TV / Video

Comedy Central, New York Comedy Festival expand “Comics to Watch” to include sketch and stand-up in 2015

NYCF_2014_logo_Vertical_FINALComedy Central and The New York Comedy Festival have expanded their annual “Comics to Watch” showcase this year, adding a second night to the events happening next week — and also distributing jokes from the selected comedians via Snapchat and Spotify to give you more ways to watch and hear them.

And here they are!

The 2015 “Comics to Watch” stand-up showcase at Carolines on Broadway, hosted Nov. 10, 2015, by Ricky Velez, (contributor, The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, featured in 2014 Comics to Watch):

  • Kenny DeForest
  • Jo Firestone
  • David Gborie
  • Charles Gould
  • Sam Jay
  • Josh Johnson
  • Adam Lustick
  • Jacqueline Novak
  • Billy Prinsell
  • Ramon Rivas II
  • Randy Syphax
  • Jacob Williams

The 2015 “Comics to Watch” sketch showcase happens the following night at UCB Chelsea, hosted by Conner O’Malley (“Late Night with Seth Meyers,” “Louie”), with:

  • BOAT (Amos Vernon, Mike Lane, Nunzio Randazzo)
  • Keith + Jesse (Keith Kingbay, Jesse Neil)
  • Pop Roulette (Sudi Green, David Mizzoni, Matt Rogers, Amanda Shechtman, Tessa Skara, Jonathan Sokolow, Douglas Widick, Rachel Wenitsky, Bowen Yang)
  • Joanna Bradley
  • David Brown
  • Christine Bullen
  • Brett Davis
  • Carl Foreman Jr.
  • Frank Garcia-Hejl
  • Brandon Scott Jones
  • Gary Richardson

This year, the festival is careful to note, too, each of the sketch performers “will receive a development deal to submit a one-off sketch script to Comedy Central for development consideration.”

You’ll also be able to watch and listen to all of the featured performers either via Comedy Central’s Snapchat Discover channel, Spotify, or via video clips at ccstandup.com.

Past comedians selected for “Comics to Watch” have included Velez, Michael Che, Brooks Wheelan, Kurt Braunohler, Andrew Santino, Tone Bell, Ali Wong, Josh Rabinowitz, Emily Heller and Kate Berlant.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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