Tonight is the final night of one of my favorite shows in the city. That show, my friends, is “Sweet Paprika”.

The show has been around for around 3 or 4 years and has had its share of awesome talent on it. It’s had everyone from Jim Gaffigan to Sherri Shepherd(The new co-host of ‘The View’.) The show itself didn’t survive so much on the talent, as much as it did from the hosts themselves, Allison Castillo and Ophira Eisenberg.

I knew about the show when I first started The Brooklyn Comedy Company. Around this time I also thought that Ophira was famous. I can’t tell you WHY I thought this, but I can swear on a stack of bibles that it’s true. When I started working with Rob Paravonian on The Pro Shop (I miss that show) He booked the young ladies that ran Paprika and I didn’t know how to act. The first time Ophira was on, Rob was off that week and I had to play both producer and host. I sat in the corner with a friend of mine and didn’t really look Ms. Eisenberg in the face.

You don’t look famous people in the face, you know.

She then came over to my table and invited me and my friend to come sit with her and her friends to which i replied a bunch of words that I’m pretty sure I stuttered through. I just was amazed at how nice she was.

Allison, on the other hand, seem to be disgusted by the mere sight of me.

When she’d come by the show she would barely acknowledge that I was even there. She seemed annoyed at the air. I didn’t say much to her because…well…she frightened me. Where Ophira had this aura of light and sweetness around her, Allison seemed to be prepared to kick someone’s ass at any point in time.

This was how I interacted with these 2 for at least 6 months. It all changed one day when Allison and Rob were talking at the Bar one day and some how Ophira was mentioned and I explained how I 1) thought she was famous and 2) at the time had a crush on her. Allison turns to me and says.

“You have a crush on Ophira? I like you.”

And that was that.

All of a sudden Pissed-Off Mc-I-will-kill-you lady (That was my name for her ) was nice to me. I was amazed that she was even capable of such actions. We then actually started to be friends. Grabbing a drink or food after the show. I soon thereafter learned how to talk to Ophira without stuttering. And it was all very nice.

Oh, but I was NOT being booked on Sweet Paprika.

Admittedly, I had never actually attended Sweet Paprika. I knew of it, knew where it was (at the time it was at the Village Lantern) and knew it was a good show, but I just never got my ass down there. And did I mentioned I had never been booked? I didn’t really take offense by this because I didn’t think I was particularly funny, so why should they? But Baron, who hung out there like all the time, kept telling me to go by, go by.

So I go by.

And its great. Comics are hilarious. The ladies do this tag team opening thing thats great and I’m happy to have seen it. I soon learn that afterwards they always go to a bar or restuarant near by to do a little more hanging with some comedian friends where they just shoot the shit. After the show I’m invited to said shooting of the shit and its a lot of fun. I start scheduling my Friday nights around the idea of hanging out here.

Still not booked though.

So around November 2005, I’m hosting a show at Galapagos where I have Allison booked. During the course of the show we drink…a lot. Allison then says to me the thing that I wanted to hear so much. ‘Are you free this Friday?’ She then extends me a invitation to a spot and I’m ecstatic. For the rest of the week I’m dancing around and singing to myself cause I finally got on the flippin show. I show up that night early looking forward to bringing my brand of hilarity to the Sweet Paprika table…

But Allison has no clue what I’m talking about when I say she booked me.

I then sit in the corner and question my own sanity. Did she book me? Did I want to be on the show soooo badly that I actually imagined an entire scenario? It’s possible, because I am a dreamer. Thank God after about a half hour of me punching myself in the head saying ‘Stupid, stupid, stupid,’ Ms. Castillo remembers she did book me and then offers to put me up for at least a 6 minute set. I say GREAT!

Then Jess Wood goes up. And rains fire and brimestone upon the room.

I have no urge to go up now. Jess just killed in a ridiculous way. They don’t need my brand of hilarity. But I’ve already agreed to to the spot that I was booked to do anyway. I go up and…and it’s fine. The crowd was still on a high from Jess. It was as if I could do no wrong. And all was right with the world.

Until the show was canceled.

That was the last night Paprika was at the Village Lantern. Due to some issues with the venue (i.e. them being a little douchey) the show was then put on hiatus. I finally do the show and its immediately put on hiatus. WHAT THE HELL, MAN!?

But it came back. Rebirthed at the D-Lounge–a bigger, classier and just all around better venue. They’re have been some ridiculously great shows there. I became a part of the Paprika rotation and I was happy. I hungout there almost every Friday. I was given the first (and I believe only) Sweet Paprika Affirmative Action spot. One night there was a group of Black folks who happen to stumble upon the show, while on vacation from the ATL. They were doing what Black people do some times, and stared at the comics as they performed their hearts out. I was then called off the bench to shake them up. I thought it was hilarious that “I” was called in for this because at the time I was running from performing in front of Black people right and left. But again, it was fun.

Paprika was a place where I grew as a comic. Even with Allison threatening me if I considered doing newish material. I learned things and got better in a comfortable environment. Funny enough Allison and Ophira’s reach has extended waaaay into my actual life. I wouldn’t be with my girlfriend right now if Ophira didn’t tell me to ‘Man the fuck up’. Allison tells me what to do daily. (Seriously, DAILY) and half the time I listen.

Who knew a little comedy show would change…well…change me?

So if you’re around tonight, come see this show. I find it hard to believe there will be another one like it.

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