Buffalo Comedy: Comedy events featuring national and local acts, and where to see them around WNY

(Above: Joe Gatto © truTV via IMDB)

By Jason Pomietlasz

This is the time of year we are supposed to think of others, which can be exhausting, so don’t forget self-care and go see live comedy and have a laugh.

Thursday, Dec. 11

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 p.m. start. $5 suggested or pay what you can. 

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets $10. 

Muppet Family Scriptmas is a live reading of “A Muppet Family Christmas,” Jerry Juhl’s teleplay of characters from The Muppet Show, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock, as they attempt to celebrate the holidays together. 

Mr. Goodbar, 1110 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, 8 p.m. Tickets $10.
Naomi Karavani’s debut album “Firecracker” can be heard on SiriusXM and she was a writer/cast member on “Redacted Tonight.” Karavani has performed at Edinburgh, Limestone and Brooklyn comedy fests.

Thursday – Saturday, Dec. 11 – 13

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Times vary, tickets $51.39 – 61.74.

Joe Gatto is a cast member of  “Impractical Jokers” and “The Misery Index.” His first special “Messing with People” is on Hulu and he hosted the “Two Cool Moms” podcast which dispensed sage advice to fans who wrote in with their dilemmas. Gatto has authored “The Dogfather: My Love of Dogs, Desserts and Growing up Italian” and a children’s picture book “Where’s Bearry?” Tickets are moving fast for his shows. 

Friday, Dec. 12 

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. 

Open Mic night, every second Friday of the month. December’s performer sign-up is full. 9:30 p.m., tickets $10. 

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, improvisers go on a quest featuring elves, gnomes, dwarves, wizards, monsters, spells and probably humans. 7 p.m., tickets $12 presale or $15 general admission.

Improv Collider, BIH house teams Unicorn Parade and Bees perform different long-form improv styles. 8:30 p.m., tickets $10 presale, $15 general admission or $8 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. 

Electric City, 433 Pearl St., Buffalo, 8 p.m., tickets starting at $40.

Michael Kosta is an Emmy winning co-host and Senior Correspondent for The Daily Show. His one-hour special, “Michael Kosta: Detroit. NY. LA.,” is streaming on Paramount + and YouTube. Kosta was a professional tennis player, ranked 864th in the world, and he still contributes to the Tennis Channel. His podcast “Tennis Anyone” can be found on any podcast platform and his memoir, “Lucky Loser” can be found where you find most books.

Saturday, Dec. 13 

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 6 p.m., tickets $18.

ComedySportz Saturday match-up. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner. 

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

The Sandy Krapski Show: Holiday Edition. A talent and variety show with all proceeds going to Justice for Migrant Families. 7 p.m., tickets $20 or pay what you can at the door. 

Improv Collider team Hannah Montana will perform their special brand of long form improv followed by a reading of brand new sketches from BIH’s sketch writing team. 8:30 p.m., tickets $10 presale or $15 general admission. 

Sunday, Dec. 14

Center for the Arts , U.B., 100 Coventry Road, Buffalo, 7 p.m., tickets starting at $33.75.

John Crist must be funny because he’s willing to compete with the Buffalo Bill’s Day here in the 716. He does have over one billion video views and more than 7.5 million fans on social media. He has released three specials, available on YouTube and other streaming services, and his podcast “Net Positive,” is a top 50 podcast.  

Monday, Dec. 15

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 the venerable Don Johnson with a bucket draw. Sign-ups at 7 p.m. Free.

Tuesday, Dec. 16

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

Rust Belt Comedy Showcase, Buffalo’s longest running comedy show hosted by Jake Samson and Jake Piskor, also known as the two Jakes. Signups at rustbeltcomedy.weebly.com. Free. 

Matinee, 698 Main St., Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.

Train Stop Comedy, open mic comedy with host Mamudu Kargbo. For all levels of comics and audiences. Signups at 7 p.m., 17 comic limit. Free. 

Third Space Cafe & Entertainment, 777 Main St., Buffalo, 6:30 p.m.

The Early Bird Comedy Open Mic. Still a newish open mic hosted by Brody Walsh and Connor Mink. Signups start at 5:30 p.m. Free.

Wednesday, Dec. 17

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. 

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

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