Show 52: Anti-Valentine's Day Show!

Photography by Aemiessence Fine Arts



A holiday that makes people feel guilty stinks! So we decided to joke about it. Forget sweet nothings--the walls were adorned with mean somethings; candy hearts with all the messages you've been itching to give your admirer.

Host of Honor Dan Fontaine introduced the following bitter lineup:
Abbi Crutchfield
Jena Friedman
Barry Rothbart
Helen Hong
a sketch by Camp Wayne

With special guest appearances by Joaquin Phoenix and Bradley Winford, Crisis-Survivor!


Abbi and Luke welcomed viewers to the fifty-second show by temporarily calling off their engagement.


Dan Fontaine kicked off the show exploring unconventional names and the noisy kids that live above him.


Abbi Crutchfield took an uncomfortable walk down memory lane, telling a story of heartache in France, which gave new meaning to the term Les Miserables.


Jena Friedman confessed to being unlucky in love as early as the second grade. Kids can be so cruel. Especially when they grow up to be comedians.


As if he hadn't cause enough of a stir on The Late Show with David Letterman, Joaquin Phoenix stopped by to add more awkward pauses to live comedy shows.


Barry Rothbart popped in for a guest spot to teach us lessons in love from strangers and the crappy gifts they yield.


Bradley Winford, survivor of the miraculous flight 1549, came to relive his ordeal and sweep your leg.


Helen Hong returned to the show to speak on the trials and tribulations of online dating. And the bland doctors that lurk behind attractive profiles.

Josh Sankey and Jacob Mustian of Camp Wayne closed the show with a sketch about one man's love (and another man's fear) for Mrs. Butterworth.



The Hat of Chance is not picky about who it dates but definitely gives careful consideration to The Funniest Comedian of All Time. Jena Friedman was the winner! She can take stalking to a new level with this photo calendar of a random family's memories.

Forget your own problems, and get ready to relish celebrity anxiety from the Oscars at our next show February 27th!

Show 27: It's a Midwest Thang

Now presenting Photography by Aemiessence Fine Arts!


There were no corn dogs or blueberry pies, but for some reason our show drew a lot of Midwesterners tonight!
Brendan Fitzgibbons (who is from Illinois and went to school in Iowa) hosted this banjo-strumming lineup:

Brooke Van Poppelen (Illinois)
Luke Thayer (Indiana)
Dan Fontaine (Georgia...close enough)
Rob Durham (Ohio)
Pat O'Shea (not a Midwesterner, but has mutton chops)
Ray Devito (Ohio)
Nick Cobb (Tennessee)

along with our featured guests, motivational speaker Dr. Eric Newberry and Nicole Richie!

There was a lot of mingling before and after the show, but if you listened carefully, you could hear the dulcet sounds of our theme song, now with co-producer banter.

“Where's my snare? There’s no snare in my headphones."

We know, E. We know.

We had some last-minute line-up changes, and fortunately Nick Cobb, Brooke Van Poppelen and Ray DeVito were in the neighborhood to lend a cup of comedy sugar!

Brendan Fitzgibbons talked about things for mature audiences only. Like bingo and Ensure.


Brooke Van Poppelen made her Living Room debut after many months of schedule changes. Just like Heinz from the bottle, it was worth the wait.

The audience was given an enlightening perspective on the news by motivational speaker Dr. Eric Newberry. She challenges stereotypes with a masculine name and messages of empowerWOMENt.

Luke Thayer took us back with images of spandex fashion and sweaty, fat children.

Dan Fontaine mused on the necessity and audacity of bathroom attendants. Sounds like somebody needs a spritz of Brut.

Rob Durham has the brightest smile this side of the Mississippi but sorry kids, it's for your mom's eyes only.

Nicole Richie accepted an award in the 2010 Emmy's after performing in Hit My Baby, What's My Crime?: The Life of Britney Spears. If you find that achievement hard to believe just remember her early work as Lionel Richie's daughter.

Pat O'Shea had the whole room laughing at driving directions. Take that, GPS!
Celebrity Sighting: Esther Ku dropped in to raise the female performer quotient, albeit off stage. Look for her in a future LR show!

Ray Devito blended in as audience, then shined as a performer and struck a pose as a model. He's a Midwesterner who looks like a New Yorker. Chameleon.

Nick Cobb is so committed to his set he rolled on the floor

and dry-humped a dude.

We think it had to do with his set.

Tonight's Funniest Comedian of All Time: Dan Fontaine of course, who won a briefcase full of money! Mini money in a mini briefcase. Don't spend it all in one doll house!

Call your friends and tell them to catch even more of NYC's best performers LIVE at our next show on October 12th!