MANHATTAN, N.Y. — New Yorkers packed into Gotham Comedy Club on Nov. 19 for a night that proved laughter can be more than a release — it can be a force for good. At the second annual Gotham Laughs, presented with support from our friends at Olipop, comedians and neighbors came together to turn two hours of comedy into more than 200,000 meals for families across the five boroughs.
The idea sprang from Food Bank For NYC’s Manager of PR, Entertainment and Engagement Grace Accetta, who wanted to bottle the warmth of the organization’s iconic Gotham Ball and bring it to a more intimate stage. The Food Bank’s work lives at the intersection of hope and hardship, she said—and comedy does too.
New York’s comedy roots run deep, and this year’s lineup delivered: Andrew Schulz, Daniela Mora, Chris Distefano, Sam Morril, Charles McBee, and Devon Walker all took the stage, with a surprise set from SNL cast member Marcello Hernández — whose viral character Domingo has made him one of the city’s breakout stars.
From the start, the night was about more than entertainment. It was about connection — and the common thread that runs through every New Yorker’s story.
Before the first comic grabbed the mic, Matt Honeycutt, Chief Development Officer at Food Bank For NYC, welcomed guests with a reminder of why a comedy benefit makes perfect sense in a moment that feels anything but light.
“Every time we talk about this event, someone asks, ‘A comedy show? At a time like this?’” he said. “There’s this idea that if you’re in line at a pantry, you shouldn’t laugh. As if hunger switches off your sense of humor.”
Honeycutt pushed back, making clear that the distance between guests in the room and the New Yorkers they support is far thinner than people assume.
“If you’ve ever been between jobs, done survival math over your bank account, lived on ramen or vending-machine lunches, or hopped between couches while you figured out your next step — you’ve already lived some version of this,” he said. “The only difference is timing.”
He reminded the crowd that hunger is not a character flaw — it’s a barrier.
“You can’t get ahead when you’re hungry,” he said. “You can’t learn more, innovate, stay late, or build anything when you’re hungry. The people walking into a pantry aren’t broken. They’re just like you.”
And if anyone believes people facing hunger don’t laugh, he added, they’ve never stood on a pantry line.
“People crack jokes with better timing than half the comics backstage,” he said. “Laughter is how you stay human when life gets weird.”
From there, the night unfolded in classic New York fashion — sharp punchlines, candid stories, big applause, and the joyful chaos of a room full of strangers suddenly feeling like neighbors.
Accetta said that blend of impact and levity is exactly what makes Gotham Laughs special. “Both things can coexist,” she said. “A night of relief — and a night of real impact.”
By the end of the show, the message was clear: community wins when New Yorkers show up, laugh together, and give what they can.
