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I was super excited about BINGO at Mo Pitkin’s cause really; I love Mo Pitkin’s even though I know I complain about the prices sometimes. It’s so cute and they have good latkes and this one drink that tastes like a creamsicle. And BINGO!?!? Well who doesn’t love that?

It started at 9:30 and I was running late because of the oh so reliable NYC transit system. Lucky for me, I had a reservation because the dining room where the BINGO fun takes place was completely full. So if you don’t like being turned away at the door, I suggest you call ahead or get there early cause you do not want to miss this. It was the funnest time ever!!!

Murray Hill, the host, and Harry, his beautiful debutante of a sidekick, were a great team. It had a very old-timey feel and there were even a couple of old-timers in the audience, but mostly the room was full of east village 20-somethings and a couple of people celebrating their birthdays.

It was an evening of laughter and fabulous prizes. My roommate won the first game we played and took home a magazine called My Comrade and a book on CD about managing your email (cause you know how email can be completely overwhelming sometimes.) Other prizes offered were: a my little pony; a hello kitty notebook and a book about kitties (this prize also included a look at Harry’s kitty…if you know what I mean); a magic 8 ball and a couple of shower caps; drink tickets; a Mo Pitkin’s gift certificate and t-shirt; a Murray Hill t-shirt; tickets to Joan Rivers’ show; and the grand prize of the evening: $120!! Sadly, I won nothing.

There were a couple of people that yelled BINGO at the same time, so there were tiebreakers that consisted of a beer chugging contest and an arm wrestling match. I ever so highly recommend this. You can eat and drink and laugh and play BINGO all at the same time. Also, there’s no drink minimum and the wait staff was totally cool with me and my one jack and coke. So yeah, if you like fun, you should check this out.

You know that whole thing about single people hating Valentine’s Day? Well it’s pretty much true and yes, I’m single.

This year, however I chose to go out and laugh at other people’s heartbreak instead of staying home and wallowing in my own and I’m so glad I did. I have not consistently laughed like this in a long, long time. It was freakin awesome.

The UCB Theater was packed with a mix of singles and couples. And yes, the nice folks at UCB made us stand out in the freezing cold. (Ok, so it has something to do with a fire code, but still). It was SO worth it.

Some performers told the tales of their personal rejection while other people read the most cringe-worthiest material taken from their own high school journals and of course, there was poetry. I loved the montage sitcom-y theme song/credits put together by Jon Friedman to Queen’s “Somebody to Love.” I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to start a show about heartbreak on Valentine’s Day.

Some of my favorite moments of the show were: Sara Schaefer reading her high school love letters and singing “You Oughta Know”; Adrian Frost, who reminded me a bit of Janeane Garofalo, telling the tale of her 10 year relationship that just ended in divorce; Katina Corrao, reading an email from a hairy backed man who rejected her when she called him one too many times “just to see if he was okay”; and Adam Wade’s high school love poem for a hostess.

The amazing thing about this show was that ALL of the performers made me laugh out loud. This never happens. After the show, they had live music and karaoke and kegs. So yeah, you totally missed an amazing Valentine’s Day celebration. The next Rejection Show is March 14th at 8PM at UCB. The next Mortified will be on March 21 at 8:00 pm at Makor Theater. I so highly highly recommend these shows.

Nothing is more painfully hilarious than heartbreak, rejection, and the truth.

January Guests: Janeane Garofalo, Seth Rudetsky, John Mulaney

I love this show!!! It was really the funnest. I have never seen a show at Mo Pitkin’s before. This show was in the upstairs theater. It was small but cozy and the place was packed.

I was very excited because I love Janeane Garofalo and have never seen her live and in person. She waxed obsessive about Rome. Not the place, but the TV series. I am in awe of her.

An added bonus was John Mulaney of Oh, Hello fame, who I have seen before and who is not only funny but totally crush-worthy. He gave a hilarious history lesson, both informative and silly.

Seth Rudetsky brought proof that the 70s was really the most surreal time in network television. You’d believe me if you saw Tony Randall’s appearance on the Brady Brunch variety show.

I have to say that Julie & Jackie were the highlight of the show for me. They were awesome together. The night started off with a slideshow of things they are currently obsessed with like Carly Simon & James Taylor as a couple and OJ: the drink and the man. There was also some talk of Screech’s sex tape and for that, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to watch Saved by the Bell again. Thankfully, they didn’t show any footage. Julie ended the show with a rousing rendition of Carly Simon’s Let the River Run while a slideshow of photos of Carly Simon who looked like she may have been peeing ran in the background. Jackie has a special place in my heart because she wore a New England Patriots jersey and kept checking the score throughout the show. As a fellow Pats fan, I appreciated this. Julie won me over with her Carol Channing dummy. I read an article in Vanity Fair recently about how women aren’t funny. I’d like to invite the author of that to come see this show because Julie and Jackie are effortlessly funny and now I’m obsessed with them.

Next show is Thursday, 2/20 at 9 pm. You should totally be there.
Find out more about Julie and Jackie

I don’t know when Jenni Wolfson is planning to do her solo show again, but you need to be there when it happens. There was a line of people waiting in the cold outside the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater to see RASH, which is a pretty amazing feat for a Monday night.

Honestly, I’ve never really cared for the space at UCB. I hate the pole that divides the audience into two sections; I always end up missing something because I sat on the wrong side of it. Also, the seating is kind of broken down and it’s cold and well, a basement. But Jenni Wolfson used the space well and made it somehow feel cozy like I was sitting in her apartment having a cup of tea with her and I could not take my eyes off her the entire 60 minutes. I have to say I’m a little speechless and entirely inspired by her story.

I think one of the reasons I loved it so much was because she tells it with so much humanity and humor. She’s a gifted writer and storyteller. The show wasn’t just about her experiences in Rwanda as a UN humanitarian aid worker in the 90’s. It was about her relationship with her family, her on the job love affair with a man she both feared and admired, and her struggle with wanting a personal life but at the same time having a world view that wouldn’t let her sit idly by. Oh and she’s not perfect (yay!) and this isn’t a lecture. This just might be the best one person show I’ve ever seen. Jenni seems like such an amazing, brave, intelligent, warm, and funny woman. I’d like to have a cup of tea with her.

I was a big fan of Hot Tub when it was at The PIT so I was curious to see what would become of the beloved alternative comedy variety show in a bigger venue like Comix, where it now appears on a monthly basis. I wasn’t disappointed. I love the space: brand new, clean and a little swanky. The stage is too small for the blow up kiddie pool they used to have at The PIT, so instead they use a projection of a real hot tub as a backdrop.

The ticket cost $15 plus a $5 handling charge, but thankfully no drink minimum as the drinks are pricey. My friend’s well vodka and soda cost $8 but your standard girly drinks, like cosmos, ran from $11-16. There are food options as well, and since I was hungry I chose the eggplant and zucchini chips appetizer ($8) and a coke ($4). It was tasty, albeit a little cold.

Kurt Braunohler and Kristen Schaal were fabulous as always. They work so well together and it’s hard to tell whether it’s scripted or improv or both because they are so natural and hilarious and lovable. They should have their own tv show. I would watch it. It would be way better than Leno. Check out video clips of these two performing.

The line up for this show was incredible, starting with Michael Showalter and ending with David Cross. Yay!

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It’s official, I have a crush on Ben Gibbard.

Ok, so now that I’ve got that whole thing out of the way, here’s the review. (I know, that was so girly of me, but he’s totally dreamy!!)

Anyway, this was my first time at MSG Theater and I found it to be kind of a cold (as in sterile and unfeeling) space that reminded me of basketball. I think cause the seats were bleacher-esque, even though they weren’t bleachers, and so far away from the stage. I was pleased with my choice to buy general admission tickets so I could stand in the front. The show started promptly at 8, which sucked for me cause I didn’t get there till 8:20 so I missed half of Ted Leo’s set. Since when do shows start on time?? Someone in the audience, a late-comer like myself, shouted a request and Ted responded something like “dude, that was the second song we played. Thanks for showing up on time!” I’ve always been a casual Ted Leo fan, but seeing them live made me want more.

Then Death Cab came out. I have never seen them live before and I was a little hestiant about the $40 ticket but it was well worth it cause they were amazing. It was basically a greatest hits show with a song off their first album and a sonics cover thrown in for good measure. My favorites were What Sarah Said, Title and Registration, Brothers on a Hotel Bed (which I am obsessed with after hearing it live), Tiny Vessels, and Lightness. The band had the whole witty banter thing down and celebrated the democrats seizing control of congress and also spoke of corn as a bbq only type food. The only thing bad about this show?? I wanted more. aw. They played a long set and everything, but I really wanted to hear Lack of Color and maybe Bjork’s Joga. Really though, it was the funnest show and I’m just being greedy.

To sum up, ted leo + death cab = yay. Madison Square Garden Theater = yay IF you buy general admission standing room only seats. Keep in mind, you have to use the entrance on 8th/33rd though. They don’t let us standing room only folks use the front door. Don’t forget to show up on time if you don’t want to miss the opening act.

I went to see Regina Spektor in her second of two shows at Town Hall. She is a Russian born singer/songwriter and a darling of the NYC anti-folk scene. I love Town Hall; it’s intimate, old-timey, and cozy. The first act was a local NYC band called Only Son. To me, they sounded like a mix of those alterna-pop bands from the 90’s or maybe Death Cab for Cutie minus the thing that makes DC4C so great. They weren’t bad and they weren’t amazing, they were just there, though I did enjoy the “advertisement” at the end of their set for their myspace page.

Finally, Regina Spektor came out. She is earnest, dorky, and adorable; sincerely humbled by the adoration of her rabid fans. It would be easy to compare her to Tori Amos, Bjork, Ani Difranco, and Nina Simone; so I will, as she does have a lot in common with and has obviously been influenced by these women. However, I think the thing that easily distinguishes her from them is her sense of humor and her playfulness. She doesn’t take herself too seriously. She is effortlessly charming and hilarious and this was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.

I had such a great time that I already checked her website to see where else she would be playing on this tour. FYI - If you’re a fan and you missed the New York shows, you could still catch her in Philly on Sat at Electric Factory.

I went to The Greg Johnson Show at Rififi on Friday night for the very first time. All you need to do to get in is buy a drink; my Jack and Coke cost $7, a fair price for a drink and a show. Last night, Dan Newbower, comic and Rififi regular, hosted the show for Greg. Dan’s shtick is the politically incorrect kind, and he sometimes makes the audience uncomfortable in a completely hilarious way. Even if he’s trying out new material that fails, he’s fun to watch. This being my first time at the show, I was a little upset that Greg didn’t host, but I enjoyed myself so much that I will definitely be back again.

Of the five other comics that performed, the standouts in this show were definitely Greg Johnson, Jordan Carlos, and Chelsea Peretti. Greg Johnson is so damn likable and very funny; the kind of comic who seems to really get a kick out of what he’s doing. Jordan Carlos of “The Colbert Report” (where, according to comedycentral.com, he appears as “Allan,” Steven’s long-suffering black friend) was next. I’m too uncool to have cable, so iI was unaware of his act, but he was hilarious. I haven’t laughed that hard in ages, tears were streaming down my face. Also, he gets bonus points for being a super nice guy. I chatted with him afterwards, even casually plugged my own upcoming show at The PIT, and he sincerely sounded like he was going to come check it out. I had seen Chelsea Peretti before and thought she was just okay, but last night she was quite funny.

Next week, guests include Michael Showalter and Leo Allen! Check it out, but buyer beware, Rififi is small, so you must get there early if you want to get in when they have the big names performing. I would say check it out a couple hours in advance and see what the scene is like. If you can get in, it’s definitely worth it to see your favorite comics perform in an intimate setting.