The Complete Idiot's Guide to Jokes events

From Larry Getlen

1. “THE COMPLETE IDIOTS GUIDE TO JOKES” PRESENTS:

“IS THE JOKE DEAD?”

Thursday, November 2 @ 7:00 p.m.
Makor/92nd Street Y
Steinhardt Building, 35 West 67th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Ave.
2, 3 to 72nd. 1, 9 to 66th
$12 in advance - $15 at the door


“Is The Joke Dead?”

Featuring Larry Getlen, Mark Katz, Brian Kiley, and Ted Alexandro.

Enjoy a not-so-serious discussion on whether the joke is dead; whether “snark” is the new “joke;” whether anyone cares why the chicken crossed the road; and what are we laughing at when not laughing at our ridiculous families, friends and co-workers. The evening includes a “joke-off,” where audience members can compete for prizes and face the critiques and scrutiny of our judges.

Larry Getlen (moderator) is the editor of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Jokes. Mark Katz, the former White House joke writer for President Bill Clinton, runs the Soundbite Institute, a creative think tank for humor-writing projects. Brian Kiley has been a longtime staff writer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Ted Alexandro has appeared on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, The View and two half-hour specials on Comedy Central, and his latest DVD is called "As Much As You Want."


2. THE COMPLETE IDIOTS GUIDE TO JOKES AND THE NEW YORK COMEDY FESTIVAL PRESENT:

“HOW TO TELL A JOKE – AND, HOW NOT TO”
AN OFFICIAL EVENT OF THE NEW YORK COMEDY FESTIVAL

Saturday, November 11, 2:00 p.m.
Borders Books in the Time Warner Center @ Columbus Circle
10 Columbus Circle (The Shops at Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Center)
A, B, C, D, 1 to 59th St./Columbus Circle
FREE

An interactive, tongue-in-cheek seminar/book and CD signing where some of today’s best comedy minds will show you the secrets to telling a joke – and, let YOU test your joke-telling skills against the pros, in front of a live audience, American Idol-style. Think you can tell a good joke? Bring it on, and test your mettle against the pros!

Panelists:

Larry Getlen (moderator – editor, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Jokes)

Tony Hendra (veteran writer, editor, performer - National Lampoon, Spy Magazine, Ian Faith in “This is Spinal Tap” and NY Times best-selling author of "Father Joe" and "The Messiah of Morris Avenue")

Nick Di Paolo (Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, Howard Stern, The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman – two time Emmy-nominated writer for The Chris Rock Show)

Christian Finnegan (Best Week Ever, The Today Show, new CD “Two for Flinching” available through Comedy Central Records)

Brian Kiley (longtime staff writer for Late Night with Conan O’Brien)