Ten Favorite Stand-Up Comics

(My criteria seems to who makes me laugh, charms me, and surprises me the most, with a general aversion to the angry, the overenergized, and the desperate, cackling, watch-me-grin-at-how-funny-I’m-being quality that’s comedy poison to me. I’ve arranged these in alphabetical order, with thanks to Matt Baker for broadening my field of reference.)

 

  • Jimmy Carr

  • Anthony Jeselnik

  • Norm Macdonald

  • Kathleen Madigan

  • Bob Newhart

  • Emo Philips

  • Richard Pryor

  • Brian Simpson

  • Sheng Wang

  • Steven Wright

— February 18, 2023


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