Comedy From Scratch at The Idea Kitchen in Larchmont – “Best of Westchester Comedy” Winner Stand-Up with Matt Koff, Victor Varnado and Ben Asher
Comedy From Scratch is where you go in Westchester County to hear top comics from TV and NYC’s major clubs performing long sets on an intimate stage. Past performers include comedians from HBO, Netlfix, Colbert, SNL, the Daily Show, Letterman, the Tonight Show, Comedy Central, and more. Every month, Ben Asher’s presents comedy that reaches up into your brain with the force of a fist through the nose. Named “Best Comedy Show in Westchester” by Westchester Magazine.
Every month you can hear some of the most talented comics perform long sets, that other shows don’t give them the time to perform. Comedy From Scratch is your chance to get to really watch comedians flex their muscles and hit their stride on stage, at The Idea Kitchen.
Locally-grown comedian Ben Asher presents a tasting of what the area’s best stand-up comics are cooking up, at ‘Comedy From Scratch’ at the Idea Kitchen, every 4th (and sometimes 2nd) Saturday of the month.
Tickets available at https://ComedyFromScratch.eventbrite.com
Show at 8:00 PM. Seating at 7:00 PM (bring your food and drink/wine with you and sit down at our tables to eat before the show and pick out your seats!!)
Admission is $25 in advance, and $30 if purchased the day of the show. (Unlike Comedy Clubs, There is NO 2-Drink Minimum at this show)(and there is Free Parking.) BYOB and your own food/snacks/pizza (Half-Time and Sal’s Pizza in Mamaroneck, or Nicky’s Pizza in Larchmont is recommended!)
Updates to line-ups may be posted the week of the show here or you can follow @the_ben_asher on Instagram
The April 26th lineup features:
Victor Varnado (Conan; Jimmy Kimmel Live; Adult Swim; Comedy Central) – https://www.instagram.com/robotosupremo
Victor Varnardo is a writer, director, cartoonist, and comic, among other things In television, he produced for VH1’s Love and Hip Hop franchise, Leave it to Stevie starring Stevie J, and held senior producing positions for shows on networks including Comedy Central, TruTV and The History Channel. Victor’s work as a showrunner and series creator includes Comedy Central’s The Awkward Comedy Show, which helped introduce the world to Eric Andre and Hannibal Buress. His documentary series, Realm of LARP continues to be one of the most beloved productions delving into the world of live-action role-playing. Victor has directed four features, including Twisted Fortune, starring Charlie Murphy and Tell Your Friends! The Concert Film!, starring Kristen Schaal. Comics created by Victor have appeared in The New Yorker and MAD Magazine. His writing work includes writing for the Eric Andre and Lil Rel Howery film Bad Trip, Marvel Comics, VICE, Salon, and co-authoring a screenplay with Stan Lee.
Matt Koff (Writer for The Daily Show; The Onion) – https://www.mattkoff.net
Matt Koff is a Brooklyn-based stand-up comic and veteran TV writer. He won an Emmy for his work on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. His debut comedy album, WHO’S MY LITTLE GUY?, is out on 800 Pound Gorilla Records. As a stand-up, Matt has appeared on Comedy Central, WNYC, WFMU, and The History Channel, which is how you know he’s smart. Matt has also written for The Onion, The White House Correspondents’ Dinner hosted by Trevor Noah. He co-created the Twitter sensation TrumpComedyNerd, which was called one of the 207 Top Comedy Moments of 2010s by Vulture.
Produced/Hosted by Ben Asher (New York Comedy Festival; StandUp NBC; Iceland Comedy Festival headliner; Caroline’s; Catch A Rising Star; DoublePlusGood Comedy) – http://www.benasher.net
Ben Asher, a writer and comedian from New York, is known for his “brave,” confrontational material, and his skills as a “brilliant joke writer” among fellow comedians. He performs regularly at comedy venues and colleges throughout the metropolitan area, East Coast, and Europe. Audiences are always quick to share their appreciation of Ben’s style of sardonic irreverence and absurd, satiric wit in which he doesn’t just dissect language and taboos – he explodes them. “What Ben Asher says makes me laugh, even though I feel like I shouldn’t.”
In 2022 Ben recorded a half-hour special “An Intimate Evening of Provocative and Deranged Humor” at The Nest rock club, in Brooklyn, NY. In 2024, Ben recently opened for Greg Fitzsimmons. Also, in 2022, Ben’s show Arthur Avenue Comedy was featured in the NY Comedy Festival as one of only two comedy shows in Bronx. In 2014, Ben traveled to Iceland to headline in the Iceland Comedy Festival. He was also the finalist in the 2014 Funniest Jewish Comedian Competition. In 2013 Ben was in the New York Comedy Festival. Ben has been a guest on Sherrod Small’s ‘Races Wars’ podcast.
Ben currently produces and hosts the weekly Arthur Avenue Comedy show in NYC’s Bronx borough, the monthly Comedy From Scratch at The Idea Kitchen, which was named “Best Comedy Show” by Westchester Magazine, and Slide-In at Slate-Nightclub in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, and has produced and hosts a monthly comedy show in Park Slope, Brooklyn and New York’s East Village, DoublePlusGood Comedy, (formerly Nasal Vice! Stand-Up,) where, since 2013, rising comics perform long, 20+ minutes sets, every month. He also co-produces/hosts The Homebrewed Mic, giving New Yorkers a sample of homebrewed beers and comedy.
From TimeOut NY: For comedy connoisseurs tired of seeing their favorite comics squeeze their sets into five minutes, Ben Asher’s showcase provides full-length sets and a chill atmosphere for diverse acts to thrive in.
Press: In addition to being a TimeOut New York ‘Critics Pick’, TimeOut NY has frequently called Ben’s show the “best cheap things to do,” of the week and one of the “most amazing things to do” of the month, and the New York Times has listed it show as an editor’s choice multiple times.
The May 10th lineup features:
Jordan Carlon (The Colbert Report; HBO; BET) – https://www.jordancarloscomic.com
Jordan Carlos is a stand up comedian and actor based in New York. He recently starred in and wrote for the first season of Phoebe Robinson’s “Everything’s Trash” (Freeform). He has also written for “Divorce” (HBO), written and performed on “First Wives Club” (BET) and written/performed for “The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore” (Comedy Central). He also appears in Black Mirror (Netflix), Nora From Queens (Comedy Central), Party Down (Starz) and the “Home Alone” reboot on Disney Plus. In addition, Jordan co-hosts the hit podcast “Adulting” on Exactly Right Media with Michelle Buteau. Other notable writing credits include “The White House Correspondents Dinner” (2016) as well as “The Not The White House Correspondents Dinner” with Samantha Bee (2017).
Jordan also recently starred in the Emmy nominated episode of “The Conversation Project” on Hulu (Andscape Studios), and in Mary Dauterman’s debut feature, “Booger”. He also features in “After This Death” (Lucio Castro) opposite Lee Pace and Gwendoline Christie, as well as in the short film “Knead” by Timothy Michael Cooper (Indy Shorts, HollyShorts, Croatian International Film Festival). Jordan is presently working on his debut comedy book, CHOREPLAY, for Hachette Book Group (Print Date: Winter 2026).
On top of this, Jordan hosts a new short-form series called “Elevated Moments” for AMC+ where he digs into insightful, entertaining conversations about iconic movies with his charismatic, also film-loving guests.
Aaron Kominos-Smith (MTV; Comedy Central) – https://www.instagram.com/funnyaaron
Aaron Kominos-Smith has appeared on Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer, Live at Gotham on the Oculus NextVR Network, MTV, and American Movie Classic. Audiences connect instantly with Aaron’s charming wit and energetic characters. His humor varies from observational thoughts on the mundane to articulated commentary about society sprinkled with a few dashes of wackiness. Simultaneously performing comedy and studying architecture in college, Aaron went on to work as a professional architect. After he realized that buildings take years to complete while a joke can instantly bring people joy, he made the switch from constructing buildings to constructing jokes. Aaron regularly works the clubs in New York City along with touring colleges across the country.
The May 24th lineup features:
Dara Jemmott (BET; Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival) – https://www.instagram.com/chocolatejem
Dara Jemmott is a Jersey girl, Brooklyn based comedian, host, voice over artist and actress. She performs all around the country, and has even taken her talents to the UK and Spain. Most recently featured in the 2021 Just For Laughs, Eat My Shorts, for “Where’s My White Privilege?” The short was also featured in the 2021 Hip Hop Film Festival and won Dara Best Actor- Gold Category, in the 2021 Best Actors Awards New York. Dara has also been featured in the Black Women in Comedy Festival. When not performing, Dara teaches stand up, in numerous NYC schools through Stand Up Girls!. You can also catch her podcast, she co-hosts, Comedians for Hire, which was inspired by her personal journey of ditching the corporate cubicle for the crazy world of comedy.
Shaun Murphy (Comedy Cellar; new stand-up specal ‘Neal’) – https://comedianshaunmurphy.squarespace.com
Shaun Murphy is a comedian originally from Buffalo, NY who has performed in many clubs and colleges throughout North America. He has told jokes at prestigious places like the Boston Comedy Festival and the Asheville Comedy Festival to less prestigious places like a high school graduation party with a broken microphone. He has been lucky enough to feature for a diverse group of headliners such as Dave Attell, Michael Ian Black, Jen Kirkman, Tom Green and Mark Normand. Shaun’s like-ability and awkwardness keeps audiences captivated whenever he performs. However, he thinks it’s really weird to impress strangers by talking about his accomplishments but hopefully it worked. If not, that’s okay too. He currently lives in New York City and has no money. In 2022, he released his first special “Neal” on Youtube and he currently resides in NYC.
The June 14th lineup features:
Nick Griffin (Conan; The Late Late Show; Comedy Central; Letterman) – https://nickgriffin.net
Nick Griffin has appeared on Conan, The Late Late Show, in his own half-hour Comedy Central special and was featured on The Late Show with David Letterman eleven times. A comic for more than 25 years, Griffin’s smart, sarcastic and hilarious style makes him one of the most well-respected in the business. Originally from Kansas City, Griffin lives is New York City, where he regularly performs at The Stand, and Gotham Comedy Club.
Charles McBee ((head writer The Gods Honest Truth Comedy Central, MTV),) – https://www.charlesmcbee.com
Charles McBee Charles McBee is a respected NYC stand-up comedian and writer from Toledo, Ohio. He has made three national stand-up comedy appearances on Gotham Comedy Live and was a favorite on two FOX television shows, Laughs Seasons 1 and 2 and Punchline Seasons 1 and 2. Charles has written for several TV shows, including Uncommon Sense and Uncommon Sense Live with Charlamagne Tha God, VH1’s Hip Hop Honors 2017, and was also a creative consultant on Nick Cannon’s Wild N Out. He’s most recently worked on the 2020 VMA’s as well as the 2021 Golden Globes, hosted the 2021 Music Lives Festival for the Live X Live Network, and was the Head Writer for Comedy Central’s Hell Of A Week, which was nominated for a Writers Guild Award.
The June 28th lineup features:
Brian Scott McFadden (Letterman; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson) – https://brianscottmcfadden.com/
Brian Scott McFadden is one of the funniest stand up comics working in the industry today. A regular on the NY comedy club circuit, Brian has recently taken his act to a whole new level with his high energy performances & some of the most unique, incisive & hilarious routines around. After making his debut on The Late Show with David Letterman Brian followed that up with an appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on CBS. A multidimensional performer Brian is both an accomplished stage actor, who has played Hamlet in New York, and a versatile voice over artist with a vast range of accents and character voices in his repertoire. Brian was recently seen on the big screen in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty with Ben Stiller & also performed in such films as Ice Age II with Ray Romano and Robots with Robin Williams & Halle Berry. Brian has just released his first live Comedy CD “What Women Want.”
Kendra Cunningham – (Saturday Night Live; Last Comics Standing) – https://kendracunningham.com
Kendra Cunningham has been named as a comic to watch by Time Out New York and has been compared to Groucho Marx and Mae West by the UK’s Chortle. A regular on the New York and Boston comedy scene, she has previously been in the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, The Glasgow Comedy Festival, and was a finalist in the Boston Comedy Festival for two years in a row. She has twice appeared on NBC’s Last Comic Standing gaining two spots in the top 100 jokes of the season. Her solo show “This Could be You” had a 7 show sold out run at Don’t Tell Mama. Her first comedy special “On My Best Behavior” was released by DryBar comedy in 2018. Her debut album, Blonde Logic, was released in 2016 by Rooftop Comedy and in 2017, Blonde Logic a book of comedic essays was released on Kindle. Her second album “Less Bitter, More Glitter” was released in October 2019 through 800 Pound Gorilla. She recently started an interview style podcast “How’s Your Mother?” Kendra’s comedic goal is to get paid to write from her bed where she eats, sleeps, and occasionally entertains. Kendra has appeared on:Last Comic Standing Gotham Live Saturday Night Live The Jimmy Fallon Show The Tyra Banks Show Nickelodeon’s Mom’s Night Out Sherri Shepherd’s Stand Up Showcase.
The July 12th lineup features:
Ophira Eisenberg (NPR; Comedy Central; The Late Late Show; ‘Parenting Is A Joke’ Podcast) – https://www.ophiraeisenberg.com
Ophira Eisenberg is a Canadian-born standup comedian, writer, and host. She hosted NPR’s comedy trivia show Ask Me Another for 9-years, where she interviewed and played silly games with hundreds of celebrities including Sir Patrick Stewart, Awkwafina, Rosie Perez, Yo-Yo Ma, Bob The Drag Queen, Nick Kroll, Chelsea Handler, Jim Gaffigan, Michael C. Hall, and so many others. As a comic and a parent to a 6-year-old, Ophira is the host of the new comedy podcast Parenting Is A Joke co-produced by iHeart Radio and Pretty Good Friends Productions.
She can be seen live, regularly headlining across the United States, Canada, and Europe delivering her unique blend of standup and storytelling to a loyal fan base of smart, irreverent comedy lovers. She now lives in Brooklyn, NY where she is a fixture at New York City’s comedy clubs including the Comedy Cellar, Gotham Comedy Club, New York Comedy Club and Carolines, as well as Brooklyn’s famed performance venues The Bell House, Union Hall, and Littlefield.
Her new comedy album at special Plant-Based Jokes is available on iTunes and is streaming now on YouTube. Lauded as “hilarious, high risk, and an inspiration,” Ophira filmed her comedy special Inside Joke, when she was 8½ months pregnant. The show’s material revolves around how she told everyone that she was never going to have kids, and then unexpectedly found herself expecting at “an advanced maternal age.” Her other comedy albums, Bangs! and As Is. She has appeared on Comedy Central, This Week at The Comedy Cellar, Kevin Hart’s LOL Network, HBO’s Girls, Gotham Live, The Late Late Show, The Today Show, and VH-1. The New York Times called her a skilled comedian and storyteller with “bleakly stylish” humor. She was also selected as one of New York Magazine’s “Top 10 Comics that Funny People Find Funny,” and hailed by Forbes.com as one of the most engaging comics working today.
Ophira is a regular host and teller with The Moth and her stories have been featured on The Moth Radio Hour and in two of The Moth’s best-selling collections, including the most recent New York Times Bestseller: How To Tell A Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth. Ophira’s first book, Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy (Seal Press), is a comedic memoir about her experiments in the field as a single woman, traveling from futon to futon and flask-to-flask, gathering data, hoping to put it all together and build her own perfect Frankenmate.
Cyrus McQueen (NBC’s Last Comic Standing; AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live; ) – https://www.cyrusmcqueen.com
Cyrus McQueen is a comedian, cultural critic, and writer who’s mirthful and insightful analysis of race and politics have resonated throughout the Twitterverse. His tweets pertaining to politics, pop culture and race have routinely landed in Variety, TIME Magazine, Huffpost, and BuzzFeed. A Top 20 Finalist on Season 9 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, McQueen has also been featured in the A24 film Obvious Child and on AXS TV’s Gotham Comedy Live. Tweeting Truth to Power: Chronicling Our Caustic Politics, Crazed Times, & The Great Black & White Divide debuted at #1 on Amazon in the Sociology of Race Relations, Sociology and Racial Theory, Slavery and Emancipation History, and Political Humor categories. It is McQueen’s first book.
QUESTIONS:
Is This Venue Handicapped Accessible?
YES. And please let us know how we can help you if you need any assistance.
What Age is Appropriate For This Comedy Show? Should I Bring My Children?
The material comedians discuss may be what you consider ‘Adult’ material. Anyone under 16 years of age should be accopanied by a parent or guardian. We would discourage you from bringing any child under 11 years old. If you child is age 11-15, and loves dark stand-up comedy (think George Carlin or Sarah Silverman) and you do, too, then we don’t have any problem with them coming. However, if you child’s only exposure to comedy is watching Seinfeld, Friends, or any situation comedy from TV, please do not assume you will be comfortable with material being discussed. Comedians on the show may discuss ANY aspect of human existence, or non-existence, in the darkest, most absurd way possible
More show info available at:
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You can always purchase tickets for your local Westchester comedy club, Comedy From Scratch – “Best of Westchester Comedy Show” winner – for top Westchester Stand-Up Comedy by going to StandUpWestchester.com – WestchesterComedy.club – or Westchester-Comedy.com or WestchesterComedy.net
What can you seriously expect? Just look which comics are frequently on my shows. This show is no BS.
Past performers on Ben Asher’s shows include comedians and writers from Saturday Night Live, the Tonight Show, the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the Daily Show, HBO, Netflix, including:
Ophira Eisenberg (NPR’s Ask Me Another),
Mark Normand (Comedy Central 1-Hour Special),
Phoebe Robinson (HBO, 2 Dope Queens),
Myq Kaplan (Netflix Special, Comedy Central Presents, Conan, Tonight Show),
Mike Lawrence (Comedy Central Half-Hour, Roast Wars champ),
Emmy Blotnick (writer Colbert, Comedy Central The President Show),
Sam Morril (Comedy Central 1-Hour Special, Colbert, special ‘Up On The Roof’),
Matteo Lane (Netflix, Late Nite w/ Seth Meyers, Comedy Central Half-Hour),
Jena Friedman (The Daily Show, Conan, Adult Swim),
Jacqueline Novak (‘Get On Your Knees’ off-Broadway hit produced by Mike Birbiglia, Comedy Central Half-Hour, The Late Late Show),
Vlad Caamano (Jimmy Kimmel Live, HBO, Comedy Central),
Nick Vatterott (HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, Comedy Central Half-Hour),
Langston Kerman (Comedy Central Half-Hour),
Josh Gondelman (Desus & Mero on Showtime; Jon Oliver HBO),
Mehran Khaghani (TruTV, MTV, Comedy Central),
Harrison Greenbaum (Conan, AGT, Comedy Cellar),
Tony Deyo (Conan, Letterman),
Jon Fisch (Colbert, Letterman, The Tonight Show),
Mike Vecchione (Comedy Central Presents half-hour special, the Tonight Show),
Jordan Carlos (HBO, writer Colbert Report; The Gods Honest Truth),
Beth Stelling (Netflix, Conan, Comedy Central Half-Hour),
Aparna Nacherla (Netflix ‘Master of None’, HBO, Comedy Central Half-Hour),
Jamie Lee (Ted Lasso, HBO’s Crashing, Conan),
Charles McBee (head writer The Gods Honest Truth Comedy Central, MTV),