Introducing Simon Amstell

Simon Amstell is looking forward to a fresh start. "In the U.K., people come with expectations now, and there's already an idea of what the show may be," he tells Time Out New York. "Here, I'm a stranger, and it's interesting to see what they're laughing at."

The British comedian, 32, kicked off his four-week long residency in NYC on July 10, performing his self-deprecating stand-up show Numb at Theatre 80 in St. Marks Square. Amstell has become famous across the pond for his blend of ranch and subtlety, hosting popular BBC shows such as celebrity send-up Never Mind the Buzzcocks and the autobiographical Grandma's House.

Though he's found success with TV, he's looking foward to trying something new with Numb. "Generally, you're talking about yourself in the past. But you have to keep the feelings alive when you're telling the story; otherwise it's kind of dead," he says about his most recent stand-up routines. And while his name may not ring any bells in the United States yet, the comedian hopes to change that with his upcoming performances in NYC. "It's about disconnectedness, loneliness, depression, anxiety," he says about the show, before adding with a laugh, "That feels like it will work in New York, right?"

He'll be performing through Aug. 9 at Theatre 80.