Buffalo Comedy: Local and national acts alike take over Buffalo this weekend. Here’s your guide to comedy this weekend and where to see it.

(Above: Godfrey. Photo via Godfreylive.com)

By Jason Pomietlasz

Sick of paying high electric bills just so some AI data center can produce, at best, low quality videos of cats working in fast food or at a gym. The cure is to put down your phone, I know but stay with me, and leave your home and see live comedy, where the venue pays for the electricity.  

Thursday, Feb. 19

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.

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

Rocky Dale Davis’s bio states he’s a nationally touring comedian who has appeared on NBC’s “Bring The Funny”, E’s “Dating No Filter” and MTV’s “Greatest Party Stories” and that’s it. So he must be funny. 

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

A brand new open mic in the Elmwood area hosted by Mamudu Kargbo. One of the best times to go to an open mic is on the first night. Signups at 6:30 p.m.

Friday – Sunday, Feb. 20 – 22

Helium Comedy Club, 30 Mississippi Street, Buffalo. Times vary, tickets $29.99 – 178.99 (Couples package).

Godfrey brings his high energy to the Cobblestone district for five shows. One is sold out. Godfrey’s Nigerian parents unknowingly encouraged his bad behavior by showing him classic comedy films from an early age and he was the locker room funny guy, performing impressions of his college football teammates before realizing comedy could be a full time job. His latest special “Rebel with a Cause”, received a nationwide theatrical release, premiering at AMC Theatres this January. 

Friday, Feb. 20 

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. 

BCC’s longform house team, “You Are Here,” will perform several longform styles based-off audience suggestions, with of course, every moment and character invented on the spot. 9 p.m., tickets $12. 

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. 

Good Neighbors, a monthly show featuring notable Buffalonians telling stories which improvisers use to craft scenes, with proceeds going to charity. This month’s monologist is Del Reid, co-founder of Bills Mafia and 26 Shirts, with funds going to P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative. 8 p.m., tickets $22.15 presale, $27.35 general admission or pay-what-you-can at the door. 

Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave., downstairs, Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets starting $18.54.

That Comedy Show at Babeville presents: Jake’s Comedy Jukebox. Like the old saying goes, all rock stars want to be comics and comedians want to be rock stars. Here’s your chance to see the latter. Comics chose a song to use as subject matter for their set and after their set, they will perform their song with the live house band, “The Quentet.” This month’s theme is Hip Hop and R&B and the lineup is Taña Barajas, Terre King, Gary Wallace, Alex Brady, Liz Reaves, Tyrone Maclin, Jameel Key, Chris Plumer and hosted by Jake Morrison. 

Misty Guild Cafe, 324 Niagara Street, Unit 103, 5 p.m., free. 

A new Friday night open mic in the Falls hosted by open mic veteran Don Johnson. Enjoy some coffee and jokes as you ponder why the American side just isn’t as good as the Canadian side. 

Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State University, 1300 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 8 p.m., tickets starting at $46.25. 

Married duo Darcy and Jer are back in Buffalo with their “Average at Best” tour. The pair riff on their neurodiverse relationship, tackle parenting, and explore their life as an average middle-aged couple. 

Saturday, Feb. 21

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. 

Boperdoo Puppet Slam: short-form puppetry acts for adults. An experimental show that will range from raunchy to revelatory and everything in between. 9 p.m., tickets $18. 

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

The Second Annual Winter Improv Marathon, with over 20 improv teams from Ohio, Toronto and beyond coming for the all day event. Proceeds will benefit FeedMore WNY. Go to www.Buffaloimprovhouse.com for the complete line-up and tickets. 11 a.m.

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

Broken Hearts and Falling Laughs: A Post-Valentine’s Day Comedy Extravaganza. The lineup is Andrew Joslyn, Jacob Morrison, Alex Brady, Katie Scanlon and Kyle Turner. 

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.

 Alleyway Theater, 1 Curtain up Alley, Buffalo. 7:30 p.m., tickets $29. 

Standup Comedy Show at the Alleyway. The performers are Mingo, Johnny, Rick Matthews, Clayton Williams and Liz Reaves. 

Rob’s Playhouse Theater, 3200 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. 8 p.m, tickets starting at $23.50.

An Evening with Rob Lederman and Friends featuring Joe Russell, a buffalo native who started as a magician then moved to NYC to do standup. Also performing is Blane Kelly and possibly more unnamed comics according to the website.

Monday, Feb. 23

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, Feb. 24

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, 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, Feb. 25

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

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

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