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September 29, 2005

Mike, Dan, Erica…take this test.

via Dead Frog and Elephant Larry, here is a pseudoscientific way to test where our senses of humor lie. You guys take this one too. On principle, I don’t usually endorse these quizzy things, cause they’re annoying, but this one’s a good one. I am personally prouder of my darkness percentile than my darkness score.

the Wit (76% dark, 26% spontaneous, 15% vulgar)

your humor style: CLEAN | COMPLEX | DARK You like things edgy, subtle, and smart. I guess that means you’re probably an intellectual, but don’t take that to mean pretentious. You realize ‘dumb’ can be witty—after all isn’t that the Simpsons’ philosophy?—but rudeness for its own sake, ‘gross-out’ humor and most other things found in a fraternity leave you totally flat. I guess you just have a more cerebral approach than most. You have the perfect mindset for a joke writer or staff writer. Your sense of humor takes the most thought to appreciate, but it’s also the best, in my opinion. You probably loved the Office. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check it out here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/. PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Jon Stewart - Woody Allen - Ricky Gervais The 3-Variable Funny Test! - it rules - If you’re interested, try my latest: The Terrorism Test

Posted by Nate Kushner at 02:42 PM | Comments (2)

September 28, 2005

I got reviewed in the Village Voice!

As many people know, I participated the other week in The Aristocontest at the PIT, where I and many of AWOK’s friends in sketch told some tellings of that Aristocrats joke. Well, the damn thing got reviewed in the Village Voice by Michael Musto, and I’m in the review! Check it out Here or right below!

SCAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF

Dina’s opener, the female sketch comedy group MEAT, was one of the acts lining up to spew obscenities at the Peoples Improv Theater’s Aristocontest, where the stage figuratively added 80 to 90 pounds of body fluids. The illustrious event had comics telling their versions of the infamous joke where a family farts and fists and felches onstage, then calls itself the Federlines, I mean the Aristocrats. We were treated to every imaginable variation on the joke—including a folk song version—with the scatological references topically spanning Katrina, 9-11, the Bush family, and “shit coming out like a giant Mister Softee machine.” Several comics went on too long, forgetting that less is whore, but all of them were so gamely goofy that by the end there was even some real vomit on the stage. The punchline of the contest? The prize was absolutely nothing. (But here’s a free gift to you: Spies tell me The Aristocrats might be bound for Broadway—you know, the Great Brown Way.)

You know what they say…any publicity is good as long as they spell your name right.

Posted by Nate Kushner at 04:26 PM | Comments (6)

Bad Choices

AWOK will be adding its modest contribution to a themed sketch show at RiFiFi on Saturday, October 22nd.

The show, whose theme is “Bad Choices” is hosted by the nice folks of Slightly Known People and will also feature Armed and Ridiculous, Wicked Wicked Hammerkatz, and Mavis Jay.

RiFiFi: 332 East 11th St (between 1st and 2nd Aves). Cover is $5.

Posted by Nate Kushner at 12:50 AM | Comments (0)

September 21, 2005

The Savvy Fav.

Daddy, Daddy,what’s that scary icon in the address bar in my browser?

That’s our new favicon, son. When a website gets one, it means that they’re not just fucking around. Now they’ll see our goddamn logo thing everywhere inside their damn browser, especially if they bookmark our shiznit.

Daddy, Daddy, you’re web-savvy.

Damn right, son.

Posted by Nate Kushner at 10:42 AM | Comments (7)

September 19, 2005

Fun with search terms.

Fun facts:

The most popular search string used to access our site is “Pick Withers.” No surprise there, as we’ve been documenting the Pick Withers Phenomenon for months.

What is a surprise is what the number 18 search term is. It gives me great pride to announce that more than one person has gotten to our neck of the web this month by searching for “story of my mom fucking black cock.”

Confidential to that intrepid Googlenaut: Sir or ma’am, I hope you’ve found what you were looking for, and if you haven’t, leave us a comment, and we’ll see if we can’t make up a funny story (or even a sketch! We’re a sketch group!) about your mom doing you-know-what.

You get us going about your mom, and I promise you, the jokes will flow like water. And that’s a comedy writer’s promise, which is sacred.

Posted by Nate Kushner at 05:21 PM | Comments (1)

September 17, 2005

Barnyard Jamboree

Daddy, Daddy, what is A Week of Kindness’s 3rd brand-new show going to be called?

Well, that’s easy, son. It’s going to be called Barnyard Jamboree.

The Jamboree gets a hollerin’ on these Tuesdays: October 11, 18 and 25, at 9:30 PM

At the People’s Improv Theatre
154 W. 29th St (between 6th and 7th Avenues)
( Click here for subway directions)

$6 cash at the door. Online ticketing coming soon.

Posted by Nate Kushner at 01:44 AM | Comments (0)

September 14, 2005

Aristocontest!

I think I’m going to be giving this a try. Courtesy of Alex from Elephant Larry. Come hear me talk dirty!

DEAD-FROG.COM AND THE PEOPLES IMPROV THEATER PRESENT
“THE ARISTCONTEST” FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY

For one night only, some of the best comedians in New York City will take the stage at The Peoples Improv Theater to present their version of the filthiest joke ever told: The Aristocrats. The event is co-presented with Dead-Frog.com, home of the Official Aristocrats Joke Database.

Starting with a simple set-up (a man walks into a managers office), and ending with the punchline, “The Aristocrats,” the joke has been made infamous by numerous retellings, and the recent documentary of the same name. At this special showing, Ali Farahnakhian (former writer for Saturday Night Live), Andres du Bouchet (Giant Tuesday Night), Fearsome (2005 ECNY nominees), and many more will present their own unique versions.

In addition to these guests, there will be a chance for audience members to sign up to present their own version of the joke.

Dead-Frog.com is a well respected comedy analysis blog, and the home to the official Aristocrats Database.

The Peoples Improv Theater is home to the Best Comedy Classes in New York City (New York Magazine), and NYC’s Best Improv Group (Big Black Car, 2005 ECNYs). Improv, sketch comedy, stand-up, and comedic theater shows are presented nightly.

For more information on this, and other shows at the theater, please check out thepit-nyc.com.

WHAT: The Aristocontest
WHEN: Saturday, September 17 @ 11:00pm
WHERE: The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 W. 29th St. (btwn. 6th and 7th Aves.)
TICKETS: $8, available at the door

Posted by Nate Kushner at 02:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 13, 2005

The Face of Slickness!

Here’s something fantastically cool…We just sent the following design to the printers so that we could have a whole batch of sweet promo postcards made.

Here is its front:

And here is its back.

Yeah, that’s the stuff.

For those of you who have not attended an AWOK show, the design is in reference to our uniform, which is blue jeans, track jackets (removed when the sketch calls for it), and black T-shirts with the letter “A” on them in electrical tape (style and font left up to the whim of the wearer.)

Anyway, we happen to think that the design is pretty awesome. And if you want a closer look, it may well be littering the table at a twenty-something-frequented coffee establishment near you, long after our own coffee has been quaffed.

Posted by Nate Kushner at 02:51 AM | Comments (6)

September 04, 2005

A remebrance

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn’t speak
You were my eyes when I couldn’t see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn’t reach
You gave me faith ‘coz you believed
I’m everything I am
Because you loved me…

RIP, WILLIAM REHNQUIST.

Posted by Mike Still at 01:47 PM | Comments (7)

September 02, 2005

New Video: Fresh Milk

We thought we’d switch things up by posting a live video from Saturday night. This is the most recent performance of a sketch we’ve been doing since our very first show, entitled “Fresh Milk,” and it depicts the Journey Towards Freshness of just one bottle of Hilldairy Farms Milk. Click the picture!

Fresh Milk
Featuring Nate Kushner, Mike Still, Erica Harsch, and Dan Hopper
Introduction by Shayna Ferm
Written by A Week of Kindness
Filmed by Luke Davin at Sketchstock 3000 at the Medicine Show Theatre
August 27, 2005.

Posted by Nate Kushner at 10:30 AM | Comments (6)

Accuracy in Titling

I have an automatic fondness for websites and things that are exactly what they say they are. That is to say, things that are titled with aggressive accuracy. It automatically makes me smile, even if it’s not good. Recent examples have included Crying While Eating, and Stuff on My Cat.

By that logic, this will be the most fantastic film ever, and I can’t wait. I promise, it will be worth your thirty seconds to click that and see what this movie’s going to be called.

Posted by Nate Kushner at 09:58 AM | Comments (2)

September 01, 2005

AWOK has been saddened

Damnit.

Flooding has been a real bastard this last year. I’ve never lived in an area where there was a constant danger of my house being completely swallowed by water. My grandfather lived on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, but his house was on a bluff. When I was 8 I would picture the water coming up, but my parents would assure me that it was impossible for the water to raise 100 feet.

Of course, if you’re sitting in a city that is 5 feet below sea level, the story is different.

Thus, we at AWOK are joining the call to encourage a donation of any size to the American Red Cross. New Orleans needs it, and so do the countless other towns along Gulf Coast. It’s going to take a long time to rebuild, so let’s make sure the effort is strong and successful from the start. I know a lot of our readers are just out of college, but even a small donation is going to make a difference. And goddamnit, the town must be rebuilt so I can have another embarassing night like this there:

I swear that I didn’t once consider punching the donkey in the face. Donate!

Posted by Mike Still at 12:17 AM | Comments (0)

Sketchstock Photos!

Our picture gallery is up, but is woefully incomplete; We have photos of most acts from Night 2 and Night 3, and none from Night 1, so if you’ve got pics to contribute of acts that we’re missing, drop us a line.

Thanks!

Posted by Nate Kushner at 12:15 AM | Comments (5)

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