The Top Five Guests for The Tonight Show’s Return to New York Categories: Comedians,Comedy Shows,Latest News Posted: March 21, 2013 |
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Yesterday, news leaked that The Tonight Show may move back to New York after four decades in Los Angeles. The New York Times, among other outlets, reported that Jimmy Fallon is expected to take over hosting duties by fall 2014, and one of the most storied shows in television history will return to 30 Rockefeller Center.
If Fallon shifts to The Tonight Show, his gig at Late Night will be up for grabs. Gothamist has already weighed in about the top 20 possible Fallon replacements. My favorite is Pat Kiernan, the NY1 host. He already has game show host and news anchor experience behind him, and his eternal geniality would make a great replacement for Fallon’s brand of nice-guy comedy. My second choice from Gothamist’s list is, of course, Jeffrey Tambor. But, that’s because I would watch him do just about anything.
The real scintillating question is who will be Fallon’s first guest(s) on the New York-based The Tonight Show? I offer my top five choices:
(5) Mayor of New York — At this point, it’s hard to know who will lead the Big Apple in fall 2014, but with the return of the show to NYC, the current mayor would be a great guest. With the recent passing of the always colorful Ed Koch and with Bloomberg out of office by the beginning of the year, that leaves whichever contender rises to the top.
(4) Jay-Z — Does anyone else in the Big Apple have the cool factor to match Jay-Z? The musician and businessman has made The Barclays Center and Brooklyn the place to be. He’s rocked audiences nationwide and is married to one of the most beautiful women in the world. And, he’s a New Yorker, through and through.
(3) Drew Barrymore — Sure the new mama is known for her appearances on David Letterman’s show (who can forget her dancing on his desk?), but she’s got strong ties to Fallon, her co-star in the romantic comedy, Fever Pitch. He’s also married to her co-producer friend, Nancy Juvonen. I’m sure Barrymore and Fallon would have lots to talk about.
(2) Conan O’Brien – Talk about a ratings bonanza. Conan returns to The Tonight Show after the debacle surrounding his unceremonious dumping as host just a few years prior. Sure, Coco has recovered nicely — thanks to a documentary, Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop, and his TBS late night talk show, simply titled Conan.
(1) Lorne Michaels — He’s the kingmaker, the producer who has launched and shaped careers by the dozens. Since Fallon got his start on Michaels’ Saturday Night Live, it would be a fitting tribute to interview Michaels for the first episode.
Tags: jimmy fallon, New York, the tonight show, top five guests
| Time to Get Cross Categories: Comedians,Latest News Posted: March 14, 2013 |
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I’ve written about my friend David Yazbek and his monthly gig at the downtown 92Y. Now it’s time to write about a show at the uptown version. Comedian/Actor/Writer David Cross will be in conversation with his Arrested Development co-star Michael Cera on Wednesday, March 20th.
Cross (above) got his start as a writer on the quickly defunct, but beloved The Ben Stiller Show that won an Emmy after it was canceled. He is probably best known as Portia de Rossi’s bumbling husband Tobias on the groundbreaking comedy Arrested Development, which has a second life. New episodes of the series are set for Netflix this summer in advance of a movie. The wild, woolly show, though low-rated in its original run, was a hit with critics and had a certain devoted audience. Rightly so. The show was outrageous and brilliant. And I cannot wait to see it back. On whatever platform it airs.
Cross also appeared in some of the best movies of the past 15 years: Ghost World (with a now barely recognizable Scarlett Johansson), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and comedy classic Waiting for Guffman. Since Cera is moderating the affair, I expect Arrested Development to be a hot topic, and who doesn’t want to learn more about what’s going to happen to Tobias and the Bluth clan?
Just another reason to love the Big Apple, and the creativity the city champions.
Tags: 92 St Y, comedians, david cross, New York
| Stop and Smell The What(?) This Valentine’s Day Categories: Latest News Posted: February 14, 2013 |
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Why is this not a bigger story? I know Banana Joe and Swagger have taken over New York’s attention. But those dogs cannot hold a romantic candle to this very odd way to celebrate the holiday of love.
Nothing says love like a Valentine’s Day tour of a sewage plant. I’m not making this up. New Yorkers are the strangest, weirdest people on the planet. And I love them for it. Last year, the Department of Environmental Protection offered a tour of a sewage treatment plant in Brooklyn, and the demand was so high that it’s back this year. And with an additional tour!
New Yorkers are always looking for that one-of-a-kind experience that sets them apart from the other 9 million people in the city. But, how exactly do you convince your girlfriend, boyfriend, partner to tour a sewage treatment plant at 9:30 am? What sort of things must you bargain or compromise to make this happen?
Most of us complain in the summer of the stifling heat and horrible smells that emanate from our glorious city. So, it’s amusing that people would actually subject themselves to the same odors in the name of love or romance. Where’s the chocolate? the flowers? the jewelry? or a wedding atop the Empire State Building? The sewage plant somewhat resembles a Hershey’s Kiss; perhaps that is part of the appeal?
NJ.com says it best: Love the one you whiff. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Tags: New York, sewage treatment plant, valentine's day
| Planning the Perfect Bachelorette Party | New York Edition Categories: Latest News Posted: January 17, 2013 |
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Planning a perfect Bachelorette Party can be tough. And in New York City, even tougher. Do you make your night naughty or nice? Do you stay in and watch the “7 Man Candy Movies” or go to Hunkmania for a little bit of debauchery? Or blow your monthly entertainment budget on a very expensive club?
Forget all of those and make with Ted Greenberg’s The Complete Performer a part of your Bachelorette Party. I promise my long-running comedy show will be as entertaining at Channing Tatum in Magic Mike and a whole heck of a lot funnier. And smarter than Hunkmania. No offense fellas. This past weekend, a lovely group of young women (pictured below) were enchanted by the wild ride that is my late night comedy show. And they aren’t the only ones. Over the past four and a half years, we’ve hosted Bachelorette Parties, more than 70 birthdays and groups of all kinds. Going to a comedy show is a perfect way to spend time with friends, acquaintances and brides-to-be.
And downtown Manhattan is a great place to be on a Saturday night. You can eat at the nearby Barrel Room at City Winery or at the David Burke Kitchen at the James Hotel, then see my show, and after laughing your butt off, dance the night away at local hotspot Greenhouse or like the ladies on Saturday night, head to the Fat Black Pussy Cat for drinks and merriment. It’s guaranteed to be a great night.
Tags: bachelorette party, Comedy Show, downtown Manhattan, New York, Ted Greenberg's The Complete Performer
| 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
| Interview: Maari Suorsa of Five Lesbians Eating a Quiche Categories: Comedians,Latest News Posted: December 3, 2012 |
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Four times a weekend, SoHo Playhouse is home to the outrageous 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, a hit in both New York and the cast’s native Chicago. Set in the 1950s, five women battle Communism and each other in a quiche bake-off. Filled with innuendo and pizzazz, the show has kept audience laughing for months, and will continue its hot streak through January 2013. I interviewed one of the aforementioned ‘lesbians’ Maari Suorsa about her time in New York, her brother’s favorite moment in the show and her best egg dish ever. Check out what this charmer had to say.
TED GREENBERG: What do you ladies do to warm up before a show?
MAARI SUORSA: To warm up before a show I usually have a beer with the ladies in the dressing room accompanied by a lot of yelling, laughing, and singing! We’ve had some rituals but the afore mentioned are what have stuck around!
TED: You guys have lived in a bunch of places during your NYC run. What’s been your favorite?
MAARI: My favorite place we stayed was our last location, I think it was in Clinton Hill (Brooklyn). It was probably the homiest of all the places and we did some late night baking one night!
TED: What airline do you guys fly from Chicago to NYC?
MAARI: In the beginning we flew Spirit airlines, early early am flights! Now that our schedule changed we’re on Delta and United etc! EVERYTHING feels like first class after flying Spirit!
TED: What’s your favorite egg dish?
MAARI: In college I had 18 eggs in my fridge on the verge of going bad so I quickly made custard. It made the kitchen reek and I was nervous about eating it so I got my guy neighbors to eat it. That’s my favorite egg dish I’ve made.
TED: What’s your brother’s favorite moment in the show?
MAARI: My brother has only seen the recording of the show so I texted to ask him and he responded with this: “The female empowerment… You see so many girls playing weaker roles early in their careers…and to see little sis along with some other strong ladies taking names on stage is pretty awesome!” Aww man I love him!
Check out 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche at the SoHo Playhouse Fridays at 10 pm, Saturdays at 3 pm and 10 pm and Sunday at 3 pm. For tickets, visit the SoHo Playhouse web site.
Tags: 5 lesbians eating quiche, comedy shows, maari suorsa, New York, SoHo Playhouse
| How To Celebrate Date Night Categories: Latest News Posted: October 18, 2012 |
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I rarely have a Saturday night off. It’s been nearly 52 weeks since my last one. I love being on stage at SoHo Playhouse in my mostly one-man comedy show, Ted Greenberg’s The Complete Performer. So much in fact I’ve been there week in and week out for four years.
But, October 20th, this Saturday, I will not perform my one-of-a-kind, has-to-be-seen-to-be-believed comedy show. What’s the world’s loss is my girlfriend’s gain. We can finally take part in what most people do on a weekly basis: Saturday Date Night. I’m not taking the night off lying down. Nope, I’m taking my girlfriend on the town.
We’re going to dinner and the theater. A perfect evening. I highly recommend the combo, particularly if you love SoHo restaurants and a 10 pm comedy show starring me. In our case, we’re going a little more for the drama. Our play of choice is the Edward Albee classic, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. This current production stars playwright-actor Tracy Letts and Tony Award nominee Amy Morton in the roles of George and Martha, respectively. Now, a play about a dysfunctional marriage might not seem like the perfect play to see with a lady friend, but the reviews have been glowing. Entertainment Weekly gave it the top grade an A, and the New York Times called it a “shattering revival.” While the play’s tone may be a bit of downer, I expect it to be a downer of the best kind.
Before we hit the bright lights of Broadway, we’re going for some Korean food. Actually some surprising food. When you think of Korean food, you don’t think of vegetarian food, but Hangawi delivers in space. The restaurant is a meditative oasis with sunken tables, low light, hushed tones and the best spicy kimchi pancakes this side of Seoul. Everything I’ve eaten there is so good that I’m getting hungry writing this post thinking about the tofu stone bowl.
Saturday cannot come soon enough.
Tags: Comedy Show, date night, New York, what I do on a night off
| Some of the Best Things in Life Are Free | US Open Tennis Categories: Latest News Posted: August 21, 2012 |
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I like to think of my show, Ted Greenberg’s The Complete Performer, as the quintessential New York show. There are many things I relish about The Big Apple, particularly that it is a city of extremes. You can chow down on a $295 burger at Serendipity 3 or enjoy the best falafel sandwich in the world for $2.50. At Mamoun’s naturally. Next week, the United States Open, the final Grand Slam tournament of the 2012 season, kicks off in Flushing, Queens. Tickets go for $50 to thousands of dollars per session, depending on what day you go and where you’re seated. But, like I said, New York can crush your wallet or sometimes it can be very kind. That’s why this week is my favorite part of the US Open.
You can head out to the USTA Billie Jean King National Center — take the 7 train for just the cost of a subway ride — over the next few days, and you can watch many of the players who will be in the tournament next week play in the qualifying rounds. For FREE. And, you can sit thisclose to many of the courts and enjoy high quality tennis without setting you back any dough. The players in the qualifying draw just missed the ranking cutoff for the main draw. Now, they battle it out for three rounds for the chance to make at least $23,000 (first round prize money).
Aravane Rezai
And, to help you out further, here are a couple of matches and players you should check out if you go out there today. Former world #1 Rafael Nadal hasn’t played tennis since his surprise second round loss at Wimbledon. You can see Lukas Rosol, the man that sent him packing, as he takes on Kamil Capkovic today. Magdalena Rybarikova, who is seeded no. 1 in the women’s qualifying draw (essentially she was the highest ranked player not to make the main draw), takes on French veteran Julie Coin, who isn’t afraid to come into the net. I expect Alex Kuznetsov-Karol Beck match to be a barn burner. Check out Aravane Rezai, who was ranked as high as No. 15 in the world, take on China’s Saisai Zheng.
And if you cannot, make it today, go tomorrow. It surely is one of the best values in New York. In all of tennis actually. Have fun!
Tags: New York, US Open
| 5 Boro Picnyc Categories: Latest News Posted: May 24, 2012 |
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New York is famous for many things: its architecture (Empire State Building), movie locations (Upper West Side thanks to Woody Allen), its comedy (from TV shows Seinfeld and Friends set here to Saturday Night Live, late night TV shows to its comedy spots) and its food (both low brow – hot dogs – and high brow – $55 mac and cheese). And it’s also home to five boroughs — Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. After my weekly Off-Broadway comedy show, I drive a lucky audience group home or to its next destination as long as its within the border of the five boroughs. That’s the only stipulation.
As a proud New Yorker, I’m excited to visit another enclave of the city this weekend — Governors Island. Just off of Manhattan, the island will host the 5 Boro Picnyc on Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th. Normally, I visit Governors Island to bike around during the summer and get away from the city for a moment.
This weekend, you can enjoy food from a variety of vendors – Alobar, Jimmy’s No. 43, Vandaag, among others – as well as live music and beer from Sixpoint, one of New York’s most beloved beers. There’s a grilled cheese cook off. And, you’re supporting Slow Food NYC, Earth Matter, Kingsborough Community College, and Teen Battle Chef.
Unlike some other recent food festivals, the 5 Boro Picnyc will be a bit easier on your pocketbook and offer fewer choices…but in New York that’s a good thing. Option paralysis can be frustrating. The $25 admission fee includes one drink. Hope to see you on Governors Island to celebrate Memorial Day.
There’s nothing better than enjoying some great food and staring back at the beauty of Manhattan. Oh, and don’t forget there’s free ferry service to the island from Brooklyn and Manhattan. Here’s to a great holiday.
Tags: 5 boro picnyc, food, New York
| Theatre World Awards Categories: Latest News,Reviews Posted: May 21, 2012 |
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Los Angeles experiences Award Season in January and February while May and June, the end of the theatrical year, is the time in New York. Last week, I wrote about my wishes for Baba Brinkman at the Drama Desk Awards. Today, I take a look at the Theatre World Awards.
Since 1945, the Theatre World Awards have been presented “to six actors and six actresses for their significant debut performances in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production.” The actual ceremony — which is invite only — is one of the most joyous and engaging in the world. Why? Because every winner knows that he or she is receiving the award when they show up. There are no losers or artists vying for the same award.
Additionally, the awards are hosted by the genial and funny New York theatre critic Peter Filichia. Former Theatre Award winners, though, present the actual award to the winners, and tell very personal and engaging stories about working with or knowing the recipients. For example, two years ago, Vanessa Williams, who took home the trophy for her 1985 performance in Kiss of the Spider Woman, presented the award to her Ugly Betty co-star Michael Urie for his performance in The Temperamentals. Meryl Streep and her two daughters, Mamie Gummer and Grace Gummer, have all received the award as well.
At this year’s ceremony, two performers stand out for me: Joaquina Kalukango (Hurt Village) and Hettienne Park (Seminar and The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism & Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures). Kalukango was a standout in the high energy, incisive play about a Memphis housing project and its inhabitants right before its demolition. As a very young teenaged rapper named Cookie, Kalukango was the heart and soul of the play; her insightful observations packed both a comic and heartbreaking punch. She was world weary at 13. It was a beautiful performance, one that has also earned her a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play.
Park was in two very different plays this season. I really enjoyed Seminar, which is Theresa Rebeck’s look at a writers group and its egomaniacal teacher. Alan Rickman starred in the play for most of its run, but I caught the superb Jeff Goldblum as the teacher. Park plays a woman who is willing to use whatever gifts she has to get ahead. Her comic timing was brilliant, and often, surprising.
Congratulations to Joaquina Kalukango and Hettienne Park for their Theatre World Awards. Both are well deserved.
Tags: New York, theater, Theatre World Awards
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