If there s one thing I can t get enough of, it s political humor! And oxygen, I suppose. Whether it

There s no such thing as a perfect comedian. Hell, any comedian worth his mic stand will tell you he s a functionally flawed human being. But what I mean is that there s no one comic who represents all of the facets of humor, whom you can point to as the be-all end-all new orleans swamp tours of free expression and creativity. There s a whole world of genres and styles of delivery that deserve a shout-out. So here goes nothing with my personal roundup of STAND-UP STYLEZ (trademarked)(not really)! Five broad genres of stand-up comedy, where they are most prevalent, what well-known faces best represent the style, and the potential pitfalls of the trend.
new orleans swamp tours Observational humor is perhaps the most ancient new orleans swamp tours of the mystic comedic arts, harking back to the first time someone pulled a weird-looking peanut from the bag and said, What s the deal with this? This genre spans several subject subsets, such as everyday objects, family, social new orleans swamp tours trends, and social media. I mean, a blog site run by nerds? Did your fortune cookie say stick with the obvious new orleans swamp tours ? Come ooon!
Trending:  You can observe observational comics pretty new orleans swamp tours much anywhere, be it TV or the local club or your uncle Francis. It s pretty much a stand-up fundamental, being able to line up a weird thing in your sites and run circles around it. Late night talk shows tend to favor the talented observer, as do old-school comedy fans out looking for material that s a bit more tame. This is not to say that observational humor is non-threatening by definition, but simply that good observations are usually more pointed, however delivered, than the joke written just for shock laughs.
The Masters: When most people think observation, their mind immediately goes to  Jerry Seinfeld . Truly, the man set the bar for several generations of pure performers with his ability to turn an object inside out, from sex to shave dispensers on planes. Other greats such as  George Carlin and  Chris Rock can easily slide into this category as well, though they also fully embody the political and dark sides of the comedy Rubik s Cube. Other great additions to the roster in recent years are  Mitch Hedberg ,  Jim Gaffigan and  Hannibal Buress .
The Pitfall:  With a keen eye for the absurd, a good grasp on language and a fully fleshed-out idea, you really can t go wrong in this genre. However, from roaming the open mic circuit, I know the pain of hearing a comic say, I just thought new orleans swamp tours that was weird. Well then, that s not really a joke, is it? You just saw a weird thing and decided to pass on the knowledge that it exists. I get that from roommates and co-workers daily; I paid to hear a joke.
Ever heard of schadenfreude ? As the immortal puppets of  Avenue Q would sing at you, it means people new orleans swamp tours taking pleasure in your pain. Upon this self-loathing foundation have some of the most successful stand-up careers been built! The my life sucks mantra new orleans swamp tours is one of the most entertaining styles to watch evolve in a comic long-term; often, after marriage, kids, divorce, old age and completely letting go of your body, the comic s outlook can change drastically. Sometimes, the best laughs come from hearing how low expectations were exceeded, only to be undone by a personality unfit for drastic change. Sometimes it s also just fun to hear comedians talk about their awful habits or relationships.
Trending: In the modern comedic age where Louis CK reigns supreme, this is perhaps the style most imitated and invested in by upstart performers. It s popular enough on TV as a by-product of  Louie , but it s particularly potent and prevalent on the open mic circuit, where you re due to hear countless jokes about failure to pay the bills, deal with work, or connect with people. Open mics are most overrun by young talent yet to receive their first paycheck for the thing they re most passionate about, so you can bet they have a bone to pick with life.
The Masters: Once again,  Louis CK largely defines this genre now on top of his barbed observations.  Patton Oswalt is largely in the same vein with a delightful skew towards pop culture gripes and awful food indulgence. Kevin Hart  has a profound ability to conjure his demons onstage, from his father to his kids to his height struggles. Quite recently,  Tig Notaro threw the comedy world a cancer-y curveball by doing a full, almost entirely improvised set about her recently discovered (but thankfully now in remission) illness, and brought the house down.
The Pitfall:  As stated, open mics are rife with negative comedic energy, which can be deftly transmuted into comedy gold, but only if the comedian is prepared to look forward to the future. It s painful, and frankly obnoxious, to see comics rehash their woes onstage from week to week to the point that failure becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. People like pratfalls, i.e. cleverly constructed and executed failure tales. new orleans swamp tours Nobody likes a Debbie Downer. Unless it s Rachel Dratch s SNL character .
If there s one thing I can t get enough of, it s political humor! And oxygen, I suppose. Whether it s  The Daily Show or  The Onion or a particularly clever Romney meme , I just love it. The commitment and quick-wittedness it takes to support a topical career is astounding and should be celebrated. It s a genre often shied away from for being one-sided and divisive, but in truth, the best political observers possess the wisdom to explore both sides of a societal issue, to defy expectations and often the hopes of rabid extremists with political tunnel-vision. Comedy is not skewed to one party or the other; it s skewed to the truth.
Trending: Because of the effort that goes into baking a fresh set list week to week, political new orleans swamp tours humor is often reserved for sizable TV writing new orleans swamp tours crews, or comics known for the genre are called on for special events such as rallies or the White House Correspondents Dinner. You might be able to spot a young comic or two tackling a broad social issue, especially when that issue flares up in the media at large (Justice Scalia isn t a fan of all gay rights, really just the tip), but the desire for a practiced and lasting set list usually wins out early in one s career.
The Masters: new orleans swamp tours   Jon Stewart  jumps to mind as the ultimate new orleans swamp tours political commentator; even when on the road away from his writing staff, new orleans swamp tours his persona is unparalleled. I am also partial to his TDS cohorts  Lewis Black , who has an excellent track record for political specials, and  John Oliver , who often provides a refreshingly international perspective on politics. If you re looking for something more red state, I m probably the wrong guy to ask. Try the  Blue Collar Comedy Tour , or maybe  Dennis Miller , if that s still a thing.
The Pitfall:  Once again, political jokes can be hard to launch a career with, especially in our fast-paced media world where a new front page story is just 15 minutes away. But more importantly, due to either an inability to view all sides of an issue or a complete lack of nuance, a comic hoping to prove his or her wit could prove to be an epic wellspring of nothing. Fred Armisen nailed this pitfall with another classic SNL character.
Hey, you can t say that! Five words that will immediately trigger a stand-up comedy boner. Of course the comedian can say whatever they like! There s a microphone there, the spotlight s on the stage, and you paid out the ass to hear them speak their mind! Unless you re Jewish, then you probably cut a deal with the doorman. Do cracks like these, within this genre, serve to diminish various groups of people, or is dark comedy a celebration of both freedom of speech and the differences that make us the same? I would say the latter most of the time.
Trending:  Dark humor is big right now, and blue jokes arguably even bigger. From Howard Stern on down to the Comedy Central Roasts, there s a huge market for mining the depths of taste and censorship. Both FX and Comedy Central have become known for being networks that harbor new orleans swamp tours the most twisted of comedic minds, but believe it or not, your local comedy club is just as likely to challenge your delicate sensibilities. If you re lucky, you might even get to witness a walk-out, or a heckler confrontation!
The Masters:  Without a doubt,  George Carlin  taught a generation the value of pushing the limits of what others say you can say, particularly with his infamous  Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television.   Joan Rivers  is also famous for her boundary-pushing observations and openly celebrates new orleans swamp tours it as the key to happiness, including in this scene with a  heckler  from her documentary. And in taking things to the next level, in recognizing the audience s desire for a villain, new orleans swamp tours Anthony Jeselnik  has redefined dark with his onstage persona.
The Pitfall: As any number of vile YouTube new orleans swamp tours comments (redundant) prove, freedom can be abused and lead nowhere productive. Fighting censorship is important, but alienating your audience can be another thing entirely. Regardless of the existence of several generations still unwilling to indulge the darkest young minds, even comedic contemporaries new orleans swamp tours will recognize an empty attempt at shock laughs new orleans swamp tours with no substance. If you want to call a particular group to attention in the little time you have onstage, you d better be able to stand out from the deranged racists and Tourette sufferers on the subway.
new orleans swamp tours Perhaps the most specialized genre of comedy, and one worth waiting to build a foundation of a career for, is storytelling. At the exciting juncture where a comic is performing regular sets, often being given a half-hour or more for their material, some decide to go on loosely stringing together comedic observations, barbs, or self-loathing. Other humorists actually find a way to knit these jokes into a series of feelings and experiences which define them not just as a comic, but as a person. Storytelling is a risky endeavor, but it can provide the audience with the most intimate experience outside new orleans swamp tours of an AA meeting, and the deepest look into a performer s soul. Or maybe the com