Comic’s Weekly Roundup: Norm MacDonald comes to town

Comedian Olivia Cathcart makes her recommendations for the best places to see comedy this week including Norm MacDonald at The Improv, MST3K live, and Billy Wayne Davis.

Mon., Dec. 7
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?1UP Comedy’s longest-running show, Beer and Comedy Night, is back tonight at the Sweetwater Brewery tap room Monday night. Joe Pettis hosts this show that features a hand-picked line-up of some Atlanta’s best comics as well as talented out-of-towners and the occasional celeb surprise drop-ins. For just $10, you get a show, a souvenir pint, and delicious Sweetwater beer throughout the night. Doors open (and beer starts flowing) at 7 p.m. The show starts at 8 p.m.======
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? Fri., Dec. 11
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======Mystery Science Theatre 3000 fans have been fired up at the announcement of a revival to the comedy series. Creator Joel Hodgson started a Kickstarter campaign last month to bring back the show, and so far as raised enough to produce six episodes (and hopefully six more). Going into the last week of the campaign, MST3K is going on the road putting on live shows with the reboot’s new star, comedian Jonah Ray. Ray and the MST3K crew will be stopping in Atlanta on Friday for a show at 529 Bar in East Atlanta. Show is open to the public and kicks off at 8 p.m.
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? The Weekend
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?The news is official now, The Improv (and the rest of the Andrews Entertainment District) will be closing at the end of the year. If you’ve never had the chance to see a show at The Improv, this weekend would be a great time to go as Norm MacDonald will be headlining. MacDonald is an iconic comedian who recently was a judge on the ninth season of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” He anchored “Saturday Night Live”’s Weekend Update desk for three years, co-created “The Norm Show,” and has appeared in numerous films. MacDonald has been a frequent guest on late night shows since making his debut on “Late Show with David Letterman;” he was also the last stand-up to perform on the show during Letterman’s tenure this past May. He’ll headline five shows Thursday through Saturday.
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? >> Now located inside the Landmark Diner, The Punchline comedy club will host Billy Wayne Davis this weekend. Davis has been described as “the thinking man’s hillbilly.” This Tennessee native has a southern drawl and an incredibly sharp wit. His hilarious and original material earned him a spot as one of Just For Laughs’ “New Faces of Comedy” this year. He’s also performed on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and at such festivals as Seattle’s Bumbershoot and Atlanta’s Red Clay Fest. Davis will headline six shows, Friday through Sunday.
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? >> If you’re a night owl, cap off Saturday night with the 1AM Secret Show. This free show goes down every Saturday night in the Atlanta Room of Smith’s Olde Bar. Hosted by the wonderful John-Michael Bond, this show frequently hosts out-of-town guests including special surprise drop-ins from such big names as Rell Battle, Ryan Singer, James Adomian, Sean Patton and more. What else are you going to do at 1 a.m. on a Saturday? Sleep? No, go to the 1 a.m. Secret Show.
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? ALSO THIS WEEK
======Monday Night Comedy at Star Bar (Dec. 7, at 9:30 p.m.)
? Paul Mooney & Dick Gregory at Uptown Comedy Corner (Dec. 10-13)
? Ben Gleib at Laughing Skull Lounge (Dec. 10-13)
? Scotty K at The Punchline (Dec. 10-13)
? Stand Up Stand Off at 529 Bar (Dec. 12, at 9 p.m.)
? A John Waters Christmas at Variety Playhouse (Dec. 13, at 8 p.m.)
? Flap Jokes: An Afternoon of Hot Cakes and Hot Jokes at The Hangar (Dec. 13, at 4 p.m.)