Buffalo Comedy: Local and touring comedians alike take over Buffalo this weekend. The Comedy Buzz has what’s coming in live comedy.

(Above: Photo by @MrJaxnn via @moodymccarthy on Instagram)

By Jason Pomietlasz

This day in history, John Lennon and Yoko held their first “bed-in” for peace or as Gen Z refers to it, “bed rotting.” Call it a landmark of celebrity activism or the laziest way to inspire peace, they still found time for live comedy. Sure, the Smothers Brothers and Dick Gregory came to them, but in their defense, they did have a theme going.      

Thursday, March 26

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. 

Mr. Goodbar, 1110 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, 8 p.m. Free.
Open mic comedy on the second floor. Sign-ups at 7 p.m, hosted by the above average height Bennett Solowski.

The Wood and Wine’s Comic Strip, 25 N. Johnson Parkway, Buffalo. 7 p.m., free. 

A brand newish open mic in the Elmwood area hosted by Mamudu Kargbo.  With comic in the name of the venue, how could they not have an open mic. Signups at 6:30 p.m.

Hard Rock Cafe, 333 Prospect Street, Niagara Falls. 7 p.m., tickets starting at $10.  

Comedy Night at the Hard Rock Cafe, which if you’re like me, sometimes you confuse it with Planet Hollywood. Andrew Joslyn will host and Trebor Finnegan, Jesse Winterhalter and Liz Reaves round out the bill.

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets $32.99 – 184.99 (Couples package).

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. 

Friday – Saturday, March 27 – 28

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Times vary, tickets $13 – 186.99 (Couples package).

Bryan Callen is an original cast member of MADtv and has a bunch of small roles in big comedies. Callen’s latest special “False Gods” is available on his YouTube channel. Currently he co-hosts “The Fighter & The Kid” podcast with Brendan Schaub. 

Friday, March 27 

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 p.m., tickets $18. 

The Comedy Showcase with host Gian Carlo Misso and a hand picked list of local and near local comics. The event is 18+ recommended due to content.  9 p.m., tickets $5.

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

The Happy Hour Improv Jam. Try improv for the first time with experienced improvisers or practice what you have already learned. 6:30 p.m., tickets $5 or pay what you can. 

BIH’s Collider teams “Hannah Montana” and musical improv troupe “Bad Haircut” will perform. 7:30 p.m., tickets $8 presale or $10 general admission. 

“Partners in Crime”, a rotating group of students and improv community members, will perform followed by “Unicorn Parade” which will improvise a one-act play that takes place in a single location based on audience suggestions. 8:30 p.m., tickets $12 presale or $15 general admission. 

Seneca Allegany Casino, 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd., Salamanca, 7 p.m., tickets starting at $61.

Morgan Jay brings “The Goofy Guy” Tour to the Southern Tier. Jay has appeared on “Wild ’n Out,” Comedy Central and was named a New Face at the 2023 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival. As a first-generation American, he brings a bit of an outsider perspective to the stage. 

Revolver Records, 810 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets $15.

Comedy LP Showcase. Hosted by Kevin Thomas Jr., Tyrone Maclin, Jameel Key, with Katie Scanlon, WT Ferrell, Nate English and Rick Matthews. 

The Wood and Wine’s Comic Strip, 25 N. Johnson Parkway, Buffalo. 7 p.m., tickets $16. 

Comedy in Comic Strip Hall. Hosted by Mamudu Kargbo and starring Cat Mattis, Tara Barajas, Jake Piskor, Anthony Sundquist and Kai Von Doom. 

Saturday, March 28

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. 7 p.m., tickets $18. 

Gaggle of Susans: Women in Comedy. You guessed it. An all woman lineup in celebration of  Women’s History Month.  This event is recommended 18+ due to the performer’s ability to use adult theming and language within their performances. The lineup is Katarina Valentine, Annamarie DePalma, Cat Mattis, Kelsey McCormick, Rachel Daze and Twisted Sister Act. 9 p.m., tickets $18 presale or $20 general admission.

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

Given Half A Chance. Act One pairs an actor, prepared with lines from a selected play, with a performer who improvises their lines in response to the actor. Act Two will bring us that same scripted actor playing the opposite character in their first scene, with a different improviser. 7:30 p.m., tickets $20 presale or $25 general admission.

Rob’s Playhouse Theater, 3200 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets starting at $23.50.  

An Evening with Rob Lederman, featuring Moody McCarthy. Lederman is Buffalo’s version of Terry Malloy. McCarthy is from our sister city Syracuse and has appeared on Letterman and performed at Jamestown’s Comedy Center Festival. 

Shea’s Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St., Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $76.

Legends of Laughter show featuring Earthquake, Sommore, Lavell Crawford and Don “DC” Curry. With a combined century of stage experience the term legends actually fits and seems fair that the event description lists just their names and nothing else. 

Monday, March 30

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, March 31

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

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, 7 p.m.

The Early Bird Comedy Open Mic. The first mic of Tuesdays hosted by Brody Walsh and Connor Mink. Signups start at 6:30 p.m. Free.

Wednesday, April 1

Milkie’s Elmwood Lounge, 522 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo. 

Comedy Open Mic Comedy. Sign-ups at 7 p.m. or online, show starts at 9-ish 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.

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