50 First Jokes January 5, 2011

'50 First Jokes' returns for the fifth year in a row Wednesday, January 5th, once again delivering comedy and comedians in abundance. Fifty of the world's funniest comedians will gather for one night to debut the very first new joke they've written for 2011 in an atmosphere of friendly competition. It's the only comedy show with a scope of this kind, and the only one with the chutzpah to demand material crafted a mere 115.5 hours after the ball has dropped in Times Square.
'50 First Jokes' gathers acclaimed comics from throughout the New York comedy scene, including faces from late night tv, writers from behind the scenes and new stars on the rise. It's a place for comedy's talents to mingle and for audiences to witness how a joke is born, from gags that crash and burn to the ones that soar. And the high-wire formula is working: the show has gone from a bar's backroom in 2007 to sold-out crowds and lines around the block.

'50 First Jokes' was conceived of five years ago by comedians and close friends John F. O'Donnell (Comedy Central, Keith and The Girl), Claudia Cogan (Last Comic Standing 7, New York Magazine's "Ten Funny People Funny People Find Funny") and Jiwon Lee (Lewis Black's Root of All Evil). This year, O'Donnell and Cogan will be co-hosts for the one party after all the parties that puts comics back to work.
Due to its megawatt output, '50 First Jokes' is taking over 92Y Tribeca, downtown's destination for the smartest comedy in the city. The '50 First Jokes' team consider it the only brick and mortar enclosure in Manhattan sturdy enough for intense comedy athletics of this kind. It's like a chin-up contest on red bull and vodkas. Or maybe that's the drink that leads to chin-up contests. Who knows? What we do know is '50 First Jokes' will prove the first time isn't terrifying -- it's amazing. Plus we guarantee when it's over, you'll want more. So make a New Year's resolution to see fifty comics at once and get it taken care of January 5th, 2011.