Look up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's the Funk Docta Rita smoking buddha on the stage! Join me as I shout out Mike Rita and Redman for staying true to themselves in the pursuit of happiness in This Week In Comedy...

WED APR 17 / THRONE OF GAMES / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 915PM / $12

Game of Thrones? Good. Improv comedy? Good. Out of this world ensemble cast? Fantastic. If you haven't seen the wildly popular Games of Thrones show from HBO, you've probably been living behind the wall for far too long. And if you haven't seen Nug Nahrgang, Kris Siddiqi, or Rob Norman, you're like Peter Dinklage at a concert; you ain't seen nothin' yet.

FRI APR 12 - SAT APR 13 / TOMMY TIERNAN / WINTER GARDEN THEATRE / 189 YONGE / FRI 8PM | SAT 8PM & 10PM / $47

He's pissed off everyone from victims of Down Syndrome to the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and even members of the Jewish community, but Tommy doesn't give a France what they think about his comedy. In my heart of hearts, I believe he means well. Take, for instance, his rant in the above clip on the subject of Sunday Mass. You don't get to deliver that kind of passion without making someone upset. Like any good orator, you may not agree with what he's saying, but you will hear him out to the end.

FRI APR 19 - SAT APR 20 / MIKE RITA / UNDERGROUND COMEDY CLUB / 670 QUEEN E / 9PM / $20

Rita's been working hard for a minute, and I get this feeling that he's on the cusp of getting the recognition he deserves. Don't get me wrong: ever since he won the Tim Sim's Award in 2010, he's been a mainstay on the comedy scene, getting requests to host shows by producers in pursuit of a sure thing. But what most will never know is that he's been sharpening the saw at the always sold-out Stoner Sundays at Vapor Central. I've also heard that Mike's at the top of his class when it comes to comedy knowledge, and that's coming from comedians. It's that kind of week in, week out dedication to mastering his craft that's given him the confidence to do it big. Let's all salute by inhaling deeply to a man on a mission, Mike to the $@&%@#$%& Rita.

FRI APR 19 / RAP BATTLEZ / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 1015 & MIDNIGHT / $10

I know, I know...you're a Meek fan, but let's be real: Cassidy would destroy him. How soon we forget Freeway, on his knees, begging for someone to, "...turn the beat on..." For the casual rap enthusiast who has no idea what I'm talking about, Rap Battlez is a show which features comedians trying their hand at the wheel. To be honest,when I first heard about the show, I was skeptical about the quality of freestyles comics could come up with on short notice, but I was Dead Wrong. Case in point, Joel Buxton (featured) is not only strong, but he's also got it going on. Relax and take notes...

SAT APR 20 / STEVE PATTERSON / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 8PM & 930PM / $20

The joke at the end of the first minute will tell you why Steve Patterson has been a mainstay at Just For Laughs in Montreal. In fact, that performance was so well-received that it earned him a Gemini nomination. I love the way his sarcasm blends with his professional demeanour. He walks that fine line between being likeable but politely scathing at the same time. Heck, anyone that can start their set off by making fun of the separatists IN QUEBEC gets my vote.

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.