Comedy Roundup: Vulture Fest (Tracy Morgan, Retta, Samantha Bee), Hannibal Buress, more
This past week has brought good news: Brooklyn Nine-Nine lives to see another season, getting picked up by NBC after being canceled by FOX. And bad news: Tracy Wigfield and Tina Fey’s workplace comedy Great News was cancelled last week after only two seasons.
To help you cope with the incoming onslaught of pop culture shakeups, the Vulture Fest is going on all weekend, with panels from comedians, directors, podcasters, and more, mostly at Milk Studios. In addition to panels from dramatic TV shows like Ray Donovan and Glow, the fest features plenty of comedy: On Saturday (5/19), Tracy Morgan sits down with Matt Zoller Seitz to discuss his new show The Last OG and his comedy comeback. And true crime fans may enjoy the live taping of Crimetown, the true crime podcast from the creators of HBO’s hit docuseries The Jinx.
There are also standby lines for tons of other sold out comedy events, like Cameron Esposito’s Queery Live (she’s also performing at a sold out super-secret event at UCBeast this Friday) and an evening with Rachel Bloom and Adam Pally (of new comedy-thriller Most Likely to Murder). On Sunday (5/20), Jackass‘ Johnny Knoxville will discuss his new “Jackass-esque” film Action Point (based on the real-life New Jersey theme park Action Park), if that’s what you’re into. Also on Sunday, Bo Burnham joins Jessie David Fox for a taping of Vulture’s comedy podcast Good One, where he will discuss his directorial debut Eighth Grade. Samantha Bee will also join the festival with a panel featuring her staff and New Yorker writer-at-large Rebecca Traister. There’s also a stacked comedy show at The Bell House featuring Wyatt Cenac, Julio Torres, Emma Willmann, and more. And closing out the fest, Jo Firestone and Manolo Moreno host their charming and interactive Dr. Gameshow podcast live. Check out the full Vulture Fest schedule here.
And if that isn’t enough, there are plenty of other comedy shows going on in New York this week. Check out our picks below, including shows from Hannibal Buress, Sean Patton, Shane Torres, and more.
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MONDAY, MAY 14
The Roast of Your 15-Year-Old Self @ Baby’s All Right
Alise Morales hosts this semi-regular show in which comedians roast their teenaged selves, including live readings from journals, storytelling, and more. This month’s installment includes roasts from Irene Fagan Merrow, Peter Smith (Comedy Central), Ziwe Fumudoh (The Rundown with Robin Thede), Mike Kelton (MTV), and John Reynolds (Search Party). (tickets)
Dirty Laundry @ UCB Hell’s Kitchen
UCB’s free weekly stand up showcase (and replacement for Whiplash) always features touring and local comics that are almost always worth checking out. Previous drop ins include Roy Wood Jr., Kate Willett, Anna Drezen, and more. (details)
Butterboy @ Littlefield
Joyelle Johnson (Night Train with Wyatt Cenac) and Alex English (The Rundown with Robin Thede) jump on as guest co-hosts for this week’s Butterboy. The lineup this week includes Nico Santos (Superstore), Eliza Skinner (Adam Ruins Everything), Jess Salomon (SiriusXM), Joel Kim Booster (CC Presents), Mike Lawrence (Inside Amy Schumer), and Danny Jolles (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend). (tickets)
Jenny’s Birthday Variety Show @ Union Hall
Jenny Gorelick (Improv Everywhere) celebrates her birthday every month with this stand up showcase.This month, she’s inviting Addie Weyrich (Crashing), Jacqueline Novak (Tonight Show), Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Pegram (UCB), Dara Katz (UCB), Betsy Kenney (IFC’s Comedy Crib), and Andrew Evans (magician visiting from SF!) to celebrate with her. (tickets)
Whiplash @ Union Hall
For the first time in its Union Hall run, Whiplash has announced its lineup ahead of time – and it’s a doozy! Featuring the comedic stylings of Liza Treyger, Eliza Skinner, Joel Kim Booster, Samantha Ruddy, and Sean Patton, the show looks to be a lively hour of storytelling and observational humor from seasoned comics who still feel fresh. (tickets)
TUESDAY, MAY 15
Mental Leave @ The Footlight
This free showcase, hosted by Rachel Lipstein and Francesca D’Uva unpacks themes of mental health and psychoanalysis. This month’s lineup features Clare O’Kane, Fareeha Khan, Ayo Edebiri, Sandy Honig, Lucy Randall, and a live consultation by Rachel Kaly. $5 suggested donation, proceeds go to Ali Forney Center for LGBTQ homeless youth. (details)
Sweet @ The Slipper Room
This week at Sweet, Seth Herzog brings Daily Show correspondent Aasif Mandvi, and from Adam Cayton-Holland from truTV’s new scripted comedy series Those Who Can’t. As usual, unannounced special guests are bound to drop in. (tickets)
Kelsey and Martin’s Big Important Comedy Show @ Littlefield
Real life couple Kelsey Caine and Martin Urbano host this comedy showcase, which features frank analyses of their relationship, as well as stand up from Sasheer Zamata (SNL), Jacqueline Novak (The Tonight Show), Shane Torres (Comedy Central), Chanel Ali, and Catherine Cohen (Caroline’s Breakout Comedy Series). (tickets)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16
Terrific Pacific @ Pacific Standard
This free monthly stand up show features a mix of stand up, improv, and sketch. Including performances from Dulcé Sloan (The Daily Show), Emmy Blotnick (The President Show), Dan Chamberlain (The Tonight Show), Katie Hartman (The Week Of), and Kobi Libii (Opposition with Jordan Klepper), and improv from Chelsea Davison and Asher Perlman. (details)
SAAS Presents: A Night of Comedy to Remember @ Film Noir Cinema
This monthly showcase, hosted by Jessy Morner-Ritt and Caroline Yost, has not only a flair for the dramatic, but a knack for booking great newcomers. This month’s lineup includes Marissa Goldman, Lorelei Ramirez, Maya Sharma, David Agyekum, and Mary Houlihan. $5, tickets at the door. (details)
Drunk Science Presents: Astronomy @ Littlefield
If you’ve been on Facebook, you may have seen Shannon Odell‘s viral video series, “Your brain on ___”, where she breaks down neuroscience for topics like booze, drugs, and love. Together with Joanna Rothkopf (managing editor at Jezebel) and Jordan Mendoza, Odell hosts Drunk Science once a month at Littlefield, where drunk comedians present a dissertation to guest judges, including Dr. Jackie Faherty, PhD. The comedians competing this month for scientific glory are Myq Kaplan (Conan), Rachel Joravsky, and Larry Owens (upcoming truTV show Paid Off). (tickets)
THURSDAY, MAY 17
Hannibal Buress @ The Capitol Theatre
Hannibal Buress has had a crazy year – from being arrested for disorderly conduct in December to performing at Joe Budden’s Highline Ballroom residency this past March, it’s fair to say he’s got plenty of great stories in store for the audience at his headlining show this Thursday at Port Chester’s Capitol Theatre. (tickets)
We’re All Gonna Die @ Vital Joint
Will Tilghman and Irene Fagan Merrow host this free monthly showcase featuring multi-media performances; this month’s lineup includes Tim Barnes (Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas), Blair Dawson (DC Comedy Festival), Fareeha Khan (MTV), Clair Parker (SiriusXM), Rachel Sennott (High Maintenance). (details)
FRIDAY, MAY 18
Tinder Live! @ Littlefield
Lane Moore hosts this monthly Tinder-based comedy show, where comedians riff on online dating and even help audience members swipe through Tinder themselves. This month’s installment features the hilarious Todd Barry and UCB regular Jeff Hiller. (tickets)
SATURDAY, MAY 19
Picture This! @ Union Hall
Though this month’s edition of “It’s a Guy Thing” has sold out, Union Hall has yet more excellent stand up events this Saturday: Picture This! is a monthly showcase where animators and cartoonists draw comedians live as they perform, then present the portraits. Featuring Nore Davis (Inside Amy Schumer, Comedinas in Cars Getting Coffee), Kate Willett (Flophouse), Josh Gondelman (Last Week Tonight), Hari Kondabolu (The Problem With Apu, Netflix special), Molly Ruben-Long (Flophouse), and Nina Tarr (Viceland’s Party Legends). (tickets)
Tracy Morgan in Conversation @ Milk Studios
Vulture TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz will interview Tracy Morgan following a screening of his new TBS show The Last O.G. Considering this is Morgan’s first media circuit following his tragic accident in 2014, it’s bound to bring up a lot of interesting topics surrounding his comeback. (tickets)
An Afternoon with Retta @ Milk Studios
Retta brought “Treat Yo Self” into the public lexicon with her breakout role on Parks and Recreation, and now she’s back with a vengeance with a book, So Close to Being the Shit, Y’all Don’t Even Know, and new show, Good Girls, this year. Good Girls follows three suburban Detroit mothers (Retta, Christina Hendricks, and Mae Whitman) as they hustle their way to success. Retta will discuss her new show, her new book, and more at her Vulture Fest panel on Saturday. (tickets)
SUNDAY, MAY 20
Bo Burnham Podcast Taping @ Milk Studios
Still months away from the July release date of his excellent directorial debut Eighth Grade, Bo Burnham is still making the rounds at the various media festivals. As part of the Vulture Festival this weekend, he’s taping an episode of Vulture critic Jessie David Fox’s comedy podcast Good One. (tickets)
Vulture Festival Comedy Show @ The Bell House
The Vulture Festival (May 19 & 20) goes out with a bang with one of its last shows of the weekend, a packed comedy showcase at the Bell House featuring stand up from Wyatt Cenac, Ana Fabrega, Josh Gondelman, Matteo Lane, John Reynolds, Julio Torres, Emma Willmann, and Sasheer Zamata. (tickets)
Dr. Gameshow Live @ Milk Studios
Jo Firestone and Manolo Moreno bring their adorable and fun call-in gameshow podcast Dr. Gameshow to the Vulture Festival. It’s the last show of the fest, so you could even say they’re headlining. (tickets)
