Comic Strip Live
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2007) |
The Comic Strip Live is the oldest stand-up comedy showcase club in New York City and the world. Located at 1568 Second Avenue (between 81st and 82nd Streets), its reputation as one of the hippest and hottest comedy clubs of all time has has remained unchanged since opening in June 1976.
Contents |
[edit] Beginnings
Before emerging as venue spotlighting only stand up comedians, the club originally featured singers, magicians and novelty acts. The venue soon streamlined its shows to focus solely on stand-up comedy.
[edit] Present
Primarily a showcase club, the Comic Strip encourages performers to consistently write, perform and perfect new material. Once a year the club holds an "Audition Lottery," where aspiring newcomers line up to be given a date to try out their routine on "Audition Night" Mondays. If they do well, the club's talent coordinator passes them. "Passing" means getting a chance to work late night, where you perfect your act this occurs weeknights after our regular show has ended. Chris Rock used to clean tables to get extra stage time and Colin Quinn was a bartender at the club as well. Superstar Jerry Seinfeld told Liz Smith of the New York Post, "When you are a kid starting out as a stand-up comic, you don't dream about the cover of Time Magazine. You dream about the 9 o'clock spot on Saturday night at the Comic Strip."[1] In January 2007, Comic Strip Live started a new blog named "Tales From the Strip"[2].
[edit] Notable alumni
|
Jerry Seinfeld Ray Romano Eddie Murphy Chris Rock Adam Sandler Jeffrey Ross Jim Breuer Tony Rock Jim Gaffigan Larry Miller Paul Reiser Louis C.K. Colin Quinn Dave Attell Jon Stewart Judy Gold Kerry Mcnally Sarah Silverman Judah Friedlander
|
|
|
|
[edit] Notes
Fox Broadcasting Company had a late-night stand-up comedy showcase, "Comic Strip Live (series) airing in the late 80's and early 90's
