OT: Your All-Time Favorite Stand-Up
I was looking through some threads and I noticed than rentz has a signature quoting the late great stand-up comedian Mitch Hedberg and thought that with the world in peril right now, what with Hurricane Ike, the bail out of AIG, and Jamey Wright, that stand-up comedy might serve as a good distraction.
Then as I started looking through more threads, my opinion was strengthened when I saw that Brian Thomas has a picture of the late Rodney Dangerfield as his profile image, RCCook has the cover of the late Bill Hicks’s Arizona Bay Album, and thedirkatron has uploaded what’s obviously a 15-year-old mug shot of Carrot Top.
So, here’s my pitch for LSB immortality: Who’s your favorite stand-up comedian of All-Time? And unless you’re a big Dane Cook fan, feel free to leave any links you can find for them that you'd like to the board to see.
Although Bill Hicks (hard to believe he was so prolific in his much-too-short 32 years on this earth), Woody Allen and Rodney Dangerfield are among my favorites, I thought I’d lead it off with an obscure comedian in the form of the late Drake Sather. Sather definitely wasn’t a household name as a stand-up, but you might be more familiar with some of his writing. He wrote for “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Saturday Night Live,” “The Naked Truth,” “The Dennis Miller Show” (Not the same as “Dennis Miller Live”), and co-wrote (along with Ben Stiller and John Hamburg) the cult comedy classic “Zoolander.”
I remember watching Sather on television as part of “The 13th Annual Young Comedians Special” and thought he was brilliant. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like he appeared that many more times on screen; besides a couple of appearances on Newsradio as a lawyer of Mr. James’s (Stephen Root), it looks like the only other times he could be seen on TV was a few episodes of Late Night With David Letterman in the late 1980s.
But on the bright side, somebody uploaded some of Sather’s work on YouTube. And if you take a look at it, tell me whether you think, the big hair aside, that he looks a whole lot like Michael Young (okay, maybe just a little):
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Can't go with just one...
1) Carlin
2) Pryor
3) Attell
4) Hicks
5) Chapelle
There are so many great stand-ups out there though.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Sep 20, 2008 7:08 PM CDT 0 recs
Brian Dunkelman
Enough said. Close the thread…you can’t top him.
by tlt29 on Sep 20, 2008 7:14 PM CDT 0 recs
He was just on
Stern, judging a contest called “The Biggest Loser” with Pete Best.
by brettgardner on
Sep 20, 2008 7:24 PM CDT
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Brian Dunkleman...
Funny stuff:
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=32931489
Republican or Democrat? You mean I have to pick just one? But what if I love violence AND hate liberty?
by YourNameHere on
Sep 20, 2008 8:47 PM CDT
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That clip
Pretty funny, the part about cod is definitely true.
by groundingout on
Sep 20, 2008 9:20 PM CDT
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Cosby
"Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states" - Barack Obama
by DaheelzCM on Sep 20, 2008 7:20 PM CDT 0 recs
Carlin.
Game set match.
Did Ben survive the hurricane?
by Chase Irwin on Sep 20, 2008 7:23 PM CDT 0 recs
Russel Peters
and it’s not even close to me.
Although, the only people who probably won’t get his jokes is white Americans…
"Popularity is fleeting. Principles are forever."
"Maybe congress should take more vacations, whenever these people leave town, things just seem to get better..." - Jay Leno
by Longhorn on Sep 20, 2008 7:40 PM CDT 0 recs
Cosby
Other comedians make me laugh harder in short bursts, but no one has a volume of work that is more consistently enjoyable, even in audio-only formats as a lot of is. Even more impressive when you consider a lot of his great albums are over 40 years old.
by jthig32 on Sep 20, 2008 8:01 PM CDT 0 recs
Why is there air?
"Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states" - Barack Obama
by DaheelzCM on
Sep 20, 2008 8:02 PM CDT
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Carlin
Dark, funny, satirical, greatness. But I’ve seen too many great routines to even remember them all, from many different styled comics.
Don't you know it's gonna be alright?
by t ball on Sep 20, 2008 8:37 PM CDT 0 recs
Gaffigan
Got some tickets to see him in November.
by Excel Hearts Choi on Sep 20, 2008 8:53 PM CDT 0 recs
I agree with this guy
Good job liking the stuff I like.
by hiafex on
Sep 20, 2008 10:54 PM CDT
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Dmitri Martin
Followed by the Amazing Jonathan.
by Apes and Androids on Sep 20, 2008 9:28 PM CDT 0 recs
Demetri Martin...
Brilliant stand-up:
“… some authors write in first person, and others write in third person, I’m writing my book in fifth person. So every sentence starts with, ‘I heard from this guy who told somebody.’ It’s gonna be a long book.”
Republican or Democrat? You mean I have to pick just one? But what if I love violence AND hate liberty?
by YourNameHere on
Sep 20, 2008 11:22 PM CDT
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My friend is really in to similes
He uses similes all the time.
He’s like…annoying.
Last week I took a pleasure trip. I drove my wife to the airport.
by Brian Thomas on
Sep 22, 2008 8:34 AM CDT
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Amazing Jonathan!
Didn’t know he did stand-up, but his Vegas act is always a couple of hours well-spent.
Don’t buy the VIP seats unless you want to be his stooge for the show.
But I was a pretty good stooge.
Smile when you call me Beat Weed!
by Clueless on
Sep 22, 2008 8:35 PM CDT
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Eddie Murphy.
Followed by Denis Leary.
"One man, five scoops." -- shroomer
by ghtd36 on Sep 20, 2008 9:35 PM CDT 0 recs
I would agree on Leary
except he stole most of his routine from Bill Hicks
by Taylor on
Sep 21, 2008 12:36 PM CDT
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It may be generational....
"Congrats Rangers fans, you just found your replacement for Mark Teixeira. Just a crazy, crazy steal." -Goldstein
by Plum on Sep 20, 2008 10:28 PM CDT 0 recs
Oops
Either Dave Chapelle “Killin’ em Softly”
or
D.L. Hughley “Unapologetic”
"Congrats Rangers fans, you just found your replacement for Mark Teixeira. Just a crazy, crazy steal." -Goldstein
by Plum on
Sep 20, 2008 10:29 PM CDT
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There are so many great ones
For me, I can’t really pick one since the greats have their own great jokes. Here are some that I love:
Murphy
Pryor
Hedberg
Chappelle
Gaffigan
Seinfeld
Carlin
Luis C.K.
Demetri Martin
wow, that is just some of the few off the top of my head.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg1 on Sep 20, 2008 11:33 PM CDT 0 recs
I haven't heard of a lot of these
In no particular order…George Carlin, Mitch Hedberg, Daniel Tosh, Nick Swardson, Dane Cook (but I don’t really care for his movies) and Stephen Lynch.
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc
by baseballismyboyfriend on Sep 20, 2008 11:42 PM CDT 0 recs
Your post reminded me to say this
Dane Cook is hands down one of the worst comedians I have seen.
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg1 on
Sep 20, 2008 11:58 PM CDT
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I disagree
He cracks me up constantly.
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc
by baseballismyboyfriend on
Sep 21, 2008 12:06 AM CDT
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he's just a flat out lousy comedian who steals his only good jokes
and from what I understand, a complete asshole
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg1 on
Sep 21, 2008 12:07 AM CDT
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Eh...I don't care
He still makes me laugh. That’s all that matters in my book.
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc
by baseballismyboyfriend on
Sep 21, 2008 12:09 AM CDT
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you know he's a Red Sox fan too, right?
:D
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg1 on
Sep 21, 2008 12:12 AM CDT
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Eh...I can forgive that too
My favorite actor is a Dodgers fan
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc
by baseballismyboyfriend on
Sep 21, 2008 12:20 AM CDT
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Ouch!!!
This is why it’s so hard to be a guy! So typical! You find a girl who loves baseball as much as you and then she turns out to be a Dane Cook fan. I mean I can deal with over-the-top nagging, shopping addictions, or an extremely prominent Adam’s Apple. But a Dane Cook enthusiast? That’s just too much.
Republican or Democrat? You mean I have to pick just one? But what if I love violence AND hate liberty?
by YourNameHere on
Sep 21, 2008 1:43 AM CDT
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I'm sorry
Were we involved?
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc
by baseballismyboyfriend on
Sep 21, 2008 2:12 AM CDT
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No...
It was all a joke. Apparently not a good one either.
Republican or Democrat? You mean I have to pick just one? But what if I love violence AND hate liberty?
by YourNameHere on
Sep 21, 2008 2:26 AM CDT
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Ha ha
No, I got the joke. I was trying to counter with some sarcasm or something or other. I failed.
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc
by baseballismyboyfriend on
Sep 21, 2008 2:38 AM CDT
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Not your fault...
I’m just as bad at reading women in real life as I am on message boards.
Republican or Democrat? You mean I have to pick just one? But what if I love violence AND hate liberty?
by YourNameHere on
Sep 21, 2008 3:19 AM CDT
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OK...NOW you guys are in a relationship.
Smile when you call me Beat Weed!
by Clueless on
Sep 22, 2008 8:36 PM CDT
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Well, I definitely fall into one of those categories
-- Micah
Baseball Is My Boyfriend
"Football is like having a fling once a week. Baseball is a relationship." - oc
by baseballismyboyfriend on
Sep 21, 2008 12:26 AM CDT
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Dane Cook
To all the Dane Cook haters out there- watch Mr. Brooks. Every time I think about how much I can’t stand the guy, I just think back to Mr. Brooks, and all is well…
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
by RCCook on
Sep 21, 2008 9:15 AM CDT
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Mr. Brooks
That’s the Costner film, BTW, in case anyone wasn’t clear.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
by RCCook on
Sep 21, 2008 9:16 AM CDT
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costner and dane cook
in the same movie? i can’t think of anything worse
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on
Sep 21, 2008 9:21 AM CDT
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its a good and creepy movie
but Dane Cook is still a joke thief, a lousy comedian, and an asshole
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg1 on
Sep 21, 2008 10:29 AM CDT
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+1
i decided the reason hes good in that movie
is because he didnt have to act, he just had to be himself.
"I don’t know of a single thing Obama’s done except talk and write." - Newt Gingrich
by knockoutking on
Sep 21, 2008 11:47 AM CDT
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I didn't hate him...
in Dan in Real Life.
Him having some redemption as an actor doesn’t excuse the fact that he’s a sub Carlos Mencia level comedian.
by venturafearsnolan on
Sep 21, 2008 11:26 AM CDT
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I agree
I really liked “Dan in Real Life” and even though I absolutely loathe Dane Cook, he really wasn’t bad in it. I almost lost it when he started singing the Ruthie Pigface Draper song, because I felt like he was reverting back to himself, but other than that slight moment, he wasn’t bad in it.
by Melmart1 on
Sep 21, 2008 3:08 PM CDT
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Dane Cook
Completely ruined Leno the other night for me. I had seen earlier in the day that they had Kristen Bell and him scheduled as the guests, and I was kinda excited, because Kristen Bell is my #2 or 3 (depending upon the day). And guess which one they had on first, and consequently spent more time with.
Just guess.
"M’s fans are such weenies." - Zywica
by lonestarJon on
Sep 21, 2008 5:29 AM CDT
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Leno ruins Leno.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on
Sep 21, 2008 9:48 AM CDT
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NIce list...
Daniel Tosh is greatness.
And yes, I also like Dane’s stand-up.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on
Sep 21, 2008 9:54 AM CDT
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Surprisingly I enjoyed the Ellen DeGeneres stand-up. Pretty funny stuff.
Personal favorites)
Hedberg, Gaffigan, Demetri Martin, Cosby
by BombDiggity on Sep 21, 2008 12:21 AM CDT 0 recs
Carlin
I enjoy others, but no one else comes close
by venturafearsnolan on Sep 21, 2008 12:26 AM CDT 0 recs
Well I only own two standup DVD's and I love them both very much so I'll say those are my favorite acts:
Eddie Izzard “Dressed to Kill” and Chris Rock “Bigger and Blacker”.
Those two are really awesome, but there are countless other incredible comedians/standup sets out there.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on Sep 21, 2008 1:42 AM CDT 0 recs
Bigger and Blacker...
Was that the one that has the bit about how there are no strippers in college? Also, thedirkatron, did you catch why I wrote the Fanpost?
Republican or Democrat? You mean I have to pick just one? But what if I love violence AND hate liberty?
by YourNameHere on
Sep 21, 2008 1:50 AM CDT
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Yah I caught it, I always love being name checked in fanposts
even if you did have to go and semi-ruin it by erroneously likening my appearance to that of a creepy ginger ;)
Oh, and I just noticed you bolded it now. It probably deserved to be bolded. It was a pretty nice burn. It made me chuckle.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on
Sep 21, 2008 3:51 AM CDT
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I wish Izzard would do more comedy
He’s a tremendous actor, sure, but I really thought he had a chance to be one of the all-time great standups.
by venturafearsnolan on
Sep 21, 2008 11:28 AM CDT
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I confess, I don't really watch much stand-up
I’m usually too busy watching sci-fi shows or lame karate movies (which I usually find just as amusing). But the most memorable stand-up comic I’ve seen so far is Mitch Hedberg. Another guy that cracks me up would be Robin Williams – and for whatever it’s worth, I’m a big fan of the old “Becker” shows with Ted Danson (those have to be his best work).
"M’s fans are such weenies." - Zywica
by lonestarJon on Sep 21, 2008 5:35 AM CDT 0 recs
Wait you really watch Becker?
Wowsers. I’ve never known anyone who was down with Becker. I can’t think of that show without laughing hysterically cause of this. Leopold Scotch is pretty greatness.
The 40 Trumps All!!!
by thedirkatron on
Sep 21, 2008 6:01 AM CDT
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My Dad likes Becker
"Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states" - Barack Obama
by DaheelzCM on
Sep 21, 2008 7:40 AM CDT
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Danson's best work
Have you not ever seen Cheers or Damages?
"Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states" - Barack Obama
by DaheelzCM on
Sep 21, 2008 7:41 AM CDT
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Damages
Ted Danson was just fantastic on that show. He actually made you feel some sympathy for a corporate asshole who’d stolen everything from his employees.
I can’t wait for season two, though The Shield (another of my favorites) and Sons of Anarchy are holding me over pretty well until Damages comes back.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
by RCCook on
Sep 21, 2008 9:19 AM CDT
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sons of anarchy
i was iffy on that show until last weeks episode now its getting good.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on
Sep 21, 2008 9:21 AM CDT
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SOA
I watched the first 2 episodes and that was enough for me.
"Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states" - Barack Obama
by DaheelzCM on
Sep 21, 2008 9:45 AM CDT
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i was almost out after episode 2. but figured i’d give it 1 more and ep. 3 was improved.
still isnt on the level of the other fx series though.
one show im just about out on is true blood.
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on
Sep 21, 2008 9:53 AM CDT
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What?
Ya’ gotta like it just for the originality.
"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
by Rodney on
Sep 21, 2008 10:35 AM CDT
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true blood
i find the acting to be kinda bad.
then again i never liked six feet under
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on
Sep 21, 2008 10:50 AM CDT
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True Blood...
I agree, the acting sucks nuts.
"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."
by benmor78 on
Sep 26, 2008 4:39 PM CDT
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The Shield
I can’t believe that this is its last season. I’m going to need to find a new awesome cop show to watch
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg1 on
Sep 21, 2008 10:30 AM CDT
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the sopranos?
the wire?
prison break? (season 1 is fucking amazing)
"I don’t know of a single thing Obama’s done except talk and write." - Newt Gingrich
by knockoutking on
Sep 21, 2008 11:48 AM CDT
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prison break
sucks after season 1. never got into the sopranos, and haven’t seen the Wire ever
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg1 on
Sep 23, 2008 4:23 PM CDT
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Wire good
prison break i agree
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on
Sep 23, 2008 7:44 PM CDT
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Sam Kenison
“Cant the camerman give him a sandwich” Classic
If someone starts a thread on all time worst stand up let me get the ball rolling. Bill Maher. Even before he went all poltics all the time, he was just a spectaculary unfunny person
by BEW on Sep 21, 2008 6:00 AM CDT 0 recs
Definitely one of the greats
Sam is definitely one of my favorites too. I don’t know how I forgot him (I even saw Back to School yesterday).
By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw
by Gdawg1 on
Sep 21, 2008 8:49 AM CDT
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You're right on Kinison...
wrong on Maher.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on
Sep 21, 2008 9:51 AM CDT
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comedians
carlin is #1 for me.
then its all the rest:
hedberg
steven wright
dave attel
and more i probably cant think of right now.
also, while he was a little before my time and im not as familiar with him as i am carlin i’m surprised no one has said lenny bruce
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg
by rentz on Sep 21, 2008 8:38 AM CDT 0 recs
2 comedy specials that made me laugh hard
Chris Rock – Bigger, Blacker, Better
Kevin James (I know…usually – not that funny) – some special he had on Comedy Central years ago because he was famous
Obviously, many of the names above are much more famous (and funny), but I thought I’d mention these two specials in particular.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on Sep 21, 2008 8:39 AM CDT 0 recs
Comedians
Not surprisingly, Bill Hicks is my favorite.
Others I like a lot: Carlin, Pryor, Cosby, David Cross, Eddie Murphy, Chappelle, Chris Rock, Robin Harris, Mitch Hedberg, Steven Wright, Zach Galifanakis, Rick Reynolds, Lewis Black, Steve Byrne, and Bob Saget.
"I dont care to debate with a troll." - Sharky
by RCCook on Sep 21, 2008 9:32 AM CDT 0 recs
Hicks
Met him in high school, at that comedy club in Addison.
I remember being paralyzed with laughter that night, but his stuff has not aged well.
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on
Sep 22, 2008 9:09 AM CDT
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