A hallmark of every over-hyped summer festival is a strictly enforced caste system that distills American class and privilege down to a laminated badge or a special colored wristband. This weekend's Great Googa Mooga was no different, and those who paid $249.50 (plus a service charge of $17.71) to be vaulted into the "Extra Mooga" VIP section were promised shelter from the flip-flopped barbarians and enough sustenance to keep cackling at them long into the evening. So was it worth it? more ›

In January, Internet guru and Videogum blogger Gabriel Delahaye penned a righteously amusing rant sparked by a recent IMAX expansion into multiplexes with smaller, 29' foot high screens, which the company has tried to pass off as an IMAX experience. (For reference, the Lincoln Square IMAX is 76' high.) We got in touch with the press rep for IMAX and reported on the bait-and-switch, and that was the end of it. Until this week, when TV's Aziz Ansari came along with his own blog rant, after paying an extra $5 for a Star Trek screening on one of those dainty "IFAUX" screens. more ›

We've been big fans of Aziz Ansari since he first hit the comedy scene all those years ago, and it seems like since then he's been speedily checking things off his To-Do list. He launched off the stand-up stage to get his own MTV series (Human Giant), is now in an anxiously awaited spin-off of The Office (he clears up the plotline below), and he's been busy filming movies with the likes of Seth Rogan and Paul Rudd. Not too shabby. This weekend he returns to New York, after moving out to Los Angeles—catch his Glow in the Dark Tour (not to be confused with Kanye's) at Comix this Friday or Saturday (buy tickets). more ›

Is this the first election season where you’ve supported one of the candidates? Sort of. This is the first time I’ve supported someone during the primaries, which carries a lot of weight with people who were already going to vote for Obama. In 4th grade I campaigned for Reagan (it worked), and in 2004 I did a bunch of fundraisers for John Kerry (Sorry, America, I failed). Basically, after Bush beat Al Gore and tried to ruin America, I decided to be more politically involved. But not too much! I want to remain “cool.” more ›

THEATER: Described as Damn Yankees meets Ed Wood, the screwball musical LOST IN HOLLYWOODLAND is a goofy retelling of the Faust myth, with a lowly production assistant’s assistant standing in for the good doctor. (Naturally, a film producer serves as the devil.) The fun begins when the peon signs away his soul for fame and fortune. Having killed ‘em in Buffalo, the production now takes Manhattan via the New York Fringe Festival. - John Del Signore more ›

READING: It's New York Murder Mystery Night with novelists Jed Rubenfeld, Joel Rose, and historian Ben Feldman. The trio will be discussing New York’s famous 19th-century murders, including the bizarre events behind Butchery on Bond Street. more ›

MOVIE: In To Sir, With Love, an engineer who is unable to find a job as such lands a position teaching at an East End London high school. It's faculty vs students until the new teach (Sidney Poitier) breaks through all the teen angst. Lessons are learned, etc etc. more ›

MUSIC: There's no better way to end the week by heading over to the Seaport Music Festival on a Friday evening. Sit on the pier with a glass of wine and watch some bands as the sun goes down. The water and ships provide the perfect summer backdrop. Tonight Fujiya & Miyagi will get you moving with some dance beats and Black Moth Super Rainbow will stick to the synth-rock. more ›

THEATER: A revival of Patrick Hamilton’s thriller Gaslight has just begun at Irish Rep; some may remember the award-winning 1944 film version starring Ingrid Bergman and Angela Lansbury. The chilling study in domestic domination to the max concerns a diabolical husband who, not satisfied in exploiting his wife’s savings to buy their house, plots her murder. But while he’s out the police inspector comes in to warn the poor bride that her husband is suspected of another “black-hearted murder” committed fifteen years ago... in the very same house! - John Del Signore more ›

Thursday April 5th at 10:30 on MTV, the world will say, "Hello," to Human Giant, but the people who go to Crash Test at the UCB every week are going to be saying, "Hey," to the familiar faces of Aziz Ansari, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel, and Jason Woliner. The foursome have been screening selections from their show for months now and the reaction is always the same: uproarious laughter. Thanks to the Internet and to MTV, Human Giant is going to bring alternative comedy to a mainstream audience, but first Gothamist brings you this Q and A with Human Giant. (Bonus: Trailer for the show after the interview, and get the first episode on iTunes for free!) more ›

EVENT: As the Sopranos prepares to reach its end, creator David Chase will discussing "the fine art of whacking". Joining him will be many of the characters who have been whacked on the show, including: Steve Buscemi, “Tony Blundetto”, Drea de Matteo, “Adriana La Cerva”, Vincent Pastore, “Salvatore ‘Big Pussy’ Bonpensiero” and many more. more ›

EVENT: Bluestockings is a great little place on Allen St, if you haven't already checked it out. Tonight the UnCoolKids tell us this bookstore (and more) is having an event called "Where Have You Been? Conversations on Travel": more ›

READING: John Sellers will be reading from his book, Perfect from Now On: How Indie Rock Saved My Life, tonight. Idolizing bands like Joy Division, Sonic Youth, Pavement and Guided by Voices, the book outlines how he developed his taste in music. It reads more like a blog, than a book, which makes sense since Sellers has one. more ›

Even before they were a part of our first ever Laughable Hype comedy show, we were fans of Human Giant (then known just by their common names: Aziz Ansari, Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel). The group got their own show on MTV (airing in a few months) and have released a sneak peak in to what we can expect from it. You can watch it here, though if you are a fan - you've probably already seen "Illustionators" in its entirety during one of Aziz's shows at UCB or Mo Pitkins last year. more ›

Along with SantaCON yesterday, Unsilent Night took the streets as well. The boombox parade, led and organized by Phil Kline, happens every year and washes a sort of ambient sound over the city. The above clip shows the parade crossing the street, and here's one spectators interpretation of what might be going on. Personally, we think Aziz Ansari should have showed up playing his world's shittiest mixtape. more ›

Looks like Aziz Ansari has transitioned from blogs to television, and we couldn't be more psyched for him! Along with Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer, Ansari is one third of the Human Giant team. The series will air on MTV in early 2007. Jason Woliner will direct and produce. We can't wait! more ›

Of course the big news in New York movies this weekend is the New York Film Festival which kicks off tomorrow at Lincoln Center. However, in an attempt reserve our NYFF excitement for a full post tomorrow, let's just focus on the regular releases. Here we go. more ›

Aziz Ansari has tackled the blog buzz band phenomena, and even though it's a joke...sometimes it does feel like these "new media" marketing folk would go this far. more ›

COMEDY: If you missed Paul Scheer, Rob Huebel and Aziz Ansari at Summerstage last night - you can catch them all together tonight as Human Giant takes over UCB tonight. What to expect?: "Each week they present a collection of sketches, short films, and presentations that have all been pre-approved by the other "human giant" - Michael Clarke Duncan. In addition, if anyone leaves the show unsatisfied, Mr. Duncan has agreed to go to the homes of Mr. Ansari, Mr. Huebel, and Mr. Scheer and personally beat the #!*$ out of their family." more ›

READINGS: An afternoon event for those of you who don't need to be sweltering in a thankless office - Erica Jong has a conversation with writer Ariel Levy and reads from her new autobiography, . The rain venue is across the street from the park at Coliseum Books. - Krissa Corbett Cavouras more ›

Thank you to all of the comedians: Eugene Mirman, Aziz Ansari, Todd Barry, Daniel Kitson and John Mulaney. Daniel Kitson was a last minute addition and we couldn't be happier he could join us. Since we're more music than comedy, we'll just say this, he was like...the Arcade Fire of comedians. Luring us in to his well crafted tales of everyday life, leaving us with cheeks hurting from laughing so hard. If you want to catch him before he heads back cross the pond, you can do so tonight (and only tonight!) at his "Stories for the Wobbly Hearted" show. Tickets and info here. more ›

Details: more ›

Horray, more music! Day 2 of Bonnaroo got off to a great start with Dungen at the That Tent. It's quite a trip to hear thousands of people singing along in a language they don't actually understand. Lots of people knew the words, few actually knew what they were saying. Regardless, the energy and presence of this band always impresses, and they left the early risers in high spirits to take on the day. After them were Gothamist pals Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, who played to what we assume was the largest crowd they've been in front of that was the most unfamiliar with the songs. We actually had people ask us "Who is Clap Your Hands whatever whatever?" For the first time in over a year. This touches on one of the great things about the festival. Even though the lineup skewed more towards the indie scene than in previous years, the majority of the crowd was still there for the major jam bands. This put bands like CYHSY in a position to show off their talents in front of musically open minded people who may not have otherwise have gone to see them. Their set was marred with technical difficulties, which was a shame cause it hindered the flow a bit, but nonetheless, once the songs came out, the crowd was bouncing along and enjoying themselves as expected. That’s what we always like to see. more ›

One of them had the funniest interview to date on Gothamist. Another is on a label with some of our favorite bands. And another just opened for Radiohead at Bonnaroo, well, sort of. more ›

with Todd Barry, Eugene Mirman and Aziz Ansari (pictured above with the band Thunderbirds Are Now! at SXSW). more ›

THEATER: The Ohio Theater is the site of two of summer's best play festivals, and the first, Clubbed Thumb's eleventh Summerworks, started yesterday with Anne Washburn's I Have Loved Strangers, "in which true prophets, false prophets, and non-prophets battle for the salvation of ancient New York." On the company's website http://www.clubbedthumb.org/ you can do some "research" before going, via various eyebrow-raising links; or you can just rely on the winning trifecta of excellent track records: of the Ohio, of Clubbed Thumb, and of Washburn herself, whose play Apparition recently showed to well-deserved acclaim. Over the next weeks, two other plays will be in the festival -- Erin Courtney's Alice the Magnet, and Rachel Hoeffel's Quail -- but each is showing for only a few days, so get under the thumb while you can. - Mallory Jensen more ›

Tonight, after a day of rooftops and BBQ...head over to UCB Theater for some indoor BBQ. Sure, it sounds dangerous (that's a pretty confined space!) but that'll make it even that much more fun. And funny. more ›

MUSIC: The Upper Crust are playing a proletarian downtown venue tonight! These four young nobleman will Rocque and Roll you with a polished AC/DC-esque sound. Do check them out, seriously. That is them to the right. We don't think we really need say anymore. more ›