find someone you like and see what comes up in searches for them (on google, youtube, downloading mp3s - wherever) - e.g.:
mitch hedberg
louis ck
eddie izzard
ellen degeneres
steven wright
doug stanhope
todd barry
eugene mirman
(vaguely from better to not as better, but i've liked them all at one time or another)
non stand up, the daily show & colbert report. posted by mdn at 6:33 PM on October 6, 2006 [2 favorites has favorites]
The videos out there in the ether make him look like just a song man, but his entire act reminds me more of a homeless, coked out Teddy Roosevelt. posted by Sticherbeast at 6:43 PM on October 6, 2006
Russell Peters is great, although his act is a bit one-trick pony i.e. watch it on YouTube and don't bother following up. posted by kcm at 6:57 PM on October 6, 2006
Jackie Mason is, I think, an acquired taste, but he's still touring, too. On a good night, he's better at the quick turn joke than Henny Youngman ever was, and the guy has an absolutely encyclopedic knowledge of comedy, and maybe, according to some, a bigger and better material file than even those legendary ones belonging to Phyllis Diller and Milton Berle. And nobody working represents the tragi-comic nature of comedy, the raw nerve edge, the danger and the madness of stand up, as does Mason, on a night when he knows he's slightly off. Then, watching him is like watching a tired matador work an angry, dangerous bull, that just won't come in for killing, and it becomes a point of honor with him, some nights, to make you laugh, even if he has to make you cry doing it.
New comics deserve attention, but if you haven't seen the masters work it, you owe it to yourself to do so, before they are all gone. posted by paulsc at 7:02 PM on October 6, 2006
Stephen Lynch -- if you're okay with his basic schtick, you'll probably love him. At the moment he's, uh, on Broadway starring in The Wedding Singer, but don't hold that against him. posted by booksandlibretti at 7:05 PM on October 6, 2006
Mitch Fatel posted by machaus at 7:09 PM on October 6, 2006
I think Morgan Murphy is one of the funniest comics working these days. posted by I Foody at 7:21 PM on October 6, 2006
No one has said Patton Oswalt yet? His cd Feelin' Kinda Patton is one of the funniest things I've ever heard in my life. posted by Hildago at 7:24 PM on October 6, 2006
Pretty Paul Parsons ain't the funniest (though he is funny) but I'd wager he's the most disgusting. posted by dobbs at 7:40 PM on October 6, 2006
Lewis Black, Daniel Tosh, and Drew Hastings.
I whole-heartedly second the suggestion to check out Bob Newhart - they issued an anthology of his work last year on cd that you should check out. If you can catch him live - make sure to do so. He is fantastic live.
I also second Shelley Berman. And maybe even check out old Jonathan Winters stuff. posted by fluffy battle kitten at 7:41 PM on October 6, 2006
Patrice O'Neal
John Heffron
(another vote for funniest man on earth) Greg Giraldo posted by tristeza at 7:47 PM on October 6, 2006
I've always liked Jake Johansen, although he doesn't seem to do many shows these days. posted by cabingirl at 7:48 PM on October 6, 2006
A lot of great suggestions here. If you check out this Q, you'll see a lot of suggestions.
I'd warn you off Dane Cook, who in the comedy world is a bit of a pariah. If you like CofC, you won't like Cook.
The Comedians of Comedy kind of grew out of an LA alternative comedy scene that features a great weekly show called Comedy Death Ray. You can bet that anyone who's played CDR is worth checking out.
The same goes for the New York show Invite Them Up. There's a 3-CD-1-DVD box set of ITU that's like $15 and well worth the price.
Brent Weinbach is a comic I like a lot who's sort on the up-and-coming track. So is Heather Lawless, who performs in a great NYC show called the Variety Shac.
Check out my radio show / podcast The Sound of Young America for some more stuff... I focus largely on comedy, and a lot of folks tell me that's one way they like to hear about acts they may not have seen before. You'll be a comedy nerd faster than you can imagine! posted by YoungAmerican at 8:03 PM on October 6, 2006 [4 favorites has favorites]
Hidalgo: Patton's part of the "Comedians of Comedy" crew mentioned in the original post.
Optamistic: I fear that we're all just going to tell you who our favorite comedians are, without trying to cater them to your tastes. Can you name a few comedians that you definitely don't like? posted by savetheclocktower at 8:03 PM on October 6, 2006
About 97 percent of the comedians listed in this thread are men. That's weird. posted by Brittanie at 8:14 PM on October 6, 2006
(Jesse! Awesome!)
Sarah Silverman
Brian Poesehn
Rich Voss posted by tristeza at 8:18 PM on October 6, 2006
"I put instant coffee in a microwave oven and almost went back in time." — Steven Wright
"Guns don't kill people, people kill people, and monkeys do too (if they have a gun)." — Eddie Izzard
"We've begun to long for the pitter-patter of little feet, so we bought a dog. Well, it's cheaper, and you get more feet." — Rita Rudner
"If a woman tells you she's twenty and looks sixteen, she's twelve. If she tells you she's twenty-six and looks twenty-six, she's damn near forty." — Chris Rock posted by rob511 at 9:01 PM on October 6, 2006
Just showing some love for Jim Gaffigan (although, not unlike most comics, if you've seen his routine, wait another six months before it refreshes itself).
Or, to be more true to the spirit of the question, Sarah Silverman, who is so funny that her not being Dane Cook is a sort of wonderful bonus. posted by La Cieca at 9:44 PM on October 6, 2006
Less well known that you need to check out:
Flight of the Conchords
Demetri Martin
Eugene Mirman
Brent Weinbach
Zach Galifianakis
Moderately well known but not huge:
Louis CK
Todd Barry
Laura Kightlinger
Jim Gaffigan
Greg Giraldo
Andy Kindler
Neil Hamburger
Paul F. Thomkins
Arj Barker
well known but still hilarious
Dave Chappelle
Dave Attell
David Cross
Sarah Silverman
Brian Regan
Patton Oswalt posted by any major dude at 9:46 PM on October 6, 2006
No Dave Chappelle? Granted I'm not much of a comedy buff, but I liked him and obviously a lot of other people do as well. posted by delmoi at 10:11 PM on October 6, 2006
I don't know now that he has this talk show based on his book "He's not that into you", but Greg Berhendt hasn't been mentioned here yet and he's pretty damn funny. In fact, I'm dying to find mp3 audio of the special he did where he talks about getting ripped like jesus...
Mitch Hedberg was my favorite, but he passed away... I still love his stuff.. RIP buddy...
The others people have mentioned above are all great. I also like Dat Phan. posted by twiggy at 10:44 PM on October 6, 2006
any major dude's list is A1 top quality.
Brittanie -- the vast majority of comics are men. It's unfortunate, but if you're in the comedy business, you've gotta deal.
Will Franken is a great standup/solo sketch performer from SF.
Greg Proops is wonderful. So is Dana Gould, don't think anyone's mentioned him.
Human Giant are a great group out of NYC that are currently filming a new MTV show (just announced this week).
Lots and lots of wonderful suggestions here. posted by YoungAmerican at 10:52 PM on October 6, 2006
I'll third Lewis Black as being the comedian you'll mostly likely enjoy. He's angry like Hicks, but his comedy is more along the lines of recent George Carlin.
Don't listen to all the Dane Cook hate, either. Or at least, there's a ton of his stuff on YouTube. So at least judge for yourself.
Oh, and if you like Patton Oswalt, be sure to get the uncut version of "Feelin' Kinda Patton" called 222. posted by Gary at 12:53 AM on October 7, 2006
I caught Ross Noble last night for the first time on BBC America, and found him to be very funny. posted by terrapin at 5:07 AM on October 7, 2006
I love The Sound of Young America, mentioned above -- smart, thoughtful, hilarious and cool interviews with comics, musicians and other interesting people. That's probably my favorite podcast right now.
I dunno much about this subject, but I'm almost certain that Sean Cullen is much more funny than Sarah Silverman. posted by sfenders at 6:15 AM on October 7, 2006
Artie Lange. Fi-yah! Whoops. That appears to be the whiskey talking. Forgive me. posted by haqspan at 7:16 AM on October 7, 2006
Gah? 40 answers and no Margaret Cho? Margaret Cho. She may not fit in perfectly with your narrower list, but if we're talking about the best comedians working today...
My other favorite is Izzard.
But I also like Ellen, Lewis Black, and Jim Gaffigan. posted by lampoil at 8:24 AM on October 7, 2006
I'm kind of surprised no one mentioned Jeffrey Ross. I've never seen his stand-up act, just the countless bits he's done for every damn roast out there. And the bits he does, like the Shatner roast recently on CC? They friggin' kill. So if his stand-up is half that good... he must be a blast. posted by hincandenza at 8:43 PM on October 7, 2006
Wanda Sykes. Filthy, brilliant, PERFECT timing. posted by allterrainbrain at 10:00 PM on October 7, 2006
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mitch hedberg
louis ck
eddie izzard
ellen degeneres
steven wright
doug stanhope
todd barry
eugene mirman
(vaguely from better to not as better, but i've liked them all at one time or another)
non stand up, the daily show & colbert report.
posted by mdn at 6:33 PM on October 6, 2006 [2 favorites has favorites]