Best New York Comedy

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Wonderful improvisors who normally appear in pricey theatres tonight launch an easily affordable run at The PIT: "Naked in a Fishbowl"

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] 7:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Gabe Pacheco, Erik Bergstrom, Sean Donnelly, Ken Schultz, Freddy Sheffield, and Steve Macone performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pubhosted by Phoebe Robinson: Case of the Mondays Comedy

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): My #1 pick for the 2007 FringeNYC Festival, this wonderful group of actresses/improvisors portray characters as if they were in a play, but improvise everything they say and do. The luminous performers include Katharine Heller, Brenna Palughi, Lynne Rosenberg, Lauren Seikaly, and Molly Knefel, each of whom is immensely appealing and quick-witted. Further, they have an intimate, lovely chemistry with each other; and they’ve all committed to baring their personal lives, thinly disguised via their characters (hence the title’s Naked). As a result, this is one of the most honest & nuanced improvised shows you’ll ever see. This show was previously a wonderful theatrical event that cost $18 and up. Don’t miss this run starting tonight at The PIT that allows you to catch the gals for a mere $10: Naked in a Fishbowl

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($10): Pamela Murphy’s autobiographical show is written & performed with wit, grace, and pitch-perfect comedic timing. For video samples of Pam’s work, please click here; and for a plea for your patronage from Pam’s pooch Sadie, please click here and here. Don’t miss Jane Borden of Time Out New York‘s pick for Best Solo Show of 2010: Pamela Murphy: The C Word

…and for the other half of this double-bill, Dan St. Germain (quick-witted rising star; Jimmy Fallon, MTV) and Jared Logan (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central) do a show about history’s most infamous rivalries that includes putting God on stage and hitting on Her for a date: They Hated Each Other

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($6.50 online or $8 at the door): Kumail Nanjiani (David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, Jimmy Kimmel, writer/performer for Comedy Central’s Michael & Michael Have Issues; winner of the 2009 ECNY Awards for Best Male Stand-Up), Mike Phirman (Comedy Central Presents), Cameron Esposito, and musical guest Pearl and the Beard performing at Brooklyn’s Littlefield (622 Degraw Street) with sketches and more from a duo who between them won four 2011 ECNY Awards—including Best Variety Show and Best Hosts—Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler: Hot Tub Variety

[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($5—includes FREE PIZZA!): Todd Barry (David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central Presents, FX’s Louie, HBO’s Flight of the Conchords and Bored to Death, Adult Swim, feature films The Wrestler and Pete Smalls is Dead), Adam Wade (two-time Moth GrandSlam Storytelling Champion (2006 & 2009) and record-breaking 17-time StorySlam Champion; The New York Times Magazine; host of The Adam Wade show; for Adam’s award-winning tale of being an NBC page on Conan O’Brien, please click here), Kurt Metzger (Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central Presents), and musical guest Grace McLean performing at the Magnet Theatre for Adam Lerman’s and Willy Appleman’s Deep Traffic

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Two of UCBT’s fine house sketch comedy troupes, Stone Cold Fox and Arbuckle, trying out new bits at Maude Night

9:30 pm ($5): Kelli Porterfield performs a one-woman show about five residents of Joplin, MO:Mirror Mirror On The Wall

[FREE] 9:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Gabe Pacheco, Jaqi Furback, Neil Constantine, Luke Thayer, Megan Hanley, and Scott Schlesindger performing at Pat O’Shea’s free weekly Brooklyn showcase at Freddy’s Backroom (627 5th Avenue): Ed Sullivan on Acid

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest stand-ups in the world—who tonight include Kumail Nanjiani (David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, Jimmy Kimmel, writer/performer for Comedy Central’s Michael & Michael Have Issues; winner of the 2009 ECNY Awards for Best Male Stand-Up), TV & movie star TJ Miller, and Mike Phirman (Comedy Central Presents)—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (HBO, Saturday Night Live, Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central) at Whiplash

[FREE] 11:00 pm: If you’re an audience member who loves stand-up, Monday at 11 should beWhiplash! night (see listing above). If you’re a comic who couldn’t get booked on UCBT’s all-star show, though, you can opt to instead practice your skills at this stand-up open-mic hosted by Michelle Wolf and the hilarious Erin Lennox (for a sample of Erin’s dynamite Seriously Sports show, please click here): Fresh

 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.