NYC Top Comedy Choices for Wednesday 8/25/10

August 25, 2010

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

Katharine Heller and Lauren Olson

Catch top FringeNYC comedy shows today from Katharine Heller ("My Dad's Crazier Than Your Dad") and Lauren Olson ("Our Condolences")

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] [$] 4:15 pm ($18): FringeNYC is one of the most delightful annual events in NYC, and it’s happening for the rest of August; to learn lots more, please click here. Be sure to check out the Festival’s superb comedy shows—including Katharine Heller delivering an unforgettable portrait of her father (for my review, please click here) at My Dad is Crazier Than Your Dad: A Scientific Inquiry

6:30 pm & 9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open-mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—with two installments running back to back every Wednesday at John Morrison’s Ochi’s Motel

[FREE] 6:00 pm to midnight: Six free hours of improvisation in The PIT’s Super Free Wednesday

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($18): FringeNYC is one of the most delightful annual events in NYC, and it’s happening for the rest of August; to learn lots more, please click here. Be sure to check out the Festival’s superb comedy shows—including Lauren Olson’s tale of her mom passing away and how the people around her behaved in the aftermath: Our Condolences

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Typically top comics (not yet announced for tonight) join best bud hosts Noah Garfinkel & Joe Mande (author of Look At This F*cking Hipster) at Totally J/K

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Sean Crespo, Cary Prusa, Andrea Gibbs, Carrie Gravenson, Peggy O’Leary, and Alison Grillo performing at this free weekly show hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink

[MEGA-TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): One of the finest comedic storytelling shows in the country, in which brilliant writer/performers—who tonight are Adam Wade, Anthony Atamanuik, John Flynn, Jon Gabrus, Carter Edwards, and wonderful host David Martin—tell tales that are brutally honest and utterly hilarious, with tonight’s can’t-be-missed theme Regrets at the gala 50th edition of The Nights of Our Lives

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) providing as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that’s part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible—and don’t forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Tuesday 8/24/10

August 24, 2010

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

Evan O'Sullivan in Evan O'Television

Evan O'Sullivan fights an impossible battle with himself in the FringeNYC show "Evan O'Television in Double Negatives"

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] 8:00 pm ($5): Comics industry pros join super-hosts Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler, and Pete LePage in a lively & hilarious discussion about four-color pop culture at Comic Book Club

8:00 pm to midnight ($5): Four full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes Ragnaröck, DeCoster, Sandino, Bastian, and Monstro; and at 11:00 pm select members from every UCBT house troupe forming a one-night-only troupe—all at Harold Night

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Eddie Brill (David Letterman, FX’s Louie), Leighann Lord (Comedy Central), Anthony DeVito (Conan O’Brien, Apostles of Park Slope), Aparna Nancherla (Last Comic Standing), and Matt Singer (Joe’s Pub) performing at Cellar 58 (58 Second Avenue) alongside delightful host Abbi Crutchfield and comedic rapster Andrew Singer: Positively Awesome

[TOP PICK] 8:30 pm ($3): Mindy Raf as Leibya Rogers (brilliant singer/songwriter; VH1), Paul Mecurio (The Daily Show), Greg Barris (host of Heart of Darkness), and Nick Vatterott performing at the Housingworks Bookstore Cafe for an almost-free weekly show hosted by Jared Logan (Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central) and the hilarious Dan St. Germain: Punch Up Your Life

[TOP PICK] [$] 9:00 pm ($18): FringeNYC is one of the most delightful annual events in NYC, and it’s happening for the rest of August; to learn lots more, please click here. Be sure to check out the Festival’s superb comedy shows—such as today’s event involving a guy playing straight man to a video recording of himself: Evan O’Television in Double Negatives

[FREE] 11:00 pm: Free open-mic stand-up show that’s seldom much fun for audience members but is a nice opportunity if you want 4-5 minutes to test out your comedy material on stage: Bring It

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Monday 8/23/10

August 23, 2010

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

Faye Lane's Beauty Shop Stories

One of the very best FringeNYC 2010 comedies concludes its run tonight: Faye Lane's Beauty Shop Stories

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] 6:00 pm: Kevin Allison (legendary MTV sketch series The State, HBO, Comedy Central, VH1, host of award-winning storytelling show Risk!) hosts this free open-mic show for storytellers, in which you can put your name in a hat for the chance to tell a five-minute true story…and if it’s a good one, possibly be included in Kevin’s popular podcasts on the Web: Risk! Storyslam

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:00 pm ($17.50 online with discount code NIFF): My #1 pick for the2007 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, and Lauren Seikaly, 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 and nuanced improvised shows you’ll ever see. Check out some videos of previous episodes here; and then nab tickets for tonight’s final installment at the Soho Playhouse of an initial 12-week Monday night run (and then an open-ended run starting in late September): Naked in a Fishbowl

[FREE] 7:30 pm: NYC stand-ups Phoebe Robinson, Kevin McCaffrey, Kyle Daniel, Kendra Cunningham, Calvin Cole, and Jayson Cross performing at a free weekly show in the Manchester Pub guest-hosted by Jamie Lee (Last Comic Standing): Case of the Mondays Comedy

7:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open-mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours at the Luca Lounge (222 Avenue B off 14th Street)—at John Morrison’s Motel Luca

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($8): TV & movie star Kristen Schaal (one of the funniest women alive; shining star correspondent on The Daily Show; co-star of HBO’s Flight of the Conchords; Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; co-creator & co-star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets; co-author of new bestselling book The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex) and master sketch comic Kurt Braunohler (Comedy Central Presents; co-creator & co-star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets) host their legendary weekly sketch & stand-up comedy show, with guests Livia Scott, Leo Allen, and Greg Barris performing at Brooklyn’s Littlefield (622 Degraw Street): Hot Tub Variety

8:00 pm ($5): NYC stand-ups Carole Montgomery, Jamie Kilstein, Ali waller, Ray DeVito, and more performing in the Lolita Bar for producer Liam McEneaney’s Tell Your Friends

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): Two of UCBT’s finest house sketch comedy troupes, High Treason and Slow Burn, trying out new bits at Maude Night

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:45 pm ($18): One of the very best shows at FringeNYC 2010 is a comedy from NYC’s own Faye Lane, a luminous storyteller and singer who will charm your socks off—and possibly give you a moon pie to boot. Please read my review by clicking here; and don’t miss the finest Fringe performance of Faye Lane’s Beauty Shop Stories

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Young talents doing a sketch show about cops, and Peter Blomquist and Jeff Wiens performing an all-new multimedia sketch show, in the double-bill The Sit Down and Shut Up NYPD Variety Hour and Franco & Billy: Diamonds of Fire

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Some of the finest comics in the country—tonight including Hannibal Buress, Marina Franklin, and TJ Miller—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live,Conan O’Brien, HBO, Comedy Central) at Whiplash

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Saturday 8/21/10

August 21, 2010

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

Ted Alexandro

Ted Alexandro headlines tonight at Karma Lounge

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] 7:30 pm ($10): Genius improvisor Christina Gausas and friends she originally made in Chicago—which include writers & performers from 30 Rock, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show—plus a rotating cast of stellar visitors, all joyously declaring Let’s Have a Ball

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 7:30 pm & 10:00 pm ($19.33 online if you use code VIPAUG, plus 2-item minimum): Past contestants of NBC’s Last Comic Standing—including Judah Friedlander, Christian Finnegan, Leo Allen, Myq Kaplan, and Julian McCullough—performing at the elegant Comix Comedy Club: Still Standing Up: A Last Comic Standing Showcase

[TOP PICK] ($5; email AnHourWithTedAlexandro@yahoo.com to reserve seats) 8:00 pm: A national comedy star who’s performed on David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, and The View;performed two Comedy Central Presents half-hour specials; and has been described by Uproar as having “an appeal similar to Ray Romano and Jerry Seinfeld” and by Time Out New York as “one of the top comedians working today,” headlining for tonight only at Karma Lounge: Ted Alexandro

[TOP PICK] [$] [DISCOUNTED] 8:00 pm Tuesday-Saturday ($39.50 online or at the box office using discount code PPBBOX): This is a show for which I have enormous affection; although my joy came from watching not only what occurred on stage, but the faces of the women in the audience turning stonier and stonier as they visibly projected the thought, “Dick tricks? This entire show really consists of dick tricks? All my suspicions about men have just been confirmed…” If you cherish bravery in performers, go forth to the 45 Bleecker Theatre (right next to the #6 subway’s Bleecker Street stop) and experience Puppetry of the Penis

8:00 pm ($10): “A 17-person middle school talent show created and performed by two people—Jo Firestone and Dylan Marron—who like themselves more now that they’re older. A comedic tribute to the best three years of our lives, and a comedic play for anyone who ever thought it couldn’t get any better than prank calls and slow-dancing:” Ridgefield Middle School Talent Nite

[$] 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm ($31.25 & 2-drink min.): A TV star who’s made a career out of confessional comedy headlining through Sunday at Carolines: Christopher Titus

[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 ($5): 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

9:30 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): NYC stand-ups Mike Drucker (writer for SNL and The Onion), Shorty (Last Comic Standing), Aparna Nancherla, Alex Grubard, Calvin Cole, and Jermaine Fowler performing at Ochi’s Lounge with adorably sly host Calise Hawkins (Last Comic Standing, Russell Simmons Presents): Laugh in Limbo

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15): Ted Greenberg (Emmy-winning David Letterman writer) performing a fun, quick-paced theatrical comedy show—complete with 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

10:30 pm ($5): Vibrant improv from Nick Kanellis & Peter McNerney (Statues of Liberty) and Leslie Korein as comedy trio Trike

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): “The most fabulous show on Earth,” hosted by Tim Gunn (John Flynn) and Tim Gunn (Michael Hartney), featuring superb comedic performers (both straight and gay)—including Leslie Meisel, Megan Neuringer, Ilana Glazer, Sue Galloway, Stephen Guarino, Brian Faas, and Brian Glidewell—plus two audience members who’ll be selected to compete in a design challenge, at The Same Sex-Tacular

[$] 12:30 am ($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

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Wednesday 8/18/10

August 18, 2010

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

Jeff Garlin

Jeff Garlin (above left) hosts a night of stellar stand-up, with guests including Jessi Klein and Amy Schumer, at Jeff Garlin's Combo Platter

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 & 9:00 pm (no cover, 1-item min.): The perfect show for short attention spans—open-mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours—with two installments running back to back every Wednesday at John Morrison’s Ochi’s Motel

[FREE] 6:00 pm to midnight: Six free hours of improvisation in The PIT’s Super Free Wednesday

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): “Seven family members, friends, coworkers and a neighbor of seven weeks accidentally ruin their final goodbyes,” performed by such stellar talents as Lennon Parham and Leslie Meisel; and “seemingly unrelated or meaningless episodes of multiple personalities, bizarre delusion, and general perversion, suggesting a deranged mind,” co-written and performed by Paul W. Downs, in the double-bill Oh My God, I Heard You’re Dying! and The Paul Downs Syndrome

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Jess Wood, Paul Mecurio, Aparna Nancherla, Jay Bois, and Mike Cotayo performing at this free weekly show hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: Sean Patton (red-hot rising star; killer set on Jimmy Fallon, Comedy Central, VH1), Joe Mande (Comedy Central, VH1; co-host of Totally J/K; author of new book Look at This F*cking Hipster), and Dave Holmes performing at this free weekly comedy show at Brooklyn’s Cameo (behind Lovin’ Cup) hosted by Jenny Slate, Gabe Liedman, and Max Silvestri:Big Terrific

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: Adira Amram (fresh, sexy, hilarious rising star singer/songwriter), Patrick Borelli, Becky Yamamoto, Andy Haynes, JC Coccoli, Aparna Nacherla, and Andrew Shultz performing at the East Village’s Angels and Kings with delightful dark humor host Jena Friedman:Entertaining the Bartender

[TOP PICK] [DISCOUNTED] 8:30 pm ($5 cover if you mention HyReviews.com [otherwise $10], plus $7 drink minimum; call 212.989.9319 to reserve seats): Sharp stand-ups Myq Kaplan, Jamie Kilstein, Stephen Kruiser, Frank Vignola, Harry Terjanian, Brian Longwell, and Julia Gorin have fun with politics at the Cornelia Street Cafe for John Morrison’s Politicas to the Left of Me, Politics to the Right of Me

[TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($5): Wonderful stand-ups Jessi Klein, Amy Schumer, and more at a show hosted by the equally wonderful co-star of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm: Jeff Garlin’s Combo Platter

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 11:00 pm: Host Justin Purnell (The Colbert Report) providing as many as a dozen guests packed into 75 minutes performing stand-up, improv, sketch, and occasionally acts that defy categorization. The level of talent can vary wildly, but for some (like me), that’s part of the laid-back fun; and this is often one of the most amazing comedy shows in town. Come support the experimentation, and periodic magical surprises, that this uniquely organic rollercoaster of a show makes possible—and don’t forget to toss $1 in the bucket on your way out: School Night

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

Leave a Comment » | Best New York Live Comedy Shows | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
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NYC Top Comedy Choices for Sunday 8/15/10

August 15, 2010

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

Marina Squerciati

Come catch a FringeNYC comedy playing today at 1:45 pm that's received great buzz, in large part due to its lead actress Marina Squerciati -- Just in Time: The Judy Holliday Story

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] [$] 1:45 pm ($18): FringeNYC is one of the most delightful annual events in NYC, and it’s happening for the rest of August; to learn lots more, please click here. Be sure to check out the Festival’s superb comedy shows—such as today’s debut of a play at the Soho Playhouse about a screen legend, which has gotten great buzz for its lead Broadway actress Marina Squerciati: Just in Time: The Judy Holliday Story

[TOP PICK] [$] 7:15 pm ($18): One of the very best shows at FringeNYC 2010 is a comedy from NYC’s own Faye Lane, a luminous storyteller and singer who will charm your socks off—and possibly give you a moon pie to boot. Please read my review by clicking here; and don’t miss Faye Lane’s Beauty Shop Stories

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10) and 9:30 pm [FREE]: UCBT’s signature improv comedy extravaganza, which typically includes stars in the improv world, and sometimes even TV & movie stars such as Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz: ASSSCAT 3000

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not yet announced) performing at RG Daniels’ free weekly show at the Three of Cups East Village lounge: Sunday Night Stand-Up

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Streeter Seidell (College Humor, MTV, The New York Times), Sheng Wang (Comedy Central), Lil Rel (Last Comic Standing, Russell Simmons Presents), Chuck Burks (writer for Chappelle’s Show), Matty Goldberg, David Cope, and Amanda Baramki performing at Calise Hawkins’ free weekly show at The Fat Black Pussy Cat (130 West 3rd Street): S’Weird Man

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not yet announced) performing at Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan) hosted by the wonderful Hannibal Buress (writer for SNL; comedy CD My Name is Hannibal): Comedy Night

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not yet announced) performing in the East Village’s Beauty Bar at Vince Averill’s & Jesse Popp’s free weekly extravaganza Beauty Bar Comedy

[FREE] 10:00 pm: Karith Foster (Comedy Central), Dana Lovecchio (Comedy Central), and Scott Ryan (Here! TV’s Hot Gay Comics) performing at this free weekly gay-themed show at Therapytonight guest-hosted by Adam Sank: Electro Shock Therapy Comedy Hour

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

For Hy’s coverage of the spectacular FringeNYC 2010 Festival, please click here.

Leave a Comment » | Best New York Live Comedy Shows | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
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