(Above: Malik Bazille at Hollywood Improv via IMDB.)

By Jason Pomietlasz

The week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve is called Twixmas or holiday purgatory, as my family referred to it. A highly anticipated event just happened and another highly anticipated event is about to happen, which can leave you feeling a little hollow, especially if it didn’t live up to the hype. One way to fill that void is by seeing live comedy. 

Friday, Dec. 26 

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7 & 9:15 p.m., tickets $19.99 – 42.99.

Malik Bazille was familiar with punchlines way before he became a comic. Bazille was an amateur boxer with a record of 84 -14. Michael B. Jordan noticed him at a boxing gym and that led to a role in “Creed.” Soon after Bazille ventured into stand-up comedy and began creating online videos. Social media helped propel his career and he was recognized as the ninth funniest person on the Internet by Complex. His latest half-hour special “LOL Live With Malik B” is available on Hulu.

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. 

Script Tease will perform a Hallmark-Days improvised movie based on the absurdity of the Hallmark Holiday Classics like when a main character is married to their job and doesn’t have time for love until they meet the impossibly hot gift wrapper, in a very coincidental way. Or something along those lines. 9:30 p.m., tickets $18. 

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

The Friday Mixer, at a special holiday time. 7 p.m., tickets $5 or pay what you can. Beer now available. 

Saturday – Sunday, Dec. 27 – 28

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Times vary, tickets $36.99 – 48.99.

Kevin Herrera had an interesting life before comedy. He had a career in NYC law enforcement and battled opioid addiction, which can be a good setup for someone’s second life act in comedy. And of course Herrera has been active on social media and puts a lot of content on TikTok and Instagram, as well as his “The Mugged Off Podcast.” Staying true to his roots, he founded the Life After Death Foundation, which brings comedy into correctional facilities as a tool for healing and rehabilitation through laughter and stand-up. 

Saturday, Dec. 27 

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 

Chordially Yours: A Musical Improv Holiday Matinee Show. A musical show with a variety of games that will always end in a song. And of course, everything is made-up on the spot. 4 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. 6 p.m., tickets $18. 

Chordially Yours: A Musical Improv Holiday Night Show. A musical show with a variety of games that will always end in a song. And of course, everything is made-up on the spot. 8:30 p.m., tickets $18.

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 $15 online, $20 general admission.

Babushka is Buffalo’s longest-running long form improv show. With over 50 years of improv experience combined, Todd Benzin and Don Gervasi create an entirely improvised hour long play based on an audience suggestion, playing multiple characters. 8:30 p.m., tickets $15 presale or $20 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 hasn’t been announced at the writing of this listing.

Sunday, Dec. 28

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 8:15 p.m., tickets $32.99 – 42.99.

If you google Darren Fleet, one suggested search term is what is Darren Fleet famous for? I am a firm believer in doing your own research but Fleet has a lot of content on the Internet, so it doesn’t take a high level intellect to figure it out. Fleet has performed with the cast of “Wild ’N Out” and toured the continental states several times over and in 2026 his television show, “What Behooves Me,” will air on ICTV.

Monday, Dec. 29

Tudor Lounge, 335 Franklin Street, Buffalo, 8:30 p.m. 

Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Start your week of 2026 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. 30

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. 

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. 31

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7 & 9:30 p.m., tickets $29.99 – 108.49 (dinner package).

You have two opportunities to ring in the new year with the prodigal comic Josh Potter. Buffalo native Potter was a DJ on 103.3 The Edge before moving to Los Angeles where he also became a foot model via OnlyFans, podcaster and advocate for making shoulder hair cool. He can be heard on the “Your Mom’s House” podcast. 

Buffalo Comedy Collective, 155 Chandler Street, Buffalo. 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., tickets $18.

ComedySportz New Year’s Eve matches. Two teams “competitively” play short form improv games with suggestions from the audience, who also decides the winner.

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