Toronto is a city that loves to laugh and live comedy can be found every night of the week. Below is a list of regular weekly events where you can find stand-up, sketch and improv. Safe bets are highlighted for each day. There are the usual spots like Comedy Bar, Yuk Yuk's, and Second City, but there are stages all across the city that make it easy to find some funny no matter where you are.
From the Danforth to the Junction, Mimico to Midtown, north of Bloor, east of Yonge, or either side of the Don River, get yourself some of the best medicine and have a good laugh. The good folks at Comedy Uncovered have an exhaustive list of these and other bi-weekly and monthly events on their website.
These are my picks for the top comedy nights in Toronto by day of the week.
Monday
Dawn Patrol / Comedy Bar (Cabaret) 945b Bloor St. West
Host Dawn Whitwell brings together a great mix of emerging talent and stand-up veterans for her weekly showcase.
Also on Mondays
- Cameron House Comedy at The Cameron House 408 Queen St. West
- Open Mic Comedy at The Central 603 Markham St.
- Imperial Comedy Show at the Imperial Pub 54 Dundas St. East
- Open Mic at Oss at The Ossington 61 Ossington Ave.
- Russel Roy's Cheap Laughs at P.J. O'Brien's Irish Pub and Restaurant 39 Colborne St.
- ALTdot COMedy Lounge at The Rivoli 334 Queen St. West
- Pancake Mondays (featuring all you can eat pancakes!) at Smiling Buddha 961 College St.
- The Best of The Second City at Second City 51 Mercer St.
- 200% Vodka at The Social Capital Theatre 154 Danforth Ave.
Tuesday
Cagematch / Comedy Bar (Mainstage) 945b Bloor St. West
Anybody quick-of-wit and smart-of-whip is welcome to put their name in a lottery where, if drawn-of-name they will be selected to test their skills against veteran improvisers. The winning team gets invited to defend their title the following week.
Also on Tuesdays
- King of the Hill Comedy Contest (8p to 10p) and A Laugh A Minute (10p to 12a) at 120 Diner 120 Church St.
- Flat Tire Comedy at Amsterdam Bicycle Club 54 The Esplanade
- Open Mic at Absolute Comedy 2335 Yonge St.
- Academy Tuesday at Bad Dog Theatre Company 875 Bloor St. West
- PrOpen Mic at Comedy Bar (Cabaret) 945b Bloor St. West
- Student Bodies at The Social Capital Theatre 154 Danforth Ave.
- The Skin of My Nuts at Sonic Espresso Bar 60 Cecil St.
- New Talent Tuesdays at Yuk Yuk's 224 Richmond St. West
Wednesday
Dope N' Mic Comedy with Jeff Paul / Underground Comedy Club 668 Queen St. East
Laughter is literally in the air as Jeff Paul hosts some of the city's very best stand-ups every Wednesday. The atmosphere at this east-end hang-out is very friendly.
Also on Wednesdays
- Pro-Am Night at Absolute Comedy 2335 Yonge St.
- Midweek Micetro at Bad Dog Theatre Company 875 Bloor St. West
- Corktown Comedy at Betty's 240 King St. East
- Siren's Comedy at Celt's Pub 2872 Dundas St. West
- The Comedy Cavern (until April 29, 2015) at The Cavern Bar 76 Church St.
- The Comedy Coalition at Coalition: T.O 349A College St.
- Troubadour at Comedy Bar (Mainstage) 945b Bloor St. West
- Chuckle Co. at Comedy Bar (cabaret) 945b Bloor St. West
- I Heart Jokes Uptown at Fox and the Fiddle 1285 Finch Ave.
- Open Mic Comedy at Spirits Bar and Grill 642 Church St.
- Weedy Wednesdays at Vapor Central 667 Yonge St.
Thursday
Stoned Up Comedy / Hot Box Puff Lounge 204 Augusta Ave.
Laughter is literally in the air as Amanda Day presents a weekly stand-up showcase. The atmosphere in this Kensington hang-out is very friendly. Someone's catching the drift out there, right?
Also on Thursdays
- The Danny Show at 120 Diner 120 Church St.
- Saffron & Gold Comedy at Christie Pits Pub 814 Bloor St. West
- Laugh Sabbath at Comedy Bar (cabaret) 945b Bloor St. West
- Giggles at the Groove at The Groove Bar and Grill 1952 Danforth Ave.
- Kitch Komedy at Kitch 229 Geary Ave.
Friday
Catch 23 / Comedy Bar (MainStage) 945b Bloor St. West
Known as a no-holds-barred, free-for-all, take-no-prisoners, action-movie-cliché improv-battle-royale, Catch 23 features a rotating cast of Toronto's best sketch and improv comics at their best (and worst).
Also on Fridays
- Comedy Kapow! at 120 Diner 120 Church St.
- TGIF Comedy at Lola 40 Kensington Ave.
- Improv Game Show at The Social Capital Theatre 154 Danforth Ave.
Saturday
Comedy at The Red Rocket / Red Rocket Coffee 1364 Danforth Ave.
Hosted by Joel West, Comedy at The Red Rocket features a new line-up each week and there's no cover.
Also on Saturdays
- Midnight Breakout at Comedy Bar 945b Bloor St. West
- Pizzaiolol at 289 Dundas St. West
Sunday
Sunday Night Live with The Sketchersons / Comedy Bar (Mainstage) 945b Bloor St. West
Veteran sketch troupe, The Sketchersons produce Sunday Night Live at Comedy Bar. Modeled closely after its network TV inspiration, S(unday)NL features live music, a news-desk segment, and fresh sketches every week.
Also on Sundays
- Crimson Wave Comedy at Comedy Bar (Cabaret) 945b Bloor St. West
- Mad Laughs and a Song at The Madison Avenue Pub 16 Madison Avenue
- Real Jokes at Placebo Space 2877 Lake Shore Blvd. West
- The Playground at The Social Capital Theatre 154 Danforth Ave.
- Stoner Sundays at Vapor Central 667 Yonge St.
- Comedy at The Well 121 Ossington Ave.
What did I miss? Add your picks for Toronto comedy nights in the comments.
Photo by Jesse Milns at Bad Dog Comedy
by PO Karim via blogTO
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