Five Questions With Matteo Lane, One of New York’s Funniest Finalists

matteo lane

This Saturday, as part of the New York Comedy Festival, Caroline’s on Broadway will hold their annual New York’s Funniest contest.  The yearly competition searches among New York City’s younger comics, to find who is New York’s funniest.  

Monday, NY’s Funniest contestant Matteo Lane stopped by SiriusXM’s Ron and Fez show, and we grabbed him after the show to ask him five questions.  You can follow him on twitter @MatteoLane and see him this Saturday at Carolines at 4pm.  He’ll also be performing as part of the Schtick or Treat Show with Mark Normand and Matt Ruby on Sunday night at 8pm in Brooklyn.

Here are his 5 questions.


 

The IBang: What was the first New York City comedy show you went to?

Matteo Lane: The first comedy show I went to in New York was at Beauty Bar on Sundays. I went there to go see a comic that I had met through the internet, and he was like, ‘come I’ll show you what the comedy scene is.’ So I was in the back of a bar drinking a beer.

The IBang: What was your most interesting New York City subway experience?

Matteo Lane: When I sat next to Anthony Weiner. He only took three stops, he went from 34th to 14th street on the 4,5,6 and it was the middle of the day, and I just the whole time was like, I’ve seen your dick. That’s all I could think of, was, I’ve seen your dick and I showed my grandma your dick. She’s Italian. She wanted to know.

The IBang: What do you think is the best neighborhood in New York.

Matteo Lane: I like the Graham stop in Williamsburg off the L train, because it’s all Italian. It’s like old school Italians. You kind of walk around and you can speak in like, (using italian accent) “buon giorno! como stai, bene grazie tu bene.” You can find old school dagos there, but then also, gross hipsters. So, it’s a great neighborhood.

The IBang: Do you have a favorite ethnic food you’ve discovered since you moved to New York?

Matteo Lane: I know this sounds lame but, the best ethnic food that I found in New York that I fell in love with is Indian food. I didn’t eat Indian food until I came here. And there’s a place on 6th Street in between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue. Called Mak-ra or Marker or something like that, but it’s a new wave Indian restaurant. (We looked it up, and think he probably means Malai Marke) and it’s so good. It’s just so good. And I look like the ignorant white person ordering ‘chicken tikka masala thank you! I’m ethnic! I’m doing it!”

The IBang: Who is the biggest name comedian that you’ve been bumped for since you’ve been doing stand up in New York?

Matteo Lane: Oh, Caroline Rhea (laughs). I get bumped by her all the time at Stand Up New York. Bumped! I think that’s probably it. I like her though, she’s nice.


New York’s Funniest Competition Finals will take place at Carolines on Broadway on Saturday November 8, 2014 at 4pm. You can get tickets here. 

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