Top 20 Funniest Comedians Who Started After 2000

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#20: Shane Gillis

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Shane Gillis scored what many young comedians work their entire lives for back in 2019: a spot on the “Saturday Night Live” cast. Backlash involving some of Gillis’ podcast material resulted in that offer being rescinded, but that hasn’t stopped the comedian from soldiering on with his work. Gillis continued podcasting, co-hosting the massively popular “Matt and Shane’s Secret Podcast” alongside fellow comedian Matt McCusker. His second special for Netflix, “Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs,” debuted in 2023, and his popularity keeps increasing.

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#19: Sam Jay

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The writer’s room over at “Saturday Night Live” received a shot of both brilliance and diversity in 2017 when Samaria Johnson, a.k.a. Sam Jay, joined the crew. Jay was only the second African-American lesbian to work on the show, and the first to be a writer, and her creative voice was heard on SNL for over three years. Jay has also co-created comedy shows for HBO and Peacock, including the talk show “PAUSE with Sam Jay.” Meanwhile, her observational voice on stage is quirky, funny and engaging, with a smooth delivery and charismatic personality. Her career continues to be on the upswing.

Not every stand-up comedian explores personal topics that hit close to home in their work, but then again, Joel Kim Booster isn’t like every other stand-up comedian. Booster’s South Korean heritage often comes into play within his material, as does his life as a member of the gay community. His humor often pokes holes into stereotypes and the struggles of those living within these communities, as well as their relationships with the world at large. Yet Booster’s work, like the film “Fire Island” that he wrote and starred in, doesn’t come across as heavy-handed, but rather engaging, fascinating, and hilarious.

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#17: Joe Pera

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There’s no denying that the measured delivery of Joe Pera is an intentional gimmick. But it’s a wonderfully unique gimmick, for sure. Beyond this, Pera’s stylistic approach wouldn’t work in a vacuum, if he didn’t have the jokes to back it up. Thankfully, it’s a great combination of style and substance, with some solid writing chops and an execution that sets Pera apart from many of his peers. Sure, this style of “stunt comedy” or performance art may not be to everyone’s taste, but in a world where so much stand-up seems to be pulling from the same creative well, Joe Pera’s approach feels refreshing and different.

The comedy podcast “Cum Town” ended up giving comedy fans a number of talented writers and performers. Adam Friedland and Nick Mullen come to mind, as does Stavros Halkias. The Baltimore native is adept at improvisation, riffing and crowdwork, although his comedy has occasionally come under fire by some who take umbrage to Halkias’ left-leaning politics and rampant vulgarity. The hosts of “Cum Town” may have gone their separate ways, but fans of Friedland, Mullen and Halkias continue to follow their work today, and anxiously await anything new from these funnymen.

The stand-up comedy of Nikki Glaser is proudly transgressive, defiantly gross and unapologetically Over. The. Line. But that’s why we love her so much. Glaser’s material on-stage doesn’t care about offending anyone’s sensibilities, but her delivery belies her degree in English Literature. This is stand-up that prowls topics like sex, relationships and our weird bodily functions, and does so with a perverse sense of verbose beauty. It never feels forced or corny, but rather the results of smart writing and an easy delivery that feels natural and connected with her audience.

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#14: Mark Normand

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Mark Normand is another stand-up comedian who has been blazing a hilarious path for over a decade. He’s also a big presence in the comedy podcasting world who’s collaborated with a number of other funny fellows, like Joe List on “Tuesdays with Stories,” as well as Sam Morril on “We Might Be Drunk.” The comedian has also appeared on many high-profile talk shows, while also earning rave reviews in comedy clubs across the USA. The best thing about Mark Normand is that, while he’s already a successful comic, he still has some status as an up-and-comer, since his popularity keeps increasing.

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#13: Anthony Jeselnik

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It takes a certain kind of stand-up comedy fan to appreciate the dark and confrontational style of Anthony Jeselnik. His delivery may be low-key and calm, but Jeselnik’s choice of topics is anything but safe. This is a scorched-earth approach that takes no prisoners with regards to its content. Indeed, nobody is safe from Jeselnik or his bleak approach to comedy that makes just about everyone uncomfortable. His stand-up specials often lead audiences to certain places, only to drop them off in the middle of nowhere, with only hurt feelings and jaws that have dropped completely to the floor.

Michelle Wolf is an equal opportunity offender. Her stand-up comedy takes pot-shots at politics, the news and everyday differences between men and women, but in a way that feels fresh and invigorating. Wolf’s delivery feels effortless, born from an intelligent wit and a self-awareness about finding humor in just about everything. Her performance at the 2018 White House Correspondents’ Dinner earned Wolf both praise and controversy, but it also helped cement her in the public eye. And she’s continued to make good on that promise, delivering the hilarious goods each and every time.

Nate Bargatze possesses a lovely southern drawl, and a comedy style to match. This is old school, observational stand-up with a cleanliness in the style of Jim Gaffigan, Jerry Seinfeld, and Brian Regan. Bargatze’s lack of edgy profanity isn’t a drawback at all, however, and his conversational approach makes all of his material truly engaging. Audiences are continuing to take notice as well, since Bargatze’s popularity is also continuing to skyrocket. Proof that he’s now a mover and shaker in the comedy world? He hosted “Saturday Night Live” in October of 2023.

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#10: James Acaster

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Comedy nerds take note: if you haven’t checked out the work of England’s James Acaster, then we highly suggest that you give this unique and successful performer and author a chance. Acaster is a fantastic wordsmith and storyteller, taking audiences on a journey with a delivery that’s charming and ridiculously clever. He’ll frequently reference older jokes within the course of a stand-up special, speak in character and utilize body language to underline his long-form, narrative approach. Time will tell if he achieves the same level of success in North America as he’s garnered across the pond.

Iliza Shlesinger is a very funny comedian, and is a proudly female-centric performer. But this isn’t to say that her comedy is exclusive or limited in any way, far from it. Instead, Shlesinger’s approach is loud, proud and in control, enough to make just about anyone laugh. She can be blustery and absurd one minute, and insightful the next, but always seems to know just what to say to make her audiences lose themselves with laughter. There’s no comedian around that’s quite like her, and she continues to represent the millennial generation's foibles and charms.

Hannibal Buress has written for a number of different shows over the years, from “30 Rock” to a brief stint on “Saturday Night Live,” Buress has referenced his time on these shows during his stand-up, peeling back the curtains of showbiz in a frequently funny fashion. He also was a hilarious presence on “The Eric Andre Show.” His observational approach is smart and inventive, with a unique look on life that seems to resonate with his audience. This is a multi-leveled and nuanced style of comedy that benefits greatly by Buress’ delivery that feels one part unpredictable, one part chaotic and one-hundred-percent hilarious.

A popular television show can be a godsend for an up-and-coming comedian, and Aziz Ansari had a great one when he broke out on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.” However, it was Ansari’s work on Netflix’s “Master of None” that enabled a deeper and more affecting style of writing to come to the forefront. That show balanced drama, humor and visual style in a great way, and Ansari’s stand-up continued to thrive, even in the face of controversy. The comedian even referenced his public travails during pop-up comedy shows, and his career in comedy continued to progress, with the special “Aziz Ansari: Nightclub Comedian '' dropping on Netflix in 2022.

Sebastian Maniscalco worked his way up the stand-up comedy ranks the old school way. The Illinois native started out in 2005, working gigs at the legendary Comedy Store, before taping shows for Comedy Central and Showtime. Maniscalco proved he wasn’t just a funny-man, either, and soon moved into acting roles on such high profile films as "Green Book" and "The Irishman." Meanwhile, Billboard codified the comedian’s success when they named Maniscalco their 2018 "Comedian of the Year," validating his work as one of the funniest physical comedians out there today.

There’s something to be said about perspective when it comes to stand-up comedy. Taylor Tomlinson’s millennial outlooks on life don’t feel exclusive, or only designed to appeal to a certain kind of audience. Tomlinson references everyday struggles of love, sex and relationships in a way that’s easy to understand and love, no matter what age you are. It’s clear that these jokes are written with everyone in mind, yet Tomlinson is also very open with regards to her own personal struggles with mental health. As a result, her stand-up can vary in emotional tone, but always remain consistently engaging and very, very funny.

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#4: Ali Wong

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Ali Wong’s 2016 Netflix special, “Baby Cobra” was notable for the fact that she was very pregnant during filming. However, don’t think for a second that Wong is a one-trick pony, because this California native has proved, time and time again, that her wit is razor sharp. Her joke arsenal always feels primed and ready, with a quick, fearless approach to storytelling. The reactions of her audiences seem to tell the tale: Ali Wong’s style of stand-up always feels fresh, always seems to connect, and just gets better with age. And she’s a talented actress to boot, with starring roles in the buzzy series “Beef” and the hilarious rom com “Always Be My Maybe.”

“The Daily Show” has a long and esteemed history of funny people behind the desk, and it was a comedy powerhouse under Trevor Noah’s brilliant leadership from 2015 to 2022. The comedian's sharp wit and engaging personality made him a perfect fit for “The Daily Show,” yet Noah’s pedigree as a stand-up artist also remains secure despite his steady high-profile hosting gig. While capable of bringing plants of belly-busting laughs, Noah also specializes in thoughtful, penetrating humor that tackles racism inequality and geopolitics, often drawing on his South African heritage and upbringing. This is intellectual, yet personal comedy with an edge.

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#2: Bo Burnham

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The rise of the internet has largely changed how we consume our comedy. Gone, perhaps, are the halcyon days of the comedy LP or CD, and in their place has risen YouTube and TikTok. Enter the brilliant Bo Burnham, who’s made the most of this medium for a long time. Burnham’s comedic and musical work on YouTube allowed him, eventually, to collaborate with Comedy Central for his first album, “Bo Fo Sho.” This brought the aforementioned “comedy album renaissance” full circle, and helped expose Burnham to new audiences that appreciated his darkly witty musical comedy. He’s gone from strength to strength, and his incredible Netflix special “Bo Burnham: Inside'' is perhaps the signature creative work of the pandemic era.

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#1: John Mulaney

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John Mulaney may have earned rave reviews for his collaborations with friend and fellow comic Nick Kroll, but his comedic voice has continued to evolve to the point where he’s simply one of the best out there, full stop. Mulaney’s style is witty and subversive, unafraid to lay bare some very personal stuff, while remaining scathingly funny throughout. His writing for programs like “Saturday Night Live” is also layered and smart, without having to rely on topical jokes to get laughs. John Mulaney’s disarming delivery and charm allows him to get away with a lot on stage, and we’re always waiting for what this comedy icon does next.

Who’s your favorite stand-up comedian? Let us know in the comments!