Standup comedy is anything but easy. Whether it is a budding comedian or a professional, each stage and audience hold challenges that the comedian has to sense and tackle. Starting from a voluntary open-mic, most successful comedians have made their mark by beginning and mastering the basics.
Most comedians have to struggle from stage to stage for years before they reach a reputable level. Some perish while others are destined for success; let us take a look at some of the best comedians that unfailingly tickle the audience’s funny bone.
- Geoge Carlin
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An accomplished author, social critic, and actor, George Carlin was most famously known for the spell that he put on his audiences with his comedy acts. Setting a new paradigm of hard work, brilliance, and prompt improvisations, the man is rightfully regarded as the Gold standard for comedians.
Excelling in comedy dancing around themes of politics, religion, language, psychology and many less-talked-about topics, he has also been cited as “the dean of counterculture comedians” by a famous newspaper. He did 14 comedy standup specials for HBO and was also a regular act on The Tonight Show. George Carlin was the host of the much acclaimed Saturday Night Live.
- Robin Williams
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This comedian made unparalleled success in various forms of entertainment. He began his career in the mid-70s and took stand-up comedy when his efforts in drama were unfruitful. Though he was celebrated in the film and television industry, Robin Williamsstayed true to his roots. He filmed a number of solo acts and never gave up standup comedy, his prime forte. Williams believed that standup comedy had built and continued to promote the growth of his improvisational skills.
- Louis C.K.
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Louis Szekely began his career as a comedy scriptwriter. He wrote for many renowned comedians like David Letterman, Conan O’ Brien, and Chris Rock. He has been performing live shows as a standup comedian from 1989. He has done many short roles in acclaimed movies too. The comedian slash actor gained most of his popularity by the FX series Louie. Louis C.K. is the first comedian to sell out Madison Square Garden four times in a single month. He reinvented the promotional work that comedians require by cutting off the middleman and selling his work independently.
- Russell Peters
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The Canadian comedian with an off-the-cuff style manages to pull crowds and leave the audience giggling continuously through the show. His style involves storytelling his own childhood experiences mixed and presented with comedy twists. Russell interacts with the audience often, frequently basing his questions on taboo topics like race and sex. Forbes magazine estimated that this Canadian had managed to pull $21 million last year with his shows, which itself is an evidence of the comedian’s popularity.
- Dave Chappelle
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Beginning at an age of 14 years, David Chappelle had realized his comedic capabilities young. Centering most of his work on race and racial division, Chappelle’s blunt descriptions of the modern society often leaves the audience roaring with laughter. After gaining success in the film industry, he continued with his satiric style in standup comedy and refused to dilute his aggressive and outspoken style. This bluntness has gained Chappelle with a dedicated fan base.
- Jerry Seinfeld
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Jerry Seinfeld continues to be the highest paid comedian in the world, and this reputation cannot be gained without dedicated hard work and a remarkable sense of humor . His self-titled show Seinfeld was one among the most successful and profitable TV shows in the world. After forty years in the industry, Seinfeld remains unchallenged in standup. He plays around with topics like infomercials, marriages, observational comedies, smartphones among others. Seinfeld is acclaimed for his flair of turning the triteness of life into comedy.
Comedy remains the toughest type of entertainment, and standup comedy sits at the apex in this industry. Standup comedians are a product of years of hard work and struggle put together with unmatched improvisational skills and talent.
