Since I was a kid, I have always been a fan of stand-up comedy. In the 70's, it was Steve Martin, Bill Cosby and George Carlin. In the 80's, it was Eddie Murphy, Sam Kinison, Robin Williams and Andrew Dice Clay. By the 90's, I was old enough to travel from Cincinnati to Hollywood and visit the world famous Comedy Store. Here, I could see legends and up-and-comers perform live in a small, intimate room. And in many cases, I was able to rub elbows with them afterwards on the patio. As a huge fan of comedy and admirer of stand-up comedians, this was heaven.
With the advent of the internet, and especially YouTube, anyone can now watch tens of thousands of hours of stand-up comedy, from the classics to the newest, freshest performers on the scene. I've become especially fond of a handful of modern-day comedians who are unique, clever, edgy and original. Here are five of my favorites:
Anthony Jeselnik
This new comedian started out as a writer for Jimmy Kimmel and Conan O'Brien before he took the stage on his own behalf. His delivery is dry and extremely clever. His subject matter ranges from jokes on AIDS, abortion and kids to relationships and family. He reminds me of Steven Wright, but much edgier. Even though many people would consider his jokes to be offensive, Jeselnik, himself, never seems to ever offend. We know that he's joking, and his gift is that his unique delivery allows him to get away with anything he says.
Mitch Hedberg
I had the opportunity to meet Mitch a few times before he died from an accidental drug overdose in 2005. Mitch was great at one-liners and used his long-hair stoner persona to his full advantage. He toured the country constantly and always made himself accessible to fans and admirers after each show. His jokes were simple to follow, but funny because they were based on experiences that we all have every day. He once said, "An escalator can never be broken...it just becomes steps. The sign should say, 'Escalator broken. Sorry for the convenience.'" There are lots of his Comedy Central appearances on YouTube. Check him out!
Joe Rogan
Rogan is another guy that I had a chance to hang out with in 2002. He frequents the Comedy Store on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood and is your normal average "Joe". He started out playing a small role on "News Radio" with Phil Hartman, Dave Foley and Andy Dick. He then moved on to host shows like Fear Factor and The Man Show. A lot of people don't realize that he is a huge stand-up talent. Rogan's comedy act is like a controlled Sam Kinison. He doesn't really tell "jokes" per se, but actually makes observations and weaves them into his own stories. The result is a unique, original, edgy performance. At his website, www.joerogan.net, he shares a free weekly video podcast that usually runs several hours and is always interesting and entertaining.
Kathleen Madigan
I noticed Kathleen on Jay Leno one night. I wrote her an email and two weeks later, we were having a drink together at a Dave & Busters in Pittsburgh before one of her shows. Later on, we spent a little time together in Los Angeles where she lives. Things didn't really work out for us romantically, and last I heard, she's still single. For the record, Kathleen saves the majority of her humor for the stage, because in real life, she really isn't very funny. Sorry Kathleen!
The Sklar Brothers
Randy and Jason Sklar are identical twin brothers who have been performing stand-up as a team for over ten years. They are unique because you rarely see a pair of comedians performing together, let alone twin brothers. Their act is so refined that when watching them, sometimes you forget that you're watching two people, rather than one. They seamlessly complete each other's sentences and display impeccable timing. I've never seem them live, but I hope that someday I'll have a chance to catch a show and meet them in person.
Check these comics out at YouTube when you have a chance. You'll be in store for hours of free stand-up comedy for your entertainment!
