This Week In Comedy: Don't Get Bored of Us And Leave, Trixx, Janeane Garofalo, and Funny as Hell w/Jon Dore

Eight out of the top 10 movies in theatres right now have gone bad according to RottenTomatoes. Never fear: we have a stacked line-up of headliners ready to show you that there's more to Toronto's night life than movies and nightclubs. Follow me as I walk you through This Week In Comedy...

TUES MAR 19 / DON'T GET BORED OF US AND LEAVE / THE OSSINGTON / 100 OSSINGTON / 930PM / FREE

Walk past the bar, through the narrow curtains, to a brick-walled room with a stage in the very back. I know that doesn't sound like the place where comedians who write and act for TV would take a set, but it is. Why? Because DDP (David Dineen-Porter) & Tom Henry run the room. They combine for 20 years of experience, and it shows. While most will categorize it as an alternative comedy venue, I simply think of it as my favourite monthly show in Toronto. Many comics can make you laugh, some can even make you applaud. But when you're doubled over, gasping for breath, then and only then can you say that you're in the presence of greatness. Man that sounds over the top, but trust me, it isn't.

WED MAR 20 - SAT MAR 24 / TRIXX / ABSOLUTE COMEDY / 2335 YONGE / 8PM / $6-15

I can't recall a time when Absolute's been able to feature one comic sans opener, but Trixx has the type of following to make it possible. He's back from LA, where he was quickly able to do a set that earned him a clip on Laugh Factory's YouTube page, which has become one of the major hubs for finding new stand-up's on the web. His credits? Try this one on for size: when Tracy Morgan was in town a few months ago, there were more than a few tweets from audience members that thought Trixx stole the show as MC. Enough said.

THURS MAR 21 - SAT MAR 23 / JANEANE GAROFALO / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 8PM & 10:30PM / $25

Ian Atlas, one of the unsung heroes of Toronto's comedy scene, brings yet another star to town. I talked to Ian today, and he mentioned that all six shows were SOLD OUT. But, being the enterprising guy that he is, he did mention that he has a handful of tickets in his back pocket. Hit him up on Facebook, fingers and toes crossed, and tell him Jagdeo sent ya.

THURS MAR 21 / FUNNY AS HELL w/JON DORE / 736 BATHURST / RANDOLPH THEATRE / 730PM / $35

Jon Dore hosts this show which features James Adomanian (the publicist spelled it, 'Abdomanian'), Rory Scovel, and the Lucas Brothers. You don't know about Jon Dore?? Y'all better reckonize! He teamed up with Rory (with an awesome assist by the hilarious Katie Crowne) to produce one of the most memorable stand-up comedy performances on a late-night show in recent memory. As I mentioned last week in my review of Mark Forward's JFL performance, it's not everyday that you see people take risks on the big stage. Many off-the-wall comedians have delivered subdued, uncharacteristic performances on national TV because of the pressure to do well. It says a lot about where Jon is in his career. He's on both ABC and the Comedy Network, not to mention he has HB freakin' O in his corner. He can do whatever the hell he wants, and that's what makes him one of the more interesting acts you'll see under the bright lights.

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, walks you through the up's and down's (they're mostly down's, really) in my quest to become a killer comic in Toronto.