John Oliver
Apparently this guy has a “comedy/news” show on cable or something? He’s no Wendy Williams, that’s for sure. But if you’re hoping to watch this anonymous English man tell news jokes (I’ve already forgotten what he looks like and his picture is right there) then this is probably the show you’ve been waiting for. It’d be cooler if this was a Wendy Williams show, but hey, you can’t always get what you want. (Sat-Sun Dec 28-29, 7 pm & 9:30 pm, Keller Auditorium, $65-95)
The Jackie & Laurie Show
The comedy podcast starring a pair of veterans in a stand-up scene that isn’t particularly easy on women comes to Kickstand for a live episode. (Sun Dec 1, 1 pm, Kickstand Comedy Space, $20-25)
My Friend Chuck
A live podcast episode of My Friend Chuck, the show about friendship, erotica, dinosaurs (sometimes), and much, much more, starring McKenzie Goodwin and two-time Hugo nominee Dr. Chuck Tingle, author of landmark works like Space Raptor Butt Invasion and Breaking the Fourth Butt: Eight Hot-to-Trot Meta Tinglers. (Sun Dec 1, 8 pm, Dante’s, $20)
Jim Breuer
Goat Boys never grow up, and Jim Breuer has been touring non-stop ever since leaving Saturday Night Live, with a resume containing successful radio shows and podcasts alongside more well known entries like his role in the stoner-classic Half Baked. He also is maybe the best one-man AC/DC impersonator who ever lived? Pretty specific niche, yes, but a very loud and entertaining one. (Tues Dec 3, 8 pm, Aladdin Theater, $32.50-50, all ages)
Relentless Splendor’s 99-Minute Comedy Fest
Suki’s plays host to this comedy smorgasbord from Relentless Splendor, packing a whole comedy festival’s worth of entertainment into 99 minutes, with sets from Simon Gibson, Whitney Streed’s Rants Off Dance Off, Chris Khatami’s Spec Script, and more. (Tues Dec 3, 7:30 pm, Suki’s Bar & Grill, $5)
The I, Anonymous Show
If you love sick secrets, crazy rants, and side-splitting laughs, have we got a show for you! The I, Anonymous Show stars the fabulous Kate Murphy, who selects the wildest, strangest submissions from the beloved Mercury column and reads them live on stage. Joining Kate is a panel of whip-smart comedians—this month it’s Tory Ward, Jake Silberman, and Dylan Jenkins—who dissect these submissions with hilarious precision. If you’re looking for serious fun, the I, Anonymous Show is the place to be! (Wed Dec 4, 7:30 pm, Curious Comedy Theater, $10)
Whose Live Anyway?
The cast of TV’s Whose Line is it Anyway? bring their improvised comedy to the Revolution Hall stage. Featuring Ryan Stiles, Jeff B. Davis, Joel Murray, and special guest Dave Foley from the Kids in the Hall and Newsradio. (Thurs Dec 5, 8 pm, Revolution Hall, $35-55)
Broke Gravy & Friends: Season of Giving
Portland’s own Chris Williams, Eric Simons, and Leon Anderson (AKA Broke Gravy) invite a few special guests down to the Kickstand Comedy Space for a special holiday showcase, with improv, games, and more. Plus, in conjunction with Comedy Really Cares’ 3rd Annual Winter Fundraiser, all proceeds collected at the event will benefit the Oregon Justice Resource Center (OJRC) and their focus on Oregon incarceration issues—including the rights of POC, women, immigrants, and more (Thurs Dec 5, 7 pm, Kickstand Comedy Space, $10, all ages)
Jamie Lee
Jamie Lee is best known for appearances on Girl Code, @Midnight, Chelsea Lately, and HBO’s Crashing, but her stand-up is as good a place as any to be wowed by not just her punchlines but her presence. (Dec 5-7, Thurs 8 pm, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm & 10 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $25-33)
A John Waters Christmas: Filthier & Merrier
The crown prince of perversion, John Waters, returns to Portland with his one-of-a-kind one-man show, A John Waters Christmas. Those who are faint of heart beware and prepare for an evening of hilarious blasphemy. (Fri Dec 6, 8 pm, Aladdin Theater, $37-46)
Drunk Herstory
The Funhouse Lounge invites you to come out and brush up on your knowledge of queer history with help from an array of talented (and intoxicated) drag performers, including Nae Nae Dominatrix, Betty Poops, Dahlia Hearts, Dee Lyrium, Amy TaKill Phoenix, Loretta Good Lodchild, Kisses Ash, Beatrix Switch, and Sue E. Psydoll. (Sun Dec 8, 6 pm, Funhouse Lounge, $6-40)
The Bold and the Beardiful
A hirsute comedy show for some of the city’s fuzziest stand-ups, and for those who think jokes work better when they’re leaving a scruffy face. Hosted by Ernie Olson and James Bozquez, with performances by Adam Pasi, Brandon Lyons, Jake Breslauer, and Jake Tooley. (Thurs Dec 12, 8 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $12)
Dear Diary: 1-Year Anniversary Show
The improv show dedicated to taking all those things you put in your diary during your tween years, and loosing them upon the stage in the most hilarrible ways is celebrating its first anniversary, and to commemorate the occasion, show creator Anne Zander will take the stage as this month’s guest diarist. The performers tasked with taking her mortification and turning it into comedy gold are Natalie Haddad (Show Ridiculous), Katie Kester (Show Ridiculous), Roland Mechanik (Cut and Run), Brianna Núñez-Webb (Cut and Run), Emily Shankman (Show Ridiculous), Lauren Sinner (Night Cheese), and Emilie Sites (Papa?) (Thurs Dec 12, 7:30 pm, Kickstand Comedy Space, $10)
Felipe Esparza
The Mexican comedian known for his recent HBO special, Translate This, brings his raw, real-life stand-up back to Portland for a stop on “The Bad Hambre” tour. (Fri Dec 13, 7 pm, Revolution Hall, $37.50 & Up)
Mike Epps
Helium hosts a weekend of stand-up with the talented and likable comedian and actor out of Indianapolis, known for his roles in The Boondocks, Friday After Next, and The Hangover, as well as his brand new memoir, Unsuccessful Thug. (Dec 13-15, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm & 10 pm, Sun 7 pm & 9:30 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $40-55)
Kristen Key
Coming to Portland fresh off of stealing the show on NBC’s Bring the Funny is West Texas-raised comedian Kristen Key, with support from Belinda Carroll, Jenna Vesper, D. Martin Austin, and Kat Buckley, with a special burlesque performance by Vanity Thorn. (Fri Dec 13, 9:30 pm, Curious Comedy Theater, $15-20)
Trevor Noah
It took a little bit, but comedian Trevor Noah finally made The Daily Show all his own, and he’s using that momentum to propel himself into his latest tour, “Loud & Clear,” stopping at the Moda this winter. (Sat Dec 14, 7:30 pm, Moda Center, $36-92)
Minority Retort
Fresh off shows at both the Pacific Crest and Ha Ha Harvest Comedy Festivals, Portland’s best stand-up comedy showcase spotlighting comedians of color returns with a December installment, featuring sets from Jaren George, Stephanie Patricio, Richie Aflleje, Thomas Lundy, and headliner Adam Past. Hosted by Jason Lamb, Julia Ramos, and Neeraj Srinivasan. (Sat Dec 14, 8 pm, Siren Theater, $12-15)
Amir K
Mississippi Studios hosts an evening of stand-up with the Iranian-born, SoCal-raised comedian who has appeared on MADtv and Comedy Central and won a SAG award for his role in the Oscar-winning film Argo. (Sat Dec 14, 8 pm, Mississippi Studios, $20-24)
Reading the Bible with Dan
Comedian Dan Weber and a slew of his funny friends bring his bible-reading podcast to life on the Helium stage. (Tues Dec 17, 8 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $12)
The Siren Theater’s Best Christmas Ever!
Somebody has to say it: Holiday spectaculars are reliably unspectacular. But not when they star the gut-busting geniuses at the Siren Theater. That’s right! Charming goofballs Shelley McLendon, Erin Jean O’Regan, Justin Himes, Jed Arkley, Kirsten Kuppenbender, and the Mercurys own Wm. Steven Humphrey are back with an all-new sketch comedy holiday treat. Turn off Netflix’s Yule Log and get out there! (Wed Dec 18-Sat Dec 21, 7:30 pm, Siren Theater, $14-20)
BenDeLaCreme & Jinkx Monsoon: All I Want For Christmas Is Attention!
BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon are both Seattle gals (though Jinkx actually grew up and started her drag career right here in Portland), and were both on RuPaul’s Drag Race, but they are total opposites. BenDeLaCreme provides the sugar, while Jinkx comes hard with the spice. Come see these hilarious queens as they contrastingly deal with the stressful holiday season. (Thurs Dec 19, 8 pm, Aladdin Theater, $32-39)
Natasha Leggero & Moshe Kasher
One of comedian Natasha Leggero’s greatest strengths is her crowd work, and now that’s she’s married to (the also very funny) Moshe Kasher, this pair of laugh-makers are legitimately qualified to offer their audiences on-point relationship advice. Though it shouldn’t be very difficult, drag your partner to this show, confess your deepest relationship problems to Natasha and Moshe, and prepare to be buried alive underneath a pile of hilarious knowledge, opinions, and (of course) jokes from this charming dynamic duo of comedy. (Dec 19-21, Thurs 8 pm, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm & 10 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $25-33)
Batman Returns Returns
Director Megan Tabaque and a full cast of performers and artists from Austin and Portland bring a satirical musical recreation of Batman Returns to the Revolution Hall stage for a two-night stand, staring Sabrina Ellis (Sweet Spirit, A Giant Dog) as Batman, Har Mar Superstar (AKA Sean Tillmann) as the Penguin, Toody Cole as Alfred, Holland Andrews (Like A Villain) as Catwomen, and Lance Bangs as Commissioner Gordon. Expect plenty of crowd-interaction, elaborate handmade sets, brand new music, and loads of surprises and special guests. (Thurs-Fri Dec 19-20, 7:30 pm, Revolution Hall, $15-30, all ages)
Disowned
The return of Jenna Vesper’s stand-up showcase with a twist: Instead of just telling jokes about the parents, comedians will be telling jokes in front of their parents, followed by a Q&A with said parents about what the hell it was like raising a stand-up comedian, and what it felt like to hear that come out of their mouth just now. Tonight’s guests include Miss Maddie, Vee Chattie, Lacy Day, and Emma Pace Jonas. (Fri Dec 27, 7:30 pm, Kickstand Comedy Space, $10)
Jay Larson
Spend your New Year’s Eve with Massachusetts-raised, Los Angeles-based comedian Jay Larson. You might recognize Larson as a past Bridgetown Comedy Festival performer, from his podcast, The CrabFeast, or from his appearances on Conan, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and This American Life, where he won over Ira Glass with his crowd-pleasing “Wrong Number” story. (Tues Dec 31, 8 pm & 10:30 pm, Helium Comedy Club, $42-52)