Top 10 Stand-Up Comedians

BenFranks · 2010-06-01T17:22:35Z

Stand-up Comedy just so happens to be one of the most successful toured show businesses of all time and is carefully taking over our prime time TV, setting new levels for political correctness and those "naughty laughs". So here's a run down of My Top Ten . Peter Kay #1 A life dedicated to comedy. Not because he knew he was good at it, not because it was his life ambition, oh no. Peter Kay did it for the laughs, for the fun and because he whole-heartedly loved comedy. He doesn't need to be rude or incredibly clever, he just adresses the issues in life that we face everyday down to a biscuit falling into your brew. The funniest, not of a year or month, but of all time. Michael McIntyre #2 Took 2009 by storm, making the entire UK fall in love with him and then rocketing into a huge tour, he is literally one of the cleverest alternative comedy stand-ups the world has ever seen and he's got the bouncy hair to go with it. Jack Dee #3 The British treasure. A grumpy, moany comedian and we all love him to bits for it. He literally represents everything British people laugh about: Moaning about bloody everything! He's the only person in the world that can get laughs from door squeaks and constant glumness. Hats off to this legend, he's been in the business over 20 years. Frankie Boyle #4 He's known as the "Dark Horse" of comedy. He is probably one of the rudest people on the planet and he's Scottish, but thanks to his pure genius craft on the hit British series, Mock the Week , he has caused everyone in the UK to fall in love with him and if the above three legends didn't exist, he'd be number one. Marcus Brigstocke #5 No-one beats Marcus Brigstocke's accents and the way he crafts his jokes, generally based on the changing societies of Britain. His radio shows are hugely popular and so is he. He's one of those comedians that you could watch again and again simple because of the way he says "Whambar". What a legend. Reginald D. Hunter #6 A, well erm, American treasure I guess, but he made the right move when he came over to the UK and stunned the population with his quick wit and, unusually, very British jokes on topical issues. He quickly rose to a large level of fame in the UK and his stand-up is widely watched by many people today. A legend of British Comedy. Jimmy Carr #7 Some say that he's the best one-liner in the whole comedy circuit, but he's in hot competition with comical geniuses such as Milton Jones. However, Jimmy has an edge, his hosting on many channel 4 comedy panel shows and the willingness to cross the line in his jokes, he is definitely one of the funniest men on the plant. Robin Williams #8 Another American now, with not-so British comedy. Yet it is still clever and beautifully carried out. Most notably is his performance where he anecdotes how a Scotsman invents the game of Golf and his alcoholic role playing with a buggingly bad Scottish accent results in pure comical genius. Not to mention his brilliant acting in the Box Office hit, Mrs. Doubtfire . Shaapi Khasandi #9 A comedian who bares a lot of resemblance to Omad Djalili's comedy routine, with a funny take on how Iran fairs in comparison with Britain and some light hearted racism jokes at her own expense. However, thanks to her clever pitching of jokes and innocence on stage, she has made her own style of comedy proving to be the best stand-up female in the British comedy circuit today. Lee Evans #10 He's been regarded as the "Best Comedian" in 2009, but he only reaches number ten in my list. Although it's still quite a prestigous position achieved by his act on stage which takes observational comedy and slapstick to a whole new level, he seems very rushed through his act and the tipping performance of his career was definitely his sell-out tour at the O2. But is the height of his career behind him now?

Sureal

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Tue Jul 06, 2010 12:50 pm

Sureal says... · Tue Jul 06, 2010 12:50 pm

No Dara O'Briain!? What is wrong with you, man?

Also, I'm not a big fan of Marcus Brigstocke's stand up. Waaaay too preachy for me. His Live at the Apollo version of his material was funnier, because he cut out all the preachy rubbish, and just stuck with his best jokes.

Not that fond of Frankie Boyle's stand-up, either. Love him on Mock the Week, but his stand-up material is just a re-hash of his MtW jokes, and it doesn't have any flow or rhythm to it.

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Bloo

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Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:31 am

Bloo says... · Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:31 am

irishfire wrote:Ben...why do I not see Dane Cook up there?! D:

I just feel obligated to para phrase Andy Kindler right now

One of his more notable criticisms was that of Dane Cook where he compared the comedian's rise to that of Adolf Hitler's. He then went on to say that Cook was worse than Hitler, because at least Hitler had a point of view

That routine always makes me laugh.

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BenFranks

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Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:19 pm

BenFranks says... · Sat Jul 10, 2010 10:19 pm

Not that fond of Frankie Boyle's stand-up, either. Love him on Mock the Week, but his stand-up material is just a re-hash of his MtW jokes, and it doesn't have any flow or rhythm to it.

You mean Mock the Week is a re-hash of his stand-up?

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ArcticMonkey

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Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:00 pm

ArcticMonkey says... · Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:00 pm

I agree with most of your choices. Peter Kay is an amazing comedian, made me laugh my head off. Frankie Boyle is funny, but his jokes are a bit harsh sometimes. They told him to tune his jokes down because they were so bad, and he refused too. They kept him on Mock the Week becasue he is just too darn funny. Two comedians that would be on my list that you haven't mentioned are Omid Djalilly (sorry about the spelling) and Russel Peters. I love them!

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BenFranks

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Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:38 am

BenFranks says... · Wed Aug 25, 2010 10:38 am

Omad Djallili's stuff is so repetitive though. I haven't seen a single act that is different from his regular routine and he's gone into acting now anyway so whether or not we'll ever see some original ideas I don't know.

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TheMadHatter

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Thu Aug 26, 2010 2:53 pm

TheMadHatter says... · Thu Aug 26, 2010 2:53 pm

DARA O'BRIEN!!!

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TheMadHatter

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Thu Aug 26, 2010 2:54 pm

TheMadHatter says... · Thu Aug 26, 2010 2:54 pm

Oh, and Russel Howard of course.

'The name's Salmon, like the fish. First name, Suzie.'

'Don't make people into heroes, John, they don't exist and if they did I wouldn't be one of them.'

'Curiouser and curiouser said Alice'

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Lava

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Sat Aug 28, 2010 3:41 pm

Lava says... · Sat Aug 28, 2010 3:41 pm

:O

The only one I've seen is Russel Peters who is good.

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Ruth

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Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:39 pm

Ruth says... · Sat Aug 28, 2010 9:39 pm

My absolute favourite is Michael McIntyre, and many others on your list are awesome too, but some comedians I love that you haven't mentioned include Hugh Dennis, Russell Howard and, of course, the wonderful Rhod Gilbert. I like Clive Anderson, too, although I wouldn't put him in the Top Ten. And from the regulars in Whose Line is it Anyway, I'm a huge fan of Colin, Ryan, Wayne and Greg. Of course I love Drew Carey as well. (I could go on about this for a while. *shuts up*)

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