Some of these names might be familiar to readers; many might not. But like Dave Attell, the artists in this handful are key figures in the ongoing trend toward more individual, eccentric and/or thought-provoking comedy, and all are as good a place for deprived or curious fans to start as any.
DAVID CROSS Sounds familiar because: He's everywhere. Cross originally come to notoriety as co-creator (with Bob Odenkirk) of the brilliant, tragically short-lived HBO sketch-comedy show Mr. Show with Bob and David, and has since attained a sort of cool-cameo ubiquity, appearing in any number of sitcoms, films, and roundtable-format programs. Most recently, you know him as Tobias on Arrested Development.
The style: Cross is hip comedy's dark clown prince; onscreen, he's endearingly goofy, but onstage doing stand-up, he's bluntly provocative and politically charged, one of a handful of heirs to the throne of Lenny Bruce and Bill Hicks.
Refer to: Arrested Development; the Mr. Show DVDs; and Cross' own in-concert CDs, Shut Up You Fucking Baby! and It's Not Funny.
LEWIS BLACK Sounds familiar because: He does a weekly editorial segment on The Daily Show called "Back in Black," and his recent, hilarious in-concert film Black on Broadway played endlessly on HBO. Black is also a regular visitor to Tampa Bay's theaters and clubs, having made two appearances in the last six months.
The style: Black's persona is that of an articulate man who's both angry and exasperated at the ludicrous directions taken by American culture and government, but it's always tempered with glimpses of good humor and hope. He's the sociology professor you always wanted, but were a little frightened to get.
Refer to: The Daily Show and Black on Broadway, but he's at his best in a live stand-up setting.
PATTON OSWALT Sounds familiar because: You've seen him in a supporting role in King of Queens, as well as bit parts in Blade: Trinity, Starsky & Hutch, and, uh, Taxi. He was also the Scottish parade guy getting a cool blast up the kilt in that Sierra Mist commercial.
The style: As a stand-up, Oswalt's references can sometimes come off as self-consciously hip, but he deftly and hilariously mixes social and political commentary with an outrageously casual take on cultural taboos.
Refer to: Last year's live CD, Feelin' Kinda Patton.
TODD BARRY Sounds familiar because: Actually, Barry's name probably doesn't sound as familiar as his voice. Though he's an excellent stand-up, he's reached a wider audience of comedy fans through work in animated series like Home Movies and Aqua Teen Hunger Force.
The style: Like Attell, Barry is more likely to put his own twist on the traditional stand-up's tools than abandon them for rants and references. He's dry and self-effacing, without ever becoming too cutting.
Refer to: His debut disc, MediumEnergy.
MARC MARON Sounds familiar because: A contemporary of Janeane Garofalo and Jon Stewart, Maron's been around a little longer than some of the others on this list, and has made countless cable appearances as both stand-up and strange, scene-stealing bit player.
The style: Rambling, confessional, insightful. It wouldn't be fair to call Maron a self-hating Jew, but he's at his best when he plumbs the depths of his own neuroses, and comes up with something universally relevant.
Refer to: His book, The Jerusalem Syndrome: My Life as a Reluctant Messiah.
SARAH SILVERMAN Sounds familiar because: This dark-haired comedian-turned-actress is often underutilized as, well, a bitch, in stuff like School of Rock and the doomed Seth Green series Greg the Bunny. Some of her best work, however, occurs when she's riffing as a guest on any given unscripted show.
The Style: Silverman brings natural comedic talent to acting, where her knack for subtle physical indicators and unexpected, unexpectedly provocative one-liners translate to jaw-dropping dialogue and canny button-pushing.
Refer to: The Trio series Pilot Season; every talk/forum/clip/poker show she happens to be on.
MITCH HEDBERG Sounds familiar because: Tragically, it's probably because Hedberg passed away last month, but hopefully you caught his turn as the Eagles' manager in Almost Famous, or one of his amazing Comedy Central spotlight specials.
The style: Hidden behind long hair and shades, Hedberg updated Steven Wright's absurdist, non sequitur one-liners with a great sense for ludicrousness and stoneriffic delivery.
Refer to: His oft-rerun Comedy Central Presents performance.
-Scott Harrell
This article appears in Apr 20-26, 2005.