When the New York Comedy Festival started in 2004, it was a modest affair, with only a dozen standup shows. Twenty years later, it has grown into a bustling, sprawling staple of the comedy season, featuring more than 100 shows, big and small, in every borough. The festival begins Thursday and runs through Nov. 17. Here are a few promising options.
‘Chloe Radcliffe: Cheat’
More than a decade ago, a Hollywood producer told me you couldn’t make a movie about a woman who cheats on her boyfriend or spouse and still retain the audience’s sympathy. The stand-up Chloe Radcliffe proves him wrong in this personal solo show that explores infidelity (her own and the subject broadly) with a refreshing candor and open-mindedness. “Cheat” finds a new take on an old subject while delivering hard-hitting punchlines.
Bill Maher: The WTF Tour
In a festival that doesn’t seem especially packed with political comics, Bill Maher, who has performed at the event more than any other comic, stands out. He has talked about giving up standup and focusing on his weekly HBO show and podcast, so who knows if this will be his swan song. In September he predicted Donald J. Trump would lose. What will he say now?
Jay Jurden
Jay Jurden is one of the most reliable killers working the New York comedy circuit. When he pops up on a bill, the audience tends to light up. And the other comics risk losing focus. I’ve seen him steal shows with short sets. He’s yet to find his breakout project, but it seems like only a matter of time.
The Stepfathers
If you’re looking for something other than stand-up, the Stepfathers were one of the best improv groups in the city for many years, with a packed weekly show at the Upright Citizens Brigade. Then the organization shut down. It has returned this year in an attractive new space on East 14th Street. And this is a good chance to see how this seasoned troupe adjusts to new digs.
Tracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan is best known for TV series and talk-show appearances, but he’s an underrated if unpredictable standup. His specials don’t entirely capture the live-wire fun of his show.
‘Before We Get Started’
Most comedy documentaries are about famous entertainers. This one is about those who have the thankless job of getting crowds ready for them. Centering on Ryan Reiss, it’s a portrait of warm-up comics, the joke tellers who talk to studio audiences on television shows, share some bits, keep the energy up and then, when the show begins, vanish.
‘Dead Funny — An All-Star Tribute to Joan Rivers’
When Joan Rivers died in 2014, she left a void in the New York comedy scene that will never be filled. She was too unusual, prolific, relentlessly funny. The starry lineup paying tribute to her included Sandra Bernhard, Nikki Glaser, Patton Oswalt, Randy Rainbow, Michelle Buteau and Rachel Brosnahan. Expect hard and mean punchlines.
Judd Apatow & Friends
This month is the 40th anniversary of Judd Apatow’s start in the industry. It’s a fascinating career. After beginning in standup, he has been responsible for some of the greatest comedies in television and film, and also a string of ambitious documentaries. As his feature film career has struggled in recent years, he has doubled down on stand-up and brings us this new show, which features him and other performers, to New York.
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