NY Comedy Festival Begins!

 OK, before you get post-partum election depression, remember the New York Comedy Festival starts today! Yay!

The festival kicks off today with some sure-to-be-rousing John Madden impressions from everyone's favorite commercial star Frank Caliendo at Carnegie Hall. More interesting should be the finals of the New York's Funniest Stand-Up Competition, which starts at 9:30 p.m. at Carolines. Though personally I'd be wary of any type of "funniest" line-up that includes Last Comic Standing reject Esther Ku. Hopefully she won't giggle her way to the top in this competition either.

After the jump, a complete list of The Anvil's anticipated highlights (and lowlights) of this year's festival.

The Highlights:

• Louis CK, tomorrow at 8 p.m. Always a classic. Also his new best buddy since they filmed This Side of Truth together, Ricky Gervais, will be part of the Stand Up for Heroes show tonight at Town Hall.
• BJ Novak, at Town Hall on Sunday night at 8. The writer/actor of The Office presents his deadpan so-unfunny-it's-hysterical stand-up.
• Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter (MySpace Secret Stand-Up Show), at 7 on Thursday night at Carolines. Our two favorite Michaels, together as they are meant to be. The only reason you could have not to attend this show is if you are going to this next one.
• The Best Sketch in New York Showcase, 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. The show, hosted by BFFs Kurt Braunohler and Kristen Schaal, includes sketch by Dirty Jeans & Thunderchief, Elephant Larry, Harvard Sailing Team, Sidecar, and most notably, Derrick.
• A Potentially Regrettable Evening with the Writers of The Daily Show, Friday at 8 p.m. at The Paley Center for Media. This show features a whole mess of Daily Show-ers, including correspondents Wyatt Cenac and John Oliver.

The Lowlights:

We're not even telling you when these shows are, just for your protection.

• Judy Gold. Her show, Mommy Queerest, is billed as: "Judy says it all. Everything you want to say but can't." Presumably because if you did, you would be a stupid bitch.
• Carlos Mencia. Ugh.

If you happen to attend any highlights, lowlights, or just-lights, let us know how it goes. Make reservations at the festival's Website here.

– Erin