Feature

The Ten Funniest New Yorkers You've Never Heard Of

Charlie Todd
You May Have Actually Heard of Him If: You happened to catch the two guys with a megaphone in a dinghy giving a “Circle Line” tour of the fountain in Union Square.
The Setup: Todd is the founder of Improv Everywhere, practitioners of guerrilla improv. Basically, they loose controlled comic chaos on the city, including such stunts as placing an attendant in a McDonald’s bathroom or staging a “Meet Anton Chekhov” reading at the Union Square Barnes & Noble. It’s like Candid Camera, without the camera—though the stunts are chronicled on their site, improveverywhere.com.
The Punch Line: Two guys with a megaphone in a dinghy giving a “Circle Line” tour of the fountain in Union Square.

(Photo: Courtesy of Kristen Schaal)

Kristen Schaal
You May Have Actually Heard of Her If: You’ve caught her excellent character work at the People’s Improv Theatre. Or you have an obsessive interest in the bit players in the Meg Ryan film Kate & Leopold.
The Setup: Schaal’s like the bastard offspring of Sarah Vowell and Amy Sedaris: a collection of whip-smart characters, suffused with endearing, dorky charm.
The Punch Line: Her grade-schooler who gives a book report on George Washington and ends up dirty-dancing with the Founding Father to “(I Had) the Time of My Life.”