From Gervais to Cosby, students pick their favorite stand-up comedians and explain why they like them.
In the plethora of stand-up comedians today, there are the good comedians and the not-so-good comedians out there. How do you know who to watch? Here’s El Estoque’s guide to the best comedians in the business, in which rankings were based on the results of the August survey.
[title type=”h2″]5. Ricky Gervais [/title]
How he got started in comedy: Growing up in a working class family in Reading, England, Gervais credits his mother with introducing humor (and atheism) into his life. He first started out as a DJ in Xfm, a London radio station, to have “pointless conversations” with co-hosts Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, who became his partners in later projects such as the “An Idiot Abroad” series, a comedy travel show starring Pilkington.
What he’s best known for: Part of the music group Seona Dancing in the early ‘80s, Gervais is better known today as a British funnyman and one of the creators of the long-running TV show, “The Office” (both the UK and US version). He later wrote shows like “Extras,” “Derek” and “Life’s Too Short” as well as “The Ricky Gervais Show,” one of the most downloaded podcasts on the Internet. In addition to writing for television and movies, Gervais also performs as a stand-up comic such as in his stand-up special “Fame” (2007). His star-power gained new heights in America when he hosted the Golden Globes three times consecutively in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Signature style: Gervais usually employs a sharp and straightforward wit to talk about a wide range of topics including religion, art and the animal kingdom. He also has a signature high pitched laugh.
Freshman Saketh Kurnool
“One, [I like] his accent, which kind of cracks me up, and two, his jokes are more applicable to a more general audience. A few other comedians are kind of vulgar, but I think a wider range of people would like Ricky Gervais’s jokes — like me.”
Ricky Gervais performs as David Brent from “The Office” (UK) in this teaser for his “Equality Street” music video with British comedian and former rapper Doc Brown.
[vsw id=”jNpkzzACsYU” source=”youtube” width=”853″ height=”480″ autoplay=”no”]
[title type=”h2″]4. Louis C.K.[/title]
How he got started in comedy: Listed as the second greatest comedian of all time by IMDb, Louis C.K. first tried stand-up at the age of 17 in Boston. Struggling to find work as a stand-up comedian, he nabbed jobs writing for “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Chris Rock Show” and various other shows and movies like “Pootie Tang” (2001). He didn’t gain prominence as a stand-up comic until he reinvented cynical humor in the half-hour HBO special “One Night Stand” (2005).
What he’s best known for: He released a line of other comedy specials like “Hilarious,” “Oh My God,” “Chewed Up” and “Live at the Beacon Theater,” which made over $1 million in sales in less than two weeks after being released. Although his show “Lucky Louie” (2006) was canceled after 13 episodes, he has recently been nominated for numerous awards, including the Emmys for his show “Louie,” a series loosely based on his life as a struggling comedian in New York City.
Signature style: Besides his red hair and goatee, C.K. uses a cynical sense of humor to talk about the difficulties of parenthood, his hatred for social media, the obstacles of marriage and the liberation that comes with divorce.
Junior Sophia Alejandre
“[I like him] because he doesn’t know boundaries and is very hilarious. He talks about family life and how he’s messed up with it.”
Louis C.K. explains why he doesn’t like social media to “Conan” host Conan O’Brien.
[vsw id=”xSSDeesUUsU” source=”youtube” width=”853″ height=”480″ autoplay=”no”]
[title type=”h2″]3. Jerry Seinfeld[/title]
How he got started in comedy: After developing an interest in comedy while studying at Queens College, Seinfeld attended an amateur tryout in New York’s Catch a Rising Star comedy club, right after college graduation. According to IMDb, he later got his big break when he appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” when he was only 27 years old.
What he’s best known for: When approached by NBC to make a sitcom, Seinfeld and Larry David — a friend, fellow comedian and creator of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” — set out to create “a show about nothing,” as writer George Wallace pitched it. It was also a show about the lives of four friends living in Manhattan. Named after its main character and actor, “Seinfeld” spanned a long-running nine seasons from 1989 to 1998, according to IMDb.
Signature style: Using observational humor, sarcasm and clean comedy, Seinfeld derives much of his comedy from awkward social customs.
Senior Shantanu Phadke
“I feel that Jerry Seinfeld really invented, this type of dark comedy, like … complete randomness. He used to transform stable situations into complete chaos. His ability to twist situations in a quick manner, and very efficient and funny way, is [different].”
Jerry Seinfeld explains the significance of drinking coffee to non-coffee drinker Jay Leno.
[vsw id=”FrQBYwCvGVs” source=”youtube” width=”853″ height=”480″ autoplay=”no”]
[title type=”h2″]2. Chris Rock[/title]
How he got started in comedy: As number ten in IMDb’s “The Best Stand-Up Comedians List,” Chris Rock‘s 12-year career first got started when Eddie Murphy offered him a small role in his movie “Beverly Hills Cop II” (1987). According to The Biography Channel, this role led to his “Saturday Night Live” career from 1990 to 1993.
What he’s best known for: He has made many HBO stand-up specials like “Big Ass Jokes,” “Bring the Pain,” “Bigger and Blacker” and “Kill the Messenger.” His works in film include playing Kurt McKenzie in the “Grown Ups” series and Marty the Zebra in the “Madagascar” movies. He has also created and produced “Everybody Hates Chris,” a TV show based on his childhood.
Signature style: Raised in Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, N.Y., Rock derives most of his comedy from racial tensions and is known for his high-pitched delivery (“Tired of this shit! Tired, tired, tired of this shit!” from Bring the Pain).
Senior Sanika Joshi
“[Chris Rock’s] jokes are different from most comedians. Just the fact that he is black doesn’t make his jokes funny. There are tons of black comedians out there, but the way he tells his jokes just makes it seem real, and that’s what gives me a good laugh, because most comedians out there tell false stories of their life or make something up on the spot. I think that he’s a very genuine comedian and that’s why it makes his jokes more funny.”
Chris Rock explains the difference between what women and men want in his HBO special “Kill the Messenger.”
[vsw id=”bni15_ZoXrc” source=”youtube” width=”853″ height=”480″ autoplay=”no”]
[title type=”h2″]1. Bill Cosby[/title]
How he got started in comedy: After earning an athletic scholarship to Temple University, Cosby bartended to support himself through college. Many customers praised Cosby’s wit and easy going attitude, suggesting that he should try out stand-up comedy. Cosby took their advice and was later discovered by established comedian Carl Reiner, according to IMDb.
What he’s best known for: Cosby is best known for “puddi-ing” and “The Cosby Show,” an eight-seasoned television show revolving around the lives of the Huxtable family. After gaining national exposure from appearing on “The Tonight Show” in 1963, he performed across the nation and won wide acclaim for his stand-up. His acknowledgments include five Platinum records, eight Gold records and five Grammy awards — in addition to four Emmys from his various works on television. He also wrote the bestselling book “Fatherhood.”
Signature style: Born and raised in the Philadelphia projects, he draws much of his comedy from his family life and childhood, including his experience in dropping out of school in the tenth grade.
Freshman Flora Dong
“He’s really funny and he makes appropriate jokes, and he’s a really interesting comedian. [In ‘The Cosby Show’] he was imitating a person doing drugs, and I guess that’s not school-appropriate, but it was really fun thinking about [that act] and how accurate he was and how he was able to portray a don’t-take-drugs [lesson] in a funny way.”
Bill Cosby talks about the first time he wore makeup and why Jimmy Fallon shouldn’t slam his desk when laughing.
[vsw id=”h5hGJt5SuEI” source=”youtube” width=”835″ height=”480″ autoplay=”no”]
