Soho Playhouse Does It Again Categories: Latest News Posted: May 2, 2013 |
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I’ve written about the shows that have called Soho Playhouse home over the last few years. From Baby Wants Candy to This Too Shall Suck to Baba Brinkman’s work, the playhouse has presented a slew of award-winning, critically acclaimed productions. Add another one to its cap. The Drawer Boy from Oberon Theatre Company is on the main stage through June 16th, and it is a very moving, quiet drama. Completely opposite of my show, but a really good play nonetheless.
The two lead performances are quite something. Stunning, fully lived and worth the price of admission. The play by Michael Healey, directed by Alex Dinelaris, sneaks up on you, and by intermission has you on the edge of your seat.Here’s what the press notes say about the play: “This award winning play looks in on the lives of two farmers in 1972 rural Ontario. World War II veterans and lifelong friends, the farmers share a quiet and uneventful life based on stories and routine. Their lives are disrupted when a young, energetic actor from the big city shows up on their doorstep wanting to live and work with them as research for a play about farming. As the actor immerses himself, the farmers’ darkest secrets become part of the actor’s play and the lines between theatre and life, and memory and reality, become blurred. Heartbreak and levity mix in this extraordinary play about storytelling and how it transforms our lives.”
Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times raved about The Drawer Boy, hailing it “a beautifully written piece, humorous and heart wrenching”. You may get your tickets now.
Tags: comedy, Ted Greenberg, the drawer boy
| Right on Time Categories: Latest News Posted: April 29, 2013 |
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In the springtime and summer, doors for my weekly comedy show — Ted Greenberg’s The Complete Performer — open at 9:45 pm. And once whisked inside, you’ll be given first class treatment, the opportunity to get your drink on and the chance to enjoy my hour-long show. And possibly win a free cab ride home or to your next location.
If you’re looking for something to do before 9:45, you can visit King Pong like Mascot and I did last Saturday night (picture enclosed). Be prepared most of the customers look like they are out of central casting for a Wes Anderson flick, but that’s part of the charm. The lighting is bright and the players have their eye on the ball. The competition is fierce. Even if you don’t pick up a paddle or two, it’s a fun place to watch others battle it out for ping pong supremacy.
Or you can grab a drink down the block at the Barrel Room at City Winery. The intimate restaurant and bar serves wine on tap as well as harder alcohol. And it’s a cozy, romantic spot for a little pre-show enjoyment. Or try our favorite Westville, which I recently profiled, for dinner. It’s a neighborhood gem and only two blocks from Soho Playhouse.
And we look forward to seeing you at 9:45 pm.
Tags: comedy, nyc, things to do before the show
| R.I.P. Jonathan Winters Categories: Comedians,Latest News Posted: April 15, 2013 |
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The comedy world lost a legend last week: Jonathan Winters. As this terrific NPR story points out, Winters was hailed a “genius” by Robin Williams (who called Winters his “Comic Buddha”), Steve Martin and many others who were influenced by his amazing work.
Winters illustrious career spanned comedy albums (11 were nominated for Grammys) to his Emmy Award-winning performance in Davis Rules to voicing Papa Smurf in the cartoon hit TV show and film. What Winters will be most remembered for his uncanny mimicry, quick wit and beyond-this-world improvisation skills. For decades, he entertained millions and inspired future comics with his facile impersonations of both famous and regular folks and appearances on late night talk shows. Here’s a lovely example of one of those — his 1986 appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. Watch how much Winters cracks Letterman up.
I am also wowed by this clip from The Dean Martin Show. I love the commentary about how Winters and Don Rickles were the only two performers on that show that were never given scripted material. They brought the magic — the spontaneity, the hilarity — on their own. Watching this clip you can see why Winters didn’t need anyone to write for him. From his words to his gesture, eye movements, he delivers comic gold, and he’s a great foil for Dean Martin.
Thank you Mr. Winters for your brilliance and your ability to make us all laugh. You will be missed, but we are forever grateful that we were able to enjoy your work.
Tags: comedy, jonathan winters
| Tilda Swinton Slept Here Categories: Latest News Posted: March 25, 2013 |
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The hottest news in New York is that the Big Apple has its own Sleeping Beauty. This is no Disney princess, but rather ethereal Scottish actress Tilda Swinton sleeping in a glass box — and not in pajamas btw — at one of the most revered art museums in the world, The Museum of Modern Art. The Oscar-winning Swinton’s turn at performance art, entitled The Maybe, is drawing notoriety from nearly every news outlet ranging from Gothamist.com to People Magazine.
Photo Credit: Ming Chen Liao
Performance art is a popular form of artistic expression in big cities — where living and doing can be seen as having entertainment value and/or the opportunity to wow audiences. In some cases, like illusionist David Blaine, performance artists can dream up fantastical feats to overcome — being buried alive, or frozen in a block of ice or surrounded by Tesla coils. In others, it’s a different kind of endurance, think Marina Abramović and her The Artist Is Present where she spent over 700 hours staring intently at one person at a time in 2010. Also, at MoMA. Or take the late comedian Andy Kaufman, who took on pro wrestler Jerry the King Lawler in the ring and was the king of other grand stunts.
With all this excitement over Swinton at MoMA, I thought about the top five things I — as a New York based comedian — could do as a performance art piece.
(5) Drive a cab — I already do this AFTER my late night Saturday show, Ted Greenberg’s The Complete Performer. Is there anything more New York than a yellow cab?
(4) Eat a slice of pizza. Or a lot of slices of pizza. The Village is known for its pies — pizza pies. Chowing on a slice of tomato sauce and mozzarella is the Big Apple to the core.
(3) Read the New York Post or New York Daily News. The New York Times owns the cultural currency of this town, but the Post and Daily News are great for gossip and sports, respectively. And every New Yorker I know loves gossip and sports. The life blood of this city.
(2) Sitting courtside with Spike and Woody at Madison Square Garden. Gotta love the Knicks, and how much fun would it be to watch Melo and the guys play from the front row. This seems like the easiest performance art gig in the world.
(1) Have my own Mascot! I already do. Check out how handsome he is.
What would you do for performance art in this city?
Tags: comedy, performance art, Tilda Swinton
| Give the Gift of Romance AND Comedy This Valentine’s Day Categories: Latest News Posted: January 31, 2013 |
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I’ve written for a late night TV show. I’ve driven a New York City cab. I’ve worked in risk arbitrage on Wall Street. I’ve run a marathon. But, nothing scares me more than Valentine’s Day. I’ve got a sweet lady, but the pressure to have the perfect day — one that showcases your love and commitment to your special person — is nearly debilitating. One false move and you’re in the doghouse. Or worse, moving toward a break up.
In two weeks, Valentine’s Day will be upon us. If you’ve spent a few years in a relationship, you know you’ve got to keep it fresh year after year. Do something new. Show her that your relationship is worth the effort. If you’re like me, you’ve already done flowers, jewelry, chocolate, the works. So what can set Valentine’s Day 2013 apart from previous years?
If you want to add a touch of humor and a bit of surprise to this year’s celebration of love, I have a suggestion for you. A Telly-gram. That’s right. Telly Savalas, the improbable 70s heartthrob, will either send a special video or make an appearance your significant other’s place of business. Not actually Telly Savalas. The legend has been dead for quite some time. But, comedian Tom DiMenna, whose meta-Telly show “Who Loves You, Baby?” ran for nearly a year in the same space as my Ted Greenberg’s The Complete Performer, channels Telly in a brilliantly savant way. His show was delightful to watch, and I bet the sweet words he purrs to your honey will melt her heart (and crack her up).
Here’s the Craigslist ad for Telly-grams. Snap one up now. The video version is only $50 and an in-person appearance (in NYC only) will set you back $80. Roses in this town cost way more than that.
Tags: comedy, valentine's day
| Right on the Money: Volkwagen Passat Commercial is Hysterical Categories: Latest News Posted: January 14, 2013 |
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The Super Bowl is just a few weeks away. And, when you don’t have a team in the big game (what happened to my New York Giants this year?), you keep an eye on the commercials. Those 30-second spots go for millions of dollars and have high hopes riding on them…that you will be enticed to buy more beer, cars, you name it.
A new-ish ad from agency Deutsch, L.A. is utterly charming that it gets my pre-Super Bowl nod. “Baseball Toss” was created for Volkswagen Passat. In a suburban front yard, a father and son do the time honored tradition of tossing a baseball. But their form is anything but traditional. When the mopheaded young boy lets loose with a throw that looks more like he’s bowling — the ball spends more time on the ground than in the air — your heart breaks a little bit.You’re certain he gets picked on in school and is the last kid chosen during P.E. for sports team. But, the dad offers surprising encouragement. And, then the father unleashes a puzzling throw that looks like a cross between Elaine’s wacky dance on Seinfeld and a contortionist unraveling his body. It’s so brilliantly funny I’m convinced the actor playing the dad needed a chiropractor adjustment after filming.
A chip off the old block. Volkswagen has an endearing ad that takes a rite of passage and finds fresh humor in it. I grew up in Manhattan where I didn’t have a front lawn, but as a lifelong Yankees fan, I am smitten with this charming ad. Check it out below.
Tags: comedy, commercials, super bowl
| Wishes for the New Year | 2013 Edition Categories: Latest News Posted: January 3, 2013 |
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Welcome to Lucky Number Thirteen. After the way 2012 ended, I think we are all hoping for a little more luck, joy and happiness. Last year, I set out a number of resolutions, 12 in fact, — some of them (looking at you #4) that I was better at keeping than others (sad to say #8 did not happen). This year, in honor of 2013, I am making 13 wishes — things I hope will come true. Not just for me, but for the world.
13. That Scarlett Johansson is amazing in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Of course, if she isn’t, that won’t bother me one bit.
12. That the New York Giants regain their swagger and at least make a playoff run next season.
11. One of Mascot’s marriages has long term appeal. And by “long term,” I mean lasting longer than 60 minutes.
10. Mother Nature is nice to my beloved city. Post-Sandy, we need some luck in this regard.
9. Likewise, the 2013 ING New York City Marathon can happen. And as many people who trained for the 2012 edition get to run.
8. If I do not see Wicked on Broadway, I will at least read the book which inspired the musical.
7. I know I drive a cab at the end of my show for fun and because it’s an iconic symbol for the Big Apple. But, after all the recent subway deaths, I’m concerned for my fellow New Yorkers and audience members. Here’s to no more subway fatalities in 2013.
6. That all of the froyo, ice cream and frozen sweet treat stores (16 Handles, Red Mango, Pinkberry, Ben & Jerry’s) all make it through the summer. Who doesn’t love a little sweet, cold dessert in the middle of a sweltering summer?
5. That I watch the Polar Bear Run next New Year’s Day. No way in hell I’m getting in that ice cold water, but I will cheer on others. Perhaps with the e Mascot in tow.
4. Have the Mascot enter the July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest. How many do you think he will eat?
3. Support my favorite local businesses like Milk & Cookies, which has been so great to my show Ted Greenberg’s The Complete Performer.
2. That you see my show sometime in 2013. If you do, you’ll understand what I mean about the Mascot’s marriages. What else are you doing 10:00 pm on a Saturday night?
1. That Kim Kardashian and Kanye West name the “Kimye” baby after me. Kinda. In keeping with the ‘K’ naming tradition, how about KED? It rhymes with Ted, and like the brown-haired beauty I know about short marriages, having racked up one myself.
Tags: 2013 wishes, comedy, resolutions
| 2012 Recap | My Favorite Posts and Events From the Year That Was Categories: Latest News Posted: December 27, 2012 |
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2012 is drawing to a close. Only five more days to this year. To celebrate The One Man Blog’s first year of existence and my penultimate post for 2012, I highlight my favorite posts from the past 365 days — interviews, taxi cab insights, and places and ways to enjoy the Big Apple. Drum roll, please…
Here are the top 5 blog posts and events that I’m still thinking about:
#5 What To Do in New York the Day Before the Super Bowl — What a difference 10 months make. My beloved Giants are on the verge of not making the playoffs, but last February the G-Men hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy as World Champions. I fully believe this post helped Big Blue win. Meatballs can be good luck.
#4 How to Hail a Cab during the Holidays. This post has some very important information for New Yorkers and visitors alike — how to get a cab during the busiest time of year. Sure there are new apps on the horizon, but until you’ve mastered them, you can watch the video of the Mascot and me. We make a dynamic team on stage and off.
#3 The Best Teds. This June post, which coincided with the release of the hit comedy film Ted from Seth MacFarlane, extolled the virtues of the name Ted, and highlighted my top five favorite Teds of all time. Can you guess who ranked number 1? Hint: It’s not me.
#2 Interviews with Comedians and Performers I admire. This year I got to ask hard, probing questions to Eric Andre, Jessica Kirson, Matt Graham, Simon Lovell and my longtime friend David Yazbek. If you missed any of these interviews, now’s your chance to see whether the East Coast or West Coast is better for Eric Andre’s hair and what poker movies rank among David Yazbek’s favorite.
#1 My Fourth Anniversary Show. What an exhilirating night. What a way to celebrate my fourth anniversary on stage. It was a lot of fun for me and the packed house. Thanks to Milk and Cookies, my favorite local bakery, for the delicious chocolate chip cookies. The fourth anniversary show is a night I will never forget, and it was fun to recap the evening.
Tags: 2012 recap, comedy, interviews, New York City, taxi tips
| Comedian’s List for Santa Claus | 2013 Categories: Latest News Posted: December 24, 2012 |
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It’s hard to believe it’s December 24th already. The night that Santa comes down chimneys across the world. I hope the jolly old fellow and his trusty reindeer will bring me these top five presents since I did not receive any of them for Hannukah. Hope they are also good to you and yours.
#5 A cat. A charmer. If I had a funny feline, I could make videos like the ones I highlighted last Thursday. Or take my new buddy for rides in the taxi cab.
#4 A pedicab ride. Now that there is some law and order to this industry, I’m willing to take one for a whirl and compare notes — how it’s different than driving folks around the Big Apple in a cab. Obviously you get a great pair of gams, but what do you do about honking the horn?
#3 Organic Avenue gift basket. Doing a weekly comedy show called Ted Greenberg’s The Complete Performer requires me to have an A list body or as close as I can get to one. No one would mistake me for Hugh Jackman, but thanks to Organic Avenue I stay fit and trim. Organic Avenue — locations across New York — sells raw, organic, vegan food that is healthy and energizes you. I love everything they offer. So anything from there would make a perfect present. Promise I’ve been nice this year Santa.
#2 Film Forum Membership. I’ve raved about this local, independent film house before. I love the arty fare as well as the classic films that they play. And, a $75 membership means I can receive a reduced ticket all year long at Film Forum.
#1 AquaRug. With millions of TV commercials espousing its many wonderful benefits, I’m very curious about this bathmat for inside the bathtub — especially since it’s been ubiquitous on yachts for a decade. While I prefer the dry land of Manhattan, what’s good for a yacht is good for my bathtub. If claims are to be believed, AquaRug doesn’t stain and is guaranteed to keep your feet happy for 10 years. All for only $19.99. Merry Christmas to me.
And you can check out my hit Off Broadway comedy show, Ted Greenberg’s The Complete Performer, this Saturday night, December 29th, to see if my wishes came true. Hope to see you at 10:00 pm at SoHo Playhouse.
Tags: AquaRug, comedy, New York, what comedian wants for Christmas
| Top Five Christmas Movies That Make Me Laugh Categories: Latest News Posted: November 29, 2012 |
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Holiday movies — no matter the holiday — are a staple of American cinema. Once December rolls around we are inundated with It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street and other holiday favorites. Sure these well-meaning films are good, but I need them to tickle my funny bone to encourage repeat viewings. Here are the five holiday films I put on repeat every holiday season.
5.Trading Places — Dan Ayckroyd and Eddie Murphy. In the 1980s. This classic film about nature vs. nurture and the 1%’s desire to rule the world for only a dollar is at its heart a biting comedy about race and class. Watching it 30 years later, sure it’s a bit dated, but much of it holds up.
4. Scrooged — This 1988 Richard Donner film updates the classic Scrooge story about a miser getting his comeuppance. In this instance it’s an incorrigible TV exec played by Bill Murray with his overstated aplomb. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as watching Murray put through the paces toward redemption. Hilarious.
3. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang — Technically this film written and directed by Lethal Weapon scribe Shane Black isn’t a comedy, but I dare you to watch it without laughing (or noticing how irresistible Michelle Monaghan is!). Val Kilmer is sublime as a gay detective investigating a murder around Christmas in Los Angeles, and Robert Downey Jr is his perfect, manic foil. This underappreciated gem is well worth the look.
2. A Christmas Story — Who hasn’t lusted after something with all his heart? Dreamed of it. Envisioned it. Desired it. This charming story told about a young boy and his wish for a bb gun has charmed viewers for generations. Rightly so. I’ve never wanted a bb gun, but I get that longing. And laugh about it.
1. Bad Santa — If you watch this dark, dark comedy (and aren’t offended by the racy language), you will laugh almost every other frame. Billy Bob Thornton was born to play the role of a down-on-his-luck, hard-living Santa Claus who seizes every opportunity he can to steal his way through life. He’s not without his ever-so-slight charms as his reserve is melted by an overweight, awkward young boy and the affections of Lauren Graham. Definitely makes it worth being naughty and not nice.
Happy Holidays!
Tags: comedy, holiday films
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