Oh, my. It's Takei.

He's not a stand-up comedian, but George Takei's Sun Dome show will be one of the bigger events this week. We're putting it here because there should be plenty of inside jokes and laughter. Besides, who has a funnier Facebook page than Takei?
He's not the only big name, of course. David Cross fans can't wait for his show at The Straz, and Bob Saget will shed his squeaky-clean television image for some adult stand-up at The Capitol Theatre. There's also a full slate of nationally-touring headliners, local talent and even a free gig. Here are your best bets:

Theaters and Special Events

David Cross. Cross is tough to pigeonhole. Is he a sketch-comedy master? A funny character actor? An intelligent, layered, sometimes vicious stand-up comedian? Yes, yes and hell yes. His fans will definitely be out to support his latest tour at The Straz, and will surely encounter more brilliant, brutal and bizarre comedy. You might, too, if you can get tickets. Read Scott Harrell's interview with David Cross.
$38. Friday, 8 p.m. The Straz Center (Ferguson Hall), 1010 N. MacInnes Place, Tampa. 813-229-7827. strazcenter.org.

Chicago City Limits. This New York (yeah, we know) improvisational comedy troupe hits the road for a date in Largo on Friday night. Like all good improv, it's hard to say exactly what you'll get. The audience will determine a lot of the content, allowing the talented performers to work their magic on the fly.
$24.50-$39.50 ($5 extra at the door). Friday, 8 p.m. Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Dr., Largo. 727-587-6793. largo.com.

Bob Saget. Yes, it's Bob Saget: The life-lesson oracle on Full House, and now the wiser, life-lesson oracle on Fuller House. But that's not who you'll be getting on stage. Instead, you'll see a veteran stand-up comedian spouting blue material that would singe the cutting-room floor of those television shows. And it's delivered with the calm confidence of a guy who revels in making adults laugh with funny, adult material. Read Ying Lo's interview with Bob Saget.
$35-$55. Saturday, 8 p.m. The Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. 727-791-7400. atthecap.com.

George Takei. Takei, the Star Trek alum who's become something of a Chief Justice for the meme Supreme Court, uses the power of social media to promote everything from gay rights to pop culture riddles to clever jokes that come across his Facebook page. His live show at the Sun Dome will probably tackle some serious topics, like growing up in a Japanese internment camp. But he'll also hold court with the kind of clever observations and quirky optimism that his fans love.
$25-$50 (free to USF students). Monday, 8 p.m. USF Sun Dome, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. 813-974-3111. sundomearena.com.

Comedy Clubs

Dean Napolitano. Napolitano's family is a big part of his act. From talking about his dad to being a dad himself, his witty material is full of absurd situations, familiar memories and definitely funny moments.
$5. Wednesday, 8 p.m. Tampa Improv, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa. 813-864-4000. improvtampa.com.

Iliza Shlesinger. Shlesinger, a previous winner of Last Comic Standing, has a strong stage presence. She's not aggressive, but clearly confident in her material. Expect frank discussions about dating and relationships (she hosted a dating game show, after all) and whatever else comes to mind during this run of special engagement shows.
$18-$22. Thursday, 8 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tampa Improv, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa. 813-864-4000. improvtampa.com.

Lou Angelwolf. Angelwolf has been doing stand-up comedy for decades, and it seems to have put a permanent smile on his face. His relaxed, friendly demeanor provides a positive spin and a warm setup to his witty observations.
$7. Sunday, 7 p.m. Tampa Improv, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa. 813-864-4000. improvtampa.com.

Tyler Craig. The Improv doesn't usually have a late Sunday show, so this is something of a special event. Chris O' Baby hosts and Barry S. Naylor provides support. Craig, seen on BET's ComicView, will provide the "moral of the story" regarding his observations and premises.
$20. Sunday, 9:30 p.m. Tampa Improv, 1600 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa. 813-864-4000. improvtampa.com.

Andy Hendrickson. Night owls will remember Hendrickson from his appearances on Fox's Red Eye, while others might have seen him on Late Show With David Letterman or the Bob and Tom radio program. While he's not exactly a blur of motion on the stage, Hendrickson delivers a constant stream of slice-of-life premises capped with clever punchlines. Note: The early Saturday show is a fundraiser for the Wiregrass Ranch High School baseball program.
$10-$16.50. Thursday, 8:30 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.; Saturday, 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.; and Sunday, 7 p.m. Side Splitters, 12938 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. 813-960-1197. sidesplitterscomedy.com.

Bob DiBuono. DiBuono brings a lot of energy to the stage. Plenty of voices, too: Some are impressions of famous people, while others are totally original. In both cases, the audience gets jokes punched-up by DiBuono's animated delivery.
$12. Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Snappers Grill & Comedy Club, 36657 U.S. Highway 19 N., Palm Harbor. 727-938-2027. snappersgrill.com.

Chris Gorges. Gorges can be a blur on stage, with a fast-paced presentation and material to match. He also uses his extensive improvisational background to supplement his witty stand-up premises.
$18-$25. Wednesday–Saturday, 9:30 p.m. Coconuts, 5501 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. 727-360-5653. coconutscomedyclubs.com.

Ben Hamilton. Hamilton's show often includes some music along with his comedy, which covers random observations and personal experiences. The local comedian is moving, and this is billed as his last show in Tampa.
$10. Friday, 8:00 p.m. 2 Palms, 2950 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater. 727-400-6920. 2palmstampabay.com.

Kojo Prince. Prince, a high-energy comedian from New Jersey, and several years of stage experience. Now that he's joined the area's acclaimed Got Jokes? improv troupe, you can expect even more animated, expressive comedy and stories.
$10. Saturday, 8:30 p.m. 2 Palms, 2950 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd., Clearwater. 727-400-6920. 2palmstampabay.com.

One-nighters and Special Events

Brian Barganier. Barganier heads up this weekly free showcase, which features a number of comedians followed by an estabished closer. Did we mention it's free?
Free. Saturday, 9 p.m. Peggy O'Neill's, 13910 W. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa. 813-749-7192. peggyoneillsoldsmar.com.

This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2016.