Standup Comics to Get You Through Finals
When it’s finals week, the last thing you want to do is study. Doesn’t matter if it’s the holiday season, the beginning of summer, or the end of a summer-school session. Sometimes, prepping for a test takes a back seat to mental health. When you need a break, check out these comedians and have a few laughs before getting back to the books. (Just a heads-up: Much of the audio below is dorm-appropriate but not safe for work. You’ve been warned.)
1. Patton Oswalt
One of the more popular comics working today, Patton Oswalt has spent his career releasing albums and also appearing in everything from “The King of Queens” to Ratatouille. His observational humor focuses on the quirks of geekdom and the trials of slowly embracing adulthood.
2. Jim Gaffigan
Jim Gaffigan’s material revels in getting the meat off the bone with every topic. His epic examination of Hot Pockets, that college-age staple, is hilarious.
3. Mike Birbiglia
4. Maria Bamford
5. Zach Galifianakis
6. Louis C.K.
7. Kevin James
8. Rob Delaney
9. Mitch Hedberg
10. Lewis Black
Mike Birbiglia’s recent stand-up specials have been built around longer stories from his personal life, and he also wrote and performed a one-man show, Sleepwalk With me, on Broadway.
Maria Bamford is probably best known for her phenomenal voice control and the ability to create multiple personas in her act. She’s got a variety of albums and specials to choose from, but “The Maria Bamford Show” is a great introduction to her style and subject matter.
Zach Galifianakis has been coming up in the comedy world for years before his high-profile appearance in The Hangover. His comedy leans more toward experimental and surreal riffs on his own life, and it’s amazing. He’s also done a web series called “Between Two Ferns,” a mock TV show, for FunnyorDie.
Louis C.K.’s self-directed riffs on his own life and family are outrageous and hilarious, as are his takes on everything from fast food to the spoils of modern living.
Although best known for “The King of Queens,” which ran on CBS for nine seasons, Kevin James is also an accomplished stand-up with a great collection of bits about the things he can’t stand, from bank lines to elevator etiquette. Funny every time.
Rob Delaney is a younger comic but one who’s gaining traction online. He regularly posts YouTube videos of performances as well as video diary ruminations about current pop culture trends.
Although he died of drug-related causes in 2005, Mitch Hedberg’s comedy is still reaching new people. His style largely consists of dozens of quick one-liners, though he also tells some longer jokes. Endlessly quotable.
Lewis Black yells the way most people breathe: It’s just something he does all day long. His rants on everything from the ubiquity of Starbucks to the foolishness of politicians makes for smart, funny material, and the perfect way to get away from studying.
