Buffalo Comedy: James Murray from “Impractical Jokers” and local comedians take the stage in local venues this week.

(Above: James Murray. © TM &Turner Entertainment Networks, Inc. A Time Warner Company. All Rights reserved. All Rights reserved)

By Jason Pomietlasz

The planet’s axis is starting to tilt, which means the Earth is literally pushing you out the door to see live comedy.

Thursday, Oct. 2

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. 

Mr. Goodbar, 1110 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, 7 p.m, tickets $20.
Jenny Zigrino’s “Afterbirth” comes to the second floor of Goodbar. Zigrino made the “New Faces” at the “Just For Laughs” Festival in 2016 and has been featured on Comedy Central, MTV, HBO and Netflix is a Joke  Her latest hour special “Jen-Z” premiered on Comedy Central Digital in 2023. Bennett Solowski and Jake Piskor will open the show.

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets $5. 

The Comedy Showcase, formerly held at Misuta Chows, is now at the BCC. Host Gian Carlo Misso and Liz Reaves, Tyrone Maclin, Jesse Winterhalter, Jason Pomietlasz, Nikki Wagner, WT Ferrel, and Mike Shanks will perform. The event is 18+ recommended due to content.

Thursday – Saturday, Oct. 2 – 4

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Tickets $38.99 – 53.99.

James Murray is a writer, producer and comedian, best known as “Murr” from “Impractical Jokers” with his lifelong friends Sal, Joe & Q. Murray’s shows will include never-before-seen videos from Impractical Jokers, and he will play Impractical Jokers with the audience.

Friday, Oct. 3 

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. In honor of “Mean Girls Night,” anyone wearing pink will get a free popcorn or candy. 7:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

Pointing Fingers, is a game hosted by Holly Golden, where special guests attempt to uncover each other’s secrets with fun and provocative questions. This month’s guests are T.B.A. 9:30 p.m., tickets $18.

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

“Castles and Creatures,” an improv show inspired by every nerd’s favorite role playing game. 7 p.m., tickets $12 presale or $15 general admission.

Improv Collider, several BIH house teams perform different long-form improv styles. 8:30 p.m., tickets $8 presale or $10 general admission. 

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

Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State University, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, 7 p.m., tickets starting at $12.

BSU Homecoming 2025 Comedy Night featuring Preacher Lawson. Lawson appeared on “America’s Got Talent” where he made it to the final round. Special guest Alice Wetterlund has done standup on Conan, Adam Divine’s House Party, Viceland and her first hour special “My Mama is a Human and So Am I” is streaming on Amazon. And other special guest Aristole Athari was named one of “Just for Laugh’s” New Faces in 2021 and was a featured player on Saturday Night Live’s 47th season. 

Donald Savage Building, Buffalo State University, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, 8 p.m., free.

Friday Night Live, Buffalo State’s improv troupe will perform an hour of short and long form improv. FNL is sometimes coached by the fifth best improviser in Buffalo, Todd Benzin.

Saturday, Oct. 4 

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. 

Goods and Services: A team of improvisers interview local business owners, this month it will be Popularity – Popcorn & Pop Shop, and will perform a set inspired from the interview. 8:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

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

“Various Factors,” a broadway-esque improv musical comedy show where everything is made up on the spot, including lyrics, melodies and choreography. All inspired from audience suggestions. 7 p.m., tickets $25 or $16 for students. 

Piano Karaoke. Sign up to sing a song with a live piano player, or just hang out and watch people butcher your favorite song. A ticket from Various Factors gets you for free, otherwise $10. 8:30 p.m.

Rob’s Playhouse Theater, 3200 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 8 p.m, tickets starting at $39.95.

Quinn Dale has performed on “The Tonight Show,” Showtime, Comedy Central, Lopez Tonight, and Carson Daly. Quinn is currently developing a sit-com based on his life.

The Caz, 2221 Seneca St., Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets starting at $20. 

Comedy at the Caz, four local comics are coming together to spread their jokes. The  homegrown lineup features Rick Matthews, Kyle Turner, Gary Wallace and Dan Mahoney.

Monday, Oct. 6

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. 7

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

Rust Belt Comedy Showcase, Buffalo’s longest running comedy open mic 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. 8

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 Jesse Winterhalter. Free. 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 

Open Mic, where over twenty comics will perform their best 3 minutes, 7 p.m., free with two-item minimum.

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 7:15 p.m., tickets $12.

The BCC Shorties hit the stage with host and coach, Sal Winston, for a fast-paced shortform show and all they need is suggestions from the audience.

Road Less Traveled Productions, 456 Main St., Buffalo, 7:30 p.m., tickets $20.

An improvised two-act play with a cast of experienced improvisers and a special guest, usually a local actor, using the set of the current play running at the RLTP, ensuring the show is a blend of grounded theater and comedy. This week’s guest is Artie Award winning David Lundy who joins the cast of Kevin Di Lucente, Todd Benzin, Don Gervasi, Meghan Joyce, Annie Moor, Jimmie Byrd and Caitlin Steitzer. 

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