{"id":232916,"date":"2026-05-15T17:55:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T17:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/232916\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T17:55:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T17:55:09","slug":"inside-brooklyns-homegrown-comedy-dating-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/232916\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Brooklyn’s Homegrown Comedy Dating Show"},"content":{"rendered":"

For single Brooklynites, a monthly dating show called “Do You Still Like Me?” offers a fresh chance at finding love outside of the apps. <\/p>\n

Nearly a year after its debut, Brooklyn’s homegrown comedy dating show, Do You Still Like Me?, has found a bigger stage.<\/p>\n

On a recent Saturday night, over 100 Brooklynites gathered at Littlefield<\/a>\u00a0in Gowanus,\u00a0hoping to witness five single comedians find love. It was the largest show in the event’s history, and the first to be held outside of a bar.<\/p>\n

The event, deemed by one attendee as bringing\u00a0“mortification and embarrassment” to the comedians, asks each comic to perform\u00a0a brief stand-up set in front of three blind dates, pre-matched and seated in the audience. Afterward, the dates publicly tally off their “oohs” and “icks” \u2014 a verdict on everything from the comedian’s material to their personal quirks.<\/p>\n

At the May 9\u00a0show, comedian James Mwaura<\/a>\u00a0was told that his lack of in-unit laundry was an “ick” by two of his dates \u2014 a harsh judgment in today’s economy.<\/p>\n

In the end, the comedians ask their dates the titular question: Do you still like me?<\/p>\n

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\nComedians try to find love through the show “Do You Still Like Me?” at Littlefield in Gowanus. Photo: Supplied\/Amina Ragheb <\/p>\n

Co-host Rania Hannan<\/a>\u00a0founded the show last June as a solution to an age-old problem: \u200a\u201dUnfortunately, there is a pretty high rate of singleness among comics,\u201d she said. \u201cI think for good reason, respectfully.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Hannan, asking her dates to watch her perform stand-up and list out all her red flags\u00a0would, at the very least, save her and her fellow comedians some time. Soon after the first show, she enlisted fellow creative Estee Daveed, whom she met in sketch comedy class, to co-host with her.<\/p>\n

For single Brooklynites of all professions\u2014each of whom face a dating scene dominated by apps\u2014the show has struck a chord. The comedy sets are followed by a free-for-all single mingle, which co-hosts Hannan and Daveed have officially titled the \u201cMeet Market.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople wanna meet people in real life,\u201d said Randa Awada, a 31-year-old living in Brooklyn and a first-time attendee.<\/p>\n

More than an opportunity to enjoy good comedy, the show has also worked some real magic: at least one comedian-attendee couple wound up dating for several months after meeting on the show, according to Daveed.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u200aI love rom-coms,\u201d said Daveed. \u201cThat’s kind of why I’m part of the show\u2026 I just wanna watch a meet-cute whenever I can.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\nComedian Max Higgins performs his stand-up set. Photo: Supplied\/Amina Ragheb <\/p>\n

As the show has grown, Hannan and Daveed have fielded suggestions from friends and producers to bring their show into Manhattan. Their response has been indignant.<\/p>\n

\u201cI could never,\u201d Estee said. \u201cI love Brooklyn\u2026 It’s kind of like the energy of the show: this kind of kooky, quirky, creative, spunky energy that you feel really when you’re there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keeping the show in the borough, they said, has allowed them to nourish a strong sense of community. \u200a\u201dWe have repeat audience members who have come to nearly every show,\u201d said Hannan.<\/p>\n

Jane Kim, a 36-year-old Brooklynite, has attended the show four times. And though she has not found love, she has made friends\u2014not always a small task for young New Yorkers.<\/p>\n

Since attending her first show, Kim said she has seen \u201cso many more guests\u201d come into the space, as well as \u201ca wider mix of people in terms of sexuality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Daveed and Hannan mused about bringing Do You Still Like Me?\u00a0on tour to other cities in the future. But for the time being, the team is committed to serving a broader network of singles across Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

The next show will be held at Littlefield on June 7.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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