Once again, Toronto comedy producers prove that they don't need any outside help to give the city some of the best shows in North America. Where? When? Follow me as I walk you through This Week In Comedy...

MON AUG 26 / ALTdot COMEDY LOUNGE / RIVOLI / 334 QUEEN W / 9PM / $5

Tonight's MC is Mark Little. That means this will be one of the best shows of the week, regardless of who else is playing in the city. Simply put, Mark's a monster. His sketch troupe, PicnicFace, was on The Comedy Network. When that got mysteriously cancelled, he didn't miss a beat, teaming up with Kyle Dooley to put on sketches at Comedy Bar, and the duo was so good that they got added to Just For Laughs 42 in Toronto. Oh yeah, and his stand-up is so good that he's a regular at Just For Laughs in Montreal. The secret to his success? Well, a decade of performing, coupled with a Masters in Theatre, not to mention a voracious work ethic, have set a foundation that few in comedy can match.

THURS AUG 29 / I AIN'T NO JOKE INDIAN EDITION / BULWER BASE / 37 BULWER / 9PM / PWYC

Big Norm, your host and producer, has herded together the finest Indian South-Asian comics Toronto has to offer. The last time I saw Norm, he was killing his audition with Second City (skip to 0:37 for a sample of his impressions). On this evening, he'll lead a cast that features the likes of Ali Hassan, whom you probably know from the Strombo show. Pay special attention to Nitish Sakhuja. His tireless work ethic has helped him put together a solid mound of material, most notably resulting in an inclusion into the Nubian Show rotation. Recently, I've heard reports that he's started killing, and I for one am glad that his years of discipline are paying dividends.

THURS AUG 29 / COMICAL / COMEDY BAR / 945 BLOOR W / 930PM / $8 ADV $12 DOOR

You've no doubt heard of Eddie Della Siepe. His resume puts him in lofty territory indeed, having done MuchMusic's Video on Trial, Comedy Now, Just For Laughs, and even the Los Angeles & New York Film Festivals. Your host, Michael Flamank, has curated a SICK line-up around Eddie, featuring Dave Merheje (MTV), Chris Robinson (NXNE), and Chris Allin (Top Shelf Comedy). Pay special attention to Nigel Grinstead. The first time I saw him, he killed at the Saturday open mic at Spillin' The Beans on Dundas West, which is no small feat considering the discerning crowd in attendance.

About the Author: This is Michael Jagdeo, and I refuse to write about myself in the third-person. My blog, Diary of a Stand-up Comedian, walks you through the up's and down's (they're mostly down's, really) in my quest to become a killer comic in Toronto.

Photo of Nigel Grinstead