Comic’s Weekly Roundup: Ismael Loutfi headlines WonderComedy

Comedian Olivia Cathcart discusses this week’s best comedy events in Atlanta.

Atlanta has one of the best comedy scenes in the country, and each week is filled with plenty of opportunities to see local comics and visiting national touring acts. He’s your best bets for getting into some funny business.

Mon., June 15
======The party starts over at Star Bar. Mondays in Atlanta are the best night in of the week for comedy. Star Bar has long been the go-to show in town and it’s easy to see why: cheap drinks, free admission, good vibes, amazing comedians. Show starts at 9 p.m. in Little Five Points. Don’t act like you have anything better to do on a Monday.

Thurs., June 18
======The Roastmaster General, Jeff Ross, will be headlining the Variety Playhouse Thursday night. The insult comic is well-known for dominating Comedy Central’s many celebrity roasts having performed at the last eleven. He also stars in a stand-up DVD, Jeffrey Ross: No Offense, as well as an award-winning documentary about his time entertaining U.S. troops in Iraq, Patriot Act: A Jeffrey Ross Home Movie. Doors open at 7 p.m.; show at 8 p.m.

Fri., June 19One of my favorite shows, WonderComedy, returns this Friday with one of my favorite comics headlining. Ismeal Loutfi moved to Atlanta last year and has quickly proven himself to be one of the city’s best. Recently he represented the ATL at the Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland and the Crom West Comedy Festival in Denver. Loutfi will be joined by host Andrew Michael, Ruthie Lichtenstein, Dayne Swerdling, Samm Severin, Justin Thompson, Ian Aber, Nick Shaheen, and Chris Ledford. Doors open at WonderRoot at 8:30 p.m., show at 9 p.m. $5 cash.

The Weekend>> One of my childhood favorites is coming to town this Saturday. The master of parodies, Weird Al Yankovic, will headline Chastain Park Amphitheatre Saturday night at 8 p.m. Weird Al burst back onto the scene last year with his newest album, Mandatory Fun, which reached no.1 on the Billboard charts (the first comedy album to do so since 1963) and won the Grammy award for Best Comedy Album. You never know if you’ll get another chance to see Weird Al in your own backyard, so consider investing in a ticket.

embed-1 >> On Saturday, head over to the 1AM Secret Show at Smith’s Olde Bar. This not-so-secret (and free) show, hosted by John-Michael Bond, is infamous for having a lot of great comics drop in. Lately the shows has been on a great streak of hosting some amazing out-of-town talent. Who will drop in this week? I don’t know, it’s a secret (hence).

ALSO THIS WEEK
======Cute Guys Large Fries at the Local (June 16, at 9 p.m.)
Bobby Lee at the Improv (June 18-20)
Best of ATL Comedy at Laughing Skull Lounge (June 18-21)
Big Sean at Uptown Comedy Corner (June 18-21)
Royals at the Hangar (June 19)
Fresh Comedy at Highwire Comedy Co. (June 21, at 8 p.m.)