h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's very difficult to pick a best comedian, especially if you haven't been able to see them perform live. TV comedy has to be safer, less ricky and therefore blander than live stand-up.

As a comic myself, my biggest influence is still Bill Hicks. Pant-wettingly funny and an intelligent social commentator. Shame he's dead really.

Three modern UK comics that I think are among the best around are:-
Anthony J Brown - very deadpan, very funny. A unique act.

Ian Cognito - intelligent, taboo-busting. Uncomfortable to listen to, but I pulled stomach muscles last time I heard him from laughing so hard.

Toby Foster - Quick-witted with the audience banter. Possibly the best compere in the country (UK).


Honourable mentions to...

Ken Dodd - not everyone's cup of tea but is a stand-up master. He can do several hours on stage and not lose his audience.

Billy Connolly - he's still got it. Filthy but not offensive. Simply a great comedian.

Johnny Vegas - better known for the ITV monkey ads. If you've seen him live, you'll know what a complete one-off he is. If not, go see him.

Johnny Vegas was good on the first episode of the new series of Shooting Stars a few weeks back.

I'm no comedy expert, but i saw three or four standups in edinburgh. best was by far Boothby Graffoe. absolutely SUBLIME. Adam Bloom and Rich Hall are good too. And Herry Hill is also a favourite of mine

My votes goes to Bill Bailey, Tommy Tiernan and Omad Djalili. Funny funny.

I'll pretty much second Geoffs suggestions really and one or two of my own: -

Johnny Vegas
Ian Cognito
Robin Ince
Anthony J Brown
Gary Delaney

Bill Bailey - Genius seen him live twice brilliant.
Harry Hill is brilliant.
I also like Rich Hall and Otis Lee Crenshaw

Billy Connolly. Even makes his world tours (of Scotland and Australia) that little bit special.

Hurry up with the one of Tibet Big Yin, you did say you were working on it last time we meet.

I saw George Carlin at the Paramount in Austin.
I'd been listening to his albums for years and seen specials on HBO, but I laughed so hard that night, I had stomach cramps for days.

My eleven year old is listening to an ancient Bill Cosby album every night when she goes to bed. 'To Russel, My Brother, Whom I Slept With' stands the test of time. As a storyteller, Cosby held his own for years.

HBO still runs a Bill Cosby stand-up routine (delivered from a seated position) that had to have been filmed 25 years ago and it's still hilarious. I've also seen footage of George Carlin doing stand-up on the Ed Sullivan show from the 1970s. The man was riotously funny even then.

It's unfortunate that us Yanks don't get the opportunity to see most of the British comedians named in this conversation. We might not understand some of the idiom or the topical humor, but I'd love to try. Do you Brits "get" (i.e. understand) American stand-up humor? I'm curious.

Oooooo!

Do we "get" American humour? US TV comedy is really popular over here. We've been flooded for years with Seinfeld, Fasier, Friends, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Cheers and the mighty Simpsons. Not to mention South Park, King of the Hill and the new thing called Scrubs.

I haven't seen many US stand up comics. Those that I have seen have been a bit like Brit comics. Some good, some bad, and a few who are inspired. I loved the late great Bill Hicks, but Chris Rock could be hit by a meteor and I wouldn't miss him. Stephen Wright is fantastic, as was Emo Phillips when I saw him years ago. Jay Leno sucks.

I saw a new act last year, who was an American girl. She was in Manchester, UK and started her set by ridiculing the local accent. Needless to say she died rather spectacularly. Still, she had a nice bum.

Was that at our place Geoff? If so I think I know who you mean.

s off to find the relevent review *

Actually it was the Buzz. Might have been the same girl though... Japanese or Korean ethnicity, bleach blond hair. Ring a bell?

No. I was thinking of Lyn Rosenthal.

[Unsuitable link removed by Moderator]

Obviously there is a spate of forgetfulness affecting everyone here, because no-one's even mentioned the funniest man ever - the late great Peter Cook...

Modern British comedians owe a lot to this man - & he certainly never worried about being "bland" or "safe" just because his stuff was broadcast... Derek & Clive proved that!
http://www.stabbers.org/

Personally, I think Eddie Izzard's the funniest stand-up around today.

I'm doing well with the moderators today! One posting and one link removed. Got to try for a hat-trick!

Only joking. For anyone that is interested, it is the first review I did for the XS Malarkey comedy club. I presume the link was pulled because there is some bad language in the review or sumthink. You have been warned!

to the mods, soz about that. I forgot.

Eddie Izzard is the greatest by far.

Not in my book, he ain't.

The mighty Izzard just doesn't make me laugh. It just shows how subjective comedy can be.

I would only be able to judge people I have seen live and so far I think Jay Mhor(sp?) put on one of the best shows....this other comedian would be near the top of my list but his name is not any where to be found in my head (I am so bad with names)...though the funniest part of the show was when he made a comment about being in NC recently and he asked if anyone was from there...I happened to be there with some other (at that time) service members who all happened to be stationed in NC.but we where in NYC at the time...well we all raised our hands and he looked at us and said "oh...not going to say anything bad about NC those guys are way to big...so I was in this state recently and it was really really boring"....It made me laugh so hard

()

Anyone who has a chance to see Ross Noble...GO!!! The guy is amazing!!

Milton Jones is another little known stand-up guy and his jokes are so bad that he will have you rolling with laughter.(The worlds most dangerous insect - The hepititus bee. My aunties been ill for so long we have re-named he I can't believe she's not better)

Although the best I have ever seen was Stephen Wright, he is an absolute genius and it goes to show that when I saw him live the audience itself was a who's who of UK comedy.