We are living in the midst of a comedy renaissance; Social media has transformed the comedy scene and made stand-up comedy accessible to virtually everyone, from podcasts and crowd-work clips to specials and live-shows. Finding your favorite comedian that you can rely on for a laugh is an essential escape from the absurdity of our world. As sad as it is, at times all we can do is laugh about it. But beyond the smart social commentary and thought provoking material some stand-up provides, there is also plenty of raunchy, vulgar and kinda stupid humor to enjoy as well. All content serves its purpose and everyone knows farts are funny. Here’s VALLEY’s intro to stand-up for anyone looking for a laugh.
Disclaimer: Comedians are known to dance the line between what is offensive and socially acceptable to say. Some comedians’ comedy may not be for you and that’s okay!! The point is to find someone whose content makes you think and laugh, not piss you off.
We’ve categorized these stand-up comedians based on general vibe and the common themes of their content but we recommend looking into all of them!
Relatable Women Who Don’t GAF
- Nikki Glaser (VALLEY interviewed her for the Spring 2023 print article “The Fine line of a Punchline.” Read the article here!)
- Whitney Cummings
- Hannah Berner
- Chelsea Handler
- Ali Wong
- Amy Shumer
- Jenny Slate
Awkward, Fun and Sometimes Gross
- Jordan Jenson
- Ian Fidance
- Robby Hoffman
- Jessica Kirson
- Atsuko Okatsuka
- Theo Von
Men That Are Dirty Yet Witty
- Sam Morrill
- Mark Normand
- Andrew Santino
- Stavros Halkias
- Shane Gillis
- Chris Distefano
- Bobby Lee
P.S. There are so many more stand-ups out there then the list below for you to discover, these are just some of VALLEY’s favs!
Stand-Up Here at PSU
Beyond the celebrities we know and love there is also a stand-comedy scene right here in State College! Blue Brick Theatre: Home of Happy Valley Improv showcases local stand-up comedians and open mic nights on Fridays from 6:30-9:00 p.m. and is located at 209 W Calder Way. Wise Crackers Comedy Club hosts touring stand-up comedians on Fridays and Saturdays starting at 8 p.m. and is located at 112 W College Ave.
TV Over Stand-Up
If stand-up comedy isn’t your thing but you still enjoy comedies, here’s VALLEY’s must-watch list of a mix of recently released and classic TV shows for when you need a laugh (warning: Some of these will also make you cry).
- Saturday Night Live (duh)
- Shrinking
- The Sex Lives of College Girls
- GIRLS
- Insecure
- Broad City
- Curb Your Enthusiasm
- It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- Abbot Elementary
- Jury Duty
- PEN15
Let VALLEY know your personal favorite stand-up comedians or comedy shows @VALLEYmag on all socials!
