30 Days of Comedy

I've been going to a LOT of comedy shows lately. I'm kind of lazy and find it hard to talk about each one individually. Also, I haven't properly explained how much of a comedy fanatic I am. So take this list I compiled of all the shows I've been to over 30 days starting on January 30th as a short trip into my comedy obsessed world. Keep in mind the list has everything outside of work that I've done for the month, so there are movies and one or two other things as well.

Monday, January 30^th:

Comedy Cellar. Located in the middle of Greenwich Village, its one of my favorite venues and I regularly go to shows there. You may recognize it from the show Louis. The intro was filmed there and most of the stand up in the show was filmed there as well. Actually if you walk there from the West 4th Street stop on the BDFM or ACE you can follow the path Louie takes exactly, even eat pizza at the same restaurant!
Unfortunately, I don't remember the show itself that well, but I did meet Mona, a girl from San Fran. She wasn't a comedian but was a fanatic like me and told me to check out Punchline or Cobbs’ out in her city.

Later I went The PIT(The People's Improv Theater) for FRESH a free open mic. This open mic is a little insane, because there are over 40 participants, so the place is full, and you only get two minutes. The best one there was an old lady I met beforehand, she had a "I don't give a shit" attitude and had everyone genuinely laughing. The rest, as with most open mics, were either decent or outrageously bad. 

Tuesday: yep, Tuesday.

Wednesday, February 1^st:

Audience member for a filmed untitled Amy Shumer show at the Bowery Poetry Club. Kurt Metzger was warm up comedian. I will not be doing this kind of thing any time soon, unless I'm getting paid. Waited for two hours and lost a day of work for roughly 12 minutes of stand up by Amy Shumer. To my credit, I thought it was a stand up special, but I guess we will have a Amy Shumer show on Comedy Central coming up in the next few months. 

Thursday, February 2^nd:

Montreal Comedy Festival (Just For Laughs) showcase at Gotham Comedy Club. Hosted by Joe Cerosa. The Just For Laughs festival is one of the most prestigious comedy festivals. It is internationally acclaimed and a lot of comedian's careers took off from there. Its a lot of pressure and hard to get into. The comedians who I saw were already going (thats why it was a "Showcase"): Corey Rodriguez, Ryan Conner, Chris Distefano, Dave Wait, Jenna Kim Jones, Lorrie Davis, Ben Kessel, Nick Thomas, and Pete Lee. Eric Liden ended the show. They all gave their five to eight minute performance; their shtick for the festival. This was a lot of fun. I wish I could be in Montreal for the real thing. 

Friday: Mental preparation for the showcade.

Saturday, Feb 4^th:

The Showcade! At the Creek and Cave. I witnessed nearly 6 hours of amazing comedy straight…I needed to take a few days off. Nearly every show that the Creek and Cave hosts was present. They were raising money to make a better stage, but the show didn't cost anything; none of their shows cost anything. I love the Creek and Cave. Open Mics every day of the week, nearly every show is free, its a relaxed place where you can walk in any time and talk with the comedians, and its down the block from my apartment.

Sunday and Monday: My days off.

Tuesday Feb 7^th:

'Gates of Heaven' at the Lincoln Center. Discussion with director Errol Morris after.
'Gates of Heaven' has to be the first ironic documentary ever. Without a word from the director, the people themselves make you laugh because they are so ridiculous. Morris just points the camera at the subject and they voice their opinions. It was brilliant. Strange, but brilliant.
I love seeing movies at the Lincoln Center. They are cheaper then regular movie theaters ($10), they have great movie rooms, and they show great and unusual movies all the time. They host the New York Film Festival every year and this past year I got to see Wes Anderson, Bill Murray, Oliver Stone, Kevin Smith and Jon Lithgow. I also got to see Martin Scorsese in person to watch and discuss Mean Streets! But that wasn't part of the NYFF. They have things like that all the time and they are never expensive and always fun.  

Wednesday: A day that was.

Thursday, Feb 9^th:

UCB (Upright Citizen's Brigade) East:
Oh Hey Guys hosted by John Flynn. This is a free story telling show. Where you get eight minutes to tell any story you want. Its a fun show. 

Key Party (sketch)/Soundtrack NYC (improv) -both are incredible. Its nice to round out stand up with some great sketch and improv comedy once in a while. 

Totally J/K: hosted by Joe Mande. This show filled up the theater; Performaces by Dave Hill, Kurt Braunohler, Roger Hails and Neal Brennan. All amazing comedians. First time I ever saw Dave Hill perform, the man is a genius! 

Afterwards, walking back home, I stopped into the Creek and Cave for Death Comedy Jam. Amy Robinson, Jeffrey Joseph, Doc Livinson, Ledin Smith. Amy Robinson and Jeffrey Joseph were great. I don't remember Doc and Ledin's sets much. Jeffrey you can see around the city all the time, he's a NYC regular. 

Friday to Sunday: A total blur!

Monday:

Whiplash at UCB Chelsea:
This is Leo Allen's weekly show. $5. Always good.
This week had a formidable lineup. So I had to go.
Sean Patton, Sean Donally, Jessi Klein, Demetri Martin, Neal Brennan, Kumail Nanjiani.
If you don't recognize these names, especially the last four, you need to get on youtube right now! Also, as a sidenote, Neal Brennan is starting to annoy me. I think I've seen his stand up one too many times.

Tuesday, February 14^th:

 Live taping of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Though the best part was the interaction between my Grandma and Paul Mecurio, who was the warm up comedian. She slapped his ass, told everyone she was going to disown my father, and when Paul handed her the mic she sang a Yiddish song. The woman has guts!

Chest Hair and then Savage Animal at the Creek and Cave: Greg Stone makes me a major part of his show when I tell him I went to a few open mics after he encouraged me, then every single comic after him follows suit and incorporates me into their sets. I owe Greg for this one. 

Wednesday and thurday: Who remembers?

Friday, Feb 17^th:

New York Knicks vs. New Orleans Hornets at MSG with the family. The Knicks first loss after the discovery of Jeremy Lin. Fun game, and I was lucky, considering I bought tickets months ago. There was such a clamor for Knicks tickets that I probably could have sold these for three times what I bought them for. 

Saturday, Feb 18^th:

Astoria multiplex to see Safe House with Denzel Washington. Decent but forgettable movie (as in I already forgot what the movie was about)

Dangerfield’s: Ray Allen Mcs. Ryan Reese, Patty rossburough, Mike Britt, JJ Ramirez. Fuck Dangerfield's (read my post; "Dangerfield's: Don't Go!) but the comics were seriously good. Patty Rosburough and JJ Ramirez are pros. 

Sunday:

Documentary The Extraordinary Voyage about the restoration of Georges Melies’ A Trip to the Moon at Lincoln Center. Amazing documentary, but you already know that (post titled: "A Trip to the Moon")

Free show at the Knitting Factory. The Knitting Factory is a music venue that hosts a free comedy show every Sunday night, hosted by Hannibal Buress. However, Hannibal wasn't there this night so Cynthia Robertson guest hosted, and kicked ass at it. Jacqueline Novak, Joe Mande, John Moses, Danny Kallas, Damien Lemon, Joey Gay. 

Monday, Feb 20^th:

Oscar nominated live action shorts at the IFC Center.

Hot Tub at Littlefield. A weekly comedy show, usually hosted by the formidable pair; Kurt Braunohler and Kristen Schaal, but they heard I was coming and fled the state. Jared Logan had the ball to do the job and took the challenge. The comedians included Wyatt Cynac (better than ever), Jackie kashian, and Seth Herzog.
Wyatt Cynac has become a great stand up in the past few years. I used to see him at Seth Herzog's show Sweet when it was at the Slipper Room on Orchard Street. Sweet is still around, except now it's in the basement of Ella in the East Village. That was four years ago and Wyatt sucked then, seriously. He may have been on the Daily Show, but he was not a good stand up. Since then he has improved to the point that I'd say he has the potential to be one of the best in the city. 

Tuesday: Do you know what rock's taste like? Then why do you have that distinct taste in your mouth after reading the last sentence?

Wednesday, Feb 22^nd:

Free weekly comedy show at Le Poisson Rouge (another awesome music venue).This was recent enough that I can actually remember some of the jokes told during the show. It was also an epic lineup: Hari Kondabolu; seeing Weezer at 26 and being “the old guy”.
Dave Hill, “no matter what I say or do, I cant keep my hand off me. What about no don’t I understand?”
Michael Che “the bi-got curious”
Candye (author): smuggling gum to her deaf dad in a Texas prison

Great show, then if that was not enough I went to the Comedy Cellar, but beforehand I got a year’s membership to the IFC center. Impulsive buy, but definitely worth it.

The last show at the Comedy Cellar on Wednesday's are always insane:
Artie Fuqua MCs (the best MC in NYC), Jessica Kirsen was fucking amazing, then Chris Rock comes out! Does his Oscar jokes, talks about lin-sanity, and obamas bday party. Then Judah Friedlander “to cougher (in audience): we all breathed perfectly at that moment except you.” Sherrod Small “outsource? Is that a gay hiphop magazine?” “you cant be racist in new york, you’d be exhausted by the end of the day.” Nick Griffin “Nick’s in love? Weird. I just saw him yesterday.” Ben Baily from Cash Cab. And even still more…Mike Vecchio, Greer Barnes and Jay Oakerson.
A ridiculously long night of comedy. I was exhausted. It actually started to hurt to laugh, my mouth was spasming from smiling too much!

Thursday: Day of much needed rest.

Friday, Feb 24^th:

Governor’s of Levittown. Paul Mecurio. Very sharp, great at working the crowd. The complete reverse for 99% of comedians. He put me on stage! So I told a joke....in front of 250 people. I said "give it up for paul mecurio, he's been up here for 20 minutes, and hasn't said a joke yet."I told another joke, but it was kind of shit, so I wont repeat it. 

Mark Riccadonna opened for him. “my son banged your honor student’s math teacher.”
Unfortunately, I didn't get the chance to thank Paul after the show. I wanted to talk with him. However, I did get to talk with Mark, who was very helpful. He told me about comedy classes at Governor's and at the Laughing Devil (comedy venue three blocks from me) and who to talk to. 

Saturday, Feb 25^th:

Oscar nominated animated shorts at the IFC center. 

Eastville Comedy Club, a dinky new club in the East Village:
Oni Perez, Dan Soder, DC Benney, Mike Yard, Sergio Jacone.
It's okay....very average. There are better comedy clubs in manhattan. 

Sunday, Feb 26^th:

Open Mic at the Creek and Cave.

The Laughing Devil: Met Steve Noftstetter (the owner/amazing stand up comedian) and a couple of other comedians. Will probably take classes there, Noftstetter says hes pretty hands on.  

Oscar night. 

Monday: Home. My parents want to know where the hell I've been for the past three weeks. 

Tuesday:

Comedy Cellar for taping of Robert Kelly stand up. I wont be in on TV, it was a taping to show to producers and executives so Robert Kelly can say "hey, look what I can do! Please give me money and cameras so I can make a stand up special." Apparently, thats how these things go. 

Wednesday, Feb 29^th:

Littlefield for Leap Year show. Our Mormon host and her story about trying to tell her Mormon parents that she’s had non-marital sex. Very strange story, but then again Mormons are very strange people. Jewish woman sword swallower/staple receptacle. Neon Joe aka Jon Glaser. Perfect Storm, a techno group by Jon Benjamin. “Powerpoint Roulette” with Eugene Mirman, Jon Glaser, and Jon Benjamin. 

A crazy, eclectic show. I don't know how else to put it. It was so bizarre and all over the place, I have a hard time deciding if I like it or not. 

23 comedy events at 14 different venues in 30 days! L'Chaim! 

A Trip to the Moon, The Story Behind Scorsese's 'Hugo'

 A Trip to the Moon is the great film of Georges Méliès’ career. It is a film that everyone who loves the movies should see. It is for the select few who can appreciate early film. If you can't or don't know, I urge you to try. A Trip to the Moon is a wonderfully imaginative film that is brilliant in its' own way. It has the most primitive special effects and no camera movement or sound. What it does have is a simple but fun story line. It’s about a delusional scientist who goes to the moon, where he and his fellow explorers encounter aliens who run them off the moon back to Earth. It is a great fantasy, that has been remade a thousand times in a thousand different art forms, and when you watch you can see why.


At the time, 1902, it was an international hit on the lines of Avatar today. It was considered a technologically innovative marvel, but for anyone born in the last 110 years that is pretty hard to understand. It is a film of historical importance, one that any serious film buff should know, because without it, or Georges Méliès in particular, the movies would not be what they are today. 

The iconic picture of the moon being shot in the eye is from this film.

Today I saw this fifteen-minute film in full for the first time. Only in the last year have they been able to restore A Trip to the Moon to how it was originally seen, painted color and all. It was wonderful to see the rocket hit the moon scene, but I wont dwell only on that scene. The entire film is so creatively imagined and charming. It was set to the music of AIR (a modern French band. They did the film justice). The film begins with the delusional scientist explaining to his fellow delusional scientists his plan to go to the moon. Their argument and then acceptance of the plan is hilarious. The scene, and each scene after it is amazingly illustrated and detailed. I can’t help but believe that the idea of mise-en-scene began with Méliès. Each new scene is more fantastical and enjoyable to look at then the next. The art and imagery is so out-there and magical, it gives the audience an unmistakable feel for what Georges Méliès has in mind.

I think its safe to say the majority of people today watch movies, and most of those people enjoy them. All these people ought to thank Georges Méliès, because without him we may have never had movies as we have them today. The original movies were nothing more than parlor tricks. They were played at circuses along with the bearded lady. It was Méliès who saw the magic of the camera. He was the first to see the theatrical element of film, and was the first to set up a studio, and use his imagination and adapt it to the screen. To see his films is to witness the beginning of something totally new that no one had ever done before. Imagine in this day and age of finding something so totally undiscovered and being able to explore where no one has ever ventured. This is next to impossible in any art form today.

Totally uninhibited Georges Méliès gave the world five hundred films. However, as film became more popular, competition came and tastes changed. People no longer were interested in the theatrical and fantasy film that Georges loved to make. They wanted film about society, something totally outside Méliès repertoire. Thus, in time, Méliès went into obscurity. Huge debts caused him to close his studio, the first studio ever which he had built out of glass for natural light in an old greenhouse on his property.  A saddened and dejected Méliès burned over three hundred of his films on that day. Most of those films would never be seen again. He then opened up a toyshop in a train station kiosk. And here begins the story of Hugo, Martin Scorsese’s biopic of our great director. His story does not end too bitterly as Méliès is eventually rediscovered and honored in his day. Though he never made a film again.

I wish I could have met Méliès in the days of A Trip to the Moon, when his imagination was in full swing. I wonder how he would react if I took him to modern days to see what we've done with his love and how his simple editing tricks evolved into all the special effects we have. What would he have imagined for us? No doubt it would be something we had never seen or experienced before. 

Dangerfield's: Don't Go!

Its unfortunate that I will start blogging about comedy with Dangerfield's, but this needs to be said before I write about better things.

For a club started by one of comedy's best known, it sure needs some sprucing up. Last Saturday I went to Dangerfield’s Comedy Club; one of the oldest comedy clubs in NYC, started by the one and only Rodney Dangerfield. Inside was like being in an 80's strip club. Wood paneling on the walls and filthy red couches as far as the eye can see. They stuffed as many people as possible into the room. Apparently 300 people can fit in there, but none comfortably.

At first they sat us in the back corner with what had to be the worst view of the stage. A little money exchanged hands and they sat us much closer to the stage with an actual view. Already off to a bad start. Its nice that they have couch-like seats, but they are tiny! Four people are supposed to share and it was very cramped. Knees buckled and smashed up to everyone else sitting, and I am short. I don't know how anyone over 6 feet could possibly sit down.

Now the important part, the comedy, was good. They had a solid line-up of comedians. Ray Ellin hosted and did a wonderful job of getting the audience into it and laughing, though it looks like just before getting on stage he'd was hiding out in burned out basement with the moonlight in his eyes. Then Ryan Reese came up, he did a lot of crowd work but he was mediocre and pretty forgettable. Everyone who came after him were great. Patty Rosborough was next and she had a great set, talking about her divorce and men culminating in a theatrical display of what a man looks like just as he’s about to orgasm. Then Mike Britt took the stage. He did a solid set, though honestly I don't remember it very well. The last comic, JJ Ramirez, did an amazing set. He seamlessly used written material and worked the crowd. He is a comic that’s truly relaxed in front of an audience. He was making fun of someone for being Asian, and after a few minutes asked “what kind of Asian are you?” “I’m Puerto Rican!” He just laughed and said, “Bitch, OPEN YOUR EYES!”

It was a good show. That is until the check came. Now I’ve been to many comedy clubs, most of them have a two-drink minimum, Dangerfield’s too, and normally comedy clubs are all a bit expensive, but this was a robbery. First off, they don’t list how much the drinks are. The show is twenty, which is already expensive and I always try to spend half of what I spent on ticket prices, So I ordered two Coronas. I figure it to be five dollars, maybe six each. It cost 10 dollars for one Corona! Now, I wouldn't have been so damn surprised but they don't list the drink prices. A scummy practice. My dad, who thankfully was buying, got two shots of whisky at a whopping 26 dollars.

It really felt like they were trying to rob us. I left with a very bitter taste in my mouth. I don’t think I will ever go back there because of that. It would be one thing if they listed the prices, so we could get a handle on it but anyone who is on a budget should not go here. Even if you’ve got discount tickets, you’ll pay a hundred dollars for drinks for four people, and I can tell you a dozen places where you can pay less than $25 for tickets and drinks and as good of an experience as I had at Dangerfield’s. Even at Caroline’s, the most recognized comedy club of New York City, located a few blocks from Times Square, where all the headliners A-list comedians go doesn't make you pay $10 for a shitty Corona. Oh, and they LIST the drink and food prices at Caroline's. For a club that’s been around for forty years, they should know what a scummy practice it is to jack up the prices so unreasonably and not even have the courtesy to list them. Also, they need to renovate. I felt dirty just walking around in there. 

Stand-Up. What I will be writing about. A LOT.

For many months I have been interested in writing about comedy. I'm not sure how I would go about it. I could talk about select comedians, or types of comedy, eventually I figured I'd go to a venue, and then write about that show specifically with an overview of the venue itself. However, for me to talk about each venue in New York City that hosts comedy would take me a very long time. I decided to make a list of each of these venues and after 4 hours I found there to be nearly 60 places in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. I have yet to even look into the Bronx or Staten Island. Its a lot of venues and a lot of money but fuck it, I'm going to do it....even if I dont have ANY followers. I have a deep  obsession with comedy that goes back to my childhood, and nowadays I am continually going to new clubs, bars and venues that offer comedy. Some are free and some cost a lot of money, and others have a small fee (usually 5-10 dollars). I have decided that the more I put it off the more I will have seen that I have not written about and will then need to return to. So today, I will begin.

How To Have A Good Day

Today, Sunday Feb 19, 2012 11:26 pm

Today was a particularly good day. Everything kind of went my way and I wasn’t bothered by unknowable or mundane things. Relaxing and enjoying the days I have off is good. If only I can do that more often.

Started out at noon with the family at Madura’s, a Cuban restaurant that has a great brunch. I had a delicious tortilla espanola, which I promptly shat out in two back to back bathroom trips about half an hour apart. Then my family left. It may have had something to do with all the groans and smells coming from the bathroom. I sat on the couch and listening to relaxing music while reading a book interspersed with web searches for a while. Then I discovered through the Lincoln Center Film Society website that they were playing a documentary about Georges Méliès (who the movie Hugo was about) and then showing his film A Trip to the Moon. It started at four, which gave me enough time to finish my chapter and walk to the subway. I got there early and read a little in the theater before hand. The documentary was fantastic, an engaging and inspired doc about Georges Méliès’ career and how against a lot of odds they were able to restore A Trip to the Moon (110 years old) to its original glory. Plus, A Trip to the Moon was surprisingly fun to watch. It has a real charm to it and its very imaginative. I think even with the limitations to films of the day, it still can be enjoyed by a modern audience. When I got back to the condo, I searched for dvd's of Méliès’ movies, though I found some I decided not to buy. I figured impulsive buying isn't a great idea. I made myself dinner, and for the first time in a long time I sat down and wrote. I lost track of time and wrote for over an hour, but then I was running late. I ran to the train to catch a comedy show in Williamsburg. It was at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn for their free weekly comedy night. Even though I had to stand, it was an amazing show. Fantastic comedians and it’s a very cool venue. 

Then I took the train back, and here I am feeling satisfied after a good day. I feel like I waste a lot of days that have the potential of being as easy and enjoyable as today was. I realize something; A good day (like this) is a day without television. I know that makes me sound like a pretentious hipster, but I know that if I turned the TV on instead of my speakers after brunch, I would have zoned out and never seen Georges Méliès’ greatest film, and I would never have felt thought-provoked enough to write for over an hour. Basically, if I turned on the television it would have been another bland regular day where I am just wasting the hours away until I got to sleep. Today was a different day, and I hope for more like it.