Time Theft Nation

REVIEW: @toddbarry LIVE at Stand Up NY - First off, Fuck you Stand Up NY for only letting Todd perform for about 12-15 minutes. Todd was absolutely hilarious, delivering story after story and delving into them further then most comedians would even dare, to get some of our loudest laughs of the night (Thanks to @ravi_mangla for introducing me to Todd Barry).

Todd opened his set with a bit on his time as a UF Gator, transitioning into bartender choices in Missoula, MT, and touched on other subjects like Yelp and Locked Up Abroad. Like Akash (sp?; hilarious MC for the night), Todd intermixed some fantastic crowd work, discovering a member of the crowd worked as a correctional officer in Essex County that currently hosts “Ja Rule”. He also touched on members of the audience who were talking throughout his set, and two blonde women in the front row, dedicating his final joke out to the one who was a psychiatrist. It was a really funny set and it was a shame the entire crowd wasn’t roaring with laughter. A lot of the crowd seemed to be there for Blacktino Comedy Night, like the 40 year old blonde divorcee, who didn’t laugh once during Todd’s set, and her attractive daughter who looked like she was falling asleep.

I’m a little disappointed that Stand Up NY sponsored this event as a comedy show that was against cancer, and highlighted Todd Barry. I was hoping to catch at least a 30 minute set, but he still killed his sparse 15. It’s a little unfortunate though, when you have to drop $20 minimum on drinks and pay another $20 for the ticket (although it’s a good cause, my money is pretty thin).

Anyway, this post is getting way too fucking long, but I did meet a cool guy on holiday from the U.K. while we were waiting for the show to begin. We both expressed our love for “Peep Show”, “Louie”, “Archer”, “Arrested Development” and the film “Four Lions”. We also had the same favorite American sitcom, “Parks and Recreation”, and we were both thrilled that the brilliant “Community” was slated to come back on the air. I mentioned I enjoyed the British comedic sensibilities a bit more than American and he countered by saying he rather enjoyed the lighter comedies we produce as well. His girlfriend, who texted him looking for the video game “Rock Band” (1 a.m. Manchester time, now back with her friends after a night on the town) and he like to watch Modern Family as well, because it’s a bit light.

He left with saying I should check out some of Chris Morris’ work such as “Brass Eye” and “The Day Today” as well as continue watching “Spaced”.

Anyway, I hope I can catch Todd Barry again some other time soon and for a little bit longer. (For what it’s worth, Stand Up NY is a very nice club, just a bit overpriced if you don’t read that what you are going to go see is actually the opener for blacktino night)