
Best Texas Comedians Guaranteed to Make You Laugh
Your favorite Texas-based comedian today is obviously Mitch Burrow (that's me), but there are many comedians from Texas who preceded me that are master craftsmen in the field of funny. You've probably heard of most of these stand-ups, but you may not have known that some of them were actually from Texas. Below is a list of my all-time favorite comedians (excluding myself) that are guaranteed to make you laugh!
Bill Hicks
Even though he was tragically taken away from us too soon, Bill Hicks made an impact on comedy that is still felt to this day. Bill had a knack of not only making you laugh, but he would make think about the social commentary he was making in his act as well. Bill hicks was fearless in his material, but he was also stubborn. Louis CK, who opened for Hicks, recalled that while there were nights that he destroyed there were also shows that the audience just wasn't feeling what he was delivering. Bill Hicks was genuine, daring, and hilarious. His first television spot was in 1984 on Jay Leno, and his last televised event was his HBO One-Night Stand special in 1981. He passed away in 1994 of pancreatic cancer.
Ron White
The rockstar of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour was, without a doubt, Ron White. While the other members of the tour were embracing a redneck appearance Ron wore a black suit, smoked a cigar, and sipped on bourbon. His material was based off of his personal life which stood out from his compatriots, and it gave the audience a sense of knowing who he really was. Ron is, to this day, one of the best standup comedians in the world, and you can see him perform regularly in Austin, TX at the Comedy Mothership.
Steve Martin
There is probably a great number of people today that don't even know Steve Martin was a standup comedian. In the 1970s Steve Martin was one of the biggest comedians in the world. His first appearance on The Tonight Show was in 1972, and by 1981 he was performing in full size stadiums. In his book "Born Standing Up" he said that the reason he walked away from standup was because he had "nothing left to say". Steve Martin's departure from standup comedy is the definition of quitting in your prime and leaving them wanting more.
Sam Kinison
There are many words that can be used to describe Sam Kinison. Some people would say he was loud, obnoxious, and vulgar. While those are certainly accurate, they don't quite tell the whole story. Sam was originally a Pentecostal preacher, but he decided to pursue standup comedy in the 1970s after a failed marriage. He spent his formative years in East Texas, and by 1989 he was one of the biggest names in standup comedy. His life was cut short tragically by a drunk driver in 1992.
Iliza Shlesinger
The youngest and only comedian actively touring on this list, Iliza Shlesinger won NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2008. Iliza grew up in Dallas, Texas, and she gained widespread when she won Last Comic Standing during its sixth season in 2008. Iliza continues to tour the world performing standup, and to this date she has released five specials on Netflix. Iliza Shlesinger is sharp, quick witted, and very animated on stage. Her pacing and stage presence makes her one of the most captivating comedians performing today. She has also recently delved into acting, and she can currently be seen on a few episodes of HBO's Righteous Gemstones and the Netflix move Spenser Confidential.
You will hopefully enjoy watching some of the material of these comedians that has been archived on the internet, but standup comedy is definitely an art form that is best viewed in person. I've been performing standup comedy for over seventeen years now, and I have never laughed as hard at a special on television as I do on even given night while watching my peers in a comedy club. With any luck this article has inspired you to find your nearest comedy club and purchase some tickets to see a live show. It would be even better if that show was mine. 😉
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