I have no problem with long winded pieces. After all, my favourite comedian is Stewart Lee.

I would be a fibber if I said I had listened to most of his stuff, but he never has me in stitches, which I know is not what he intended.

I can appreciate him though. Very important figure.

I can respect what he accomplished but I just don't find him funny, which is generally the case for me with older comedy. Unfortunately I think it's something that just doesn't age well, probably because so much humor depends on cultural context.

This guy is absolutely hilarious, but this thread should have been named "Dave Chappelle".

Two of my best friends are semi-professional stand-up comics, so I'm certainly made to watch a lot of comedy with them. Some of my favorites are:

Kristen Schaal

She's so bizarre and strangely adorable. I'm aware she's on Flight of the Conchords or something, but I never watched that - so my only knowledge of her is her stand-up and a gem for children (Striking Viking Story Pirates) called Abbey is Sile (pronounced Silly).


I also love Jeremy Hotz, because his character is entertaining to me.


Doug Stanhope is the angriest man alive, and I love him as well.


I also lovelovelove David Cross.


And of course Louis CK is a modern master, Maria Bamford makes me giggle, Mitch Hedberg was the man...lots of others.

George Carlin
Bill Hicks
Lenny Bruce
Richard Pryor
Steven Wright
Emo Philips
Bobcat Goldthwait


to name the ones that come up off the top of my head.

Emo Philllips would be amazing if he didn't recycle so much material over the years. Albeit, if memory serves, there's an hour and a half BBC special he did which pretty much has all his material. All you really need to see, but thoroughly entertaining,

At the moment I'm really enjoying Milton Jones. His style is incredible. He'll always either very shy, or completely oblivious of the audience, speaking as solemnly as a judge.

I don't follow standup comedy very much, but my all time no. 1 is Bill Hicks, followed closely by the late great George Carlin, followed by the lovable goofball the late Mitch Hedberg. Got to see Mitch in San Francisco a month or two before he died. He was very drunk and not as funny as on his tapes, but still glad I got to see him considering...

Bill Hicks is a hero of mine

I would recommend everyone takes an hour or two out of their lives to watch a Stewart Lee show. He is sublime.

He's bloody hilarious! Even funnier than the amazing Stewart Francis.

By the way, why don't you like Peter Kay? I think that he can be really funny at times. And he's from Bolton too!