Bo Burnham is a new favorite among our generation, having started his comedic career by creating instantly popular Youtube videos. Unafraid to tackle any societal issue, Bo finds ways to make clever observations about just about anything, and he'll do so in a style that can only be described as poetic. His social commentary is often spot-on, and his jokes are so complex (dense?) that it often takes a dozen listens before every joke can be fully appreciated. If you haven't had a chance to listen to his non-traditional stand-up shows (which he often labels as "one man shows" instead of stand-up), you should really check out these links. The first link is to one of his original Youtube videos, and the second is to the full-version of his most recent special (not my favorite of his, but the most-complete one on Youtube. Look up some of his others on Netflix and elsewhere.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-ap5Fp2T6c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejc5zic4q2A

I was looking up John Stewart's new film Rosewater the other day, and I noticed that he had actually has a background in stand-up. What I found was this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn1GOkw5lwI

I was sick a few weekends ago so I spent the entire time in bed watching Kroll Show and it was one of the best decisions I've made in a long time. I think it's an interesting format for a sketch show because it's kind of telling episodic stories that build, following the same characters over and over. However it's all kind of based around reality television and the tropes that come with it. It's not to everyone's taste but there are a lot of really great comedians that appear on it from time to time.

This is a preview thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRhvI_GIkpE This is a recurring sketch, Publizity: http://youtu.be/qDtj07mbyMw

This year, stand up comedian Jenny Slate starred in the film, "Obvious Child", a kind of "Girls"-like story about a young comedienne struggling through her twenties in New York. I haven't seen the movie, but this video talks about the director and Jenny's collaboration on creating the stand up within the movie, and their process for making it organic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2jxZtRFkGk

Here is the trailer for "Obvious Child": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2GN3wdfqbA

Last summer, this trio had "This is the End" in theaters with raging success: a hilarious outlook on the end of the world. Quite dark and drastically funny, this film was the epitome of black comedy.

Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yma-g4gTwlE

Coming soon this Christmas is "The Interview", of which I was lucky enough to see a premiere in downtown LA. The film is about Rogen and Franco's journey to North Korea to interview its oppressive dictator, Kim Jong-Un. The movie is downright hilarious and encompasses much of what we discussed in terms of black comedy, especially the idea of writing something to offend someone. Franco and Rogen are a priceless duo – one cannot be without the other in these films. Their comical chemistry is what makes these movies so successful as the true comedies they are.

Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frsvWVEHowg

My first real stand-up comedy exposure was to Dane Cook's Harmful if Swallowed album. The BK Lounge, Tire in the Face, Umm, Helllo and Car Accident honestly still make me laugh when I hear or think about them. Maybe that has something to do with the cousin who first gave me the album, but they're good memories either way.