EARLIER THIS YEAR, I observed something so rare in nature, I’m pretty sure that what I actually saw was its genesis: I saw a former runway model perform stand-up comedy. I had gone to Gotham Comedy Club to see a new talent showcase, and the second comic to take the stage started her set by telling us that she was a former model. I wasn’t sure I’d heard it right. But I had. more

If you don’t like talking publicly about the best way to eat ass—some say both parties on all fours, some say with the eatee on his or her stomach, legs spread— Daniel Packard’s show isn’t for you.The host of his own dating advice show on Vancouver’s 94.5,The Beat (!), Packard brings his radio show, plus some, to the stage. Expect interactivity. Expect awkwardness. Hey, some people get off on that stuff. more

Comedian Chris Hardwick is probably best known for competing for camera time with Jenny McCarthy’s rack on the ’90s MTV dating show Singled Out. These days, the 38-year-old comic finds himself involved in slightly more cerebral pursuits. He’s a regular contributor to Wired magazine as well as a writer, producer and host of the G4 clip show Web Soup. He also comprises one half of the musical comedy duo Hard N’ Phirm, where Hardwick pulls off the impressive feat of eliciting laughs with songs about trace elements and The Carbon Cycle. more

Pete Holmes is a funny man, not just a comedian. A frequent contributor to The New Yorker and Collegehumor.com—in fact the funniest thing on Collegehumor—Holmes is also the voice of the E*Trade baby. Everything the man says is hilarious. But his standup is less observational than conceptual. It’s almost— though not quite—like you’re learning something. more

It was only a matter of time, and frankly we’re surprised it took so long, but here it is: The first (that we know of) Chatroulette party— featuring $2 PBRs, Chatroulette and a drinking game that involves taking one shot per penis seen. more

“When I had this idea, there was no second guessing,” explains comedy writer and former member of The State Kevin Allison. He’s talking about his live storytelling series, aptly titled Risk! Billed as a more risque, R-rated version of This American Life, the first season of the series featured performances from noteworthy actors and comedians such as Janeane Garofalo, Margaret Cho and Rachel Dratch. The second season, kicking off Feb. 11 at 92YTribeca, will host the likes of Marc Maron, The Daily Show’s Aasif Mandvi, Andrea Rosen and a return appearance by Dratch, among others. more

James Cameron’s SFX habit gets so bad while making Avatar that his studio cuts him off. Cameron takes to the streets, giving away sexual favors for just a little more motion-capture. This isn&rs more

New York Underground Comedy Festival Oct. 2 through 12, various locations, visit www.nycundergroundcomedyfestival.com for info There’s nothing worst than an unfunny comic, a piquant mess more

Rising from the ranks of the unwashed standup masses, Eugene Mirman has made it to the top of the comedy heap with his sardonic, goofy brand of humor.Tonight he kicks off his titular comedy festival starring some of the city’s best comics in a similar vein: Kristen Schaal, Bobby Tisdale,Todd Barry.The opening night lineup features live acts as well as video by Max Silvestri.There’s also a whole roast pig involved. more

Keemo, a smooth - talking guy with a friendly smile, spends his Friday nights on the corner of West 43rd Street and Broadway wearing a blue shirt and carrying a yellow sign. He might ask if you like stand-up comedy. If you say yes, he’ll whisk you three busy blocks west—dodging tourists and hurtling past the corpse of the Virgin Megastore—before ushering you down a dingy flight of stairs under Sweet Caroline’s Dueling Pianos. The club down there—Ha! Comedy Club NYC—is anonymous and unheralded. more