The Cobb's free nights are a legitimate get — comics working out tighter material in front of a real room, not a bar open mic. The caliber varies night to night, which is part of it. "Hecklers Welcome" is a different proposition: the premise is the show, and whether that sounds fun or exhausting probably tells you which one to attend. Food and drink are available at Cobb's; plan accordingly if you're eating first, because North Beach restaurants on Saturday will have a wait.

If you have two hours: get on the Cobb's list, show up at 7:30, sit center-left of the room where sightlines are best, and order before the show starts so you're not flagging down a server during a set.