Plenty of comedians yuck it up at area venues this weekend

Aziz Ansari brings his Hypothetical Tour to the Royal Oak Music Theatre for two shows on Jan. 23. (Photo courtesy of Ruvan Wijesooriya)

By Gary Graff | | For MediaNews Group

PUBLISHED: January 21, 2026 at 6:40 AM EST

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The weather hasn’t given us much to laugh about recently, but those willing to brave the cold will find a bunch of comedy shows in the metro area this week that should put a smile on our faces …

• Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winner Aziz Ansari, fresh off his new film “Good Fortune,” brings his Hypothetical Tour to town for two shows (Doors at 6 and 9 p.m.) Friday, Jan. 23 at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 W. Fourth St. 249-399-3065 or royaloakmusictheatre.com.

• Michael Colyar, Reddie Ricks and Simply Shannell bring “This Show Is Fire” to Pontiac for shows Friday and Saturday, January 23-24, at the Crofoot Ballroom, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac. Showtimes at 7:30 p.m. 248-858-9333 or thecrofoot.com.

• Nathan MacIntosh has the mic through Saturday, Jan. 24 at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, 310 S. Troy St., Royal Oak. Erich Laux opens and Eileen Nolton emcees. 248-542-9900 or comedycastle.com.

Nathan MacIntosh headlines at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak through Jan. 24. (Photo courtesy of Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle) — Nathan MacIntosh headlines at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak through Jan. 24. (Photo courtesy of Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle)

• Standing 6-foot-9, Cam Rowe will offer big laughs, literally, at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 at One Night Stan’s Comedy Club, 47561 Highland Road, Waterford Township. 248-875-6524 or onenightstans.club.

• Calimar White, aka Agent Ratliff, will be on stage through Sunday, Jan. 25 at Punchline Comedy Lounge, 29555 Northwestern Highway #312, Southfield. 245-955-3016 or comedypunchline.com.

• The Go Comedy! Improve Theatre rolls out “Date Night,” an “improvised romance show” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23. The weekend also includes the club favorites such as its All-Star Showdowns, as well as the Weekend Finale, on Sunday, Jan. 25. 261 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale. 248-327-0575 or gocomedy.net.

• While it’s not strictly comedy, you can count on some laughs among the percussive and athletic feats when “Stomp” plays at Detroit’s Fox Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24. 2211 Woodward Ave. 313-471-7000 or 313Presents.com.

The cast of "Stomp" brings the lively play to Detroit's Fox Theatre on Jan. 23-24. (Photo courtesy of Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas) — The cast of “Stomp” brings the lively play to Detroit’s Fox Theatre on Jan. 23-24. (Photo courtesy of Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas)

• Standup veteran Billy Ray Bauer cracks jokes at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 at Small’s, 10339 Conant, Hamtramck. Doors at 6 p.m. 313-873-1117 or smallsbardetroit.com.