Aug. 14-20, 2025

By Jason Pomietlasz

The difference between an optimist and a pessimist is how early they leave their house to see live comedy. 

Thursday, Aug. 14

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo.
Improv Mixer, a relaxed environment to try out improv or just to watch. Sign-ups at 6:45 p.m., 7 start. $5 suggested or pay what you can. 

Cagematch, an improv tradition, comes to Buffalo Improv House. Two teams perform for audience laughs and votes to be crowned winner for the night. Then the winning team returns the next week to defend their title against a new team. Four time winner My Secret Family will defend their title against a new challenger. 9 p.m., tickets $5. 

Mr. Goodbar, 1110 Elmwood Ave, second floor, Buffalo, 8 p.m., tickets $12.51.
Clayton Williams will record his first comedy special “Clearly, I’m trying Something,” on the stage where he did his very first set and served as host of the open mic. 

The Caz, 2221 Seneca St., Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets $15. 

Comedy at the Caz, local and out of town comics come together for comedy in the heart of South Buffalo. This week’s lineup includes Pranav Behari, was a writer for “Mad TV”, buffalo based comic Greg Bauch and Frank Corbiserie, 2025 winner of Buffalo Funniest contest.  

Fallsview Casino Resort, 6380 Fallsview Blvd. Niagara Falls, Ontario. 8:30 p.m., tickets starting at $128.

Jeff Dunham is one of the most financially successful and most maligned comics of the last decade. Some people just like puppets who say borderline offensive things. 

Friday – Saturday, Aug. 15 – 16 

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, 310 4th St Niagara Falls. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $50.

Carlos Mencia brings “The Liberated Tour” to Western New York for two nights. Mencia is known for his Comedy Central show “Mind of Mencia” and a viral video where Joe Rogan confronts him at the Comedy Store for stealing jokes. 

Friday, Aug. 15 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7 & 9:15 p.m., tickets $13 – 40.99.

Helium Presents: Stand-Up Confidential. It’s top comics and top secret. For comedy fans who like a surprise, you won’t know who is performing until they hit the stage. So if you want to play comedy roulette, a small hint, the headliner has done it all from racking up millions of online views to appearing on two of HBO’s greatest comedies, “Insecure” and “Hacks”.

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. 

Paper Team Night. A monthly event (improv mixer) where improvisers are divided into groups to perform a set together for one night only, with different improv styles. Registration is required for those interested in performing. 9:30 p.m., tickets $5.  www.buffalocomedycollective.com

Buffalo Improv House, 255 Great Arrow Ave., Suite 207, Buffalo. 

Whose House. A panel style comedy show that may involve some short form improv. 7 p.m., tickets $12 online, $15 general admission or $8 for students.  

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 Kimberly LaRussa benefitting “Sweet Buffalo Rocks,” a nonprofit organization in that started as a Facebook group where people painted and hid rocks to spread joy and positivity. 8 p.m., tickets $20 online, $25 at the door or $12 for students or people who need a discount.  

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

Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave., downstairs, Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets starting $31.93.

Seth Payne and Friends Comedy Takeover Tour. Buffalo native Seth Payne has been performing stand up for almost a decade all across the country and currently he resides in Chicago. His friends are Amber Autry, John Gasper, and Ron Hexagon.

Saturday, Aug. 16

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7 & 9: 30 p.m., tickets $13 – 47.99.

Tim Meadows returns to Buffalo on Saturday night. As one of the longest-running cast members of “Saturday Night Live,” Meadows crafted several memorable characters like Leon Phelps, The Ladies’ Man and Lionel Osbourne, host of the fictional public affairs show, “Perspectives.” He played the principal in “Mean Girls” that most of us wished we had and I’m sure he will have an O.J. Simpson joke.

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo.  

Death at the Disco: A 1970’s themed murder mystery. The event starts out at BCC and then you board a double-decker bus and proceed to RiverWorks and the Hofbrauhaus for stops and drinks. Guests interview the actor suspects at each location. 5:30 p.m., tickets $35

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: Winner’s Match. The final round of competition, with Sasquatch Ballet, Eye In Team, & History Club going head to head and the winner will be crowned by audience vote. The teams are 8:30 p.m., $18.  

Sunday, Aug. 17

Revolver Records, 810 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 7 p.m., free.

Sunday comedy at Revolver Records. Along with comedians, there will be live DJ’s and the bar and store will be open. Hosted by the four horsemen of hilariousness; Kevin Thomas Jr. (2016 Buffalo Funniest winner), Jameel Key (2017 Buffalo Funniest winner), Tyrone Macline and Phil Machemer (owner and proprietor of Revolver Records).

Center for the Arts SUNY Buffalo, 103 Center for the Arts, Buffalo, 4 & 7 p.m., tickets starting at $43. 

Josh Johnson epitomizes the phrase “a comic you should know.” He had to add a second show due to demand and he headlines theaters, clubs, colleges, and festivals around the world besides being a correspondent on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.” Johnson is also a prolific writer and performer who puts out weekly stand up sets on his YouTube channel and has released over 24 hours of stand up on his channel. 

Monday, Aug. 18

Tudor Lounge, 335 Franklin Street, Buffalo, 8 p.m. 

Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Start your week by hearing new premises and jokes. Hosted by wrestling enthusiast Andrew Joslyn. Sign-ups at 7. Free.

Tuesday, Aug. 19

Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen Street, Buffalo, 9 p.m. 

Rust Belt Comedy Showcase, Buffalo’s longest running comedy open mic hosted by Jake Samson (2022 Buffalo Funniest winner), and Jake Piskor (2025 Buffalo Funniest top three finalist). Free. 

Wednesday, Aug. 20 

Milkies, 522 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo. 

Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Sign-ups at 7 or online, show starts at 9ish p.m. Hosted by Jesse Winterhalter. Free. 

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