Las Vegas has long been a premium destination for comedy. From the early days of the Rat Pack to today, many have come to LV to get a laugh, especially when all our money is going down the drain. Las Vegas comedy is usually hooked up with something else, like magic, showgirls, or song and dance, but for pure stand-up, there are a number of ways to get some laughs.
Part of it depends on your budget and your taste. Las Vegas has some of the old standbys, like George Wallace and David Brenner, guys who have been headlining forever. I tend to move more towards the comedy clubs, mostly because you get a wider variety of comics and tickets are cheaper. For reservations for the headliners, you're talking more than $55.00 a ticket, while you can get tickets to the Improv (at Harrah's), the Riviera, or the Comedy Stop (Tropicana) starting at $19.75. I like the Improv the best, but it depends on who's on that night, of course.
Here's a great list, by price, of some of Southern Nevada 's top shows:
The LV comedy shows that are combination shows--magic or hypnosis and the like--tend to be a little more expensive as well. Penn & Teller and the Amazing Johnathan are your best bets with magic, but tickets are $50 for Jonathan, more like $80 for Penn & Teller. If you like your comedy, and your hypnosis, a little edgier, give the Hypnolarius XXX--Hypnosis Gone Wild show at the little-known Tuscany a try. A late night show that caters to adults, nothing is out of bounds under hypnosis, though no laws are broken!
For more on comedy shows in the area, try www.lasvegas.com or www.key2lasvegas.com.