Buffalo Comedy: Michael Blaustein, AJ Wilkerson, Rick Glassman add to loaded week

By Jason Pomietlasz

Friedrich Nietzsche, born in October, recently updated his “four great errors” to include not going to see live comedy.  

Friday-Saturday, Oct. 17-18

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 4 p.m., tickets $38.99 – 50.99.
Matt McCusker sold out four shows but was nice enough to add a matinee show on Saturday. McCusker is co-host of “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast,” which I assume means he’s friends with Shane McGillis. McCusker freely admits that “after spending much of his young life engaging in mostly non-violent criminal activity, he has dedicated the rest of his days toward the pursuit of peace and harmony.” So you should feel safe leaving your valuables around him. He has written two books, most notably “Overlook: A Story About Drugs, Disappointment, and the American Dream.” 

Friday, Oct. 17 

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo.  
Comedy Sportz match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. 7:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Boperdoo Puppet Slam: short-form puppetry acts for adults. An experimental show that will range from raunchy to revelatory and everything in between. 9:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 
Good Neighbors, a monthly show featuring notable Buffalonians, telling stories which the cast use to craft scenes, with proceeds going to charity. This month’s guest is Seamus Gallivan. 7 p.m., tickets $20 presale or $25 general admission. 

Improv Collider, several BIH house teams perform different long-form improv styles. 8:30 p.m., tickets $8 presale, $10 general admission or $5 for students and folks who appreciate a discount.

The New Friday Mixer, same as Thursday’s mixer, just a later time. 9:30 p.m., tickets $5 or pay what you can. 

Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave., downstairs, Buffalo. 6 & 9:30 p.m., tickets starting $25.
Carl Anthony Payne II is a quadruple threat; comic, actor, director and producer. He played Cole Brown on “Martin,” “Cockroach” Bradley on “The Cosby Show” and Myles Wilson on “Young Dylan.” This will be Payne’s first visit to the Nickel City. 

Saturday, Oct. 18 

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 
ComedySportz Saturday match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. 6 p.m., tickets $18. 

Improv Royale: Round Two. A competition based format with three teams performing sets for an audience of judges, who will vote for who they think should make it to the next round. Buffalo State College’s “FNL”, “Denny’s Midnight Runnerz” and “Eye in Team” will battle it out for the crowd. 8:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo
Local improvisers show off their real-life abilities in an old-fashioned talent show hosted by “Sandi Krapski,” with all proceeds going to Justice for Migrant Families. 7 p.m., tickets $20 or pay what you can at the door. 

“Partners in Crime” features a rotating cast of BIH community members and students. 8:30 p.m., tickets $8 presale or $10 general admission.

Santora’s Pizza Pub, 7800 Transit Road, Williamsville. 8 p.m., tickets $25.
Stand Up Comedy presented by Next Stop Comedy. This month’s installment will feature Alex Brady, Liz Reaves and a mystery guest.  

Sunday, Oct. 19

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets $33.99 – 43.99.
Rick Glassman is not only a comic but an actor who can be seen on the Amazon series “As We See It,” and on ABC’s “Not Dead Yet,” to name a few. Glassman’s weekly podcast, “Take Your Shoes Off,” is shot like a sit-com, using three-cameras, tightly edited and includes live-action animation, is available on Youtube. 

Electric City, 433 Pearl St., Buffalo, 8 p.m., tickets starting at $43.99.
ALOK (they/them) has performed in over 40 countries, including sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Netflix is a Joke Festival. ALOK’s first comedy special “Biology” is free on Youtube. 

Monday, Oct. 20

Tudor Lounge, 335 Franklin Street, Buffalo, 8:30 p.m. 
Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Start your week by hearing new premises and jokes. Once again hosted by Don Johnson; if you’re curious why, ask him. Sign-ups at 7. Free.

Tuesday, Oct. 21

Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen Street, Buffalo, 9 p.m. 
Rust Belt Comedy Showcase, Buffalo’s longest running comedy showcase, hosted by Jake Samson and Jake Piskor, also known as the two Jakes. Free. 

Matinee, 698 Main St., Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
Train Stop Comedy, a new comedy open mic on Main Street with host Mamudu Kargbo. For all levels of comics and audiences. Free. 

Third Space Cafe & Entertainment, 777 Main St., Buffalo, 6:30 p.m.
The Early Bird Comedy Open Mic. Brand new open mic hosted by Brody Walsh and Connor Mink. Signups start at 5:30 p.m. Free.

Wednesday, Oct. 22

Milkie’s Elmwood Lounge, 522 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo. 
Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Sign-ups at 7 or online, show starts at 9ish p.m. Hosted by the super funny Jesse Winterhalter. Free. 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets $30.99 – 40.99.
AJ Wilkerson has appeared at the Limestone Comedy Festival, Nashville Comedy Festival, Atlanta’s West End Comedy Festival and won the Portland Comedy Festival. He won a Roast Battle at The World Famous Comedy Store and was a finalist in the World Series of Comedy and US Comedy Contest. And an audience member had to be rushed to the hospital with appendicitis and there’s no proof it wasn’t from laughing too hard.

Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State University, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets starting at $47.13. 
Michael Blaustein’s “Taste Me” tour comes to Buff State. His social media clips have gone more viral than covid which has helped sell out venues across the country. When he’s not on the road, he’s co-hosting the “Stiff Socks” podcast.

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Have a comedy event you want to add, email lakeeffectcomedy@gmail.com.