_50 First Jokes is the annual comedy blowout show where fifty standup comics tell their first new joke of that new year. Significant because a joke often gets written and re-written many times over many sets until a final product -- some platonic ideal of a joke -- is reached and ready for a set on late night. Doing it for the first time in front of a huge crowd is a jackass level stunt and maybe that's why it keeps rolling on, six years now.

Having performed and produced the show all 5 times prior, I can tell you it's a bit of pressure, along with jumpy nerves, followed by a high once you're done. Sounds like we're injecting injectable drugs. No, I wish. But the comics really put everything on the line for something interesting and exciting.

After four years, the show branched out to LA thanks to Margie Mintz and Rob O'Reilly. It's back for the second year and it features 49 of LA's best comics and one ex-NYC producer that is me.


50 FIRST JOKES 2012

NEW YORK
January 4, 2012
The Bell House
149 7th St, Brooklyn, NY  11215-3106
$10 in advance, $12 at the door
For tickets, visit ticketweb

January 6, 2012
The Downtown Independent Theater
251 S Main St, Los Angeles
Doors at 7, show at 8 
$8 in advance, $10 at the door
For tickets, visit this link: http://bit.ly/sVDoHj