So, I've done a lot of thinking about this "art form"... I have a lot of favorites. Growing up, my dad had a traveling job. I would steal his cassette tapes of various comedians and I instantly fell in love with that whole era of comedy. I grew up listening to Carlin, Cosby, and Pryor. Over the years, my taste for comedy has evolved quite a bit. If I had to list a top 5 (current guys/girls) it would include, no certain order:
1) Chappelle
2) Louis CK
3) Kevin Hart
4) Joe Rogan
5) Joey Diaz
I know this has been discussed before, so the repost police can suck a dick. [Reply]
Amy Shumer is legit hilarious. My second favorite comedian going behind Louis CK.
As far as old school: Carlin, Steve Martin, Pryor, Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams (yeah he sucks now - but Reality What a Concept) was amazing. Diceman had his moments as well. [Reply]
Lenny Bruce is the godfather, IMO. He was the first, well, first well known, comedian to really push the boundaries of what standup can be. It's a shame that there isn't more surviving material.
Though far less controversial, another old school comedian that I think doesn't get the love they deserve is Jonathan Winters. Without him, there is no Robin Williams.
Obviously I'm a big Hicks fan, but he gets plenty of love.
Sadly, I don't keep up with it much anymore and I don't really know who those transcendent comedians are anymore. I like folks like Oswalt, Burr, Gaffigan, and Louie, but I don't really consider them next-level stuff. Eddie Izzard's Dressed to Kill was the last time I was really blown away by a performance.
I did get to see Neil Hamburger with about 20 other people at a hole-in-the-wall bar in San Diego a while back. That was fun. [Reply]
1. Jim Jeffries
2. Bill Burr
3. Bill Hicks
4. Dave Attell
5. Colin Quinn
I'm not as big a fan of Sarah Silverman or Amy Schumer or Kevin Hart or Patrice O'Neal as many people and I think Luis C.K is very overrated as a standup comedian vs his skit show. [Reply]