Who are your favorite standup comedians?

[Big Boss Man]

Here's mine in no particular order

Richard Pryor
Dave Chappelle
Kevin Hart
Chris Rock
Chris Tucker
Steve Harvey
Bernie Mac
Katt Williams
Cedric The Entertainer
Mike Epps
Martin Lawrence
Robin Williams
Eddie Murphy
Redd Foxx
Reginald D Hunter
Lee Evans
Lenny Henry
Rik Mayall (not really a standup comedian per se but I always thought he was hilarious)
Frank Skinner
Bill Bailey

I need to check out George Carlin and Lenny Bruce as I've heard good things about both and Bill Hicks. I think Phil Spector released Lenny's comedy albums on his Phillies label.

[ian]

The favorites of all time in no order:
Jim Jefferies
Jimeoin
Tim Minchin
Rhys Darby
Jimmy Carr (despite laugh)
Dylan Moran
Bill Bailey
Bill Hicks
George Carlin
Typically I don't find Americans good at Stand up, Most of it is completely forgettable 10 minutes after you've seen them, Americans do better with scripted entertainment. With the biggest exception being bill hicks.
Bill Hicks is amazing. Always will be.

Currently, the only one I follow (keep up with new material, and want to see live constantly) Is Jim Jefferies.

Jim Jefferies is the Funniest Person in the world right now.

[Big Boss Man]

I forgot about Bill Bailey, I think I've seen most of his stand up shows when they are on TV. I like the routines he does with the keyboard/synthesizer.

[Bandit]

Doug Stanhope
Anthony Jeselnik
Bill Burr
Daniel Tosh
Patrice O'Neal
Chris Rock
Bill Hicks
George Carlin
Richard Pryor
George Lopez
Aziz Ansari
Katt Williams
Bernie Mac
Hannibal Buress
Dave Chappelle
Dave Attell
Louis CK
Artie Lange
Jim Norton

To name a few.

And they're all American, so suck it, ian.

[Big Boss Man]

I forgot Katt Williams too, will add him to my list above with Bill.

[Bandit]

I need to check out George Carlin and Lenny Bruce as I've heard good things about both and Bill Hicks. I think Phil Spector released Lenny's comedy albums on his Phillies label.

Carlin, yes, he was good until the day he died.

Lenny Bruce is good for a historical listen, but he's very dated in his comedy. So I'd put him on a top 10 list out of respect for making stand up what it is, but I didn't really enjoy his stuff. A biography I read on him years ago was good, though. Bill Hicks is a must. Listen to Rant in E Minor immediately, it's probably the best stand up album ever. Then his last concert before he died Then maybe Arizona Bay

Although this is the best stand up performance ever (if you know the back story to what happened that night.)

[ian]

Katt Williams

I'll give his voice an A+
and everything else a D-
He can spout any of the worst material, and you'll keep watching and listening because he has one of those voices!

As for the rest of your list.. Dave Chappelle and Chris rock are just over rated.. Sorry, but it's true.. (Maybe it's an american thing for them to be considered REALLY GOOD, but they aren't a highlight IMO, just other stand ups.)

The only one that isn't take it or leave it from your list (aside from hicks and Carlin, which I mentioned) is Richard Pryor. He's pretty good.

[Bandit]

(Maybe it's an american thing for them to be considered REALLY GOOD, but they aren't a highlight IMO, just other stand ups.)

Not really. Chappelle just did a big tour in the UK. Chris Rock did as well a few years ago. Quite a few of the names I mentioned are popular in the UK. Stanhope is actually far more popular in the UK than US, since he did some work on Charlie Brooker's show.

So really, it must be a "you" thing.

[Big Boss Man]

I need to check out George Carlin and Lenny Bruce as I've heard good things about both and Bill Hicks. I think Phil Spector released Lenny's comedy albums on his Phillies label.

Carlin, yes, he was good until the day he died.

Lenny Bruce is good for a historical listen, but he's very dated in his comedy. So I'd put him on a top 10 list out of respect for making stand up what it is, but I didn't really enjoy his stuff. A biography I read on him years ago was good, though. Bill Hicks is a must. Listen to Rant in E Minor immediately, it's probably the best stand up album ever. Then his last concert before he died Then maybe Arizona Bay

Although this is the best stand up performance ever (if you know the back story to what happened that night.)

Thanks for the links I'll check those out. I first heard about Lenny Bruce when I read a biography about Phil Spector and it talked about Phil's friendship with him & that he released Lenny's comedy album(s) on his own label. From what I've learnt he was a pioneer in standup since before it was the whole tried and tested method of just telling jokes. I've seen the Bernie Mac performance years ago on Def Comedy Jam. The story is the guy on stage before him fell flat, so the audience started going wacko and stuff then Bernie came on and knew what had gone down so he came out and said I ain't scared...I think most of Richard Pryor's comedy albums are on Youtube. You can buy them all in a CD boxset. I think Berry Gordy missed a step not putting Richard's albums out on a Motown subsidiary. They only had one comedy album by Willie & Lester.

[Matisfaction]

Ken Dodd (Still going at 88)




Jasper Carrot



Harry Hill



Stewart Lee

[Bandit]

Stewart Lee I should have included. I always think of him as more of a comedy writer due to his TV and radio work.

[Matisfaction]

Not everyone's "cup of tea" but Stewart Lee is hugely underrated IMO.

Also how could I forget Tommy Cooper and Eric Morecambe ?

[pixel]

Louis CK


Bill Burr


Hannibal Buress


John Mulaney


Jim Gaffigan (What is nachos?)

Special mentions: Kevin James for Sweat The Small Stuff


Kevin Hart (Why did you buy cookies if no one can have a damn cookie?)

[Bandit]

Is Jim Jeffries okay? He looked terrible on Opie Radio today.

[Matisfaction]

Al Murray