Carlin's run in the 90's and 2000's was his strongest work. Easily. The art of his comedic delivery, phrasing, elocution and power of his ideas were light years ahead of everybody else. I know that Old Testament prophet bleakness could turn people off, but I thought he was incredible in the final two decades, particularly.
The fact that I read five pages of Louis CK Aziz Ansari Patton Oswalt without seeing ONE of you say Rodney Muhf***ing Dangerfield makes me physically ill and worried for the future of comedy. I don't have faith in anything anymore. 1. George Carlin 2. Richard Pryor 3. Rodney Muhf***ing Dangerfield 4. Chris Rock 5. Mitch Hedburg
Not that others should be punished for it, but I love that Regan can put together a good bit without going blue or doing corny ass family stuff. ("Wanna get a pie?") Only caught Richard Jeni's specials 3 or 4 years ago, before then kind of instinctively lumped him in with everyone else, but his work was solid enough that he could have been a Robert Kline, Dom Irrera or David Brenner type who just worked forever. Was genuinely shocked and saddened by his suicide. Young, young, early, pre-fame Dane Cook, like on the Attel tour, was pretty amusing. ("Gay roommate: ess-ess-esss-essssss!!") Bill Burr's enitre personality: the kind of bewildered cynicism, and the high voice, are just fun to watch. And from the "Blue Collar" genre, pretty big fan of Ron White.
You ever see that jackass's movies? Tastes change after 25 years. "Hey everybody! I gotta tell ya, I mean, you know, it's crazy!"
Without a doubt Chris Rock and Russell Peters. The latter is coming to my school next week I'm excited to see his routine!
So many good ones named. Carlin, Gaffigan, Pryor, Kinison, Robin Williams, Steven Wright are all on my list. Here's a new up and coming guy - John Caparulo. His bit on road rage had me rolling because it's exactly what I do when road rage hits me. <iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G-8f_kqmwmU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
He doesn't do stand-up that often, but Dana Gould always cracks me up <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/R-mUh4MOuvk" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe> Daniel Tosh is pretty funny <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3l3z5EAykVE" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe> But no one has made my sides hurt from laughing like Louis CK. Saw him live in 2010 and seriously had to leave the theater I was laughing so hard. Language VERY NSFW <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/95fNgx8aCS8" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>
I don't even know what to say about this. Calling Rodney Dangerfield a jackass, when he was easily one of the kindest, most generous, and most talented comedians to ever work, reflects pretty poorly on you and your changing tastes. And it's not about movies, it's about being a comedian. In Rodney's case, it's about being a legend. He has a suit on display at the Smithsonian. They obviously aren't worried about tastes changing with time. None of the people you listed will ever get anywhere close to Rodney's level of success, fame, or adoration. Rodney still gets no respect.
Some mentioned, some not... Sam Kinison George Carlin Eddie Izzard Ricky Gervais Richard Pryor Steven Wright Bill Hicks Lewis Black Louis CK
Thank you! Especially if you're a history buff, Izzard is hilarious. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6omQ5JjjLsE" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe>
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Not my all time stand up comic, but one of my favorite routines ... <iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/piPyfqAKf6o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Saw the Comedy Central special they aired Friday Night "Give it up for Greg Giraldo" Very sad, he was mostly known for his insults at roasts, but he was a former Harvard Lawyer turned comic and he always had fresh material that was consistently hilarious.
