Last updated Thursday, July 2nd 2009
This site is going on vacation—aside from brief updates—for two weeks so I can focus on book and film projects. (And by the way, if you need help with a book or screenplay, please visit my sites HyOnYourBook.com and HyOnYourScript.com.)
Daily listings will resume on July 13th.
That said, here are some quick recommendations of notable shows happening this week:
Thursday 7/2 at 8:00 pm: NYC comedy royalty Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler hosting Hot Tub
Thursday 7/2 at 9:30 pm: Janeane Garofalo, Pete Holmes, and Jamie Kilstein making the news funny
by riffing on topical animated political cartoons by host Scott Bateman
Friday 7/3 at 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm: Pete Holmes headlining at Comix
Sunday 7/5 at 6:00 pm: One-woman show I Wanna Be Famous at 308 Broadway from Jessica Delfino
Recommendations for next week will be posted by July 5th.
Also, more broadly, to keep up with what's happening in NYC comedy please visit the Web sites of these stellar & inexpensive venues:
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
The Creek and the Cave (Queens LIC)
And for comedy clubs, please visit:
HyReviews.com Comedy Club Discounts
Finally, please buy lots of copies of Adira Amram's just-released album Hot Jams for Teens:
Please click to go directly to:
Insider Comedy Discounts & Freebies: A New Benefit for HyReviews.com Readers
NYC Comedy Club Discounts—Including NO COVER CHARGE on ALL Eastville Shows!
(Eastville Comedy, Broadway Comedy, Dangerfield's)
HyReviews.com's Videos of the Month: Between the Ferns with Zach Galifianakis
HyReviews.com's Bonus Video of the Month: Casey Wilson Reads Fan Mail from the Net
HyReviews.com's Comedy Interview: Carolyn Castiglia
Hy's Book Proposal, Screenplay Doctoring, and Ghostwriting Services
Insider Comedy Discounts & Freebies: A New Benefit for HyReviews.com Readers
Sometimes comedy clubs, theatres, and others contact me with offers that they don't want
on a searchable Web page but that they're happy to provide to my core readers.
If you'd like to take advantage of such opportunities, simply tell me your email address,
and every now and then you'll receive a notice directly from me about cool deals.
(Your email address will never be sold, rented, or given away to anyone else.)
To become a comedy/theatre Insider, please send your email address to hy@hyreviews.com
with the subject heading Insider.
HyReviews.com's Videos of the Month:
Between the Ferns with Zach Galifianakis
Natalie Portman and Her Dog Whiz
Jimmy Kimmel's Views on Bananas
Jon Hamm Triggers an Allergic Reaction
For more Zach videos, please click here.
HyReviews.com's Bonus Video of the Month:
Casey Wilson Reads Fan Mail from the Net
Saturday Night Live cast member Casey Wilson reads viewers' reviews on the Web
in a pitch-perfect video. To experience it, please click here.
HyReviews.com's Comedy Interview of the Month:
Another comedy interview is coming soon.
For videos about Sarah Palin—and especially her comedy gold Thanksgiving interview—please click here and here.
To explore other comedy and NYC theatre sections of HyReviews.com, please click here
(or use the search box and/or site index below).
Tonight's Hot Comedy Picks—Will Return on July 13th, 2009
To view HyReviews.com NYC Comedy Picks from previous weeks, please click here.
If you'd enjoy an elegant evening at an NYC comedy club
but also want to save some money, please click here.
You can get free tickets for all shows at the Eastville Comedy Club,
a 50% discount on all tickets for the Broadway Comedy Club, and
free & 50% discount ticket offers for Dangerfield's Comedy Club.
I'm trying to keep this section super-concise,
but If a top site isn't listed that you think oughta be,
please drop me a note and I'll take a close look.
Comedy Coverage
(in alphabetical order):
Comedy Providers
(in alphabetical order):
Please check out these New York City theatre sections of HyReviews.com:
FringeNYC 2007 Performer's Gallery
Hy on Theatre Discounts: See Great Shows for as Little as $3.50
Please also check out these comedy sections of HyReviews.com:
Comedy Interview of the Month: Carolyn Castiglia
Previous Video Clips of the Month
Previous Nightly NYC Live Comedy PIcks
UCBComedy.com: A New Force for Comedy on the Web
Comedy in the Moment: The Annual Del Close Improv Marathon
Comedy Scene by Scene: SketchFest NYC 07
Shockingly Delightful: Offensive Fest 2007
Show Reports: Kristen Schaal Dave Hill Andy Blitz
Show Reports: Kumail Nanjiani Invite Them Up
And if you need any help with a book or a screenplay, please visit Hy's writer sites:
Reggie Watts is a musical improv comedy genius—a scary talented vocalist, beatboxer, and musician whose unique skills will likely amaze you. Reggie won the 2009 ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act and the 2007 Andy Kaufman Award; is a cast member of the new Electric Company; and recently delivered a bravura performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. To learn more, please visit ReggieWatts.com; please explore his album Pot Cookies; and please check out these videos of Reggie showing what he can do:
The Worst Thing You Ever Heard
Obama at White House Correspondents' Dinner
There aren't many times when President Barack Obama jokes around;
but one of them is the annual While House Correspondents' Association Dinner.
To watch the stand-up set Obama delivered on May 9, 2009, please click here.
Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent
This isn't comedy in the usual sense. But please click the photo above, and enjoy.
Brilliant & Beloved NYC Comics in Prime Time—Amy Poehler,
Aziz Ansari, and Aubrey Plaza in NBC's Parks and Recreation,
and Demetri Martin in Comedy Central's Important Things
Has Amy Poehler Ever Looked More Beautiful?
The Prince and the Pauper—with John Oliver!
Lost Footage of The Prince and the Pauper
Demetri on Things Greater Than or Equal To
Demetri on Walls, Babies, and Earthquakes
The Brilliant & Thoroughly Loveable Jack McBrayer Proves He's Not Bobby Jindal
SNL Flashback Before Late Night De Niro Interview
Conan O'Brien Interview Before Debut
Jay Leno Tells Jimmy the "Talk Show" is Now Really a Comedy Show, with Guests
Jimmy Gets Last-Minute Advice from Lorne Michaels
Highlight of Week 1: Dance-Off with Cameron Diaz
Conan O'Brien is moving up to NBC's Tonight Show, and so March 3rd, 2009 was the debut of his replacement: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Taking over from a comedy genius like Conan is daunting—but the same was true when Conan replaced David Letterman back on September 13, 1993. There were some bumps then, but Conan ultimately more than rose to the occasion; and here's hoping Jimmy does too. His show's writing staff includes genius stand-up & rising star Anthony Jeselnik (HBO, Comedy Central), and creepily hilarious comedic actor AD Miles (Human Giant, Conan O'Brien, Dog Bites Man, Reno 911). Behind the awkwardness, Jimmy is a powerful talent and quick learner—as was demonstrated beautifully by the dance-off with Cameron Diaz. The nerves showed at times during the first week (a low point was Jimmy mock-snoring when Billy Crudup tried to provide a few seconds of information about Watchmen; honestly, it's okay to let people say intelligent things now and then...). But tune in to watch Mr. Fallon grow and, over time, make his own special mark as a Late Night host.
Pete Describes a Problem with His Enormous Balls
Pete Dissects Facebook and Why Being a Kid Sucks
Pete Gets Animated About Being Manly
Pete and Joselyn Hughes Go On a Wine Date
Pete and Jenny Slate Go On an Honest Date
Pete Discusses the South Beach Diet
Dr. Pete: The Conversation No Easy Way Baseball Whooping Cough Down Syndrome
Ray Romano Sings, Christmas Edition
Pete Holmes has one of the most lightning-fast and hilarious comedic minds in the country. Pete combines the organic energy of improv with the precision of a great wordsmith and split-second timing of a world-class performer. Pete's razor-sharp observations have warmed up audiences for The Daily Show, lit up such such series as VH1's Best Week Ever and Comedy Central's Premium Blend, and illuminated the cartoon sections of such magazines as The New Yorker. A 6'6" teddy bear, Pete has the accessibility of a Ray Romano—and is genuinely one of the nicest guys in show biz—but can also be as surreal and silly as a young Steve Martin. Please check out the videos above to enjoy this genius comic's range; and then catch this rising star live on stage as often as possible.
Anthony on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live
Anthony on NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Anthony on Comedy Central's Premium Blend
Anthony on HBO's Down and Dirty with Jim Norton
Anthony Performs a Joke as Dane Cook
Anthony Explains Why His Body is a Temple
Anthony Explains Why a Comedian is Like a Tank
Anthony Jeselnik (being lauded above by Robin Williams) is just starting to became famous, but I believe he'll prove to be one of the sharpest & funniest stand-ups, writers, and overall performers in comedy history. There's nothing better than seeing Anthony live on stage, but in the meantime please enjoy these videos; look for his work as staff writer on NBC's upcoming NYC replacement for Conan O'Brien's show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon; and keep an eye out for repeats of Anthony's Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, which debuted January 16, 2009.
SNL's Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton
The Actual, Disastrous Katie Couric Interview
Analysis of the Katie Couric Interview, Part 1
Analysis of the Katie Couric Interview, Part 2
SNL's Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Reenacting the Katie Couric Interview
SNL's Tina Fey and Jason Sudeikis Reenacting the VP Debate
SNL's Tina Fey and Sarah Palin Quickly Walking Past Each Other
SNL's Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, and Darrell Hammond as George W. Endorsing Palin & McCain
The New Yorker on Sarah Palin's Proximity to Russia
Comedic Actress Sara Benincasa as Sarah Palin
CNN on Sarah Palin Impersonators
Sarah Palin Celebrates Thanksgiving
On November 20th, following the traditional cute pardoning of a single turkey, Sarah Palin decided to conduct an interview while the other non-pardoned turkeys are being slaughtered directly behind her. The resulting disconnect between her words (about her "values and convictions," the political process being "brutal," etc.) and what's happening mere feet away—not to mention the interviewer asking a question about state programs "being on the chopping block"—is one of the the most surreal and hilarious political interviews, ever.
(Note: After this blew up into a national story, Governor Palin said she didn't know what was going on in the background. Observers find this tough to swallow. My own perspective is that it's hard to say which is funnier: her being oblivious, or being utterly insensitive, to the carnage. Please judge for yourself; and either way, enjoy.)
For a slightly sanitized version, please click here.
For the complete gruesome version, please click here.
For a Twilight Zone version that speculates on what else Governor Palin might miss while conducting an interview (from Slate.com), please click here.
Little Michael Jackson and Me 1: "All Washed Up"
Little Michael Jackson and Me 2: "Game! Set! Match!"
Little Michael Jackson and Me 3: "We Can Work It Out"
HyReviews.com Show Report 9/24/07: Dave Hill Turns Things Around
Best FringeNYC 2008 Show Promos
Carl and Shelly, Best Friends Forever
Kansas City or Along the Way: "Lullaby" (audio only)
The Sound of One Hanna Clapping: "Ode to Britney" (audio only)
The Home for Wayward Girls and Fallen Women
Kansas City or Along the Way: "Hammer" (audio only)
Kansas City or Along the Way: "Adelaide Hall" (audio only)
Dreadful Penny's Exquisite Horrors
Usher: "I Might Have Taken You Dancing"
Getting Canceled...and Starting Over
The Unsettling Artistry of Comedy Troupe Quiet Library
Violet Krumbein and Greg Tuculescu
Quiet Library: Chris Cooper, David Hale, Dave Cederquist, & Greg Tuculescu
Parents of Miss Teen South Carolina
Miss Teen South Carolina vs. Bush
Rob Paravonian
Life as a Comic: College Conventions
Life as a Comic: Downtown Comedy
Life as a Comic: Guitar Comics
Memorable Award Show Moments
Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert at the 2006 Emmys
Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Steve Carell at the 2007 Emmys
Jon Stewart's Opening Monologue at the 2008 Academy Awards
Jon Stewart Presenting a Baby at the 2008 Academy Awards
Sarah Silverman: I'm F*cking Matt Damon
For Jimmy Kimmel's Fifth Anniversary show,
his long-time girlfriend Sarah Silverman
gave him a video gift.
To enjoy it yourself, please click here.
Most Concise & Dead-On Explanation of the Strike
Tim Kazurinsky Succinctly Explains the Strike
Neal Pollack's 5-Year-Old Elijah Explains the Strike
David Letterman Explains the Producers' Side of the Strike
Tim Carvell & Jason Ross of The Daily Show on Viacom Paradox
Yet More Paradox in Voices of Uncertainty
Family Guy's Seth MacFarlane on the Strike
David Letterman—Bless Him—Negotiates Separate Deal with WGA
(news article about why you should tune into new episodes of Late Show with David Letterman starting 1/2/08)
Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert—Bless Them—Facing Tougher Situation
(New York Times article about these comedy genius writer/performers also returning to the air, but sans writing staffs)
A Ninja Offers Advice to the Writers Guild
How Moonlighting Handled the Writers Strike of 1988
For the Best Strike Coverage: Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily
Don't Rape Me (played on rape whistle)
Album of the Month: Jessica Delfino's I Wanna Be Famous
Funny, filthy, graceful, seething, and always artful, Jessica Delfino is a rare treasure:
a stellar comic who employs the voice of an angel to sing lyrics that would make a sailor blush.
At times she tries too hard on the latter, going for shock over substance; but more often Jessica hits the right notes via marvelous songs such as I Wanna Be Famous, Don't Rape Me, and Only a Stranger's C*ck. Not for every taste; but if you're open to a different kind of comedy, this imaginative and beautifully packaged combination CD/DVD is a steal at $10 plus $2.99 shipping. To check out some of its tracks, and to then order multiple copies for yourself and your more unusual friends, please click here. Please also visit Jessica's Myspace page by clicking here; check out her music videos (directly above) by clicking here; and keep an eye on this promising rising star.
What Shoulda Happened... (co-starring Eugene Mirman)
Aziz Stand-Up #1 (Kanye West & Val Kilmer)
Aziz Stand-Up #2 (Enemies List)
Aziz Stand-Up #3 (Gay Marriage)
Aziz on Amateurish YouTube Editing
Complete Stand-Up Routine (MP3 audio clip)
(If you don't happen to know your Betty Boop, please click the links above
to play three 1930s cartoon gems. Each one starts out slowly,
but please be patient and watch all the way through...and then observe
what happens to your mind after experiencing these black & white dreams.)
(uncooperative animated characters)
First four minutes of Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat
Borat interviewed by Jon Stewart
Sacha Baron Cohen torturing supermarket manager
Borat Q&A at Toronto Film Festival
Chad Vader, Day Shift Manager:
Amanda Congdon Bids Farewell to Rocketboom
Amanda Explains Things on MSNBC
(The lovely and super-talented Amanda Congdon's split
with her producer Andrew Baron has been the focus of the
biggest soap opera to hit the Web since Microsoft vs. Google.
If this drama has somehow slipped by you, these clips cover the highlights.)
(animated music video you're unlikely to forget...no matter how hard you may try...)
(comedian Judson Laipply dances through several musical generations—in just six minutes)
(actual deposition conducted in April 2006 by famed Texas attorney Joe Jamail)
(investigative videojournalists uncover the true-life Springfield)
(the secret Brokeback trilogy)
(Jewish comic Sacha Baron Cohen—a.k.a. Borat and Ali G—shines a light on anti-semitism)
Rainbow, a 1972-1992 UK version of Sesame Street
(shot for the show's 1979 Christmas party; and the funniest children's TV episode, ever...)
(infamous deleted scene from March of the Penguins)
Jack Nicholson's Heartwarming New Dramedy
Hy's Book Proposal, Ghostwriting, and Screenplay Services
The brief version:
If you want to do a book, I can craft your book proposal, edit, and/or ghostwrite.
If you want to sell a screenplay, I can help bulletproof your script.
Please click if you'd like information on my book services or screenplay services
and then click to email me.
The longer version:
In addition to this Web site, I run two commercial editorial services:
HyOnYourBook.com if you need a winning book proposal, manuscript editor, or ghostwriter, and HyOnYourScript.com if you want to bulletproof your screenplay.
If you have any other type of writing or editing need, I can probably tackle it as well. To get in touch, please email me at hy@hyreviews.com.
Hy's Other Web Sites:
Copyright © 2009 Hy Bender
Email: hy@hyreviews.com
