In the modern age of computers, people generally find their entertainment online. Few people in our generation are familiar with classic comedians or even contemporary comedians who are not part of mainstream culture. Many believe that they will not find them entertaining due to generation gaps, or they simply are unaware of the wide range of comedy available. To counter this common lack of knowledge about comedy and its leaders, the following list will provide Marymount students with some new material to listen and laugh to in time off from homework this Spring Break:

1. The perfect start to the list is the 20-something, Youtube-based musical comedian Bo Burnham. Like Marymount students, he went to a Catholic high school. He is known for his comedic songs and videos on Youtube; after being discovered by Comedy Central scouts, Burnham became the youngest person in history to have their own comedic tour and CD on Comedy Central. His eccentric, clever work is characterized by strong themes of sarcasm and irony, social criticism, observations of artistic life, and topics relatable to high school students. You may also recognize him from his popular videos on Vine.

2. On the opposite end of the spectrum – acclaimed comedian Victor Borge. Known for his combination of comedy and classical piano, the use of simple ideas to create gut-busting acts, and often undetectably intellectual writing, Borgia is one of the most important comedians to come out of the 20th century. As we are used to having immediate gratification, the videos may seem to “drag on,” but once you get past the introduction it is a guarantee that your stomach will be sore from the rest of the video.

In Denmark, performing his famous “Phonetic Punctuation”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bpIbdZhrzA

An act about learning piano:

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

3. Across North America, Bill Cosby is a household name; he is one of the most talented comedians from America. You may have watched The Cosby Show as a child – but have you ever seen any of his standup?

An adorable story by Cosby from 1986, called “Chocolate Cake for Breakfast”:

http://youtu.be/zuamlBQ2aW4

Do you hate going to the dentist? Here is Cosby’s commentary on dentists:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp2RqwEC-7k

4. The famed British comedic group Monty Python – who wrote popular movies such as the Holy Grail, and his show, Monty Python’s Flying Circus – provide timeless comedy. Their comedy is the prime example of British humor, and lovers of history jokes or slapstick will find that they cannot stop watching clips from Flying Circus.

“Upperclass Twit of the Year” – a slapstick-style sketch from Flying Circus:

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

For the history nerds out there, a scene from Holy Grail:

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

Enjoy and laugh away!