This week, we’re bringing you video interviews with some of the biggest and most respected names in New York comedy. While many think of comedy shows as cheesy affairs featuring lame stand-up comics and two-drink minimums, a new crowd of performers are changing the game by hosting their own shows to showcase their own talents as well as those of their friends, colleagues, and heroes. Today, we check in with Max Silvestri and Gabe Liedman, hosts of the Brooklyn mainstay Big Terrific!
Four years ago, a triumvirate of Brooklyn comedy—Max Silvestri, Gabe Liedman and Jenny Slate—started the weekly free show, Big Terrific, at Sound Fix Lounge in Williamsburg with the intent to create a "fun and friendly" space for comedians and most importantly, the audience. Since then, they’ve hosted some of the biggest names in stand-up, moved the show a few blocks to Cameo Gallery in the back of Lovin’ Cup Cafe on Wednesday nights, and earned "New York’s Best Comedy Show" by Time Out and New York magazines. While Jenny has packed her shell and moved to L.A., Max and Gabe (who was recently featured in BlackBook’s feature about up-and-coming gay comedians) continue to draw the big names and crowds. It’s still free, it’s still Big Terrific.