All the comedians to see on tour this winter
The warmth of laughter will get you through the cold months
This winter's comedy line-up is a who's who of reliable favorites, including Lewis Black, Sarah Silverman and Kumail Nanjiani. Whether you want bawdy humor or contemplative musings, there is nearly a something for everyone. Stay warm by laughing it up at these six comedy tours.
Aziz Ansari
Actor-comedian Aziz Ansari is perhaps best known for writing, directing and starring in the Netflix original series "Master of None," for which he earned two Emmys. After facing backlash following a sexual misconduct allegation in 2018, Ansari addressed the incident in his stand-up, apologized and attempted to move forward. "There's an argument that Ansari's trial-by-public-opinion even enriched his comedy with colours that just weren't there before," said The Guardian. This marks Ansari's first major tour since the release of his Netflix special "Nightclub Comedian" in 2022. The "Hypothetical Tour" begins Feb. 21.
Lewis Black
Lewis Black has been working as a stand-up for more than 35 years, and this tour is his swan song. "I am only retiring from touring," Black said to Deadline. "It's time for me to explore other avenues such as writing, reading your rants and pitching TV shows that will be rejected. (Which is why I know they are good.) More importantly I can finally give my Fantasy Football team the focus and time it truly needs." You can also enjoy Black as the voice of "Anger" in this year's Pixar sequel, "Inside Out 2," or read one of his 40 plays and three bestselling books. The next show in Black's "Goodbye Yeller Brick Road: The Final Tour" is Jan. 23.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Jim Gaffigan
It is easy to like sheepish Midwestern stand-up Jim Gaffigan, whose deadpan comedy has long detailed the most mundane aspects of life, including fast food cravings and parenting. His jokes tend not to rely on profanity, although the father of five has gone darker in recent years. The "Everything is Wonderful" Tour is ongoing now through October.
Jim Jefferies
Everything sounds sillier when said in an Australian accent, and Jim Jefferies proves it. The stand-up released his fifth Netflix special "High & Dry" in 2023, in which he "sounds off on the laziness of koala bears, the injustices of male pattern baldness and the reason why he'll never drink again," said the tour's press materials. "The way Jefferies loves to put himself in the crosshairs for haters, while simultaneously striving to remind audiences that he's on the right side of history, puts him on a similar path alongside Bill Burr," said Decider. The "Son of a Carpenter" Tour kicks off Jan. 10.
Kumail Nanjiani
You have no doubt seen Kumail Nanjiani in one of his many acting roles, be it HBO's "Silicon Valley," "Welcome to Chippendales" or "The Big Sick," the latter of which he also wrote and produced with his wife Emily V. Gordon. You may barely recognize Nanjiani if you have not seen him for a while because he transformed from unassuming to chiseled for a role in 2019's "Eternals" and never looked back. Nanjiani is also a comedian, although he took a break. "There was a moment earlier when you said, 'You were a comedian,' and that hurt my feelings," he said to Vulture in 2022. "I definitely consider myself still a comedian, and I love doing it." Nanjiani's next show in his first proper comedy tour in a decade, the "Doing This Again" Tour, is Jan. 17.
Sarah Silverman
This veteran's latest tour is mostly about her parents dying in May of last year, she told Las Vegas Weekly. But do not let the somber topic fool you: Habitual line-crosser Silverman has been making "politics, societal doom [and] personal grief" into laughter for over three decades, said the outlet. Comic relief is "necessary for people to get over the difficulties of life, and for Silverman, channeling grief into work seems natural." The "Postmortem" Tour is ongoing now through February.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Anya Jaremko-Greenwold has worked as a story editor at The Week since 2024. She previously worked at FLOOD Magazine, Woman's World, First for Women, DGO Magazine and BOMB Magazine. Anya's culture writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Jezebel, Vice and the Los Angeles Review of Books, among others.
-
PAYE vs. ICR: how these income-driven plans work for student loans
The Explainer As of December 2024, borrowers can once again enroll in Paye as You Earn (PAYE) and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR)
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
H-1B visa debate sparks MAGA infighting
In the Spotlight In defense of the visa program, Elon Musk traded barbs with MAGA supporters over their staunchly anti-immigration stance
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
What went wrong at Nissan?
In the Spotlight And will a merger with Honda make the difference?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
St. Kitts offers tropical beaches and plenty of history
The Week Recommends This Caribbean island has layers, with opportunities for relaxing and learning
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
How to celebrate New Year's Eve globally without leaving home
The Week Recommends Stock up on grapes and (safely) set a scarecrow on fire
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
7 drinks for every winter need possible
The Week Recommends Including a variety of base spirits and a range of temperatures
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
Explore new worlds this winter at these enlightening museum exhibitions
The Week Recommends Discover the estrados of Spain and the connection between art and chess in various African countries
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
10 concert tours to see this winter
The Week Recommends Keep warm traveling the United States — and the world — to see these concerts
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The Nutcracker: English National Ballet's reboot restores 'festive sparkle'
The Week Recommends Long-overdue revamp of Tchaikovsky's ballet is 'fun, cohesive and astoundingly pretty'
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Video games to play this winter, including 'Marvel Rivals' and 'Alien: Rogue Incursion'
The Week Recommends A Star Wars classic gets remastered, and 'Marvel Rivals' pits players against superhero faves
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
TV to watch in December, from 'Squid Game' to 'Paris & Nicole'
The Week Recommends A pulpy spy thriller, the reunion of Paris and Nicole and a new season of 'Squid Game'
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published