Sit Down, Stand Up

July 14, 2008 3:50 PM

Who are some great comedians I've probably never heard of that I can watch on youtube?
posted by Christ, what an asshole to media & arts (50 comments total)

You may have heard of him. Maybe not. Demetri Martin is really funny.

I also liked Dat Phan.

More well known, now unfortunately passed on, but Mitch Hedberg rules...

Most of my friends haven't heard of any of these guys, but if you're into stand up, you probably have.
posted by twiggy at 3:59 PM on July 14 [2 favorites]

Go here and watch some Dr. Katz. The comedian guests are awesome. You'll get some good ideas.
posted by phunniemee at 4:02 PM on July 14

George Wallace, the comedian. Great stuff. I saw him in person about 15 yrs. ago at a JCC concert, (yes--he is Jewish).
posted by 6:1 at 4:12 PM on July 14

Zach Galifianakis
posted by gnutron at 4:18 PM on July 14

There's also the other Mitch, Mitch Fatel.

Jim Gaffigan. Patton Oswalt. Emo Phillips. Steven Wright. Debra Digiovanni. Jo Brand.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:23 PM on July 14

I'm a big fan of Jim Gaffigan's hot pocket bit, apparently a lot of his comedy is food related.
posted by furtive at 4:32 PM on July 14

Henry Cho
Josh Sneed
Dave Attell
Louis C.K.
posted by puritycontrol at 4:33 PM on July 14

Harland Williams. Louis CK. David Cross. Sarah Silverman. Norm MacDonald. Ed Byrne.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:35 PM on July 14

Oh, and because no one's said him yet, Bill Hicks. I liked him back when I was a cynical teenager.
posted by phunniemee at 4:35 PM on July 14

Not youtube, but I thought this series of shows by Maria Bamford was pretty funny. Found via this FPP.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 4:37 PM on July 14

Seconding Mitch Hedberg and Jim Gaffigan. I love Jim Gaffigan's routine about Cake.
posted by LoriFLA at 4:38 PM on July 14

Bo Burnham is freaking hilarious.
posted by riane at 4:39 PM on July 14

Doug Stanhope.
posted by eyeballkid at 4:41 PM on July 14 [1 favorite]

Louis CK is wonderful.

I'm really taken by Stewart Lee at the moment. This piece (in two segments) on the movie Braveheart, the historical William Wallace, and Scottish identity (delivered to a Scottish audience) is way, way funnier than it should be.
posted by ferdydurke at 4:43 PM on July 14

Nikki Payne.
posted by Sys Rq at 4:48 PM on July 14 [1 favorite]

Dylan Moran's Like, Totally. I've linked to the first of seven parts. He's Irish. I laughed until I cried.
posted by kate blank at 5:00 PM on July 14 [4 favorites]

Bill Bailey is all kinds of wonderful. His Part Troll is a joy and there's tons of his stuff online. I've re-enacted scenes from his Is It Bill Bailey? to friends since it aired.
posted by Kattullus at 5:04 PM on July 14 [4 favorites]

Being Irish, please forgive me for my list consisting solely of home-grown talent:

Dara O'Briain
Dylan Moran
Tommy Tiernan
Jason Byrne
posted by wannalol at 5:06 PM on July 14 [3 favorites]

Jake Johannsen.
posted by cabingirl at 5:26 PM on July 14 [1 favorite]

Jeremy Hotz is awesome. Find his Comedy Central presents special, if you can.
posted by Nelsormensch at 5:26 PM on July 14

Totally agreeing with Nikki Payne. :)
posted by gwenlister at 5:28 PM on July 14

Greg Behrendt has been pigeonholed as the "He's Just Not That Into You" guy, but his standup is really smart and funny. I saw him open for Janeane Garofalo in 1995 and have been a fan ever since.
posted by mgrichmond at 5:42 PM on July 14

Seconding, strongly, Maria Bamford. She's brilliant.
posted by FlyByDay at 5:50 PM on July 14 [1 favorite]

Kyle Cease
Lynne Koplitz
Jim David
Vic Henley
posted by Max McCarty at 6:07 PM on July 14

The Pub Landlord
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 6:10 PM on July 14

The legend that was Tommy Copper
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 6:25 PM on July 14

If you like British comedy, have a look at Jimmy Carr. From what I gather, he's not terribly well-known in the States.
posted by iamisaid at 6:56 PM on July 14 [1 favorite]

I personally love Brian Regan.
posted by iguanapolitico at 6:59 PM on July 14 [1 favorite]

It's not stand-up (although don't know if that's specifically what you were looking for), but lately I keep checking out Chris Morris's stuff.
posted by dubitable at 7:55 PM on July 14

I suppose he's not anonymous any more but Eddie Izzard is hilarious.
posted by cnc at 8:27 PM on July 14

I once took a very stoned Doug Benson to a waterpark in Dallas.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:54 PM on July 14

Oh, and the first I heard of her was from Last Comic Standing, but I have a serious crush on Iliza Shlesinger right now.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 8:56 PM on July 14

paul f. tompkins.

torrent the guy as there's not a lot of his standup available on youtube.
posted by Menomena at 9:30 PM on July 14 [1 favorite]

I could recommend individual stand ups, but I came across some good compilations on YouTube. Apparently Channel 4 in the UK had a program on the '100 Greatest Stand Ups', and this ~10 minute video has some clips from the show. There's a nice long list at the side (under 'more info'), and maybe you'll see someone who tickles your funny bone. The comedians are largely British (with the exception of Chris Rock and Richard Pryor, who are well-known, anyway). It looks like this user uploaded the entire thing (maybe?) in nineteen parts. It might be worth watching if you're feeling a little indecisive or want a good sampler.. I know I'm going to be starting on this right now!

I don't want to list too many comedians who have already been recommended. I've always preferred British humor, and I do have to agree with all of the comedians listed so far. If I would add anyone it would be.. the multi-talented Dave Gorman (some stand up, some of his specials, but all brilliant) and Alexei Sayle.
posted by Mael Oui at 9:31 PM on July 14 [1 favorite]

dave allen
posted by dnc at 2:05 AM on July 15

Bobby Slayton
posted by RavinDave at 3:08 AM on July 15

Also Irish: Ed Byrne (so not the Jason mentioned above). Link is to the first part of his show Pedantic and Whimsical (the Youtube poster can't spell). Youtube will offer you the rest.

Love this show.
posted by Skyanth at 3:16 AM on July 15

Todd Barry
Joe Mande
posted by saladin at 4:25 AM on July 15

Oh, and of course, Rick Shapiro.
posted by saladin at 4:25 AM on July 15

Richard Herring who used to be part of a double act with Stewart Lee. Both of there are just the right side of smart-arsery.
posted by ClanvidHorse at 5:19 AM on July 15

Black Beauty - now he was a dark horse.
Tim Vine
posted by mjg123 at 6:42 AM on July 15

apparently a lot of his comedy is food related.

I'm pretty sure one of his famous aside whispers is "Are all these jokes gonna be about food?!?"
posted by Deathalicious at 8:44 AM on July 15

You can't forget Bobby Collins, on the inside.

On the outside, hmph, can't think of anyone else.
posted by mitzyjalapeno at 10:40 AM on July 15

Frankie Boyle for sure.

For more Frankie and other funny British comedians, watch some clips from Mock the Week. Keep an eye out for any clips that include Hugh Dennis, who is hysterical. One more.

I guess I'm pretty much just a shill for Mock the Week.
posted by triggerfinger at 12:08 PM on July 15

You probably have heard of him, as the host of Cash Cab on the Discovery Channel.
But Ben Bailey is a rather funny stand-up comic as well.
He even has his own YouTube Channel.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 1:20 PM on July 15

Daniel Kitson
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 4:16 PM on July 15

Here's a quick sampling of a few of Britain's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups. You could check them out and go from there.
posted by tzikeh at 8:50 PM on July 15

I just asked a question about a stand-up comic I saw years ago and didn't know the name of. Turns out it was a guy called Marc Maron, who I recommend highly.
posted by Kattullus at 10:16 PM on July 15

I can't search youtube, as I'm on a dialup connection at the moment...

But Anjelah Johnson (the last name may be without h, I'm not sure) has a bit on YT about going to the nail salon that is absofrigginglutely hilarious. There may be more, but that's all I remember seeing from the last time I was around a high-speed connection (*sighs wistfully*).
posted by po at 5:22 AM on July 16

I highly recommend subscribing to the Never Not Funny podcast. Many of the comedians listed here (Bamford, Benson, Thompkins) and many that have not (Mike Schmidt, Chris Hardwick, Rob Courdry, Matt Walsh, etc) are really great and sharp. NNF is a talk-show style podcast where they literally talk about any and all topics. Worth paying for, but there is a free feed of the first 20ish minutes each week.

I'll put in a plug for Neil Hamburger too.
posted by Twicketface at 10:20 AM on July 17