I'm a massive fan of comedy and probably stand-up comedy most of all. The problem is, there's lots and lots of really crap stand-up comics out there. The idea of this thread is just to find out who peoples favourites are. Please provide a YouTube clip as well to show people what's funny about them.

1) My personal favourite is Billy Connolly. He absolutely creases me up. He's still funny now at the grand old age of 60 odd, but his old stuff is the best.

Old: General clips from his old stuff [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Qm4D6X3Mc ]
New: I think this one was in New York [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuUpShuC5dY ]

2) Lee Evans is another who just crucifies me. A lot don't like him, but I love him! [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSr8Hq8EotY ]

3) Bill Hicks was really, really funny, RIP Bill [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQiy2yoyn5w ] (couldn't find better clips)

Others I like are Ricky Gervais ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GriIlpv7YXU ), Peter Kay ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST0oWkUqu8o ), George Carlin ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWquwHlGXZE ). Plus others, but that'll do for now!

I found other Ricky Gervais clips which are bloody hilarious:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYytaZ06Hco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUH1H-b-N5o

[ December 03, 2006, 10:51: Message edited by: Barmy Army ]

Eddie Izzard is my favorite stand-up comedian and "Glorious" is IMO his best show.

I'm a big fan of the "Friends of the Bob and Tom Show Comedy Tour". Very funny comics. :D

One of my favorites is Don McMillian and his "Corprate Comedy". He used to work for IBM, and then moved to comedy. What other comic uses PowerPoint in their act?!?! :shake: :rolling:

On Youtube, search for Stephen Lynch (if you're not easily offended) and Pablo Francisco

I love stand-up comedy! There are too many great comedians, but here is small list.

Robin Williams' stand up comedy rules. If you think he's an all-family comedian, think again. Watch his Live on Broadway show if you ever get the chance.

Billy Connelly is cool. He has one of the best accents.

Like Daie said, Stephen Lynch is cool. He is a musician with some bad ass funny songs. Watch Lullaby (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quDGZ239Vew) or Superhero (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-oEcxtoglk&mode=related)
Not for the easily offended!

I like Gabriel Iglesias. Here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoyTQcQuIyM) is a piece from his Comedy Central Presents show.

Lewis Black is pretty cool. This (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01gcnYzHzE0&mode=related&search=) may not be his best skit, but he is pretty cool.

Here is another of my all time favorite Comedy Central Presents: The Sklar Brothers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOIHbiC90vg) (long clip).

Something completely different: Mitch Hedberg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdmLlhFAFdE&search=mitch%20hedberg) (here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmv7PgqPSWc&search=mitch%20hedberg) is another one) If you have never seen him, watch it! He has some strange humor, but a lot of it is pretty good (lots of one-liners).

And last for the Dutch: Albert Heijn spoof (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUs1viBPEB8). (I doubt many non-Dutch will get most of the jokes).

Can we include already-popular ones as well? I always thought Chris Rock was crap in his movies, but his HBO Stand-up comedy was frickin hilarious.

Why shouldn't we include already popular ones? It's always fun to discover new comedians, but some people might not know Chris Rock's HBO special kicks ass (not everybody gets HBO).


And how (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r21XxW2KII&mode=related&search=) could (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWquwHlGXZE&mode=related&search=) I (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAAMPS2MaTs&mode=related&search=) have (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kOCv-yfhTc) forgotten (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8aiYVFA-70) George (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-I8RkOuYjA) Carlin? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0zsZ6K-tQo)

I saw an hour long Michael WInslow (the dude who does the noises from POlice Academy) show on Youtube, which was hilarious.

Many good ones have already been honored here; Mitch Hedberg (RIP), Robin Williams, 'Our Saviour Who Art George Carlin' ;) , Billy Connolly, Lee Evans, Chris Rock, Lewis Black (I'm still waiting for the day his head just explodes during a performance :lol: ), even Bob & Tom Show 'regulars' like Heywood Banks, Tim Cavanagh, Timmy Wilson, Rodney Carrington, Pat Daly...I could go on for ages just with their guest list...

Others that have yet to be mentioned:

- (Leo) Gallagher (http://gallaghersmash.com/) - for his delightfully silly, yet telling poke at the absurd things we take as given in everyday life:
G:"Do you want a pain reliever that WORKS?"
Aud:"Yes."
G:"PICKY bleeps, ain'tcha?!?"

- Denis Leary (http://www.learyfirefightersfoundation.org/) - one angry mutha-SHUTYOURMOUTH. Here is a man raised on 'The Honeymooners' and 'All In The Family' :D

- Dave Chappelle (http://www.davechapelle.com/) - irreverent, poke-fun-at-sacred-cows, challenge your perspective comedian.

- Dennis Miller (http://www.officialdennismiller.com/) - the man that trademarked The Rant ;) Another soul with the ability to see stupid
things accepted by society and be the little kid that says "Hey, the Emperor's got no clothes on!"

- Sam Kinison (http://www.samkinison.org/home.html) - arguably the first 'angry comedian'. RIP, mate.

- Steven Wright (http://www.stevenwright.com/index.shtml) - the king of deadpan one-liners.
"My school colors were clear. 'I'm not naked, I'm in the band.'"
"One time I stayed in a hotel where the pool was on the 23rd floor - I couldn't believe how deep it was."

Bill Cosby was the master at stand-up. Hilarious routines the entire family could enjoy.

Some of the earlier stuff with Henny Youngman, Lenny Bruce, and Abbott and Costello are absolutely priceless.

Dave Chappelle stand up is great (his show blows), and his best stuff is live in San Francisco and Washington. I'll look it up on YouTube when I have time later.

OMG, how come none of you mentioned Russell Peters?? This guy is frickin' HILARIOUS!!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=znz4fsReLAE

BA, by the way, Ricky Gervais was hilarious! I looked for his thing on the leaflet... :lol: That was one of the funniest things I've ever seen.

Eddie Izzard, Eddie Izzard, and Eddie Izzard.

As Barmy would say...funny git, that one.

Stephen Lynch is great, too. Chris Rock's stand-up is HILARIOUS, even if his acting sucks.

Lee Evans, Jimmy Carr - Strong language (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3b_cDNmUSQ&mode=related&search=) and Peter Kay are some of my favourites.

There's 4 youtube videos on Russell Peters - you got to watch them all!

Jeremy Hotz is pretty good, but not much on youtube on him.

For Canadian comedians, I like Mike Macdonald and Glen Foster. I haven't tried youtubing them yet, but I will soon, now that I got the idea!

Bill Bailey
Colin Murphy
Dara Ó Briain