The New York Comedy Festival has announced an exciting new format for this year’s highly anticipated “New York’s Funniest Stand-Ups” showcase, modifying its previous competitive structure to highlight the emerging voices of comedy.
Scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, at 7 p.m., this showcase will take place at The Venue at Hard Rock Hotel in Times Square. The lineup features an impressive roster of comedians including Geoffrey Asmus, Gabby Bryan, Jason Choi, Rocky Dale Davis, Lev Fer, Ontonio Kareem, Jaye McBride, Amber Singletary, Maddy Smith, and Joe Zimmerman.
For the past 16 years, this event served as a competition, where stand-up comics competed fiercely for the title of “New York’s Funniest Stand-Up.” The list of past participants reads like a who’s who of comedy, including notable names such as Nate Bargatze, Michael Che, Tim Dillon, Josh Johnson, and Ricky Velez. As it enters its 17th year, the showcase will pivot to celebrate rising comedic talent without the competitive edge.
Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of the New York Comedy Festival, expressed her enthusiasm for this new direction, stating, “This next chapter for ‘New York’s Funniest Stand-Up’ is incredibly exciting—not only for the comedians but for the fans and the industry. We’re thrilled to partner with Threads, which has gained tremendous traction—over 350 million users monthly—particularly among comedy and creator circles. It’s become a platform for comedians to express themselves authentically and humorously. We’re proud to collaborate with Threads to elevate these emerging voices and facilitate their connection with new audiences and potential collaborators. This showcase embodies the essence of modern comedy: immediate, personal, and ubiquitous.”
This year’s New York Comedy Festival features an impressive headlining lineup, including The Basement Yard, Hannah Berner, Michael Blackson, Louis C.K., Margaret Cho, Alex Edelman, Chris Fleming, Pete Holmes, Morgan Jay, Ismo, Ryan Long, and Nurse John, as well as a special “Strangers With Candy” segment featuring Stephen Colbert, Paul Dinello, and Amy Sedaris, alongside Trevor Wallace and many more.
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