Best New York Comedy

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The debut of an intriguing sketch show: "Brad Sacks Gets a Handjob"...

...and the always intriguing Leslie Goshko hosts stellar storytellers at "Sideshow Goshko"

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: An open-mic show on a lottery system (sign-ups start at 5:30 pm) at The Creek in Queens’ Long Island City with hosts Mike Recine and Annie Lederman: The Shinebox

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 7:00 pm:Leslie Goshko (delightful storyteller/stand-up; Sirius XM, Manhattan Monologue champion) hosts this monthly storytelling show at the KGB Bar (85 East 4th Street, off Second Avenue), with tonight’s stellar guests Ophira Eisenberg (Comedy Central, VH1, The Liar Show), Robin Gelfenbien (delightful FringeNYC one-man show about wieners), and Steve Zimmer (Moth Grandslam champion): Sideshow Goshko

7:00 pm ($5): A live show about Facebook pages, complete with audience interaction: Philip Galinsky’s Facebook Comes Alive

7:30 pm ($7): Sketch comedy interwoven with a live band: Citizen Models

[TOP PICK] 7:30 pm ($10): “Brad Sacks isn’t your average 9th grader. He’s dope at Magic cards, sick at spontaneously breaking into song, and dopely sick at dancing like a businessman. But Brad’s life is about to change in the most awesome way possible—because Jessica Sanders, the hottest girl in school, is coming over to give him a handjob!” in the debut of a show I’m eager to see: Brad Sacks Gets a Handjob; plus in the other half of this double-bill, Veronica Osorio (directed by Caitlin Tegart) performs five very different gals with a chance to be The First Woman on the Moon

[$] 7:30 pm & 10:00 pm ($38.25 & 2-drink min.) A comic who’s performed on HBO, ABC, NBC, and Comedy Central headlining through Sunday at the Carolines Comedy Club: Mario Cantone

[MEGA-TOP PICK] [$] 8:00 pm ($49.50): Mike Birbiglia performing a unique blend of stand-up and storytelling that’s one of the best theatrical shows in NYC. For my more detailed write-up, please click here; and then grab tickets at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street, just one block from the #1 subway’s Christopher Street stop) for Mike Birbiglia: My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend

8:00 pm ($10): An improv troupe making up a musical on the spot after a friendly greeting: Hello

[FREE] 8:00 pm: Joe DeRosa (HBO’s Down and Dirty, Comedy Central Presents, co-host ofRighteous Kill, comedy CD The Depression Auction), Ben Kissel, Jamie Lee (Last Comic Standing, VH1), and Sean Donnelly (host of too many shows to mention) performing stand-up at O’Hanlon’s(14th Street off 1st Avenue) hosted by Mark Normand: Hot Soup

[FREE] 8:00 pm: An open-mic show that’s first come, first serve (sign-ups start at 7:30 pm), with each comic getting five minutes on stage at The Creek in Queens’ Long Island City: Mic and Cheese

[TOP PICK] [$] 8:30 pm & 10:30 pm ($25 & 2-drink min.): A stand-up who’s been on HBO’s Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam, P. Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy, and a Comedy Central Presentsspecial headlining tonight and Saturday at the Gotham Comedy Club: Tony Woods

[TOP PICK] 9:00 pm ($10): Some of the finest improv in NYC from the comedy genius members ofThe Stepfathers

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 9:00-9:30 pm open bar, 9:30 pm show: Ace dark comedy sketch troupe Murderfist, Myq Kaplan (one of the quickest minds in comedy, and rapidly rising star; finalist on most recent Last Comic Standing; Jay Leno, Comedy Central Presents, hit comedy CD Vegan Mind Meld), Owen Smith (Comedy Central), Chris Nangle (writer for SNL), Owen Smith (Comedy Central), Jamie Lee (Last Comic Standing, VH1), and Karl Hess performing at Brooklyn’s Red Star Bar (37 Greenpoint Avenue) for hosts Nick Turner’s & Jason Saenz’s  Too Cool for School

9:00 pm ($7): “In March of 2009 a gaggle of performers were born. Some died, some wandered off into the woods, others went to work in the private sector. Those that remained grew strong by feeding on the nectar of specific choices and the gruel of strong character work. The 2-year-old terror that exists today is akin to watching a Tsunami of hair and teeth attack a baby Blue Whale and destroy it with the will of a thousand hungry Burnese Mountain Dogs. What does it all mean? We don’t know.” In other words, improv from Chet Watkins

[TOP PICK] [$] 9:30 pm ($15): Always fresh and imaginative world-class sketch troupe that uses song, movement, and clever scenarios to turn familiar rituals on their head (for a video about how boys will be girls, please click here) delivering a brand new collection of sketches: The Harvard Sailing Team

10:00 pm ($5): Team Submarine and Danny Jolles each perform 30-minute sets at The PIT’s downstairs lounge with host Aaron Glaser: The 30/30 Club

10:00 pm ($7): Singing improvisors who use an interview with a n audience member to craft The Made-Up Musical

[TOP PICK] 10:30 pm ($10): Comedy genius Thomas Middleditch (when he’s not in LA), Nate Lang, Craig Rowin, Matt Fisher, Fran Gillespie Sue Galloway, and other superb improvisors make up scenes about an audience member’s legal dispute at The Law Firm: Law & Disorder

11:00 pm ($8): J Hobart and Grace Helbig welcome NYC talents for a morning chat show…that’s happening late at night. Tonight’s guests include Sara Schaefer (inventive, luminous comic; Emmy-nominated staff writer for Jimmy Fallon; VH1’s Best Week Ever), Mark Malkoff, and music group The Bad Parts: The Morning Show with Hobart and Grace

[TOP PICK] 11:30 pm ($5): A brilliant group of improvisors from Chicago and New York offers lightning-quick dark comedy unlike anything else in NYC: Jordan Klepper (Klepper & Grey, iO, ), Jodi Lennon (Comedy Central’s Exit 57), Ari Voukydis (UCB instructor, VH!’s Best Week Ever), Doug Stoley (Conan O’Brien, UCB), Rick Andrews (Magnet performer), Mark Grenier (Magnet instructor), Jen Sanders (Magnet performer), and Chet Siegel (Magnet performer). Improv legend Joe Bill also performs with this troupe, but only near the start of each month when he’s visiting NYC from Chicago. But even sans Joe, it’s well worth catching Lights Out, Shirley!

[TOP PICK] Midnight ($5): The third show of an exciting new sketch troupe, with brilliantly talented comedic performers Kate McKinnon, Leslie Meisel, Matt Fisher, Fran Gillespie, Nate Lang, D’Arcy Carden, John Murray, Timothy Dunn, and Ben Rameaka, and steered by superb writer/director Caitlin Tegart—as well as writers Beth Appel, Leila Cohan-Miccio, Matt Fisher, Frank Hejl, Chris Schell, Alex Scordelis, and Michael Trapp—that perform all-new material every month, and that I’ll be going out of my way to catch tonight: Tremendous Machine

For full details, please visit HyReviews.com.

If you know anyone who might have a thyroid problem, please tell them about my new book: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Thyroid Disease.