Comic Strip Live
| Address | 1568 Second Avenue |
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| Location | New York City, New York |
| Type | Comedy club |
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The Comic Strip Live is the oldest stand-up comedy showcase club in New York City and the world, located at 1568 Second Avenue (between 81st and 82nd Streets).[1][2][3]
Beginnings
Before emerging as a venue spotlighting only stand up comedians, the club originally featured singers, magicians, and novelty acts. Chris Rock used to clean tables to get extra stage time, and Colin Quinn was a bartender 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 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, Judah Friedlander, Ted Alexandro, Tony Rock, Jeffrey Ross, Mike Birbiglia, Judy Gold, Rich Vos, and Greg Giraldo.
Notable alumni
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Notes
Fox Broadcasting Company had an unrelated late-night stand-up comedy showcase, Comic Strip Live, which aired in the late 1980s and into the early 1990s. The club changed its name from "The Comic Strip" to "Comic Strip Live" in an apparent attempt to capitalize on this.