The Funniest American Stand-Up Comedy


   

The laughDB database is dedicated to the funniest comedy movies, stand-up comedy and TV series.

This section is for stand-up comedy sets from the USA. By default they are presented starting with the ones ranking highest on the laugh-o-meter, but you can also sort them by year, title or IMDB rating.


Funniest American Comedies sorted by Laugh-o-meter (descending) / page 8 of 10


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Bill Hicks: Revelations DVDBill Hicks: Revelations
      1993 | USA | Laughs: 2.5 | imdb: 8.6
      

The other three shows by Bill I had seen thus far had used much of the same material, but the first half of this show had a fair amount of different material, which I appreciated. Bill seemed more relaxed than usual—perhaps because he had already been diagnosed with the cancer that would take him the following year. In the first half, Bill spoke about the US politics of the time (still relevant twenty years later), religion and the Kennedy assassination. In the second half, he reverted to material from his other shows. Two fairly gross moments were included. The pace was sometimes very slow, and I can't say that I laughed, but I chuckled a few times and did enjoy the show for what it is (Bill's sermon, rather than stand-up comedy). Overall, I would rate it Bill's most "mature" show—but not the best for laughs. (Last viewed: January 2013)

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George Carlin: Back in Town DVDGeorge Carlin: Back in Town
      1996 | USA | Laughs: 2.5 (Chuckle) | imdb: 8.7
      wikipedia

On the one hand, I loved the show. I hadn't watched George in a number of years, and I loved rediscovering his fast and sharp wit. On the other hand, I only chuckled a few times and never really laughed. Who knows, perhaps with age I'm just having a harder time cracking a laugh.

One thing that struck me was hearing a couple of jokes that I'd also heard on recent sets by other comedians—twenty years later! This suggests either that George's material has become such an integral part of our culture that we no longer notice when we borrow from it, as with Greek philosophy; or that some comedians are mining his older shows for material. The latter seems like a more reasonable assumption.

The bit about camcorders feels both dated and painfully current. So does the bit about selfish, ignorant leaders. Other themes include abortion, pedophile catholics priests, the sanctity of life, capital punishment, farts, idioms. (Last viewed: September 2018)

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Lewis Black: Red, White and Screwed DVDLewis Black: Red, White and Screwed
      2006 | USA | Laughs: 2.5 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.8
      

This 2006 show has little more than fast-aging, circumstantial material focused on the main preoccupation of the city where it was taped, Washington, D.C.: the two main political parties of the United States. It is slow, it is weak, it is not very funny, except for a laugh or two that fail to redeem the show. Black on Broadway, by the same comedian, is older but much funnier. (Last viewed: January 2012)

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Ryan Hamilton: Happy Face posterRyan Hamilton: Happy Face
      2017 | USA | Laughs: 2.5 (Chuckle) | imdb: 7.2
      

This was the first set of Ryan's that I watched. I didn't laugh, perhaps because I was tired, but I enjoyed it and had nothing to complain about. Ryan belongs to this endangered breed of stand-up comedian who do "clean" humor. I appreciated that, not because I'm a prude (hell, I'm a big fan of Jim Jefferies) but because bathroom and bedroom jokes are usually the refuge of people who aren't clever enough to talk about other things.

I don't mean to imply that this was "intellectual comedy". Nothing was learned. The topics ranged from New Yorkers to hot air balloons. But it was light-hearted, Ryan was likeable and I was entertained. On that particular night, I couldn't have asked for more. (Last viewed: August 2018)

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Jim Gaffigan: King Baby posterJim Gaffigan: King Baby
      2009 | USA | Laughs: 2.3 (Watch Once) | imdb: 7.9
      wikipedia

Perhaps his kids have grown up and it's now fine to have more 'mature' themes (what a strange use of that word), but this show wasn't as clean as I recalled Jim's earlier ones to be. The themes included bowling, laziness, camping, bacon, religion and overeating. To me the set was fairly boring: it felt like Middle America humor—plain and unchallenging. Maybe I'm asking for too much out of stand-up comedy these days. (Last viewed: September 2018)

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Kevin Hart: I'm a Grown Little Man DVDKevin Hart: I'm a Grown Little Man
      2009 | USA | Laughs: 2.2 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.7
      

There's lots to like about Kevin, but apart from a few segments this show barely made me smile. One reason is that I am not interested in some of Kevin's themes (such as his babies). Another reason is that the themes that do interest me have (in my view) been developed far more intricately by other comedians. But comedy has a lot to do with where you are in your life, and you might love this show. One thing I loved was when Kevin acted out various characters—he has uncommon talent for becoming someone else by changing his voice, face and gestures. I liked that the show ended on one of the stronger segments, unlike the many shows that die out like a wet firecracker. (Last viewed: December 2012)

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Kathleen Madigan: Gone Madigan DVDKathleen Madigan: Gone Madigan
      2010 | USA | Laughs: 2.1 | imdb: 7.5
      

I had high hopes for this show as Kathleen had come warmly recommended. The first fifteen minutes were fairly funny, but the show soon crashed into a bog of circumstantial humor, i.e., references to people and events of which you may be aware if you read People Magazine but which will be forgotten as the wheel of current events turns. After that celebrity phase, the show settled into the filmed equivalent of a fireside chat with a half-drunken funny aunt who is pleasant enough to indulge with a nod as you doze off but not quite bright enough to keep you interested. Kathleen has the kind of smile that gives you hope she might be the Caucasian Wanda Sykes, though that hope is never rewarded. When I watch stand-up I want to laugh, and on that critical dimension Kathleen fails to deliver. On the plus side, she has a nice range of voices and accents. If you really want to try one of Kathleen's sets, the earlier In Other Words is twice as funny. (Last viewed: December 2012)

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Eddie Griffin: Voodoo Child DVDEddie Griffin: Voodoo Child
      1997 | USA | Laughs: 2.0 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 8.0
      

This show was my introduction to Eddie Griffin. I found him fairly likeable but not very funny. The strongest aspects were Eddie's ability to switch voices and a cute story about attending school as a stoned teenager. The show started not funny, shifted into the appallingly vulgar after thirty minutes, and ended with a long bit where Eddie rides the wave of a just-average Michael Jackson impersonation—ripping off Michael's genuine talent while deriding him, if you ask me. I won't be seeking out more of Eddie's material, but the audience was wildly enthusiastic, so his humor might just be your thing. (Last viewed: October 2013)

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Saturday Night Live: The Best of Eddie Murphy DVDSaturday Night Live: The Best of Eddie Murphy
      1998 | USA | Laughs: 2.0 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.5
      

I love Eddie Murphy at its best. This is not it. A lot of musical numbers and a few tepid skits. (Last viewed: September 2009)

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George Carlin: 40 Years of Comedy DVDGeorge Carlin: 40 Years of Comedy
      1997 | USA | Laughs: 2.0 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 8.4
      wikipedia

This set starts out with a fifteen-minute retrospective of George's career up to that point, a retrospective that isn't particularly funny. Then there are thirty minutes of stand-up which is not exceptional for George but has good moments and spans such themes as advertising, religion and food marketing. The final thirteen minutes or so is an interview of George by Jon Stewart, the host of the show, who makes him reflect on his craft and art. That was my favorite part because it's a chance to get to know George a bit more intimately, behind the mask of the comedian that he always wears on his HBO specials. (Last viewed: September 2018)

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Jim Gaffigan: Cinco posterJim Gaffigan: Cinco
      2017 | USA | Laughs: 2.0 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.0
      

At the start of the show, Jim quietens the applause by telling the audience their expectations are too high. The rest of the set proves him right. Usually Jim does well with mundane themes, but this time I found his treatment fairly unexciting. The themes included being fat, the seasons, cars, TV series, airports. He does warm up after about 45 minutes and hits a fairly funny three-minute streak. At some point Jim jokes that this might be his last show (one for each of his kids), and in truth I wouldn't be sad if he retired with this respectable body of work to make place for more motivated comedians. (Last viewed: September 2018)

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Michelle Wolf: Nice Lady posterMichelle Wolf: Nice Lady
      2017 | USA | Laughs: 2.0 (Light-Hearted) | imdb: 6.6
      

I'm always interested in trying out a female comedian, if only to experience a degree of diversity in styles and themes. I'd never have thought I could listen to such a shrill voice as Michelle's, but she uses it to great comedic effect. On the production side, I found it strange that there were so many shots of her looking straight into the camera—unusual for stand-up, where most of the time you get the impression that the comedian is looking at someone else in the audience. But Michelle smirks at her own jokes, and that made up for it because it's contagious.

Sadly, most of the show of the bathroom, bedroom and underpants genre, and I already get way too much of that from the male crew. I didn't laugh, but there were some good moments and I did chuckle at the bit where she exchanges text messages with her trainer.

I found Michelle likeable and promising, and I really hope she finds the support and inspiration to deliver something funnier next time. (Last viewed: August 2018)

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The Roseanne Barr Show posterOn Location: The Roseanne Barr Show
      1987 | USA | Laughs: 2.0 (Watch Once) | imdb: 6.4
      

Although it's not terribly funny, this show is an interesting watch because it's the only recorded stand-up special (at least that I could find) of Roseanne Barr who, right or wrong, is an icon of American comedy.

One interesting feature of the set is that at some stage Roseanne walks off the set and into a trailer, which is supposed to be where she lives with her kids and deadbeat husband. The show has a (boring) five-minute prologue in the trailer and an equally long closing section.

On stage Roseanne constantly chews gum for the first three quarters of the show, when she turns to eating junk food, still delivering her lines. I'd seen stand-up comics chug beer, but performing while eating was a new one for me. It's fair to say that Roseanne has a fun, energetic demeanor all of her own.

The themes include fat people, ovulating, reading maps, and a big long rant about men. I smiled and enjoyed this unusual show. (Last viewed: September 2018)

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Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me DVDWanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me
      2009 | USA | Laughs: 2.0 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.7
      

I loved others of Wanda's shows, but this one bored me stiff. The beginning is "circumstantial comedy"—jokes that might have been funny for six weeks shortly after Obama was first elected. Much of the rest of the set relies on low-grade anecdotes from Wanda's life, drawn out far too long. The public seems intoxicated with Wanda, but that's less a measure of the show's quality than of her fans' devotion. (Last viewed: December 2012)

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Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones posterDave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones
      2019 | USA | Laughs: 1.5 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 8.5
      

If you like stand-up comedy sets where the audience laugh wildly at parts of the set-up that weren't even intended to be funny, then this show might be for you.

For me, Dave's stand-up has been going downhill for sometime now. This is not rock-bottom yet (the set probably has three -and-a-half decent bits and isn't particularly crass), but I feel less and less enthusiastic about watching the man's new releases — a shame, as I like him.

If I don't want to be depressed about this state of things, I might just have to wind the clock twenty years and watch Half Baked again tomorrow.

(Last viewed: August 2019)

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(This section: Funniest American Comedies)


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