The best comedy shows in NYC this month

Once a week, after closing time, 10 people convene at the city’s oldest magic shop, Tannen’s, for a cozy evening of prestidigitation by the young and engaging Noah Levine. The shelves are crammed with quirky devices; there's a file cabinet behind the counter, a mock elephant in the corner and bins of individual trick instructions in plastic covers, like comic books or sheet music. The charm of Levine's show is in how well it fits the environment of this magic-geek chamber of secrets. As he maneuvers cards, eggs, cups and balls with aplomb, he talks shop, larding his patter with tributes to routines like the Stencel Aces and the Vernon Boat Trick—heirlooms of his trade that he gently polishes and displays for our amazement.

As any single straight woman in New York City surely knows, the Big Apple is full of big fuckboys. To make that fact slightly less depressing, two NYC women—Val Bodurtha and Andrea Popova—have decided to stop trying to understand fuckboy behavior themselves and instead have created a panel of fuckboys to get answers from the source. During this show on February 15 at Caveat in Manhattan, three to five women will share a romantic experience that left them confused. Then, both the fuckboy panel and the audience will weigh in with their own dating insights.

Coming off of his award-winning solo show "Connect the Dots," funnyman Natan Badalov will test out new material at Astoria's Tootles & French. The in-progress show will see Badalov try to wrench laughs out of tough subjects like empathy, family dynamics, and the Middle East. The show's on the first Sunday of each month (that's January 5, February 2, March 2, April 6, May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3, September 7, October 5, November 2, and December 7 in 2025). Tickets cost just $5 plus a one-drink minimum.    

At Comics Reading Comics, the name says it all: Stand-up comedians take a beloved comic book character and dive into their history, evolution, and cultural impact. The show includes a healthy dose of nostalgia and superhero storytelling.  This weekend's show, hosted on Sunday, January 26 at Caveat, spotlights Dazzler—Marvel’s dazzling disco queen—tracing her journey from her shimmering 1980 debut to her modern-day glow-up. The show features Drew Tessier and Lady Bushra. It's presented by Aidan Ewing of Geeks OUT and the New York Queer Comedy Festival.     

At this hilarious and educational show, comedian Brandon Collins and special guest co-host Electra Telesford lead a booze-fueled lesson in Black history with the help of their friends. Their upcoming show in honor of Black History month will include appearances from Bomani Jones (ESPN), Sarah Cooper (Netflix), Onika McLean (Bravo), and other surprise guests. It’s not your ordinary history retelling—you’ll hear from "comedians, experts, writers, and other professionals who are skunked out of their mind trying to recap the biography of a historical black figure or event that hasn't gotten the mainstream love they deserved." See this always unpredictable show at Littlefield in Brooklyn on Friday, February 28.

At this live show, two comedians will watch Planet Earth, then you can try and stump them with animal trivia. Each time the hosts get a question wrong, they take a shot. Drunk Planet Earth is hosted by comedians Brian Morabito (Comedy Central) and Stephen Buckley (UCB). Find this delightfully nerdy free show at Caveat on the Lower East Side on Friday, January 24; reserve your ticket here.

If you are in desperate need of a good laugh like we are, head to the Players Theatre in the West Village on February 17, where you can watch Model Majority, an all-AAPI sketch comedy team, host a night filled with snake-themed jokes, music, special guests, red envelopes and snacks. As per Lunar New Year tradition, they encourage attendees to wear festive attire, particularily anything with red or gold hues, to usher in an auspicious year.  What's more, they're giving a 25% discount to Time Out readers, so make sure to use code GOLDTONY at check out.

You won't believe how seamlessly good comedy can work with pole dancing (you can read about it here). While stellar stand-ups deliver sets, pro dancers give the crowd something stare at. Think of it as a full-brain experience. Comics Dan Goodman, Joanna Ross and special guests will welcome talented pole dancers and comedians from across NYC.  Each show features a different musical theme, and each one is full of surprises. This time, on Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25, the show is celebrating its its 12th anniversary with U2 theme. Think "With or Without You," "Beautiful Day," and more. Expect to hear jokes from five comics and see performances by five dancers. "They're not strippers, it’s not burlesque. It’s aerial dance with a side of crazy gymnastics, and death defying tricks that make your jaw drop," event planners explain. As the event organizers say: "If you don't see shows like this, why are you even paying the NYC rents?" See it at Drom in the East Village.

Head to the Greenwich Village Comedy Club on Wednesdays for a night of laughs on the house. The Wednesday Wind Up takes place at 9:30pm—perfect timing after your happy hour hang. The cast of comedians shifts weekly, so be prepared to see a wide variety of jokes.