There's a lot of comedy on tap this weekend, but nothing on Sunday. That's because of the big game, of course. Hours of coverage, plenty of action, and a few paws in the water bowl.
We're talking about the Puppy Bowl, of course. It's on Animal Planet every year before the Super Bowl. That should be a good game, too, by the way.
Anyway, no comedy on Sunday. But there are plenty of options during the week to make up for it.
Here's the lineup:
Theaters and Special Events
William Shatner. This might not technically qualify as stand-up, but how could we leave him off the list? The Star Fleet Captain and pop culture icon brings his one-man show to St. Petersburg. Expect plenty of self-aware references and spoken-word performances performed with a wink and a nod to his enduring celebrity.
The Mahaffey Theater (400 1st St. S., St. Petersburg) Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. 727-893-7832 or themahaffey.com. $59.50-$69.50.
Jackie Mason. When you talk about "old school" comedy, you could sum it up with a photo of Mason. Now in his 80s with six decades of comedy under his belt, he's still entertaining audiences with his trademark cadence (nobody sounds quite like him), conversational style and quick wit.
The Capitol Theatre (405 Cleveland St., Clearwater) Thursday at 7:30 p.m. 727-791-7400 or atthecap.com. $25-$50.
Girls Night Out. This annual show returns with a new trio of talent. Comedians Aniria, Juanita Lolita and Trish Keating showcase different styles, from clean to snarky to a little racy. But they all have local roots, plenty of experience and a knack for keeping crowds laughing.
Largo Cultural Center (105 Central Park Drive, Largo) Thursday at 7:30 p.m. 727-587-6793 or largo.com. $24.50-$39.50.
Katt Williams. For a while there, Williams was making news more for his off-stage antics than stand-up comedy. But now he's back on tour, delivering his trademark adult conversations about contreoversial topics. The fact that it's called the Conspiracy Theory tour should reassure fans that Williams is back to shocking people on stage.
USF Sun Dome (4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa) Saturday at 8 p.m. 813-974-3111 or sundomearena.com. $50.75-$102.75.
Rita Rudner. When you see a current success story in the entertainment field, there's usually an earlier talent who paved the way for them. Most female comedians owe a nod to Rudner, who was one of the stars of the comedy explosion back in the '80s. While many of those comedians (of both genders) are long gone, Rudner's still thriving, delivering her calm wordplay and punch line twists after more than three decades on stage. The Capitol Theatre (405 Cleveland St., Clearwater) Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. 727-791-7400 or atthecap.com. $29-$49.
Comedy Clubs
Harland Williams. Williams has played some weird characters in movies, and his on-stage persona is also unusual. He has a down-home likeability, but his comedy is anything but simple. Expect plenty of material that might be considered absurd, layered, thought-provoking or all of the above. Tampa Improv (1600 E. Eighth Ave., Tampa) Wednesday at 8 p.m.; Thursday at 8 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.; Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. 813-864-4000 or improvtampa.com. $5-$22.
Johnny Beehner. Beehner's casual, conversational style is a strong format for his well-timed punchlines. He'll be delivering laughs all weekend, but the early Saturday show is a special event. Beehner and longtime funnyman Spanky Brown will put on a show benefiting the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. Side Splitters (12938 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa) Thursday at 8:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m.; Saturday at 6 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. 813-960-1197 or sidesplitterscomedy.com. $10-$16.50.
Julie Scoggins. You probably wouldn't expect a 6'2" ex-trucker to be performing stand-up comedy. And even if you did, you wouldn't expect them to be female. And if you somehow got that far, would you expect them to be funny? Scoggins is all of the above, offering blue-collar wit and crowd-pleasing material on stages around the country.
Snappers Grill & Comedy Club (36657 U.S. Highway 19 N., Palm Harbor) Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. 727-938-2027 or snappersgrill.com. $12.
Bull. Don't judge a book (or a comedian) by the cover. On the outside, Bull has a somewhat intimidating look. But the family man is full of jokes on the inside, with plenty of self-deprecating humor that wrings laughs out of everyday situations. Coconuts (5501 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach) Wednesday and Thursday at 9:30 p.m. 727-360-5653 or coconutscomedyclubs.com. $18-20.
Mike Rivera. ABC’s The View named him “America’s Most Hilarious Teacher” in their national contest. Now Rivera will perform at Coconuts with a fast-paced set full of adult-oriented teachable moments. Coconuts (5501 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach) Friday and Saturday at 9:30 p.m. 727-360-5653 or coconutscomedyclubs.com. $20-25.
Devin Siebold. Siebold is 6'6" and a teacher, so there's no shortage of original material in his set. He makes the most of it with clever story-telling and a knack for sharp punch lines. 2 Palms (2950 Gulf to Bay Blvd., Clearwater) Saturday at 8:30 p.m. 727-400-6920 or 2palmstampabay.com. $10.
One-Nighters and Independent Shows
Kava Komedy. This regular show features local up-and-comers to warm up the crowd, and a more established closer to cap things off. This week it's Todd Stimmell. Bula Kafe (2500 5th Ave N., St. Petersburg) Thursday at 9 p.m. Bula-Kafe.com or 727-498-8913. Free.
G. David Howard. Howard's weekly residence at Sporty's features the longtime comedian drawing from his decades of stage experience. He mixes his regular material with plenty of crowd work to provide the type of set only a true stand-up veteran can provide. Sporty's On The Beach (17093 Gulf Blvd., North Redington Beach) Friday and Saturday at 9:35 p.m. 727-596-6725 or gdavidhoward.com. $20. (Look for a $5 coupon under "Special Offers."
