Comedy Matters
by Jeffrey L. Gurian
Comics Roundtable
HE Gershwin Hotel is the scene of some of the hippest comedy shows around. Thursday night is the Round Table night. It’s probably a King Arthur reference. It was ably hosted by comic Michelle Buteau. I got to see a lot of funny people, especially Matt Passet, and a Russian comic named Tatyana , whose last name starts with Zb, followed by almost every letter in the alphabet
She’s been performing for only six months, and already came in fourth in the Connecticut Comedy Festival. She commutes every day from Russia, and is never late for a gig. (That’s not true—she’s late every day!)
I asked her to try out for the new version of Open Call that you’ll be reading about a little later on in the column. Between her and the hysterical Gregory K., I’ll have my own Boris and Natasha.
A nationally known comedy writer, Jeffrey L. Gurian has written material for many of the great performers at the fabled Friars Roasts, including Richard Belzer, Robin Williams, Milton Berle, Jerry Lewis, and Bruce Willis, as well as comedy stars such as Joan Rivers, Gilbert Gottfried, Phil Hartman, Pauly Shore and Pat Cooper.
Jeffrey is the writer of two award winning films, his newest “I Am Woody” about a mob boss who’s obsessed with Woody Allen just won for Best Short Film at the NY Independent Film Festival. He’s teaching comedy writing at The Learning Annex, and as part of Baruch’s new Performing Arts Program. You can read more at his site: www.jeffreygurian.com
