College is a great time to laugh, and while you're there it is important to laugh at good comedians. There are a number of comedians that fit the bill of being great comedians, but in college that is a certain flavor, a certain act that I think does consistently better than most. Without much more further ado, this is a list of some of the best comedians for a college audience.

Demetri Martin: Martin has a distinctly wacky style in which he comes up with funny parodies, acts, songs, and seemingly thinks up pretty ridiculous things that are mostly very amusing. He uses a lot of props during his routine, but they are essential to his comedic style. He also usually plays on a guitar which adds to the routine, rather than taking away which I feel typically happens when comedians play with a guitar. Demetri Martin has a show coming up in Rochester, Michigan on August 24th. I think that if you want something a little different, not exactly what you may have come to expect from most comedians these days, Martin is the choice. I think that he appeals to a college audience, because of his witty jokes and clever observations. He is a master of satire and is proficient at seeing the oddities in just about anything. You can check out his act in this DVD, Demetri Martin. Person..



Gary Gulman: I think it is safe to say that Gary Gulman got his start by working with Dane Cook (you will notice Dane Cook is not on this list, because the guy is kind of 2 minutes ago). Gulman has a fresh comedic routine which is most similar to what you may imagine a typical stand-up routine to be like. He stands on stage, paces about, and talks about funny stuff. No props necessary. Similar to Martin, Gulman has a funny wit and humor in his style, but in a different manner. He is better at telling stories and explaining situations and the strange things that can occur. In my opinion, the reason why he best relates to a college audience is because of his initial connection with Dane Cook. It is like he is a psychological extension of him. His style is easy to handle and is easily related to. A superb comedian with a bright future. You should check out his video, Gary Gulman: Boyish Man.



Louis CK: The star of the HBO show, Lucky Louie also happens to be a very funny comedian. Louis CK's style is the most edgy of all the people I have listed so far and certainly appeals to a particular type of comedic personality. At the same time, he has great jokes and you will most definitely exit anything that you see from him feeling a little more giddy and happy. College kids would most like CK because of his more vulgar nature and apathy. He really does a good job of depicting himself as a lazy, mean person. I would recommend this movie, Louis C.K. - Shameless.



Chris Rock: Rock is probably the most mainstream and successful of the comedians on this list, but his ability to speak to different audiences and in this case, the college audience, make him real asset to any college kids comedic relief. Chris Rock has a very versatile style and has always got new stuff to leave his audience in stitches. College kids are drawn to Rock because he is well established in the comedian world, is edgy and at the same time is very witty, and observes things around him that are ridiculous. This is an art and Chris Rock has achieved it. Watch this movie for more: Chris Rock - Never Scared



Mitch Hedberg: The late Mitch Hedberg died on March 29, 2005, but his comedy still lives on. Mitch Hedberg is perfectly suited to a college environment. Giving off the image of a stoner and shooting out one-liner after the next, he is easy to keep up with and provides instant gratification for his audience. Extremely funny and so sad that his career was so short. If you haven't heard any of his stuff, you really should because its funny, original, and excellent!



This post was originally written by Tyrone Schiff
University of Michigan · Organizational Studies · 08 Aug 2007