The Comic Strip Live is the oldest stand-up comedy showcase club in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, located at 1568 Second Avenue (between 81st and 82nd Streets).

History

The Comic Strip was opened in 1976. Richard Tienken and Robert Wachs were two of the club's founders.Neil Genzlinger
"Richie Tienken, Whose Comedy Club Propelled Careers, Dies at 75,"
''The New York Times'', March 6, 2021. Before emerging as a venue spotlighting only stand up comedians, the club originally featured singers, magicians, and novelty acts. Chris Rock used to stack chairs to get stage time and Colin Quinn was a bartender at the club. In 2017

Jerry Seinfeld Jerome Allen Seinfeld ( ; born April 29, 1954) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. As a stand-up comedian, Seinfeld specializes in observational comedy. Seinfeld gained stardom playing a semi-fictionalized version ...

returned to the club to shoot his

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

special, '' Jerry Before Seinfeld''; he had first performed at the club in 1976.

Adam Sandler Adam Richard Sandler (born September 9, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, producer and screenwriter. Primarily a comedic leading actor in films, List of awards and nominations received by Adam Sandler, his accolades include an Independent Sp ...

also shot part of his 2018 special ''100% Fresh'' at the club.

Present

Primarily a showcase club, the Comic Strip encourages performers to consistently write, perform and perfect new material. Once a year, the club holds an "Audition Lottery", where aspiring newcomers line up to be given a date to try out their routine on "Audition Night". If they do well, the club's talent booker passes them. "Passing" means getting a chance to work late night, where they perfect their acts. This occurs weeknights after the regular show has ended.

Guinness World Record

From June 3, 2008 through June 5 the Comic Strip Live broke the

Guinness World Record ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, listi ...

for the Longest Continuous Stand Up Comedy Show, finishing at slightly beyond the 50-hour mark. The entire event was hosted by William Stephenson and included performances by

Dave Attell David Attell (born January 18, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian, actor and writer best known as the host of Comedy Central's '' Insomniac with Dave Attell.'' Early life Attell was born in the New York City borough of Queens to a Jewish fa ...

, Judah Friedlander, Ted Alexandro, Tony Rock, Jeffrey Ross, Mike Birbiglia, Judy Gold, Rich Vos, and Greg Giraldo.

Notable alumni

* Ted Alexandro * Dan Allen * Aziz Ansari *

* Ben Bailey * Greer Barnes * Charlie Barnett * D. C. Benny * Mike Birbiglia * Scott Blakeman * Vinnie Brand * Kevin Brennan * Jim Breuer *

Eddie Brill Eddie Brill is an American comedian, writer, and actor who started his career in Boston, Massachusetts. He was previously the warm-up comedian and comedy talent coordinator of ''Late Show with David Letterman''. Brill tours frequently, performi ...

* Jimmy Brogan * Louis C.K. * Bryan Callen *

Mario Cantone Mario Cantone (born December 9, 1959) is an American comedian, writer, actor, singer, and television host. He is best known for his numerous stage shows. He played Anthony Marentino in '' Sex and the City'' and Terri in '' Men in Trees'' (2006– ...

George Carlin George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008) was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, actor and author. Regarded as one of the greatest and most influential comedians of all time, he was dubbed "the dean of countercultur ...

Dave Chappelle David Khari Webber Chappelle ( ; born August 24, 1973) is an American stand-up comedy, stand-up comedian and actor. He starred in and co-created the satirical comedy sketch series ''Chappelle's Show'' (2003–2006) before quitting in the middle ...

Dane Cook Dane Jeffrey Cook (born March 18, 1972) is an American stand-up comedian and film actor. He is known for his use of observational comedy, observational, often blue comedy, vulgar, and sometimes black comedy, dark comedy. He released six comedy ...

* Tom Cotter * Sunda Croonquist *

Rodney Dangerfield Jack Roy (born Jacob Cohen; November 22, 1921 – October 5, 2004), better known by the stage name Rodney Dangerfield, was an American stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter, and producer. He was known for his self-deprecating one-liner humor, ...

Ellen DeGeneres Ellen Lee DeGeneres ( ; born January 26, 1958) is an American former comedian, actress, television host, writer, and producer. She began her career in stand-up comedy in the early 1980s, gaining national attention with a 1986 appearance on '' ...

* Ray Ellin * Susie Essman *

Jimmy Fallon James Thomas Fallon (born September 19, 1974) is an Americans, American comedian, television host, actor, singer, writer, and producer. Best known for his work in television, Fallon's breakthrough came during his tenure as a cast member on the ...

* Wayne Federman * Christian Finnegan * Judah Friedlander * Jim Gaffigan * Elon Gold * Judy Gold * Bobcat Goldthwait *

Gilbert Gottfried Gilbert Jeremy Gottfried (February 28, 1955 – April 12, 2022) was an American stand-up comedian and actor, best-known for his exaggerated shrill voice, strong New York dialect, his squint, and his edgy, often-controversial, sense of humor. Hi ...

* Darrell Hammond * J. R. Havlan * John Henson * Vanessa Hollingshead * Cory Kahaney * Artie Lange * Carol Leifer * Kerri Louise *

Bill Maher William MaherStated on ''Finding Your Roots'', January 12, 2016, PBS; on a series that lists "Jr." and "Sr." distinctions, Bill Maher's birth name was listed simply as William Maher, while his father was William Aloysius Maher Jr., and his pa ...

* Jackie Martling * Dennis Miller * Larry Miller *

Eddie Murphy Edward Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American actor, comedian, and singer. He had his breakthrough as a standup comic before gaining stardom for his film roles; he is widely recognized as one of the greatest comedians of all time. H ...

Dan Naturman Dan Naturman (born October 20, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian, who has made numerous appearances on television. His performing style of grouchiness and self-deprecation accompanies his comic content about modern topics such as Internet ...

Kevin Nealon Kevin Nealon (; born November 18, 1953) is an American comedian and actor. He has earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination and two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. He first gained widespread attention during his tenure as a cast member on ...

Big Jay Oakerson Jason Michael "Big Jay" Oakerson (born December 07 , 1977) is an American stand-up comedian, radio show host, podcaster and actor.Leijn, Erik (July 21, 2011)Big and tall tales: There’s nothing small about Big Jay Oakerson and his big wild st ...

Patton Oswalt Patton Peter Oswalt (born January 27, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. His acting roles include Spence Olchin in the sitcom ''The King of Queens'' (1998–2007) and narrating the sitcom '' The Goldbergs'' (2013–2023) as adult ...

Rick Overton Richard Overton (born August 10, 1954) is an American actor and screenwriter. His writing credits include ''Dennis Miller Live'' (1994–2002), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award, while his acting credits include '' Gung Ho'' and '' O ...

* Joe Piscopo *

Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Known for reaching a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, he is widely regarded ...

* Colin Quinn *

Paul Reiser Paul Reiser (; born March 30, 1956) is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He played the roles of Michael Taylor in the 1980s sitcom ''My Two Dads'', Paul Buchman in the NBC sitcom ''Mad About You'', Modell in the 1982 film ''Diner (1982 f ...

* Caroline Rhea * Chris Rock * Tony Rock *

Seth Rogen Seth Aaron Rogen (; born April 15, 1982) is a Canadian actor, comedian, and filmmaker. Known primarily for his comedic Leading actor, leading man roles in films, the accolades he has received include nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, ...

* Ray Romano * Jeffrey Ross * Angel Salazar *

* Steven Scott *

* Rick Shapiro * Sarah Silverman * Spanky *

Jon Stewart Jon Stewart (born Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz, November 28, 1962) is an American comedian, writer, producer, director, political commentator, actor, and television host. The long-running host of ''The Daily Show'' on Comedy Central from 1999 to 20 ...

Jeff Stilson Jeff Stilson (born c. 1959) is an American stand-up comedian, writer and TV producer. Biography Stilson was born in Spokane, Washington. He began his stand up career in Seattle in the mid 1980s. As a stand up he has appeared on ''Late Night w ...

Wanda Sykes Wanda Yvette Sykes (born March 7, 1964) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. She was first recognized for her work as a writer on ''The Chris Rock Show'', for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999. In 2004, ''Entertainme ...

George Wallace George Corley Wallace Jr. (August 25, 1919 – September 13, 1998) was an American politician who was the 45th and longest-serving governor of Alabama (1963–1967; 1971–1979; 1983–1987), and the List of longest-serving governors of U.S. s ...

Damon Wayans Damon Kyle Wayans Sr. (; born September 4, 1960) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, and writer. A member of the Wayans family of entertainers, Damon performed as a comedian and actor throughout the 1980s, including a brief stint ...

Robin Williams Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951August 11, 2014) was an American actor and comedian known for his improvisational skills and the wide variety of characters he created on the spur of the moment and portrayed on film, in dramas and comedie ...

Dennis Wolfberg Dennis Wolfberg (March 29, 1946 – October 3, 1994) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Early life Born on March 29, 1946, on Long Island to Frances and Sidney Wolfberg, Dennis attended Queens College, where he received a master's deg ...

References

External links

* * {{IMDb title, qid=Q5151776 Comedy clubs in Manhattan Upper East Side Second Avenue (Manhattan)