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Ho ho ha! 11 must-see comedy shows bringing the laughs to Boston for winter 2024-25
TV stalwarts and stand-up superstars are coming to brighten up your cold winter nights.
If you’re like us, it takes a lot to get you out of the house during those cold, dark winter months. But some solid comedy is one of the things we’ll brave the elements for — let’s face it, we could all use some laughs right about now.
With that in mind, you’ll be happy to hear that venues in Boston and thereabouts are hosting some real comedy heavy hitters in December, January, and February, with a roster full of TV stalwarts, stand-up superstars, and at least one genuine (albeit aged-up) movie icon. Grab your scarf and plan your comedy calendar from the list below.
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(Note: All prices listed are face value; some shows may have only verified resale tickets available. Also note: Some of the video clips are NSFW, invest in some headphones already.)
Abbas Wahab at The Comedy Studio
Yes, Canadians can be funny too. Just look at Martin Short, Jim Carrey, Mike Meyers, Catherine O’Hara — actually, you could argue that they’re funnier than we are. And now you can add Abbas Wahab to the list. The Canadian comedian and actor has been popping up in movies like “Trap” and shows like “The Boys” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” and on TikTok with his viral “job interview” and fake marketing team clips. Plus he’s now a new dad, which, as any good comedian knows, means new material. Wednesday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m., The Comedy Studio, 5¾ John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge, $20-32
Jimmy O. Yang at Wilbur Theatre and Chevalier Theatre
Where are our fellow “Space Force” fans at? The space bureaucracy spoof with an amazing cast — Steve Carell, John Malkovich, Lisa Kudrow, Ben Schwartz et al — was just getting its footing in season 2 when Netflix grounded it. A big part of why we’ll miss it was Jimmy O. Yang’s contribution as understated scientist Dr. Chan Kaifang. Maybe a spinoff? Regardless, whether you know him from that, “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Silicon Valley,” or the Mark Wahlberg opus “Patriots Day” — or his new show, Hulu’s “Interior Chinatown,” directed by Taika Waititi — you can show your appreciation by turning out for one of his upcoming local shows at either the Wilbur or Medford’s Chevalier Theatre. Friday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m and 10 p.m., Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St, Boston, $48-$98; Saturday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., Chevalier Theatre, 30 Forest St., Medford, $48-$98.
Morgan Jay at The Wilbur
So Morgan Jay is one of those comedians who plays a guitar in his act, which is not quite as funny as a banjo, but we’ll take it. He also tends to sing a good portion of his material, primarily using Auto-Tune, which is not something you could imagine, say, Rickles having gotten away with. Regardless, the comedian/actor/musician has built up a tremendous following on TikTok and Instagram, and was also named a 2023 Just For Laughs “New Face,” which is not bad for somebody who’s 37 years old. He’ll be at the Wilbur for four shows, hopefully with guitar in hand. Thursday-Friday, Dec. 12-13, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston, $36.50 – $56.50
Macaulay Culkin screens ‘Home Alone’ at Chevalier Theatre
No, Macaulay Culkin — who is now 44 (!) — is not a comedian. But he was certainly funny in 1990’s “Home Alone,” where he stung his cheeks using aftershave, and beat, burned, and electrocuted Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci half to death with household objects. Other stuff happened too but those were the main things. And now, you can hear whatever behind-the-scenes stories he can still remember after 34 years when Culkin himself takes part in not one, but two screenings of the film at the Chevalier Theatre, followed by Q&A sessions. Sunday, Dec. 15, 2:30 and 7 p.m., Chevalier Theatre, 30 Forest St., Medford, $49-$248
Jessimae Peluso at Laugh Boston
Jessimae Peluso promises to become “your new best friend and favorite comedian,” presumably not necessarily in that order. It seems like a long shot, but if it’s even a vague possibility you should probably give yourself a Christmas Eve-Eve-Eve present and head over to Laugh Boston. The MTV’s “Girl Code” star, Sharp Tongue Podcast host, and USO performer will be in town for one show only, so act now. (And if you do, please ask her if she really stalked herself into a face-to-face meeting with John Stamos, because it seems like that may have been the case.) Sunday, Dec. 22, 7 p.m., Laugh Boston, 425 Summer St., Boston, $25
Sarah Silverman at the Chevalier Theatre and Wilbur Theatre
We’ve loved Sarah Silverman ever since the New Hampshire native hooked up with Kramer on “Seinfeld” way back in 1997. She’s since expanded well beyond acting into a career encompassing writing for TV and movies, creating a Broadway musical, and pretending to [bleep] Matt Damon to annoy her then-boyfriend, Jimmy Kimmel. (Plus she hosts the TBS show “Stupid Pet Tricks,” we’re assuming based on her stand-up because she likes dogs better than people.) And of course she’s continued to hone her no-holds-barred comedy for the not-easily-offended — her 2023 special “Someone You Love” was filmed right here at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre, and that’s where she’ll be in January, following a pitstop the night before in Medford. Friday, Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m., Chevalier Theatre, 30 Forest St., Medford, $49-$89; Saturday, Jan. 25, 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m., Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St, Boston, $59-$89
Dropout Improv at the Shubert Theatre
Have you heard of Dropout? No? That’s because you are a square. (No offense, we hadn’t heard of it either.) Apparently it’s a comedy streaming service that features programs like “Make Some Noise,” “Game Changer,” “Dropout Presents,” or other shows “that your parents have never heard of.” So in other words, if you have questions, ask your kids. Or, just maybe, head to the Shubert to see Dropout Improv, in which improv artists from the aforementioned shows will make it up as they go along. They promise an evening of improv games, comedy, and off-the-wall shenanigans, and if you go your kids will think you’re cool. Saturday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m. Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston, verified resale only
James Murray at Laugh Boston
Yes, that James Murray, a.k.a. “Murr,” whose humiliations by his so-called friends have been well-documented on the long-running hidden-camera reality series “Impractical Jokers.” For instance, who can forget when he was forced to shave off his eyebrows before getting his new driver’s license photo, or when he had to wear a wig made from fellow Joker Q’s hair for an entire season? (And we’ve tried to forget, believe us.) But is he funny as a stand-up comedian? You’ll have to head to Laugh Boston to find out — hopefully it will be better than his amateur film about teenage Jesus. Saturday, Feb. 1, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., Laugh Boston, 425 Summer St., Boston, $40-$50
Tom Segura at TD Garden
It’s hard to believe Tom Segura has time to do anything besides tape Netflix specials — it feels like every time you look up, there’s another one. (His fifth and most recent, “Sledgehammer,” came out July 4, 2023, and debuted at no. 1 on the streaming channel.) But of course all that material has to come from somewhere, so the Ohio comedian and frequent Joe Rogan Experience guest is on the road again, this time for his Come Together tour, with a portion of the proceeds going to the World Central Kitchen. Bonus: His TD Garden show is on Valentine’s Day, so date night! Friday, Feb. 14, 8 p.m., TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston, $41-$356.50
Nikki Glaser at the Wang Theatre
Nikki Glaser — you’ll recall her as the woman who stole the Tom Brady roast by hilariously slicing and dicing, well, everybody — must like it here. She was at the Cape Cod Melody Tent this last summer, and in February she’ll be back, this time in Boston proper at the venerable Wang Theatre. (Hopefully Dr. An Wang was OK with jokes about private parts, or there might be some rolling-in-the grave going on that night.) Glaser will be in town on her “Alive and Unwell” tour, which she’s mounting amidst her many other projects including hosting the CW’s “Lovers and Liars,” whose name was inexplicably and unfortunately changed from “FGirl Island.” Friday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 22, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston, $39.75-$372
Taylor Tomlinson at the Wang Theatre
Technically a millennial but straddling the line with Gen Z, Taylor Tomlinson knows full well how both groups tend to grapple, sometimes very publicly, with mental health issues. (It’s no coincidence that Tomlinson’s first stand-up special was called “Quarter Life Crisis.”) And few people make such hilarious work of those foibles as Tomlinson, whose personal stories about subjects like panic attacks and depression are almost unbearably funny and also instantly relatable, whether you’ve experienced them yourself or not. And they’re tinged with a sweetness that makes you root for her, even as you’re ROFL. Thursday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 28, 7 p.m., Saturday, March 1, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 2, 4 p.m., Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston, $69.75-$324
Note: “30 Rock” star Tracy Morgan’s show at the Wilbur, originally scheduled for Oct. 12, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Jan. 18.
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