“My favorite jokes are the ones that provide some kind of clarity for the audience,” says comedian Greg Johnson. “Like somebody really laughs at it but also says ‘Wow, I never really thought of it that way.’ I think that’s the ultimate goal for a joke.” In addition to stand-up, Johnson has also dabbled in some sketch comedy. He opens for Mike Birbiglia at Go Bananas Thursday-Saturday.  

Rickey Smiley is often described as a "clean" comedian, but it's not something he consciously strives for. "What’s in you is gonna come out of you," he says. "My comedy is pretty clean. I will say a word or two every now and then. It all depends on where I am and where I’m performing. If I’m in a smoked-filled club, late at night, I might do a dirty joke … to get it out of my system." Smiley performs 8:30 p.m. Friday at Procter & Gamble Hall at the Arnoff Center. $45-$75.  

“Ohio has been so great to me,” says comedian Jason Stuart, who is in town this week to headline Cincinnati’s Gay Pride festival. He’s somewhat surprised that gay marriage was reversed in California, but not totally. “We have a lot of religious people that live in Orange County, Sacramento and Fresno,” he says. “California’s not just San Francisco and L.A.” For those on the other side who remain un-swayed, he makes this promise: “Come on, straight people, let us marry each other and we’ll stop marrying you.” Stuart headlines Cincinnati Gay Pride festival on Saturday at Hoffner Park.  

“I was talking to a friend of mine this week,” says comedian Nick Griffin, “and he said, ‘Nick, remember, no matter how bad it gets, there’s always someone worse off than you.’ So, now I’m depressed and worried about this other poor guy.” Such is life for the Kansas City native, who really only understands one subject: himself. “I try to get as personal with my own life as I can because I don’t know about anything else,” he says. “Lately I’ve been talking about being depressed a lot (laughs).” Griffin performs Thursday-Sunday at Go Bananas. $8-$15.  

As if Josh Blue weren't busy enough doing stand-up comedy and playing soccer for the U.S. paralympic team, about a year ago he became a father. He couldn't be happier. "He's a little guy," Blue says of his son, "but he's growing by leaps and bounds." Being a dad has limited his appearances, but he still has to make a living. "I love performing, I just miss being home (with my son). I never thought I'd miss something so much." He performs at the Funny Bone Friday-Sunday.  

Dan O’Sullivan likes coming to Ohio, even though the St. Louis native has encountered some problems here. “I’ve had some trouble,” he says. “Bar trouble. Talking to the wrong woman.” Such are the risks you run when you’re, as some describe him, one of the last remaining “classic road comics.” He first performed in an improv troupe that soon disintegrated because one member felt that he should be the star. The others disagreed, and like O’Sullivan, opted for separate careers in stand-up. O’Sullivan performs Thursday-Sunday at Go Bananas.  

Robert Hawkins is one of America’s foremost joke tellers, something that’s a bit of a dying art in stand-up these days. “I talk about how I’m a procrastinator,” he says, “and I haven’t gotten around to writing the punchline.” Often he jumps from topic to topic, simply because he just can’t concentrate on long bits. “My mind wanders too much,” he confesses. Robert Hawkins performs at The Funny Bone on the Levee Thursday-Sunday.  

“I like doing comedy,” says cop-turned-comic Mike Armstrong. “I get shot at less, too. People don’t shoot at comedians like they do at the police.” And, yes, he was funny cop too. “I’d constantly pull (drivers) over and warn them about speed traps … just to see their faces.” He gives another example. “On the expressway where it says, ‘Authorized Vehicles Only,’ people make u-turns,” he explains. “I’d pull up behind them, put on my lights, then I’d go over my intercom, ‘I authorize you.’" He performs at Go Bananas Thursday-Sunday.  

“It’s a mix between observational humor and me talking about awkward human interactions,” says comedian TJ Miller when asked to describe his set. “I do a lot of characters toward the end of the act.” Indeed, Miller started off as an improvisational performer before following his heart and pursuing stand-up. In fact, he toured with the very great Second City, but realized the limits of that brand of comedy performance. Miller performs Thursday-Sunday at Go Bananas.  

St. Louis native Greg Warren is sort of a Cincinnati homeboy. “I started doing stand-up in Houston while I was working for P&G,” he says. “Then I got transferred to Cincinnati.” The Queen City is where he took the plunge and started doing comedy full time. Warren performs Thursday-Sunday at The Funny Bone on the Levee in Newport.