Comedy Cellar

Last updated
Comedy Cellar
The Comedy Cellar (48072765427).jpg
Comedy Cellar entrance
Comedy Cellar
Location Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Type Comedy club
Website
comedycellar.com
The Comedy Cellar stage as seen from the audience left Comedy Cellar stage, New York NY.jpg
The Comedy Cellar stage as seen from the audience left

The Comedy Cellar is a comedy club in Manhattan where many top New York comedians perform, sometimes referred to as the "Harvard of comedy clubs". [1] It was founded in 1982 by then stand-up comedian, and current television writer/producer Bill Grundfest. [2] It is located in Greenwich Village on 117 MacDougal Street between West 3rd Street and Minetta Lane. [3] Above the club is a restaurant called The Olive Tree Cafe to which it is connected, where many of the comedians hang out after performing. [4] The club is owned by Noam Dworman, who inherited it from his late father Manny in 2003. It is being booked by Estee Adoram, who has developed the club's talent for nearly four decades. The businesses share the same menu, kitchen, and staff as the Olive Tree Cafe.

Contents

The Comedy Cellar, like The Comedy Store, uses a showcase format, as opposed to a headline format like most clubs. A show will consist of between five and seven comics performing sets of roughly 10 to 15 minutes each. Each week consists of three to six shows a night on Sunday through Thursday and ten shows each Friday and Saturday, between both the original room and the larger Village Underground around the corner.

Notable comedians

Notable Comedians started with stage time at the Comedy Cellar, going on to become legends, such as Louis C.K., [5] Dave Chappelle, Amy Schumer, Ali Wong, Dave Attell, Andrew Schulz, Todd Barry, Judah Friedlander, Colin Quinn, Kevin Hart, Jim Norton, Jeff Ross, Jon Stewart, Ray Romano, Darrell Hammond, Michael Mittermeier, [6] Rich Vos, Nick Di Paolo, Artie Lange, Greer Barnes, and Marc Maron.

Popular established comedians frequently perform at the Comedy Cellar, including Dov Davidoff, Mark Normand, Ryan Hamilton, Robert Kelly, Harrison Greenbaum, Sherrod Small, Keith Robinson, Eric Neumann, Gregg Rogell, Nikki Glaser, Ben Bailey and Andrew Schulz.

Celebrity comedians Aziz Ansari and Jon Stewart started their comedy careers at the Comedy Cellar, and both continue to occasionally perform there. Other celebrity comics who have performed at the club include Sarah Silverman, Amy Schumer, Robin Williams, Patton Oswalt, Kevin Hart, Chris Rock, Patrice O'Neal, Bill Burr, and Matteo Lane. [7] Musician John Mayer has also been seen performing stand-up. [8]

In the media

Much of Jerry Seinfeld's 2002 documentary Comedian was filmed at the club, and it also can be seen in a 2006 Pepsi commercial starring Jimmy Fallon.

The beginning sequence of Louis CK's television series Louie shows him walking into the Comedy Cellar. Many scenes in the show are filmed in and around the Comedy Cellar and Olive Tree Cafe. Speaking with ESPN's Bill Simmons about the club on a Grantland podcast in June 2012, CK discussed playing shows at the Cellar to empty rooms in the 1990s, stating that then-owner Manny Dworman "kept comedy alive" by making comedians perform on empty stages, in an effort to lure in potential customers. [9] The club was also featured in Chris Rock's film Top Five , including a performance by his character, Andre Allen. It appeared regularly on HBO's Crashing, and is the home for Comedy Central's This Week at The Comedy Cellar.

In September 2015, the club launched its public-policy debate series with a debate on the Iran nuclear deal. [10] The debate featured professor and lawyer Alan Dershowitz and journalist Fred Kaplan, among others.

The New York Post regularly rates the Cellar as the best comedy club in New York. [11]

In March 2016, writers Jessica Pilot and Katla McGylnn wrote an oral history of the club for Vanity Fair. [12]

The club has been the location for comedians taping Netflix specials. Aziz Ansari shot his special Nightclub Comedian at the Comedy Cellar in 2021; Ray Romano recorded his special Right Around the Corner there in 2019; Dave Attell and Jeff Ross recorded their Netflix series Bumping Mics with Jeff Ross & Dave Attell at the club in 2018.

Las Vegas location

In 2018, the Comedy Cellar opened a third location at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Attell</span> American stand-up comedian

David Attell is an American stand-up comedian, actor and writer best known as the host of Comedy Central's Insomniac with Dave Attell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dane Cook</span> American actor and comedian (born 1972)

Dane Jeffrey Cook is an American stand-up comedian and film actor. He is known for his use of observational, often vulgar, and sometimes dark comedy. He released six comedy albums: Harmful If Swallowed (2003), Retaliation (2005), Vicious Circle (2006), Rough Around the Edges: Live from Madison Square Garden (2007), and Isolated Incident (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis C.K.</span> American comedian, actor, and filmmaker (born 1967)

Louis Alfred Székely, known professionally as Louis C.K., is an American stand-up comedian, actor and filmmaker. C.K. has won three Peabody Awards, three Grammy Awards, six Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award as well as numerous awards for The Chris Rock Show, Louie, and his stand-up specials Live at the Beacon Theater (2011) and Oh My God (2013). In 2015, Rolling Stone ranked C.K.'s stand-up special Shameless number three on their "Divine Comedy: 25 Best Stand-Up Specials and Movies of All Time" list and ranked him fourth on its 2017 list of the 50 best stand-up comics of all time.

Ted Alexandro is a stand-up comedian from New York City. He has appeared on most late night talk shows and has had his own half-hour specials on Comedy Central.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Robinson (comedian)</span> American comedian

Keith Robinson is an American stand-up comedian and comic actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal Brennan</span> American writer, comedian, and producer (born 1973)

Neal Brennan is an American comedian, writer, producer, director, and podcaster. He is best known for co-creating and co-writing the Comedy Central series Chappelle's Show (2003–2006) with Dave Chappelle and for his Netflix stand-up comedy special 3 Mics (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessi Klein</span> American writer, actress and comedian

Jessi Ruth Klein is an American writer, actress and stand-up comedian from New York City. Klein has regularly appeared on shows such as The Showbiz Show with David Spade and VH1's Best Week Ever and has performed stand-up on Comedy Central's Premium Blend. She provided commentary for CNN in the debates of the 2004 presidential election. A self-proclaimed "geek", Klein has appeared on the television specials for My Coolest Years: Geeks on VH1 and Rise of the Geeks on E!. Klein also provided the voice of Lucy in the animated pilot for Adult Swim's Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Ross</span> American stand-up comedian

Jeffrey Ross Lifschultz is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is best known as the "Roastmaster General" for his insult comedy, his multiple appearances at celebrity roasts held by the New York Friars Club, the Comedy Central Roast television series, and the Netflix historical comedy series Historical Roasts. In 2009 the Chicago Tribune called Ross "the new millennium Don Rickles." His directorial debut, the 2006 documentary Patriot Act: A Jeffrey Ross Home Movie, won the prize for Best Film at the Comedia film festival held at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comic Strip Live</span> Stand-up comedy club in New York

The Comic Strip Live is the oldest stand-up comedy showcase club in New York City, located at 1568 Second Avenue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comedy Central Records</span> American record label

Comedy Central Records is a record label based in New York and owned by Paramount Global. The label specializes in stand-up comedy albums and is distributed by Alternative Distribution Alliance, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony Jeselnik</span> American actor and stand-up comedian (born 1978)

Anthony Jeselnik is an American comedian, writer, actor, and producer. He is known for his dark comedy style, which emphasizes ironic misdirection, non sequiturs, biting insults, an arrogant demeanor, and a stage persona that frequently takes amoral or psychopathic stances.

Andrew Goffman is an American actor, stand-up comic, and author/performer of the Off-Broadway one man show The Accidental Pervert.

<i>HBO Comedy Half-Hour</i> American TV series or program

HBO Comedy Half-Hour is a stand-up comedy television series of specials by various comedians, usually live from The Fillmore in San Francisco, with the format of a single comedian presenting a routine for thirty minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stand Up NY</span> Manhattan, New York comedy club

Stand Up NY is a comedy club located in Manhattan’s Upper West Side on 236 West 78th street. Founded in 1986, the club is one of New York City’s oldest, always featuring diverse lineups of well-known and local comedians. Comedians Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jon Stewart performed here. Past performers at Stand-Up New York include: Louis C.K., Susie Essman, Mike Birbiglia, Lewis Black, Judah Friedlander, John Oliver, Jay Oakerson, Hannibal Buress, Godfrey, Dave Attell, Anthony Jeselnik, Aziz Ansari, and Amy Schumer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Morril</span> American stand-up comedian and actor

Sam Morril is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer.

Greer Barnes is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is known for clever wordplay, observational humor, sketch comedy, mimicry, and energetic physical comedy. He has performed in comedy festivals, in commercials, on television and in films. He regularly appears at The Comedy Cellar in New York City’s West Village.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Normand</span> American stand-up comedian and actor (born 1983)

Mark Normand is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He began performing stand-up in his hometown New Orleans in 2006. He has performed across the United States and abroad and has appeared on Conan, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Katz</span> Television producer and talent manager

Barry Katz is an American television producer, film producer and talent manager. He was the owner and founder of the Boston Comedy Club in New York City and helped launch the careers of many successful comedians, including Bill Burr, Dane Cook, Louis C.K., Kevin Brennan, Bert Kreischer, Wanda Sykes, Dave Chappelle, Whitney Cummings, as well as Saturday Night Live alumni Jay Mohr, Jim Breuer, Darrell Hammond and Tracy Morgan.

Dave Chappelle: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor was a ceremony presented on October 27, 2019. The show honored comedian Dave Chappelle who was being awarded with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor which was presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. Those who helped celebrate his accomplishments included Neal Brennan, Jon Stewart, Lorne Michaels, Aziz Ansari, Sarah Silverman, Bradley Cooper, and Morgan Freeman.

<i>Bumping Mics with Jeff Ross & Dave Attell</i> American TV series or program

Bumping Mics with Jeff Ross & Dave Attell is a 2018 Netflix comedy television show featuring comedians Jeff Ross and Dave Attell.

References

  1. ↑ Wallace, Amy (2014-06-04). "Dave Chappelle at the Comedy Cellar: The Funniest Night on Earth". GQ. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  2. ↑ "What This Founder of an Iconic Comedy Club Believes All Companies Need to Succeed". Inc.com. 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  3. ↑ "Comedy Cellar". New York. Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  4. ↑ Hankinson, Andrew (2017-08-21). "An Upset at the Comedians' Table". The New Yorker. ISSN   0028-792X . Retrieved 2018-04-23.
  5. ↑ "Comedian Louis C.K.: Finding Laughs Post-Divorce". NPR.org. NPR . Retrieved 2010-07-08.
  6. ↑ michael mittermeier - Comedy Cellar
  7. ↑ "Matteo Lane: 'The Pressure of New York Comedy Is Greater'". CBS New York. 2017-12-05. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
  8. ↑ "My Big Mouth Strikes Again". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  9. ↑ "The B.S. Report - ESPN".
  10. ↑ Tress, Luke (6 September 2015). "Pulling the punchlines, NY comedy club plays host to Iran deal debate". The Times of Israel.
  11. ↑ "Business Info, reviews, and directions". Citysearch . Retrieved 2007-09-08.
  12. ↑ McGlynn, Katla (14 March 2016). "An Oral History of the Comedy Cellar". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2016-03-20.
  13. ↑ "The Comedy Cellar at Rio Las Vegas". www.caesars.com. Retrieved 2018-04-23.

Further reading

40°43′48″N74°00′01″W / 40.730131°N 74.000403°W / 40.730131; -74.000403

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.