Best New York Comedy

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For FringeNYC 2009 Encore Series coverage, please click here.

Kristen Schaal, Pete Holmes, and other comedy giants tonight kick off the four-evening gala Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival 2009

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:

6:30 pm ($5): Wonderful storyteller Margot Leitman debuting a one-woman show, and Eddie Brawley debuting a one-man sketch show, all for a mere five bucks: Losing It and Brawley

[TOP PICK] 7:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): Superb neurotic comic Jon Friedman, superb disturbingly dark comic Jena Friedman, and CEO comic Andy Nibley performing stand-up and then getting analyzed by host Lisa Levy at the unique show Stand Up, Lie Down

7:00 pm ($5): Jamie Cummings & Elizabeth Blue improvising a tale about the King and his love Priscilla Presley based on the memorable TV movie Elvis & Me

[$] 7:30 pm ($24 & 2-item min.): Acclaimed stand-up who’s a regular guest on David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, and Howard Stern (over 50 appearances!); hosts his own radio show on Howard 101 and the comedy series Special Sauce on STARZ,; has done two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials: and is headlining tonight through Saturday (get $5 off tickets by buying before day of show) at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Greg Fitzsimmons

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:30 pm doors, 8:00 pm show ($20): Comedy giants Kristen Schaal, Pete Holmes, Jon Benjamin, and many more perform killer stand-up at the opening night party of a four-evening Brooklyn extravaganza: The Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival

8:00 pm ($8): “Pat Shepherd thought he was getting married. He was wrong. Follow his story in the premier of this hilariously heartbreaking one man show:” The Breakup

8:00 pm ($5): Sharp improvisors directed by James Eason “take an audience suggestion and break it into a million funny pieces” in The Deconstruction

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Movie & TV comedy superstar Janeane Garofalo, Chris March (Project Runway), and musical guest Bronte’s Inferno at a sold-out show hosted by brilliant alternative comic Dave Hill (which is sold out of seats, but if you don’t mind standing, come and enjoy with a boisterous packed house): The Dave Hill Explosion

9:30 pm ($5): “It’s 1941, and three Broadway producers are desperate for a hit. When a suggestion for the theme of a show comes in the form of a suggestion from the audience, the three brainstorm a musical, writing and performing scenes on the fly.” Starring musical improvisors Rob Schiffmann and Stefan Schick (both of Chicago City Limits and Broadway’s Next Hit Musical), Jeff Scherer (Chicago City Limits, Secret Hospital), and a guest improvisor joining Scherer, Schiffmann and Schick

[$] 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

[TOP PICK] 11:00 pm ($5): Genius improv troupe Death by Roo Roo—taking over this season with an all-time record-breaking 21 wins in a row (and thoroughly crushing last week’s opponent by garnering 130 ballets to 10)—tonight facing improv challenger SMIRK in a battle for audience laughs and votes at the raucous Cage Match

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For FringeNYC 2009 Encore Series coverage, please click here.