Bill Maher, Chris Hardwick and Nick Offerman to Headline 14th Annual NYC Comedy Fest

Jordan Bailey

Fourteen years in the New York City Comedy Festival is as strong, eccentric and funny as ever. For this year’s rendition of comedy shows, some of the industry’s top, mainstream acts will be taking to stages across the city to perform stand up, host live podcasts, talk shop and even teach some improv skills. The newly opened Public Hotel will work as central command throughout the six days of laughs (Nov. 7-12).

Throughout the two-hundred acts that will be seen over the November week, many of them are well known to more people than just comedy nerds. Conan O’Brien will bring his beloved late-night show to the Apollo Theater in Harlem where he’ll host a slew of live episodes. Fellow TBS show-host Samantha Bee will also take to the Apollo to perform an episode of her hit politically-charged show “Full Frontal.” Speaking of politics, and show hosts for that matter, front man for HBO’s “Real Time” will be doing his stand-up at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 11. Bill Maher has been having a heyday taking down political buffoonery for decades in both his hit HBO late-night show and during his stand up performances across the country. In a similar vein, both current and former The Daily Show hosts will be teaming up for a NYCF fundraiser called Stand Up For Heroes. Jon Stewart and Trevor Noah will join special guests Hasan Minhaj, John Mulaney, John Oliver, Conan O’Brien, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers for good measure, during a massive night of fundraising-comedy at MSG on Nov. 7. This is the eleventh year for the SUFH event which overall has raised more than $40 million. Chris Hardwick will also do a run of shows throughout the week at Carolines on Broadway. The Nerdist host is, as always, staying busy with his ever-popular podcast alongside his “The Walking Dead” after-show, “Talking Dead,” and his latest venture, NBC’s “The Wall.” Nick Offerman will also join the bill for a live performance of his “Full Bush” stand up special at the Beacon Theatre on Nov. 11. As America’s favorite woodworking comedian, Offerman has found success in a variety of comedic roles, most notably as Ron Swanson on “Parks & Recreation.”

Other stand up acts will include Brian Regan, Jim Norton, Iliza Shlesinger, Jo Koy, Kevin Smith, Vir Das, Tracy Morgan, Cedric the Entertainer, Ron White and Tom Segura. For the podcast portion of the festival, Jon Lovett will bring his topical show “Lovett or Leave It” to the Beacon Theatre for two nights. “How Did This Get Made?,” the hilarious bad-movie discussion podcast with comedians June Diane Raphael, Jason Mantzoukas and Paul Scheer will take to Town Hall for back-to-back shows on Nov. 9. “Guys We Fucked,” the so-called “Anti-Slut Shaming Podcast” will host a show at the BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center to talk all things sex and love. The Bell House will play host to two separate, but equally hilarious, podcast recordings. Both 2 Dope Queens and the Last Podcast on the Left will have live shows throughout the week. All these among many more events, stand up shows, activities and more.

New York Comedy Festival will take place at various locations throughout New York from Nov. 7-12.