Best New York Comedy

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World-class storytellers Faye Lane (above), Ophira Eisenberg, Andy Christie, Jim O'Grady, and Ben Lillie tonight share lessons learned—plus free vodka!—at You Went to College for That?

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): Zoe Jarman performs a one-woman show about a junior in high school dealing with “distracted classmates, frazzled teachers, and insane family members as she attempts to form an afterschool club;” and improv geniuses Gavin Speiller of Death By Roo Roo, Ben Rodgers of Reuben Williams, and Jonathan Gabrus of The Law Firm form one of the finest comedy troupes in NYC, in the double-bill Mr. Bradshaw is a Flipping Dipstick and Outlook of the Poet

[FREE] 8:00 pm: NYC stand-ups Kristeen von Hagen, Athena Reich, Katrin Hier, Kat Herskovic, Jeff Cerulli, and Jennifer Murphy performing at this free weekly show—celebrating its 100th edition!—hosted by Sharon Spell: Shrink

[TOP PICK] 7:30 open bar with free Absolut Brooklyn Vodka, 8:15 pm show ($10): The debut of a monthly comedy show in which top storytellers tell a personal tale that in some way incorporates a lesson learned at college—with tonight’s blowout lineup consisting of world-class storytellers Ophira Eisenberg (sharp stand-up and brilliant storyteller; Comedy Central, VH1, Showtime), Faye Lane (performing red-hot show Faye Lane’s Beauty Shop Stories at this month’s FringeNYC 2010), Andy Christie (The New York Times, Moth GrandSlam Champion, host ofThe Liar Show) Jim O’Grady (The New York Times, Huffington Post), and Ben Lillie (The Story Collider)—performing at Brooklyn’s Union Hall: You Went to College For That?

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: Thoroughly wonderful comics Adira Amram (fresh, sexy, hilarious rising star singer/songwriter), Leo Allen (former writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central Presents, Conan O’Brien, HBO’s Funny or Die, host of top NYC comedy show Whiplash), Ali Wong (hilarious comedy dynamo; Comedy Central), Mike Patrick O’Brien (SNL), Jen Kwok ( Atom.com), and Mike Amato (Huffington Post) performing at the East Village’s Angels and Kings with delightful dark humor host Jena Friedman: Entertaining the Bartender

[TOP PICK] [FREE] 8:30 pm: Jessi Klein (fresh, unique, deliciously organic comic who’s become one of the best stand-ups in the country; staff writer for Saturday Night Live; Comedy Central, VH1, NBC, CNN, Adult Swim), Adam Lowitt (Producer for The Daily Show, co-host of It Is It!), and Rory Scovel 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] [$] 9:30 pm ($20): One of the finest stand-ups & storytellers in the country performs a fundraiser for The Nature Conservatory: Mike Birbiglia’s Sleepwalk Unplugged

[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.