In big news, Just For Laughs Toronto kicks off this week! For a full line-up of those events, click here. Don't sleep on our local favourites, though. Follow me as I walk you through the best our home grown talent has to offer in This Week In Comedy...

TUES SEPT 18 / DON'T GET BORED OF US AND LEAVE / THE OSSINGTON / 61 OSSINGTON / 9PM / FREE

There are comedians out there that can make you laugh, but it takes a special breed of talent to make you double over and cry. In that regard, David Dineen-Porter (DDP) and Tom Henry are two of the most underrated talents in comedy today. I saw DDP's powerpoint presentation bit last night at Laugh Sabbath, and it destroyed. But David and Tom aren't the only reasons to visit the show. I've become a regular because they're constantly introducing me to acts like Evany Rosen and Kathleen Phillips, who are treasures that you won't find on the main circuit.

WED SEPT 19 - SUN SEPT 23 / ROB PUE / YUK YUK'S / 224 RICHMOND / VARIOUS TIMES / $11-20

A personal fave of mine, Rob Pue makes his stand at Yuk Yuk's this week. I like his breadth of comedy--one minute he's making fun of the deaf, the next doing an impression of Peter Mansbridge, and then he's onto religion. He does all of this with a casual yet rant-backboned delivery that's captivating. I love comedians that aren't afraid to speak their mind, and his free spirit hasn't gone unnoticed with Comedy Now, MTV, Just For Laughs, and a win at the San Francisco International Comedy Festival adorning his resume.

THURS SEPT 20 / LAUGHING AT THE OFFICE / THE OFFICE PUB / 117 JOHN / 8PM / FREE

Your headliner is Matt O'Brien, who recently won Best Stand Up Comedian at the LA Comedy Fest. Steve Patrick Adams is another one to look out for--if you're lucky, he'll do his raisins joke, which has me dying every time. In addition, Christi Olson is a similarly quiet powerhouse on stage. At the recent Tim Sim's Fresh Meat competition, her stand-up set was one of the most memorable. Expect big strides from her in the next six to twelve months.

FRI SEPT 21 / MYBINDI COMEDY NIGHT / PROJECT BOOTH / 1035 GERRARD E / 7PM & 10PM / $25

This South-Asian affair is in its 10th year, and they've put together a stellar cast. Dave Merheje is...well, Dave Merheje--there's nobody in Canada getting more laughs than he is. Crystal Ferrier recently headlined Yuk Yuk's Nubian Disciples of Pryor. Wowzers; now that's what I call a resume bullet point. Headlining the event is Vidur Kapur, who's done everything from placing in the finals of New York's Funniest Stand Up to being featured on NBC's Stand Up For Diversity.

About the Author: This is Michael Jagdeo, and I refuse to write about myself in the third-person. My blog, Diary of a Stand-up Comedian, teaches you how to be - and how not to be - a comedian in Toronto.