NYC Comedy Picks for Week of October 27, 2008

NYC Comedy Picks for Monday 10/27/08

Adira Amram (Whiplash), Andy Secunda (Gravid Water), and Kristen Schaal (Whiplash)

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

the perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set

and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours, who tonight include Jared Logan, Jiwon Lee, Blaine Perry,

Dan Cartwright, Luke Cunningham, Myq Kaplan, Billy Reno, Chesley Calloway, and Becky Ciletti—

at John Morrison's Ochi's Motel (6:30 pm & 9:00 pm),

stand-ups Robert Keller, Laura Mannino, and Fiona Walsh joining delightful hosts

Jackie Monahan, Leah Dubie, Amy Beckerman, and Gloria Bigelow at Dykes on Mics (7:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] four petite stand-ups doing an industry showcase in hopes of launching a national

tour: Rachel Feinstein, Helen Hong, Maria Shehata, and Liz Miele as Little Ethnic Girls (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] stellar actors including Ptolemy Slocum (HBO's The Wire), Jonathan Kaplan

(Tony nominee for Falsettos), and Rachel Feldman (MTV's Made) mixing it up with such

genius improvisors as Michael Delaney, Anthony King, and Andy Secunda as they

crash improv into classic theatre scenes at Gravid Water (8:00 pm),

a new, free weekly comedy show in Brooklyn featuring stand-up, sketch, music, and more,

hosted by the razor-sharp Jena Friedman: Entertaining Tammy (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] and a free weekly show featuring some of the finest comics in the country—who tonight include comedy genius Kristen Schaal (HBO, correspondent for The Daily Show), star stand-up Arj Barker (HBO, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents), rising star Adira Amram (brilliantly funny singer/songwriter), and Tom McCaffrey (Comedy Central, VH1)—hosted by the wonderful Leo Allen (Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central) at Whiplash (11:00 pm).

Ochi's Motel

Lottery-style open mic for stand-up comics trying out material,

with 4½ minutes per performer...in return for a $5 contribution to the weekly prize kitty.

(In addition, Ochi's one-item food or drink minimum applies to everyone.)

A breathtaking 25 comics perform in this 2½ hour show; producer

John Morrison (above) has described it as "comedy on crack."

If you're seeking consistent laughs, this might not be the best way to spend

your evening. But if you're patient and adventurous, it's a potentially wild ride.

And if you're a performer looking for some stage time, it's a nice opportunity.

Plus if you stick around till the show's end to support your fellow comics,

 you have a chance at winning the cash from the kitty, along with smaller prizes.

There are two shows, at 6:30 and 9:00 pm (with entirely different sets of comics).

Tonight's 6:30 lineup includes such fine stand-ups as Jared Logan, Jiwon Lee, Blaine Perry, Mark Normand, Dan Cartwright, Luke Cunningham, and Gilad Foss.

And the 9:00 pm show includes such talents as Myq Kaplan, Billy Reno, Chesley Calloway, Becky Ciletti, Vicky Kuperman, and Chelsea White.

Ochi's Motel is hosted by Sean Donnelly and Blaine Perry.

To be entered into the weekly random drawing for performers,

please send email to ochismotel@gmail.com.

6:30 pm & 9:00 pm, Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues)

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

Gloria Bigelow, Amy Beckerman, Leah Dubie, and Jackie Monahan

Dykes on Mics

Free gay-themed stand-up comedy show featuring the gals above

as regulars/hosts, plus tonight's guests

Robert Keller, Laura Mannino, and Fiona Walsh.

7:00 pm at The Stonewall Inn, 53 Christopher Street (at 7th Avenue South); free

Liz Miele and Rachel Feinstein...

...and Maria Shehata and Helen Hong

Little Ethnic Girls

This comedy event showcases four very funny and petite women

who are Jewish, Korean-American, Arab-American, and Italian:

Rachel Feinstein (Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Samurai Love God, Court TV's

Parko PI, regular on Sirius Satellite Radio, written for The Onion and Heeb Magazine,

opens for Sarah Silverman on tour),

Helen Hong (TLC's What Not to Wear; E!'s Exposed: 25 Most Notorious Fashion Week Moments; Helen says " I love it when people ask me 'Where are you from?' and I say 'New York' and they say 'No, where are you really from???' I know they want me to name some Asian country like Japan or Korea. Instead I just stab them in the eye with a chopstick and scream 'I'm from the Land of Deadly Chopsticks, you evil Round Eye!' And then I shuffle away like a dainty geisha...;"

for Helen's hilarious stand-up video about false assumptions

and verbal misunderstandings, please click here),

Maria Shehata (Comedy Central's The Watch List, TLC, Women's Entertainment Network, numerous appearances on Sirius Satellite Radio; for a stand-up video about Maria's parents' arranged marriage, please click here), and

Liz Miele (Comedy Central; took third place at the March Comedy Madness competition;

for 12-minute set at Carolines, please click here).

This is an industry showcase, with lots of bookers and producers invited in hopes of launching a national tour, so expect these gals to do their best to entertain & impress.

7:30 pm at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 West 23rd Street (between 7th & 8th Avenues);

$11.24 cover if you order online, $15 at the door; plus 2-drink minimum (figure another $13+)

Jonathan C. Kaplan, Kate Hess, and Ptolemy Slocum...

...and Anthony King, Michael Delaney, and Andy Secunda

Gravid Water

Classic theatre scenes performed by professional actors who stay on book—

and an improv comic who hasn't read the play and has to make up lines on the fly.

Starring ace improvisers (in alphabetical order):

Michael Delaney (genius improvisor, actor, and improv instructor; Late Night with Conan O'Brien; member of UCBT star troupe The Stepfathers and legendary troupe The Swarm),

Kate Hess (half of UCBT sketch show We Kate Shelly, writer & co-star

of Palin Family All-Star Review and Election Spectacular),

Anthony King (brilliant UCBT-NY Artistic Director; Reuben Williams, Happy Hour,

Let's Have a Ball, off-Broadway show Gutenberg! The Musical), and

Andy Secunda (writer/performer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien, member of

genius improv group The Swarm, creator/writer of UPN sitcom Love, Inc.,

director & co-star of Palin Family All-Star Review and Election Spectacular).

And also starring are some of NYC's top theatre & TV actors: Rachel Feldman (MTV's Made), Jonathan C. Kaplan (Tony nominee for Falsettos), Amy Rutberg (The Jazz Age), Tami Sagher (writer for 30 Rock; writer and producer for Mad TV 2001-2006), Ptolemy Slocum (HBO's The Wire and The Sopranos; improv troupe Neutrino), plus "some very special guests."

Gravid Water is directed, hosted, and co-stars Stephen Ruddy—

and is one of the finest comedy productions in New York.

If you want to introduce an actor friend to the world of improv, start with this show.

8:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Jena Friedman

Entertaining Tammy with Jena Friedman

Razor-sharp and delightfully dark stand-up comic Jena Friedman (playwright of 2008 FringeNYC show Refugee Girls; for stand-up videos about sexual predators and Sarah Palin, please click here and here) hosts this new and entirely free weekly comedy show in Brooklyn. This is actually a version of an acclaimed show Jena used to do in a Chicago bar run by a gal named Tammy. (When the bar started out it was often near-empty, so Jena began the show to entertain her friend and develop steady traffic. On both counts, it was a wild success.)

Tonight's guests haven't been announced, but they're typically a mix of talented stand-ups, sketch comedy performers, and musicians.

8:00 pm at Sound Fix Records, 110 Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg Brooklyn; free

Take the L subway to Bedford Avenue and walk four blocks to N 11th Street

Arj Barker, Adira Amram, Kristen Schaal...

...Leo Allen, and Tom McCaffrey crafting his routine for tonight

Whiplash with Leo Allen: The Finest in Stand-Up Comedy, Free

Leo Allen is one of the most sharp, honest, and likeable stand-ups working in NYC. Leo was a writer for Saturday Night Live from 2002 through 2005. He's also performed two Comedy Central Presents 1/2-hour specials (one by himself and one with his writing partner Eric Slovin); done stand-up on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.; and acted on Ed and Sex and the City. Leo has now taken over the Monday-at-11:00 pm UCBT spot made super-special by Aziz Ansari's Crash Test and Jeremy Levenbach's Cavalcade! (in fact, Whiplash is produced by Jeremy).

Tonight's thoroughly wonderful guests are

Kristen Schaal (lovely, brilliant, breathtakingly talented writer/actress/comic;

thoroughly delightful correspondent and shining star on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart;

co-star of HBO's Flight of the Conchords; writer for MTV's Human Giant;

AMC's Mad Men; upcoming feature film Cirque du Freak (with Salma Hayek);

co-star of Web video series Penelope: Princess of Pets; winner of numerous comedy awards, including the prestigious 2nd Annual Andy Kaufman Award and the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Female Stand-Up; to read about Kristen's killer set headlining at Comix, please click here),

Adira Amram (brilliantly funny and sexy rising star with unique act combining hilarious original songs, dancing, and spoofing of female sexuality mixed with incredible physical energy; Jane Magazine Editors Choice; co-star of UCBT's Get Psyched!; opens for such stars as comedy genius Maria Bamford; for sample songs & videos, please click here),

Arj Barker (world-class & internationally popular stand-up star; cast member of HBO's Flight of the Conchords; Comedy Central Presents half-hour special; Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O'Brien; off-Broadway show The Marijuana-Logues), and

Tom McCaffrey (Comedy Central's Premium Blend, Shorties Watchin' Shorties, and Secret Stash Movie; VH1's All Access; The Onion).

If you love comedy, make a habit of attending this wonderful free weekly extravaganza.

11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); free

NYC Comedy Picks for Tuesday 10/28/08

Kimmy Gatewood (Comic Book Club), Pat Baer (Harold troupe Bangs), and Bobby Tisdale & Eugene Mirman (Sweet)

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

the perfect show for short attention spans—open mic stand-up with 4½ minutes per set

and 25 comics crammed into 2½ hours, who tonight include Joe DeVito, Myq Kaplan,

Becky Ciletti, and John Morrison—at John Morrison's Broadway Motel (6:00 pm),

17 NYC stand-ups—including RG Daniels, Jen Kwok, Chelsea White, and Shawn Pearlman—

competing for audience laughs and votes at Eric I's Comedy Showdown (7:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] the wonderful Kimmy Gatewood at one of her final appearances on an NYC stage

(before moving to LA), plus comics pro Todd Dezago, joining in on a lively & hilarious

discussion about comic books at Comic Book Club (8:00 pm),

three full hours of improv for only five bucks—tonight featuring UCBT house troupes

Bangs, The F*cking Kennedys, The Scam, Bastian, and Ragnaröck—at Harold Night (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] comedy giants Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale (former co-hosts of seminal NYC

stand-up show Invite Them Up), Craig Baldo (Conan O'Brien), and more at the Halloween costumes & sketches

edition of one of the finest and funniest shows in NYC, the wonderful Seth Herzog's Sweet (9:00 pm),

hilarious & thoroughly charming stand-ups Joselyn Hughes and Brooke Van Poppelen, and more,

at the return of a popular weekly show mixing sketch & stand-up: Sweet Haven (9:00 pm),

a funny exploration of where comedy comes from in Roots (9:00 pm),

a spooky comedy blast from the past at The Paul Lynde 1977 Halloween Special (9:30 pm),

and former Kissing Booth hosts Brandy Barber and Sara Jo Allocco performing a sketch show directed by the superb Owen Brimer: Jar Full of Roaches (9:30 pm).

Broadway Motel

Lottery-style open mic for stand-up comics trying out material,

with 4½ minutes per performer...in return for a $5 contribution to the weekly prize kitty.

(In addition, Broadway's one-item food or drink minimum applies to everyone.)

A breathtaking 25 comics perform in this 2½ hour show; producer

John Morrison (above) has described it as "comedy on crack."

If you're seeking consistent laughs, this might not be the best way to spend

your evening. But if you're patient and adventurous, it's a potentially wild ride.

And if you're a performer looking for some stage time, it's a nice opportunity.

Plus if you stick around till the show's end to support your fellow comics,

 you have a chance at winning the cash from the kitty, along with smaller prizes.

Tonight's lineup includes such talents as Joe DeVito, Myq Kaplan, Becky Ciletti, and John Morrison.

Broadway Motel is hosted by Cory Jarvis and Doug Adler.

To be entered into the weekly random drawing for performers,

please send email to motelme@gmail.com.

6:00 pm at Broadway Comedy Club, 318 West 53rd Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

$5 cover plus one-item food or drink minimum

Eric I's Comedy Showdown

This biweekly extravaganza is a comedy competition hosted by Eric I.

Tonight's small mob of 17 participating stand-ups are, in scheduled order, Charlie Kasov, Leanna Conley, Chris Laker, RG Daniels, Danny Lobell, Billy The Kid, Valerie Jean Garduno , Erik Bronstein, Jen Kwok, Phil Murphy, Chelsea White, Shawn Pearlman, Tim Warner, Keith Alberstadt, Fariaz, Jay Welsh, and Gary Vider, each of whom will perform a short set.

The audience will then vote on which of the comics was the most hilarious. The two winners will receive additional stage time to make comedic fun of the losers; and also move on to a final round later this year to determine a season champion (with a prize of $500, and bragging rights).

7:00 pm at Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

Kimmy Gatewood having fun out of her element

Comic Book Club

Hosted by Alex Zalben, Justin Tyler and Pete LePage,

who enjoy discussing comic books while getting laughs.

Tonight's industry guest is Todd Dezago (The Perhapnauts).

And tonight's comedy/musical star is the lovely and brilliantly talented

Kimmy Gatewood (Apple Sisters Variety Show, Comedy Central's The Gong Show.).

On a previous visit, Kimmy spent the entire show acting like she knew nothing

about comic books—but at the end performed a witty, insightful song she'd written

that contained about 15,000 comics references. After the audience's

wild applause abated, the hosts gave Kimmy a "you colossal liar!" look.

Kimmy shrugged innocently and said, "Wikipedia."

And on a more recent visit, Kimmy appeared in a Superman t-shirt and impersonated Justin Tyler (who couldn't attend that evening). Kimmy then performed a number that startled everyone: a custom-tailored theme song for the Comic Book Club show! Kimmy's lyrics—which touched on subjects ranging from obsessive nerdiness, to effeminate superhero fans, to interspersing comics reading with Internet porn—were sharp, funny, and uncomfortably on target; and her energetic yet nuanced singing was a joy.

There's no telling what Ms. Gatewood might do tonight; but you definitely shouldn't miss it, because it may be her next-to-final appearance on an NYC stage before Kimmy pursues her career & dreams by moving to LA.

To get a feel for the smart, playful vibe of Comic Book Club, please check out its podcasts—

that is, audio recordings of previous shows in their entirety—by clicking here.

(And for my two current faves, a delightful visit from Kevin "Batman" Conroy and a hilarious evening with Daily Show writer Eliot Kalan, please click here and here.)

Also be sure to watch a Penguin vs. Batman debate that uncannily predicted John McCain's recent campaign strategy by clicking here.

8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5

Harold Night

The Harold is longform improv, pioneered by Del Close.

Tonight, five improv troupes—

Bangs, The F*cking Kennedys, The Scam, Bastian, and Ragnaröck—

each give it a go for 30 minutes, with

short breaks in between, for a total of 3 hours.

Some of the groups are great; some are less so. And this show

is designed more for students of improv than the general public.

But if you're interested, and patient, a mere $5 will buy you

a full evening's education...and periodic solid laughs.

8:00-11:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale...

...and Seth Herzog and Craig Baldo

Sweet

Hosted by the razor-sharp, dynamic, and hilarious Seth Herzog (VH1's Best Week Ever).

Seth is one of the finest hosts around—and this is one of the best comedy shows in NYC.

Tonight's wonderful guests are

Eugene Mirman (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Comedy Central Presents half-hour special,

Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Jump Cuts, HBO's Flight of the Conchords, VH1,

The Absurd Nightclub Comedy of Eugene Mirman and En Garde, Society! comedy albums,

award-winning co-host of weekly Brooklyn comedy show Tearing the Veil of Maya),

Bobby Tisdale (comedy giant who for five years co-hosted the seminal

NYC weekly live comedy show Invite Them Up with Eugene; Comedy Central album;

film Junebug; HBO's Hysterical Blindness; show on SuperDeluxe.com), and

Craig Baldo (performed over 30 sketches on Late Night with Conan O'Brien; Last Comic Standing, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Comic Remix; VH1, Bravo, E!, The Onion;

for Craig's 2008 stand-up set on Conan O'Brien, please click here).

Also expect wild costumes, silly sketches, and spooky tales to celebrate Halloween.

9:00 pm at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street  (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5

Sweet Haven

This exciting new show comes from sketch troupe Peoples Republic of Komedy, whose members learned how to be funny in Seattle and then sunk all their savings into making a mark in NYC. They're off to a great start with this weekly extravaganza which uses uses sketch (and even a theme song) to create a comedic framework for their stand-up guests.

The show went into haitus after Rififi abruptly closed, but returns tonight at new venue SB3.

Tonight's lineup consists of terrific stand-ups

Joselyn Hughes (Comedysmack.com, Maxim radio, half of sketch show Macho!; for video questioning the effectiveness of rape whistles, please click here),

Brooke Van Poppelen (Carolines, Laugh Factory; other half of sketch show Macho!; co-host of New Jacks Showcase and Slumber Party at Comix; for a video sample, please click here),

Rory Scovel (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham),

and more.

9:00 pm at SB3, 33 Avenue B (red & gold building at corner of 3rd Street); free

Where Does Comedy Come From?—Roots

In this new biweekly show, performers explore the origins of funny via "stand-up, sketches, essays, videos, songs, prayers, tears, and mortal screams of sepulchral terror." Hosted by Joe Powers and Chris Conway.

Tonight's lineup is a mystery; here's hoping Joe and Chris get in the habit of announcing their guests. Nonetheless, if you're not going to Sweet, this could be worth checking out.

9:00 pm at Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

The Paul Lynde 1977 Halloween Special

The official description: "In 1977, ABC produced the annual Paul Lynde Halloween Special, but it never aired it. All traces of its existence were buried in the basement of the network. Now 31 years later, the script has been unearthed. Come see Paul Lynde, Charles Nelson Riley, Bea Arthur, Linda Carter, Ron Howard, Goldie Hawn, Sammy Davis, Jr., The Ramones, Charo, and Liza Minnelli as they perform in a comedic and musical extravaganza.

"Written & directed by Adam Taylor & Emily Bryan, and featuring Emily Bryan, Nicole Cascio, Eden Gauteron, Betsy Hoffman, Roy Koshy, Barry Lank, T.J. Mannix, Robin Rothman, Michael Short, Adam Taylor, and Sean Taylor."

Sounds like a good time to me.

9:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

Jar Full of Roaches

Former Kissing Booth hosts Brandy Barber and Sara Jo Allocco wrote & perform

this sketch show, directed by acclaimed comedy short film director Orem Brimer.

The official description: "Some simp may have said that life is just a bowl full of cherries, but Brandy & Sara think it's more like a jar full of roaches. Will there be demented workout videos? Seething hostility expressed through offers of kindness? Screeching? You betcha. And one lucky guest will win his or her very own Jar Full Of Roaches at each and every show."

So even if you don't like the show, the price is clearly worth it for the raffle entry...

9:30 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); tickets are $5

NYC Comedy Picks for Wednesday 10/29/08

Charlie Sanders (Killgore: The Resurrection) and Anthony King (CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation)

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

five free hours of improvisation in The PIT's Super Free Wednesday (7:00 pm-midnight),

[TOP PICK] a fun Halloween horror play written by comedy star & UCB co-founder Matt Walsh, directed by UCBT artistic director Anthony King, and performed by some of the top comics in NYC: Killgore: The Resurrection (8:00 pm & 10:00 pm),

comics competing for laughs based on an assigned topic in So You Think You Can Stand (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] and crime being solved with laughs and sans scripts by brilliant comics Anthony King, Lennon Parham, Ben Schwartz, Gavin Speiller, Matt Fisher, and Jim Santangeli at CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation (11:00).

Kurt Braunohler, Pat Shay, and Kimmy Gatewood

The PIT's Super Free Wednesday

For four hours every Wednesday, The PIT provides free shows featuring its improv house troupes. Vacation Island and The Wilhelm perform at 7:00 pm; Big Black Car and Fancy Dragon go on at 8:00 pm; and The Baldwins and Sid Viscous show their stuff at 9:30. Rounding out the evening are The Faculty, consisting of The PIT's superb improv instructors, including such talents as Ali Farahnakian, Kurt Braunohler, Ptolemy Slocum, Jen Nails, Pat Shay, Matt Donnelly, Kevin Scott, Rebekka Johnson, and Kimmy Gatewood.

If you then feel sufficiently inspired, you can participate in the free show Improdome at 11:00 pm, which allows audience members to get on stage and improvise with each other in trios for 5-7 minute sets.

7:00 pm-midnight at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street (off 7th Avenue); free

Killgore: The Resurrection

Just in case Halloween wasn't already enough fun, Upright Citizens Brigade genius co-founder Matt Walsh wrote this play full of laughs, blood, and strobe lights.

It's directed by Anthony King, the brilliant artistic director of UCBT-NY; and it stars some of the finest comedic talent in New York: Eugene Cordero, Matt Fisher, Chris Gethard, Molly Lloyd, John Murray, Lennon Parham, Ben Rodgers, Charlie Sanders, Jim Santangeli, Ben Schwartz, Gavin Speiller, Kate Spencer, Andree Vermeulen, and Zach Woods.

This show will be performed only seven times: twice tonight and Thursday, and three times on Halloween.

Don't miss this celebration of horror at one of the hilarious

and magical comedy venues in the world.

8:00 pm & 10:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $15

So You Think You Can Stand

This biweekly show is a competition between stand-up comedians based on an assigned topic, provided beforehand, that each comic must somehow address in his or her set. After the field is narrowed to two, there's a final round in which a short and completely improvised Q & A determines the winner. Hosted by Al Alvarez and Jessie Richardson.

Tonight's comics haven't been announced;

to check for a last-minute update, please click here.

9:00 pm at Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

CSI: Crime Scene Improv

A crime has been commited. The scene of the crime holds all the clues to catch a murderer. Come see UCBT's top improvisors sift through blood, fingerprints, and blue light to save the day!

Tonight's brilliant performers are Anthony King, Lennon Parham, Ben Schwartz, Gavin Speiller, Matt Fisher, and Jim Santangeli.

11:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

NYC Comedy Picks for Thursday 10/30/08

Eugene Cordero (Killgore: The Resurrection) and The Apple Sisters (Ghoul's Night Out)

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

[TOP PICK] The Apple Sisters, who are winners of the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act,

and one of the most charming & entertaining groups in NYC, in their final NYC show

performing a Halloween musical: Ghoul's Night Out (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] a fun Halloween horror play written by comedy star & UCB co-founder Matt Walsh, directed by UCBT artistic director Anthony King, and performed by some of the top comics in NYC: Killgore: The Resurrection (8:00 pm & 10:00 pm),

superb stand-ups including Victor Varnado (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Comedy Central),

Brooke Van Poppelen (Carolines, Macho!), and Myq Kaplan (Comedy Central) telling jokes and then

answering personal questions on stage at Matt Ruby's & Mark Normand's We're All Friends Here (8:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] and crime being solved with laughs and sans scripts by brilliant comics Anthony King, Lennon Parham, Ben Schwartz, Gavin Speiller, Matt Fisher, and Jim Santangeli at CSI: Crime Scene Improvisation (11:00).

Photo on left: Rebekka Johnson, Kimmy Gatewood, and Sarah Lowe

Photo on right: Sarah Lowe, Rebekka Johnson, and Kimmy Gatewood

The Apple Sisters: Ghoul's Night Out

The delicious Apple Sisters—Kimmy Gatewood, Rebekka Johnson, and Sarah Lowe, with Tom Thomsen on keyboard—have sung, danced, and naughtily joked their ways into New York City's heart. This homage to 1940s girl groups like The Andrew Sisters is one of the great successes in NYC alternative comedy, performing on Comedy Central and the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival, and winning the 2008 ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act.

Tonight the gals do a show about Halloween involving spooky magic and lots of crows.

Please note that Sarah Lowe won't be performing...because she just joined the cast of Jersey Boys in Vegas! Taking her place will be Broadway actress Vanessa Ray (Spelling Bee, Mama Mia).

Please also note this may be the final performance of The Apple Sisters—at least, in NYC—because Kimmy Gatewood is pursuing her career by moving to LA. Don't miss the last chance to be charmed by this lovely trio.

From the official description: "The Apple Sisters are Candy, Cora, and Seedy. Their mother, Ms. Reddy Apple, was a vaudeville star and she passed down the legacy to her three girls! The trio present their live show, broadcast on WXYZ AM Radio, straight to the troops in Germany, and present the show on stage at the Peoples Improv Theater in their first and favorite home, the Big Apple! Be a chum and always use Doramad Toothpaste, now with Thorium!"

To get a feel for the production, please click here & here & here & here.

The show tends to sell out, so it's recommended you buy an advance ticket online

($10.22, including service charge, using discount code APPLEFAN) by clicking here.

8:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street; tickets are $10 at the door

Killgore: The Resurrection

Just in case Halloween wasn't already enough fun, Upright Citizens Brigade genius co-founder Matt Walsh wrote this play full of laughs, blood, and strobe lights.

It's directed by Anthony King, the brilliant artistic director of UCBT-NY; and it stars some of the finest comedic talent in New York: Eugene Cordero, Matt Fisher, Chris Gethard, Molly Lloyd, John Murray, Lennon Parham, Ben Rodgers, Charlie Sanders, Jim Santangeli, Ben Schwartz, Gavin Speiller, Kate Spencer, Andree Vermeulen, and Zach Woods.

This show will be performed only seven times: twice tonight and Thursday, and three times on Halloween.

Don't miss this celebration of horror at one of the hilarious

and magical comedy venues in the world.

8:00 pm & 10:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $15

Victor Varnado and Brooke Van Poppelen

We're All Friends Here

Matt Ruby (host of monthly NYC live comedy extravaganza Flying Carpet)

and Mark Normand emcee this new NYC show in which stand-up comics perform...

and then are asked personal questions on stage!!

Tonight's superb guests are

Victor Varnado (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Comedy Central's Premium Blend, NBC's My Name is Earl, Adult Swim's Fat Guy Stuck in Internet, Chicago City Limits; wrote and directed the movie Twist the Cap, starring Charlie Murphy; acted in such films as Pluto Nash, End of Days, and A Guy Thing; recently taped concert film

The Awkward Kings of Comedy; for a stand-up sample, please click here),

Brooke Van Poppelen (Carolines, Laugh Factory; half of sketch show Macho!; co-host of New Jacks Showcase and Slumber Party at Comix; for a video sample, please click here),

Myq Kaplan (Comedy Central's Live at Gotham; for superb stand-up video about religion, gay  marriage, and dumplings, please click here),

Mike Lawrence (for stand-up video about chicken choices & aging heroes, please click here),

and possibly a "special guest."

Also—for whatever it's worth to you—directly following this comedy romp is a burlesque show which you can stay for and enjoy for free.

Doors open at 7:00 pm, show begins at 8:00 pm sharp at The Slipper Room, 167 Orchard Street  (corner of Stanton Street); tickets are $5

CSI: Crime Scene Improv

A crime has been committed. The scene of the crime holds all the clues to catch a murderer. Come see UCBT's top improvisors sift through blood, fingerprints, and blue light to save the day!

Tonight's brilliant performers are Pat Baer, Eugene Cordero, John Murray, Ben Rodgers, Charlie Sanders, and Zach Woods.

11:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5

NYC Comedy Picks for Friday 10/31/08

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

three Halloween-themed shows at The Peoples Improv Theatre, including Pure Evil (7:00-11:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] and a fun Halloween horror play written by comedy star & UCB co-founder Matt Walsh, directed by UCBT artistic director Anthony King, and performed by some of the top comics in NYC: Killgore: The Resurrection (8:00 pm, 10:00 pm, and midnight).

Halloween Night at The PIT

Tonight The PIT hosts three Halloween-themed shows, from 7:00 pm till 11:00 pm. You can purchase a ticket for any one show for $10 or a pass for all three for $25. Most intriguing is the 8:00 pm event, titled Pure Evil, in which "performers and audience members will create a one hour show by sharing their worst deeds ever. Expect deception, violence, crimes against humanity, and maybe (just maybe) payback!" For more details, please click here.

7:00-11:00 pm at The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street; $25 for the entire evening

Killgore: The Resurrection

Just in case Halloween wasn't already enough fun, Upright Citizens Brigade genius co-founder Matt Walsh wrote this play full of laughs, blood, and strobe lights.

It's directed by Anthony King, the brilliant artistic director of UCBT-NY; and it stars some of the finest comedic talent in New York: Eugene Cordero, Matt Fisher, Chris Gethard, Molly Lloyd, John Murray, Lennon Parham, Ben Rodgers, Charlie Sanders, Jim Santangeli, Ben Schwartz, Gavin Speiller, Kate Spencer, Andree Vermeulen, and Zach Woods.

This show will be performed only seven times: twice tonight and Thursday, and three times on Halloween.

Don't miss this celebration of horror at one of the hilarious

and magical comedy venues in the world.

8:00 pm & 10:00 pm & midnight at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $15

NYC Comedy Picks for Saturday 11/1/08

Richard Belzer (headlining at Comix)

Tonight's recommendations for the best in New York City comedy

(in chronological order, with top picks marked by colored brackets) include:

four sharp storytellers trying to mislead the audience in The Liar Show (6:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] a comedy legend headlining at Comix for this evening only: Richard Belzer (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] star improvisation from writers & performers at 30 Rock, The Colbert Report,

and The Daily Show who joyously declare Let's Have a Ball (7:30 pm),

an improv troupe with a theatrical approach: Stray (7:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] one of my all-time favorite improv troupes—which this season broke the Cage Match record

for winning streaks with 17 triumphs in a row, and is now taking over UCBT's prestigious prime-time

Saturday night slot—the brilliant and daring members of Death by Roo Roo (9:00 pm),

a small mob of talented comics—including the wonderful Kimmy Gatewood, in her final NYC stage appearance before moving to LA—telling funny, poignant, and at times unforgettable tales about their relatives at the gorgeous Sara Benincasa's Family Hour (9:00 pm),

organic & energetic improv by the four guys of 4 Track! (9:00 pm),

[TOP PICK] inventive & hilarious sketch comedy from The Harvard Sailing Team (9:30 pm),

[TOP PICK] improvised TV shows about audience members via world-class troupe Reuben Williams (10:30 pm),

and political sketch comedy from UCBT group Stone Cold Fox in That One (Midnight).

The Liar Show

Four funny people tell amazing stories. Three of the tales are absolutely true...but one of them is a pack of lies. The audience then asks questions to try and identify the fibber. Hosted by Andy Christie (The New York Times).

Tonight's yarn-spinners are Martin Dockery (acclaimed as "fantastic" by The New York Times), Faye Lane (Beauty Shop Stories), Ryan Britt (Nerve.com), and Steve Zimmer (Moth GrandSLAM finalist).

The Liar Show was a smash hit at this August's Edinburgh Festival, and is a regular feature at the prestigious Comix Comedy Club. Recommended.

6:00 pm at Cornelia Street Cafe, 29 Cornelia Street (between West 4th Street and Bleecker);

tickets are $12, which includes one house drink

Richard Belzer and the Belzonics

TV star & comedy superstar Richard Belzer has been entertaining audiences with his wry, ironic, playful sense of humor for decades. Most recently, Richard was a talent judge on this season of Last Comic Standing; and he's an icon as the conspiracy-theory spouting Detective John Munch, first for seven years on NBC's acclaimed Homicide: Life on the Street and then on the perennial NBC hit Law & Order: SVU.

For more on Richard's numerous credits and colorful career, please click here.

Will this be the most laugh-packed show you ever see? In a word, no. When Richard previously put on this extravaganza (a few months ago), roughly a quarter of it was given away to his son-in-law's country music band, which was energetic and well-intentioned, but quickly forgettable...and not in the least funny.

But that's sort of beside the point. Richard is a comedy legend; he's still razor-sharp; and this is a rare opportunity to see him perform live on stage. If that has inherent appeal to you—and a $35 ticket plus $13 food/drink minimum causes you no pain— this evening will be a good time. (And consider buying in advance; last time, the show sold out...)

Please Note: You can save $5 off the $40 cover (i.e., pay $35 per ticket)

by ordering online with discount code HyReviews.

Please also note there's also a two-item minimum;

with tax & tip, figure on spending an additional $13 or up.

7:30 pm at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

$35 online using code HYREVIEWS, plus two-item food or drink minimum

Becky Drysdale, Anthony King, Christina Gausas, Peter Gwinn, and Tami Sagher

Let's Have a Ball

Some of the sharpest writers and performers in NYC get together for long-form improv fun.

Among the players often performing are Scott Adsit (cast member of 30 Rock, and co-director & cast member of Adult Swim's brilliant & Emmy-winning Moral Orel), Kay Cannon (writer for 30 Rock), Becky Drysdale (acclaimed one-woman show One Woman in Several Pieces, Web video series Time Traveling Lesbian), Christina Gausas (Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Stepfathers, Dorff & Gausas), Peter Gwinn (writer for The Colbert Report), Anthony King (UCBT-NY Artistic Director, Reuben Williams, Gutenberg! The Musical), Laura Krafft (writer for The Colbert Report), Tami Sagher (writer for 30 Rock; writer and producer for Mad TV 2001-2006), and Rob Riggle (correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart; Saturday Night Live, The Office).

7:30 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10

Stray

Improv troupe Stray "plays in a theatrical, narrative style that was developed in Seattle, honed in Europe, and blended in New York. Stray's unique approach creates spontaneous theatre that is comedic, dramatic, or abstract, sometimes all at once." The group consists of Jill Farris, Wendy Herlich, Kristy Kershaw, and Stefan Schick.

7:30 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $7

Death by Roo Roo: Your F*cked Up Family

Arguably the gutsiest improv troupe in NYC, the brilliant comics of Death by Roo Roo—Anthony Atamanuik, Neil Casey, John Gemberling, Curtis Gwinn, Adam Pally, and Gavin Speiller—interview an audience member about family and then act out his or her life story

via improvised scenes. Sometimes scary, and usually hilarious.

Tonight marks the group's well-deserved move from its late Friday spot

to UCBT's prime time spot on Saturday night.

9:00 pm at UCBT, 307 West 26th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $10

Kimmy Gatewood, "Auntie" Sara Benincasa, and Mike Drucker

Family Hour with Auntie Sara

In this unique weekly comedy show, everyone tells jokes and/or stories related to

their family. It's hosted by stand-up comic Sara Benincasa, whose many credits include correspondent for MTV's Choose or Lose Campaign and host of Tub Talk with Sara B. on Nerve.com. (Sara is also a fine comedic actress; to watch her be hilarious as Sarah Palin and as a yoga instructor, please click  here & here and here.)

Tonight is extra special because it's the last time for Sara to do her Palin impersonation before the election; it's a belated birthday party for Sara; and it's the final scheduled NYC show for the wonderful Kimmy Gatewood, who'll soon be pursuing her career by moving to LA.

Tonight's terrific comics are, in alphabetical order, DEL, Mike Drucker, Kimmy Gatewood, Leslie Goshko, Lucas Held, Stacia Jensen, Jen Kwok, Matt Nagin, Charles Star, and Kevin Tor.

9:00 pm at Ochi's Lounge at Comix, 353 West 14th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues);

no cover, 1 drink or food item minimum (e.g., draft beer for $4-$5)

4 Track!

Springboarding from a word suggested by the audience,

George Basil, Frank Campanella, Christian Capozzoli, and Matt Evans

perform organic & energetic long-form improv for about 40 minutes.

Basil is a stand-out, but they're all sharp, committed improvisors.

There's also a warm chemistry between the men, which is especially evident

if you arrive early to watch them getting ready on stage: They toss a ball

back and forth, and then toss each other back and forth...sending

a body message of "If you throw an improv concept at me, you can trust me

to not let it drop..." One of the Magnet's most popular shows.

9:00 pm at The Magnet Theatre, 254 West 29th Street (off 8th Avenue); tickets are $5