Best New York Comedy

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A star-studded farewell, including Kurt & Kristen and Wyatt Cenac, to the long-running Tell Your Friends; and Jessi Klein performs at Sweet

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] 6:30 pm: Open mic for comedy of all types (with sign-up starting at 6:00) at Queens LIC’sThe Creek upstairs theatre hosted by Chesley Calloway (co-host of renowned Comedy as a Second Language): The Ches Club

7:00 pm-9:00 pm ($5): Long form improv known as The Harold from UCB Chelsea house troupes The Regulars, Johnny Romance, and The Pox at this first half of Harold Night

7:00 pm ($5): In this double-bill at The Magnet, first improvisors make up scenes about objects provided by the audience in Anoush Talks to Stuff; and then “Of all mankind’s achievements throughout history, the most impressive was definitely…landing on the moon. But the invention of the letter is a close second. Come see what God had to say in his eviction notice to Adam and Eve, why the Declaration of Independence was written in invisible ink, and the reason you should never write an email describing your masturbation habits unless you fully intend to send it:” The History of the Letter

[TOP PICK] 8:00 pm ($5): The final edition of this long-running show at Lolita Bar hosted by Liam McEneaney, with tonight’s blowout lineup 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 and NBC’s 30 Rock; Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; FOX’s Bob’s Burgers; co-host of Hot Tub Variety; co-author of bestselling book The Sexy Book of Sexy Sex), Wyatt Cenac (star correspondent for The Daily Show), Kurt Braunohler (Comedy Central; creator & host of IFC game show Bunk; co-creator & co-star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets; co-host of Hot Tub Variety; triple 2011 ECNY Award winner), Bryan Tucker (writer for Saturday Night Live), and “a secret famous comedian,” plus musical guests Eden & John’s East River String Band and A Brief View of the Hudson: Tell Your Friends

8:00 pm ($8): Head writer & director Jen Curran (Harvard Sailing Team, The Baldwins, Jen & Steve) and a dozen other talents perform brand new sketch comedy at The PIT downstairs lounge: Big Business

8:00 pm ($5): A mostly-gal lineup of stand-ups (unfortunately, not announced, which kind of defeats the purpose of doing an alternative show like this) performing at UCB East hosted by Ilana Glazer: Bunch a Pussies

8:30 pm ($5): In this double-bill, each of two of The Magnet’s singing improv troupes will make up a musical on the spot based on an audience suggestion: BEEES! and Mint Condition

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($5): Jessi Klein (fresh, unique, deliciously organic comic who’s one of the best stand-ups in the country; former staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, CNN, Adult Swim), Kurt Braunohler (Comedy Central; creator & host of IFC game show Bunk; co-creator & co-star of UK TV series Penelope: Princess of Pets; co-host of Hot Tub Variety; triple 2011 ECNY Award winner), Greg Barris (host of Heart of Darkness, MTV), “a special guest,” and more performing at Ella (9 Avenue A) hosted by Seth Herzog (staff comic for Jimmy Fallon; 30 Rock, Comedy Central, VH1): Sweet

[FREE] 9:00 pm: NYC stand-ups (not yet announced, but you can check for an update here) at Brooklyn’s The Alligator Lounge (600 Metropolitan Avenue) hosted by Steve O’Brien and produced by Sean Donnelly: Comedy at Alligator Lounge

9:15 pm-Midnight ($5): Long form improv known as The Harold from UCB Chelsea house troupes Bucky, Surfing, and Sandino—plus at 11:00 pm four separate three-person groups of advanced students each perform one long scene in a form called The Three-Hander—at this second half (continued from 7:30 pm) of Harold Night

[TOP PICK] 9:30 pm ($5): Anthony Atamanuik (Death by Roo Roo, 30 Rock, Conan O’Brien, Huffington Post, The Nights of Our Lives) and tonight’s co-host Andy Rocco (Underground Americana) mix dark sketch with dark character-based improv at UCB East as they welcome guests Justin Shanes (writer for Jimmy Fallon), Emmy Blotnick (blogger for Jimmy Fallon), and Streeter Seidell (Editor-in-Chief of College Humor; Jimmy Kimmel, MTV): The Tony and Andy Show

9:30 pm ($5): Sketch comedy from a troupe born in a Boston college but tonight performing at The PIT downstairs lounge: Astronaut Theatre

9:30 pm ($5): Tom DiMenna (one-man show Who Loves You, Baby? at Soho Playhouse), Jen Curran (Harvard Sailing Team, The Baldwins, Jen & Steve), Robin Cloud, and Fariaz Rabbiani performing at The PIT downstairs lounge hosted by Chris Grace: Cold Soda Comedy

[FREE] 9:30 pm: Ben Lerman (nuanced raunchy comedic singer/songwriter; Logo TV’sNewNowNext, Sirius Radio’s Frank DeCaro Show), Jen Mutascio (NBC, HBO), Gabe Morales, and William Mullin performing stand-up at this monthly gay-themed show at Queens LIC’s The Creekupstairs theatre hosted by Tom Steffen: Rapier Wit

[TOP PICK] [$] 10:00 pm ($15 & 2-drink min.): Bryan Callen (The Hangover 1 and 2, Warrior, HBO, Comedy Central, Mad TV), Barry Rothbart (Jay Leno, MTV’s new Punk’d, TBS’ Men of a Certain Age), Lee Camp (Showtime, The Onion, CNN, MSNBC), and more performing stand-up at theGotham Comedy Club hosted by Jared Logan (rising star; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central): ComedyJuice

[FREE] 10:15 pm: In this free Magnet show, audience members can join in with musical improv troupe BEEES! to make up stories in song on the spot: Musical Magnet Mixer

[FREE] 11:00 pm: A breathtaking 40 comics are given 2 minutes each in this rapid-fire open-mic stand-up show at The PIT upstairs theatre hosted with wit and energy by Jay Welch: Bring It

[FREE] 11:00 pm: Open-mic stand-up at UCB East hosted by Boris Khaykin, John Trowbridge, and/or Katie East: Tuesday Night Open Mic

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