly funny troupe that won this year’s ECNY Award for Best Sketch Group performing a free show to kick tonight off: Murderfist: Chaos Reigns

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:00 pm ($24.50 & 2-drink min.)  A one-of-a-kind comedy star headlining for one night only at Carolines: Gilbert Gottfried

7:30 pm ($5): Sharp improvisors directed by James Eason “take an audience suggestion and break it into a million funny pieces,” and veteran improvisors play with “elements of monoscene, deconstruction, and La Ronde,” in the double-bill The Deconstruction and Sleepover

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Amy Heidt’s one-woman show was one of the very best productions at this past August’s FringeNYC Festival (for my review, please click here)—if you didn’t catch it then, don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to see Amy demonstrate her brilliance as both actress and writer; plus Deborah Gross recreating absurd and amusing conversations she’s experienced through her sharp storyteller’s perspective, in the double-bill Dominate Yourself and Conversations with Deb

8:00 pm ($8): Dave Ahdoot and Ethan Fixell relating their YouTube-documented romantic adventures live on stage—possibly accompanied by visits from some of the gals—on Double Date Us

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($12): Three of the finest stand-ups to ever grace NYC—Pete Holmes, Kumail Nanjiani, and Baron Vaughn—in a final get-together before they all move to LA, plus equally genius stand-up Sean Patton, and more at tonight’s blowout extravaganza at 92Y Tribeca: Comedy Below Canal

[TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($26.75, plus 2-drink minimum): One of the finest stand-ups alive—with appearances on HBO, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central Presents, The Sarah Silverman Program, Adult Swim, and feature films The Wrestler and Pete Smalls is Dead—headlining tonight through Sunday at Carolines: Todd Barry

9:30 pm ($5): If you’re a fan of CollegeHumor.com, you can see the folks behind it, and more—Sarah Schneider, Patrick Cassels, Streeter Seidell, Dan Gurewitch, Jeff Rubin, and Jake & Amira—on stage tonight at CollegeHumor Live

[MEGA-TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 10:00 pm ($15 online or at the door with discount codeTHRISC): Genius improvisors from Chicago delivering one of the funniest shows you’ll ever see by making up a play on the spot using the language and themes of the Bard. This is the finest improv troupe in the world, and one of the best comedy shows of any kind, anywhere. Tonight begins a five-night NYC run, with every evening utterly different from the last. Try to catch every single performance of the breathtakingly skilled Improvised Shakespeare Company

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Vibrant improv troupes Reuben Williams and Zuleyka compete for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.