Perhaps the best line-up of comedians ever to perform on a show for free is just another reason that Toronto's comedy scene can gwaan. Follow me as I show you the wares in This Week In Comedy...

MON APR 22 / THE TOURNAMENT / THE OFFICE PUB / 117 JOHN / 8PM / FREE

A collection of some of the top new stand-ups in Toronto compete in the finals this week. My money's on Moe Ismail, Hannah Hogan, and Diana Bailey. Moe's got killer material, Hannah's impression of whiny white girls is awesome, and Diana's shallow mouth line is one of the funniest sentences I've ever heard. Again, props goes to Brian Ward and Christopher Allin for showing the world that yes, you can run a successful room on a Monday night.

WED APR 24 / COMEDY RECORDS ALBUM TAPING / THE LOT / 100 OSSINGTON / 8PM / FREE

Never before have so many of my favourite comedians been on the same show for free. Monty Scott, Mark Debonis, and Dave Merheje will have you laughing so hard you won't be able to hear their tags. But wait! There's also Nick Reynoldson, K. Trev Wilson, Tim Golden...there's more, but I'm stopping for the sake of breaking the monotony. Seriously, you guys, this could be the most stacked show of the year. When you also take into consideration that they're taping an album, and will be therefore presenting their best material, you have a recipe for fireworks. (Note: Mark's joke at 2:00 is ausome!)

WED APR 24 / COMEDY AT MAY / MAY / 876 DUNDAS W / 9PM / FREE

Comedians are notorious for turning bars that were never intended to provide entertainment into open mics. Oh wow, this bar has seats, tables, and beer? Looks like a good place for an open mic! Ugh. It's exactly why a lot of open mics have fewer patrons than a cell in Pomfret castle, and what makes me appreciate this diamond of a venue that Jason Schlesinger and Peter Inskip have discovered. Stage? Check. Stage with a curtain in the background?! Double check!! There's something about a curtain in the background that makes things seem legit. Sound system manned by a guy with a MacBook? It's over, ladies and gentlemen. 40 people at an open mic on a Wednesday night? Who needs to call for a year just to get a five-minute spot when you have rooms like this?

THURS APR 25 / THE SKLAR BROTHERS / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 7PM & 830PM / $20

I have to admit that I winced when I heard the phrase, 'Comedy Duo.' However, the Sklar Brothers appeared in an episode of Larry freakin' David's Curb Your Enthusiam. If that's not enough, they've also had a show on ESPN Classic called Cheap Seats. You've got to hand it to them: they have great chemistry on stage. If you're like me, you'll be fascinated by the way they feed off of each other's energy and ideas.

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 ups and downs (they're mostly downs, really) in my quest to become a killer comic in Toronto.