The 15 Most Under-Appreciated Comedians Working Today9

By Mike Betette, Jul 26, 2010 in Pop Culture, Show News

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The 15 Most Under-Appreciated Comedians Working Today

There are a lot of funny comedians working out there today. I bet you could name 10 of your favorites right now. But what about those hilarious comics you don’t know? You might recognize their faces, and you’ve probably seen them here or there in movies or on TV. They always make you laugh, but you have no idea who the heck they are. It’s hard to get notoriety and respect as a comedian, just ask Rodney Dangerfield, or Dusty the stand-up comedian and star of the popular KoldCast TV comedy series, Assisted Living (although we have a feeling Dusty gets laid a lot more than Rodney ever did). Luckily, we can help those underprivileged comics – we can get the word out that they’re funny! Let’s get you started by introducing 15 comics we feel are worth your time. If your favorite anonymous comedian isn’t on the list, please tell us about her/him in Comments.

Assisted Living, Episode 1: In The Butt

1. Andy Kindler

Andy’s been doing stand-up since the 80’s and has one of the best acts around, with classic bits about tubes of ointment to meta-comedy about his punch lines themselves. You may recognize him from Everybody Loves Raymond as the aptly-named character “Andy” or recently as a judge on Last Comic Standing. Some of his best bits, however, have been when the nerdy Kindler covers sporting events for Late Night with David Letterman. Kindler and Derek Jeter make quite a pair.

2. Matt Berry

Barry is a British comedian with the coolest voice I’ve ever heard. Seriously, it’s hauntingly awesome. His first role was as the hilarious Dr. Lucian Sanchez in the British cult comedy, “Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace,” which re-aired on Adult Swim. Luckily, he’s been making his way to America with bit parts on the Sarah Silverman Show and in the upcoming film, “Angry White Man” with Silverman co-star Steve Agee and Reno 911’s Mary Birdsong.

3. Peter Serafinowicz

Serafinowicz is another very funny Brit who’s been popping up in America lately in shows like the faux science “Look Around You,” on Adult Swim. You’ve probably seen him in Shaun of the Dead as the roommate Pete (apparently good comedians use their own names in movies or TV), but you have most definitely heard him in, “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” as Darth Maul. That’s right, Darth Maul’s a comedian! And with tweets like, “You think asbestos is bad, at least we don’t still have asworstos” and “My favourite female superhero is probably Spiderma’am,” you can get a sense of his brand of comedy.

4. JB Smoove

Smoove is most well known causing a ruckus as Leon, Larry David’s houseguest on Curb Your Enthusiasm, telling Larry to “Get. In. That. Ass.” He’s been making the most of his smaller roles from the cult hit “Pootie Tang” to TV’s ”Till Death.” He was also a cast member on SNL for one season and a writer for five. And most of all, he rivals Chris Rock when it comes to energetic, rhythmic, hilarious stand-up.

5. Andy Daly

You want guaranteed laughs on your movie or TV show? Just call in MAD TV’s Andy Daly. Having come from the Upright Citizens Brigade improv theater in New York, he can handle anything. From the basketball announcer in “Semi-Pro,” to Brad the friendly home-owner on “Reno 911,” to high school teacher Terrence Cutler in “Eastbound and Down,” and even as Ben Franklin on “The Office,” Daly always delivers.

6. Aisha Tyler

I’m gonna come right out and say it: Aisha Tyler is the sexiest, funny women alive. She began as a stand-up comedian, and then her television career took off as one of the better hosts of Talk Soup. She went on to have a reoccurring role on this tiny show called “Friends.” She even filled in for Roger Ebert reviewing movies on “At the Movies with Ebert and Roeper.” How cool is that? At the moment, you can catch her providing the voice of sexy/deadly Lana Kane on FX’s animated show Archer, but somebody really needs to get this woman back in front of the camera. Immediately!

7. Michael Hitchcock

If you’ve ever seen a Christopher Guest movie, you’ve seen Michael Hitchcock – most notably as the councilman obsessed with Corky St. Clair in “Waiting for Guffman” and as Hamilton Swan, Parkey Posey’s uber-yuppie husband in “Best in Show.” Behind the scenes he was a writer and co-executive producer on “MadTV” for eight years and has crushed his bit parts like Bolus Lugozshe on “Party Down” and as Ira Gilligan on “Arrested Development.”

8. Jessica Walter

Move over Betty White, you’re not the only older, funny woman in the world! Presenting, Lucille Bluth, the mom on “Arrested Development.” Need I say more? Okay, how about the fact that she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in “Play Misty for Me” alongside Clint Eastwood and an Emmy for Amy Prentiss (all before 1976). Not too many comedians can say that. (Maybe she’s out to win herself an EGOT?)

9. David Pasquesi

No, he’s not Adrien Brody. He’s the other guy that looks exactly like him but is a LOT funnier. Pasquesi has had bit parts in everything from “Groundhog’s Day” to “Year One,” however, there are two reasons he belongs on this list. One: His hilarious role as Stew the meat man, the crazy step-dad in “Strangers with Candy,” where he definitely holds his own against Stephen Colbert. Two: His live improv show “TJ & Dave” at Chicago’s iO theater. It’s one of the best improv shows in the world, guaranteed. They even made a documentary of the show, “Trust Us, This is All Made Up.” Next time you’re in Chicago, you have to check it out live.

10. Terry Crews

Terry Crews can make you laugh, or kick your ass. Personally, I like the laughter more. As a giant, tough, former NFL player, Terry did a 180 with his career when he started appearing in comedies like “Starsky and Hutch,” “Soul Plane,” “The Benchwarmers,” “Balls of Fury” and “Get Smart.” He was also perfectly cast as the dad on “Everybody Hates Chris.” However, his best comic role ever was as the KICK-ASS President Camacho in Mike Judge’s “Idiocracy,” which is also one of the most underappreciated comedy movies of all time.

11. Molly Shannon

She’s so much more than just the great Mary “Superstar” Catherine Gallagher or the “I’m 50!” woman from SNL. With sixty-six acting credits on imdb, most of them bit parts, she can take any small role and end up stealing the show. Shannon is that special kind of comedian who not only knows funny, but is a fantastic actress. For proof, just watch her as craft councilor Gail von Kleinenstein in “Wet Hot American Summer,” or for a darker dose of acting, as the lead in Mike White’s “Year of the Dog.”

12. Kristen Schaal

Schaal is the 2006 HBO US Comedy Arts Festival’s Best Alternative Comedian, winner of NY Comedy Fests Andy Kaufman Award, 2006 Nightlife Award and 2007 ECNY’s Best Female Stand-up. She’s the crazed fan in “Flight of the Conchords,” and writer for Season 11 of “South Park.” She’s been on “Mad Men,” “How I Met Your Mother,” and “Modern Family.” She was the voice of Trixie the triceratops in “Toy Story 3” and is in “Dinner for Schmucks.” Somebody make this woman a big, famous, star already!

13. Nick Swardson

With two hilarious Comedy Central stand-up specials, the obsessive fan in “Blades of Glory” and Terry the gay roller skating dynamo on “Reno 911,” Nick Swardson is a comedy dynamo. For more proof of his comic genius, watch the un-aired pilot, “Gay Robot,” written by and starring Swardson, about a robot who got a wine cooler spilled on him while being built and turned out gay. Hilarious.

14. Amy Sedaris

Oh my God Amy Sedaris is so funny! Brother of the writer David Sedaris, Amy has turned “quirky” into an art form as the star of awesomely indie comedies like “Strangers with Candy,” (which she created and wrote along with Paul Dinello and Stephen Colbert) to “classy” funny roles like James Caan’s secretary in “Elf.” She also has a bizarrely, great book about entertaining at home titled, “I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence.”

15. Robert Smigel

Comedy nerds love Robert Smigel. Everyone else loves his comedy. Unfortunately, most people have no idea who the man behind it all is. He was a writer for some of the best years of Saturday Night Live (Phil Hartman through Chris Farley) creating classic sketches like Bill Swerski’s Bears Superfans and the Ambiguously Gay Duo. He was the first head writer of Late Night with Conan O’Brien, shaping the entire future for the show. He was the head writer of the Dana Carvey sketch show which had the best cast and most illustrious writing team that has ever failed so miserably. He created the cult favorite TV Funhouse and is the mind (and voice and hand) behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. If you like comedy, you like Robert Smigel.

Assisted Living, Episode 14: Hot Afternoon Sex

Assisted Living, Episode 39: Fringe Benefits

Watch more episodes of Assisted Living.

Blog Staff Note: Another rising comedy star is one that you may have caught on Last Comic Standing, and her name is Alycia Cooper. Alycia, currently writing for Martin Lawrence, is making appearances in a variety of sitcoms, and is touring the country with her stand-up act. But what we want you to see is an organic Pilot that Alycia cranked out for us a few years back – and it’s called The N-List. Take a look at the Pilot episode and one more selection.

The N-List Pilot – Alycia Cooper Intro

The N-List Pilot – Drowning in Debt

Watch more episodes of The N-List

Mike Betette is an improviser/writer/actor in Los Angeles. He has performed improv across the country with Mission IMPROVable and on a cruise ship around the world with The Second City. In Los Angeles, he currently performs at iOwest and Mi’s Westside Comedy Theater. Mike has written for Manswers on Spike and CurrentTV’s Supernews.