Best New York Comedy

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

Stand-up star Sommore headlines tonight and Sunday 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:

7:00 pm ($8): Ben Masten and Sam Dingman perform all-new sketches and songs via an act The Onion says, via back-handed compliment, “manages to sell even flimsy premises with smarts and winning chemistry:” Audience of Two: We Hardly Know What’s Up

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisors Anthony King, Becky Drysdale, and more—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors who’ve included writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—all joyously declaring Let’s Have a Ball

7:30 pm ($7): Improvisers taking the stage in full Federation uniform and, based on audience suggestions, creating an entirely original ‘episode’ set in the Star Trek universe: Start Trekkin’

[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 the write-up in The New York Times, 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 & 10:30 pm ($46.50 & 2-drink min.): An acerbic stand-up star who’s appeared on Oprah, Jay Leno, Bill Maher, The View, and many other TV shows—and several films, to boot—headlining tonight through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Sommore

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-item min.): As Sean Patton points out (frequently), it’s problematic to name yourself “The Pitbull of Comedy.” And as Jane Borden of Time Out New York observes, “his comedy, aimed at women and anyone who’s not white, is about as delicate as a dog bite.” If you’d care to see whether the title is deserved—or simply to watch a once-great comedy club spiral into self-destruction—this is your chance, as the Vegas icon is headlining tonight at Comix: Bobby Slayton

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & 11:45 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.) A former cast member of Saturday Night Live, and who’s appeared on VH1, Showtime, and CNN, headlining one last night at the Gotham Comedy Club: Dean Edwards

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): One of the gutsiest and most hilarious troupes in comedy history—and the Cage Match Champion for two years in a row!—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] [$] [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 see why BWC won a FringeNYC Award last year for Outstanding Unique Theatrical Event by catching tonight’s edition of Baby Wants Candy

[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): An all-star improv troupe led by brilliant UCBT artistic director Anthony King: Reuben Williams

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($5): For just tonight, genius improvisor Ed Herbstman joins vibrant improv from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney (Statues of Liberty) and Leslie Korein as comedy trio Trike—With Special Guest Ed Herbstman

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($10): Sketch duo Chris O’Neill and Paul Valenti describe themselves as “vaudeville gold for a 2011 crowd.” Whatever. They’re funny. Especially the bit with the nose. Come catch their latest material tonight at The Chris and Paul Show

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): Having triumphed against all odds in getting P. Diddy to appear at his show last night, Chris Gethard follows up tonight via a daring 10-day drive across America with some of his best friends. There will be many farewells; his pals explicitly agreeing that Chris is not personally responsible if they die on the road; and much more. It’ll all happen at The Chris Gethard Show: America Gethard

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

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.