Why Are You Laughing? Why Are You Laughing?

Top 25 Stand-Ups of the 2000's

Jun 11, 2026 · 1h 53m

Summary

In this episode of "Why Are You Laughing," host Mike ranks the top 25 comedians of the 21st century based on influence, impact, and humor. He discusses entries 25 through 17, including Dane Cook, Jim Jefferies, Gary Gulman, Jim Norton, Rory Scovel, Anthony Jeselnik, Cat Deeley, Shane Gillis, and Daniel Tosh. The hosts analyze each comedian's unique style, cultural significance, and body of work while debating their placement on the list.

Topics discussed

Introduction and criteria for the Top 25 list Rank 25: Dane Cook's influence on arena comedy Rank 24: Jim Jefferies' unique style and catalog Rank 23: Gary Gulman's observational storytelling Rank 22: Jim Norton's influence on modern comedy Rank 21: Rory Scovel's improvisational mastery Rank 20: Anthony Jeselnik's dark humor and stakes Rank 19: Pete Davidson's prolific output and style Rank 18: Shane Gillis' resilience and impressions Rank 17: Daniel Tosh's format and influence Rank 16: Maria Bamford's unique alt-comedy voice Rank 15: Nate Bargatze's clean comedy and stage presence Rank 14: Mitch Hedberg's one-liners and delivery Rank 13: Jim Gaffigan's consistency and family themes Rank 12: Bo Burnham's artistic evolution and songs Rank 11: Greg Giraldo's roasting skills and style Rank 10: Patrice O'Neal's unique personality Rank 9: John Mulaney's storytelling and visuals Rank 8: Brian Regan's clean comedy and longevity Rank 7: Colin Quinn's one-man shows and NY perspective Rank 6: Bill Burr's specials and authentic anger Rank 5: Dave Chappelle's influence and specials Rank 4: Norm McDonald's voice and Conan era Rank 3: Louis C.K.'s output and influence on the industry
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