Stand Up Comedy Article - Comedic History

STAND UP COMEDY has been through a tranformation of sizeable magnitude over the past few decades. STAND UP COMEDY has developed from a infant industry with an unknown cast of comics, into a multi-billion dollar industry with popular cultural icons that rival the fame of movie stars. Stand Up Comedy is one of the most diverse forms of comedic self expression, and allows a performing venue that provides a much needed commentary on social culture and general society. Many joke tellers one day dream of hitting the jackpot of becoming a famous comedian, but only a fraction involved make it to the top. Television and Movies utilize all forms of humor, including stand up comedy. Some of the most famous movie and TV stars got their start as stand up comedians.

Some of the most recognized stand up comedians of the past have etched their names into pop culture history by having their stand up comedy routines recognized in culture. One of the best examples is the performances of the late, great Rodney Dangerfield. You may remember Rodney Dangerfield from such cult classics as "Ladybugs" or "Meet Wally Sparks," but he had a vibrant stand up comedy career for the vast majority of his life. Rodney Dangerfield frequently performed in Las Vegas, NV and other large performance spaces across the globe. His brilliant claim to fame was making himself the butt of his own jokes. Dangerfield will long be remembered as one of the greatest stand up comedians to have ever lived.

Success of stand up comics also includes the meteoric career of Ellen Degeneres. Ellen's stand up comedy in the 80's and 90's opened the door to a short lived movie career and a historic TV series where her character was the first to "come out" on TV. This was ultimately devistating to her career until she went to daytime Television, where her popularity increased exponentially. She was also a judge on the immensely popular "American Idol." Ellen Degeneres' most well known stand up comedy routine involves a reading of the lyrics of "Shoop" by Salt N' Peppa. Because she is a lesbian, the comic value of stating the lyrics provides priceless comedic humor.

Another great stand up comic to find fame is the amazingly humorous Rosanne. Rosanne's stand up comedy involves a tasteful sprinkling of raunch dicey topics that prove extremely humorous. She sometimes also capitalizes on her own issues, in the tradition of Rodney Dangerfield, but with a completely different delivery style. Rosanne's most well known work is from the TV sitcom "Rosanne" that ran for many seasons, and is now a part of the TV history lexicon.

The popularity of STAND UP COMEDY will continue to explode as more and more stand up comedians take the stage to deliver their interpretations of their viewpoints. Popular Culture is richer for having STAND UP COMEDY as a form of comedic release. We can all agree that stand up comedy is a form of humor that is important for society, in order to assist us with the stresses of a time of turmoil, war, depression and despair.