NYC Top Comedy Choices for Friday 5/8/09

May 8, 2009

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Kimmy Gatewood

Kimmy Gatewood

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] [$] the revival of an acclaimed comedic play, directed by the super-talented Kimmy Gatewood, about an Internet phenomenon: Kidnapped by Craigslist (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] a famously sarcastic and quick-witted TV comedy star who’s also a superb stand-up, delivering a deliciously long set tonight through Sunday: Norm MacDonald Headlining at Carolines (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

[FREE] NYC stand-up comics RG Daniels, C.H.R.I.S. the Robot (Brad Steuernagel), Giulia Rozzi, Pat Stango, Jesse Popp, and Matt Maragno celebrating Nick Turner’s 29th birthday at this free weekly show in Brooklyn hosted by Cassidy Henehan and Nick: Too Cool for School (8:00 pm),

stand-up comics David Hodorowski, Garry Hannon, Scott Ryan, 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),

clever, inventive sketch from two talented groups on a comedy double-bill: Chocolate Cake City and The Chris and Paul Show (9:30),

singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical (10:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] genius stand-up Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1’s Best Week Ever, The New Yorker), popular sketch/improv comedy group Audience of Two, and more joining ace sketch troupe Olde English to perform all-new material for a show that’s Very Fresh (11:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] UCBT’s free monthly open-mic stand-up show, where deliciously odd things tend to happen around 1:30 am, hosted by lightning-quick & hilarious Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1; one of the finest comics in the country) at Gutbucket (12:20ish am),

[$] and 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 at Carolines: Paul Mooney (12:30 am).

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.


NYC Top Comedy Choices for Thursday 5/7/09

May 7, 2009

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Jenny Slate

Jenny Slate

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] the debut of a one-woman show from Jenny Slate (one of the most unique and intriguing comics in NYC, who co-hosts acclaimed weekly comedy show Big Terrific), plus an SF-themed show from sketch comedy duo BriTANicK, in Dead Millionaire and The Infinity Prison (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] brilliant 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] Dave Hill (brilliant alt comic; HBO, VH1, Spike TV, The New York Times), Roger Hailes (Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, Chappelle’s Show, VH1), Taylor Williamson (Craig Ferguson, VH1, Lifetime), Katina Corrao (VH1’s Best Week Ever, HBO, Comedy Central), and more 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 Ted Alexandro, Anthony Jeselnik, Greg Giraldo, Jessica Kirson, Paul Mercutio, and more performing—though not all on the same lineups—at Comedy Cellar (9:00 pm & 11:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] red-hot comics Kumail Nanjiani (Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report) and Matt McCarthy (Comedy Central, The Matt and Katina Show, Verizon FIOS Guy) joining the fresh, sexy, and razor-sharp gals of Variety SHAC (9:30 pm),

[$] 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, tonight headlining at Carolines: Paul Mooney (10:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] and two vibrant improv troupes, Death by Roo Roo and The Bishop, competing for audience laughs & votes at the raucous Cage Match (11:00 pm).

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.


NYC Top Comedy Choices for Wednesday 5/6/09

May 6, 2009

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Jenny Slate

Jenny Slate

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] six free hours of improvisation in The PIT’s Super Free Wednesday (6:00 pm-midnight),

[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 (7:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] some of the funniest humans alive—Nick Kroll (new feature film I Love You Man; co-star of HBO’s The Life & Times of Tim, FOX’s Sit Down, Shut Up, CBS’ Worst Week, ABC’s Cavemen), Pete Holmes (genius stand-up; Comedy Central, VH1, Punch Up Your Life, The New Yorker), and Joe Mande (winner of 2008 ECNY Award for Best Emerging Comic; co-host of Totally J/K)—at a free weekly Brooklyn extravaganza hosted by Gabe Liedman, Jenny Slate, and Max Silvestri: Big Terrific (8:00ish pm),

[FREE] Baron Vaughn (Comedy Central, MTV, Cloverfield, Shoot the Messenger), Liam McEneaney (Comedy Central, VH1, host of Tell Your Friends), Matt Ruby, Jay Nog, Dan Mahony, and Aalap Patel at a free weekly comedy show hosted by Matt Maragno: Now We’re Talking (8:00 pm),

[FREE] Star Trek improv troupe Start Trekkin’, and NYC stand-ups EJ Murphy, Seth Madej, Daniel Michael, Emmy Rivera, and Malaika Gordon at a free show hosted by Sharon “Mama” Spell: Shrink (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] an entirely improvised musical from a genius comedy duo, and an improvised soap opera, in the double-bill I Eat Pandas and Hot Lather: As the Diamond Burns (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] and a free, laid-back, and occasionally magical variety show where virtually anything can happen on a School Night (11:00).

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.


NYC Top Comedy Choices for Tuesday 5/5/09

May 5, 2009

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Nick Kroll

Nick Kroll

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:

the perfect show for short attention spans—open-mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—at John Morrison’s Broadway Motel (6:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] witty writers offering delightfully silly lectures about “ambivalent parenting” in the Brooklyn comedic show Adult Education (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] writer Ron Marz (Green Lantern, Witchblade) and comedian Mike Lawrence joining in on a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Ragnaröck, Badman, Penthouse Riot, Bastian, and DeCoster—plus a small mob of sharp female improvisors at 11:00 pm for a show titled Suck My Dick, all at Harold Night (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] Nick Kroll (one of the funniest humans alive; new feature film I Love You Man; co-star of HBO’s The Life & Times of Tim, FOX’s Sit Down, Shut Up, CBS’ Worst Week, ABC’s Cavemen), Hannibal Burress (Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson), Matt Goldich (Comedy Central, VH1), and more performing at this free show hosted by brilliant stand-ups Jessi Klein (Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, CNN, Adult Swim) and Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1’s Best Week Ever, The New Yorker): Punch Up Your Life (8:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] Nick Kroll (one of the funniest humans alive; new feature film I Love You Man; co-star of HBO’s The Life & Times of Tim, FOX’s Sit Down, Shut Up, CBS’ Worst Week, ABC’s Cavemen), David Wain (member of legendary MTV sketch show The State and comedy group Stella),Dave Hill (brilliant alt comic; HBO, VH1, Spike TV, The New York Times), and more at the wonderful Seth Herzog’s Sweet (9:00 pm).

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.


NYC Top Comedy Choices for Monday 5/4/09

May 3, 2009

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Aziz Ansari and Nick Kroll

Aziz Ansari and Nick Kroll

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:

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 Emily Epstein, Amy Beckerman, Chelsea White, Karen Batista, Hilary Schwartz, RG Daniels, Josh Comers, Charlie Kasov, Dan Mahoney, Dan Upham, Dan Cartwright, Sean Donnelly, Blaine Perry, Aalap Patel, and Matteson Perry—at John Morrison’s Ochi’s Motel (6:30 pm & 9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] star storyteller Tom Shillue (Conan O’Brien, The Daily Show, Comedy Central Presents) performing what’s likely to be a mesmerizing comedic one-man show: Supernormal (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] comedy star Greg Giraldo (David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central Presents, Root of All Evil), Jon Friedman (Jimmy Fallon, Rejected!), stand-ups visiting from Britain and Ireland, and more at Liam McEneaney’s Tell Your Friends (8:00ish pm),

fresh sketch comedy from UCBT house groups Gorilla Gorilla and Stone Cold Fox at Maude Night (8:00 pm),

[MEGA-TOP PICK] [FREE] and a gala blowout consisting of genius NYC comics who moved to LA but are back for a visit—Nick Kroll (one of the funniest humans alive; new feature film I Love You Man; co-star of HBO’s The Life & Times of Tim, FOX’s Sit Down, Shut Up, CBS’ Worst Week, ABC’s Cavemen), Aziz Ansari (one of the finest stand-ups ever; NBC’s Parks and Recreation, MTV’s Human Giant), and Sean Conroy (Conan O’Brien, Comedy Central, brilliant member of legendary improv troupe The Swarm)—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central) at Whiplash (11:00 pm).

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.


NYC Top Comedy Choices for Sunday 5/3/09

May 3, 2009

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Aziz Ansari

Aziz Ansari

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] UCBT’s playground for celebrities and ace improvisors, ASSSSCAT 3000 (paid show at 7:30 pm, free show at 9:30 pm),

[FREE] Sean Patton, Tom McCaffrey, Jesse Pop, and other sharp stand-ups at a free weekly LES show hosted by Greg Johnson: The Comedians (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] some of the best comics in the country—Aziz Ansari (one of the funniest stand-ups alive, and TV & movie celebrity who co-stars in MTV’s Human Giant and NBC’s Parks and Recreation), Wyatt Cenac (correspondent for The Daily Show), Joe Mande (winner of the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Emerging Comic)—joining guest-host Jon Benjamin (FOX, Adult Swim, Comedy Central, MTV’s Human Giant) for a stellar weekly shindig at Brooklyn’s Union Hall: Tearing the Veil of Maya (8:00 pm),

[FREE] sharp comics Katina Corrao (HBO, VH1, Comedy Central), Vince Averill (Comedy Central, Beauty Bar Comedy), Pat O’Shea, and more and more at RG Daniels’ free Sunday Night Stand-Up (8:00 pm),

[$] a stand-up star who was a cast member on Saturday Night Live and served “cringe” comedy nightly on national television on his unforgettable Comedy Central show Tough Crowd: Colin Quinn Headlining at Gotham Comedy (8:30 pm),

[FREE] razor-sharp & delightful Sara Schaefer (Jimmy Fallon), C.H.R.I.S. the Robot (Brad Steuernagel), Phil Hanley (upcoming comedy special on CTV), and Brent Sullivan at Vince Averill’s & Jesse Popp’s free show Beauty Bar Comedy (9:00 pm),

[FREE] and superb stand-ups Becky Donohue (Comedy Central), Carmen Lynch (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central), Lisa Kaplan (Carolines, LOL Tour), and Adam Lehman (here! TV’s Hot Gay Comics) at a free gay-themed show hosted by Brad Loekle: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour (10:00 pm).

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.


NYC Top Comedy Choices for Saturday 5/2/09

May 2, 2009

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Rich Vos and friend

Rich Vos and friend

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:sharp stand-ups Matt McCarthy, Helen Hong, Adam Newman, and more at Sean Donnelly’s Lil’ Seany Boy (7:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] star improvisation from writers & performers at 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show joyously declaring Let’s Have a Ball (7:30 pm),

Roman Rimer telling the true story of transitioning from gal to guy in this new one-person show: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Trannies * But Were Afraid to Ask (7:30 pm),

[$] a stand-up star who was a cast member on Saturday Night Live and served “cringe” comedy nightly on national television on his unforgettable Comedy Central show Tough Crowd: Colin Quinn Headlining at Gotham Comedy (8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & 11:30 pm),

[$] a stand-up star on two seasons of Last Comic Standing and on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, and currently on the Opie & Anthony radio show: Rich Vos Headlining at Comix (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

comics experiencing the rush of performing with no clothes on in The Naked Comedy Showcase (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] one of my all-time favorite improv troupes—which in 2008 broke the UCBT improv competition record for winning streaks with 17 triumphs in a row, and this year delivered a magnificent performance to capture the Cage Match Championship—the brilliant and daring members of Death by Roo Roo (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] stellar comics Shayna Ferm, Joe Mande, Rozzi, Michael Somerville, Rich Brooks, and more—plus free beer!—at acclaimed monthy comedy showcase Moonwork (9:00 pm),

organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track! (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] inventive & hilarious sketch comedy from The Harvard Sailing Team (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] improvised furious action from world-class troupe Reuben Williams (10:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] and Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, quick-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with audience rides home!—at The Complete Performer (10:30 pm).

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.


NYC Top Comedy Choices for Saturday 5/1/09

May 1, 2009

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Colin Quinn

Colin Quinn

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] acclaimed sketch, improv, and storytelling comics writers gather to create 10-minute odes to a pop star—who tonight is Bob Seger—in The Downtown Superstar Ten Minute Hour (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] stellar comics Kevin Allison, Sean Patton, Eric Andre, Vince Averill, Chris O’Connor, and John Knefel at this free weekly show in Brooklyn hosted by Cassidy Henehan and Nick Turner: Too Cool for School (8:00 pm),

[$] a stand-up star on two seasons of Last Comic Standing and on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, and currently on the Opie & Anthony radio show: Rich Vos Headlining at Comix (8:00 pm & 10:30 pm),

[$] a stand-up star who was a cast member on Saturday Night Live and served “cringe” comedy nightly on national television on his unforgettable Comedy Central show Tough Crowd: Colin Quinn Headlining at Gotham Comedy (8:30 pm & 10:30 pm),

Claudia Cogan (Logo’s Gayest Week Ever), Ian Harvie (ABC’s Byron Allen Comics Unleashed), Roy Cruz (Logo’s Outlaugh), Cara Killduff (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),

clever, inventive sketch comedy from Chocolate Cake City (9:30),

singing improvisors who use an interview with an audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical (10:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] a comedic freestyle rap contest featuring some of the funniest & sharpest comics in NYC—who tonight are Pete Holmes, Laura Krafft, Ann Carr, Michael Kayne, and Andrew “Soce” Singer—plus a volunteer from the audience, hosted by genius comedic musical hosts Chris “Shockwave” Sullivan (Freestyle Love Supreme) and Eliza Skinner (I Eat Pandas), at The BEATdown (11:00 pm),

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

[$] and 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 at Carolines: Paul Mooney (12:30 am).

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.


NYC Top Comedy Choices for Thursday 4/30/09

April 30, 2009

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Musing on Bob Seger tonight at The PIT

Musings on Bob Seger tonight at The PIT

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] acclaimed sketch, improv, and storytelling comics writers gather to create 10-minute odes to a pop star—who tonight is Bob Seger—in The Downtown Superstar Ten Minute Hour (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] brilliant improvisors Tara Copeland and James Eason leading a semi-revival of legendary troupe Mother in this new Magnet show: Sleepover (8:30 pm),

typically superb NYC comics 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),

[TOP PICK] [$] star comics Dave Attell, Colin Quinn, Ted Alexandro, Judah Friedlander, Anthony Jeselnik, and more performing—though not all on the same lineups—at Comedy Cellar (9:00 pm & 11:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] three superb NYC sketch troupes—Harvard Sailing Team, A Week of Kindness, and Sidecar—each performing one of their most popular bits and one of their personal favorites in the very fun sketch revue A-Side/B-Side (9:30 pm),

[$] 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, tonight headlining at Carolines: Paul Mooney (10:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] and two vibrant improv troupes, Death by Roo Roo and Badman, competing for audience laughs & votes at the raucous Cage Match (11:00 pm).

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.


NYC Top Comedy Choices for Wednesday 4/29/09

April 29, 2009

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

Dave Attell

Dave Attell

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] six free hours of improvisation in The PIT’s Super Free Wednesday (6:00 pm-midnight),

[TOP PICK] new improv duo Peter Gwinn (The Colbert Report) and Thomas Middleditch (genius improv troupes Baby Wants Candy and Improvised Shakespeare), and new stand-up/storytelling/sketch comedy duo Jordan Carlos (The Colbert Report, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, VH1’s Best Week Ever) and Dan Ahdoot, (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central) in the double-bill Gwindleditch and Triple S (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] Daily Show star correspondent John Oliver (Comedy Central’s Terrifying Times), world-class hilarious stand-up Pete Holmes (Comedy Central, VH1, The New Yorker), Daily Show producer Adam Lowitt (host of This is It!), and more at this extravaganza created by The  Daily Show’s Co-Executive Producer Rory Albanese: The Daily Show and Friends (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] brilliant comedic singer/songwriter/actor Micah Bucey performing a tour de force series of parodies in the form of mini-musicals for his intimate and joyful monthly show The Gay Agenda (8:00 pm),

[FREE] Mike Drucker (freelance writer for Saturday Night Live and The Onion), Tom McCaffrey (Comedy Central, VH1; recently released his first comedy CD, Lou Diamond Phillips?), Ross Hyzer (23/6.com), Ben Kissel, and Molly Knefel at a free weekly comedy show hosted by Matt Maragno & the luminous Margie Kment: Now We’re Talking (8:00 pm),

[FREE] typically terrific NYC stand-up comics at a free weekly Brooklyn extravaganza hosted by Gabe Liedman, Jenny Slate, and Max Silvestri: Big Terrific (8:00ish pm),

[FREE] superb NYC stand-ups Mike Drucker, Becky Yamamoto, Sean Crespo, Mark Normand, Sue Funke, and Dan Curry at a free show hosted by Sharon “Mama” Spell: Shrink (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] some of most razor-sharp and uproariously funny storytellers in the country—tonight including Anthony Atamanuik, Curtis Gwinn, Joe Mande, and Jenny Slate—telling memorable tales of “Illness” at one of the finest shows in NYC, Dave Martin’s The Nights of Our Lives (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] a killer lineup of comedy stars—Dave Attel, Judah Friedlander, Rich Vos, Joe DeRosa, Jay Larson, and James Smith—at the NYC debut of a stand-up series that’s been immensely popular in LA and is now making a home at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: ComedyJuice (10:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] [FREE] and a free, laid-back, and occasionally magical variety show where virtually anything can happen on a School Night (11:00).

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.