Howard “Howie” Nave—also referred to as Howard Nave—is an American stand‑up comedian, radio host, writer and film critic who resides in the Lake Tahoe resort area of Nevada. Lately he’s drawn attention for blending guitar playing into his comedy routines and for using an original bagel‑themed system to rate movies.
Kym Whitley is a U.S.‑based comedian, actress and podcaster. Her television sitcom credits include My Brother and Me, Sparks, Animal Practice, The Boondocks, Young & Hungry, The Parkers, The Cleveland Show, Black Dynamite and Act Your Age. In 2004 she received a BET Comedy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Box Office Movie for playing Ormandy in the 2003 comedy Deliver Us From Eva.
Lynne Koplitz, an American comedian and actress, hosted Telepictures’ nationally syndicated dating series Change of Heart, served as a guest host on NBC’s Later, co‑anchored the Food Network program How to Boil Water, and co‑hosted Sony Pictures’ syndicated talk show Life and Style. Her stand‑up material has been featured in multiple Comedy Central specials, including Premium Blend and Comedy Central Presents, and she performed at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal.
Norman Lawrence Crosby, a comedian from the United States, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and became widely known by the moniker “The Master of Malaprop.”
Philander Chase Johnson (1866–1939) pursued a career in the United States as a journalist, humorist, poet, lyricist, and drama editor. At the moment of his death he was marking 47 years of service on the Washington Evening Star staff. Earlier in his professional life he had contributed editorial pieces to The Washington Post.
James Edmondson, Sr., known onstage as Professor Backwards, was a vaudeville comic who performed on television from the 1950s into the early 1970s. His résumé includes spots on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Dean Martin Show, and The Mike Douglas Show. In addition to ordinary stand‑up, his routine highlighted his skill at writing scripts upside‑down or reversed, spelling and speaking words backwards, and reading an inverted blackboard with perfect accuracy.
Ralph Duren May, an American comic and actor, gained fame for his far‑reaching tours and for delivering comedy specials on a range of media platforms.
Ramón Rivero, conocido artísticamente como Diplo, sobresalió como humorista, actor y compositor en Puerto Rico. Su primera aparición en la televisión local se dio en “La Taberna India”, el programa pionero de comedia y variedades del país. En el séptimo arte, encabezó los largometrajes Los Peloteros y Una Gallega en La Habana.
Randy Baumann works in radio and is most recognized for anchoring the program Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show on Pittsburgh’s WDVE station. Between 2000 and 2011 he shared hosting duties with Jim Krenn, the broadcast being billed as Jim Krenn, Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show, until Krenn departed WDVE in December 2011.
Randy Stewart Rainbow is an American comic, vocalist and thespian who rose to prominence with parody interview videos on YouTube that fuse political satire and musical spoofs from a progressive viewpoint. He has accumulated six Emmy nominations—five for serving as executive producer of The Randy Rainbow Show and one for his performance work—and has also been nominated for a Grammy.
James Kawika Piʻimauna “Rap” Reiplinger, a native Hawaiian comic, crafted a brand of humor that still threads through the cultural landscape of Hawaii today.
Marietta Sangai Sirleaf, who performs under the name Retta, is an American stand‑up comic and actress. She is most recognized for playing Donna Meagle on NBC’s Parks and Recreation and Ruby Hill on NBC’s Good Girls. Beyond those roles, she has acted in various films and television series and has shown her comedy on Comedy Central’s Premium Blend.
Albania
1
Armenia
1
Argentina
24
Austria
28
Australia
22
Azerbaijan
1
Belgium
13
Bulgaria
31
Benin
2
Bolivia
1
Brazil
12
Canada
48
Switzerland
17
Chile
8
Cameroon
1
China
7
Colombia
2
Czech Republic
7
Germany
188
Denmark
17
Dominican Republic
1
Algeria
2
Estonia
5
Egypt
4
Spain
74
Finland
15
France
211
United Kingdom
148
Ghana
3
Greece
18
Guatemala
1
Hungary
7
Indonesia
8
Ireland
20
Israel
9
India
11
Iraq
3
Iran
6
Italy
136
Jamaica
1
Japan
35
Kenya
3
Korea, South
20
Kazakhstan
1
Lebanon
5
Latvia
1
Morocco
17
Myanmar
1
Malta
1
Malawi
2
Mexico
28
Malaysia
7
Nigeria
19
Nicaragua
2
Netherlands
2
Norway
12
Nepal
3
New Zealand
9
Peru
2
Philippines
35
Pakistan
7
Poland
8
Portugal
7
Qatar
1
Romania
1
Serbia
3
Russia
9
Saudi Arabia
4
Sweden
101
Slovenia
4
Slovakia
2
Thailand
2
Tunisia
4
Turkey
5
Taiwan
1
Ukraine
1
Uganda
7
Uruguay
1
Uzbekistan
1
Vietnam
1
South Africa
2
The United States has one of the world’s most diverse and influential comedy scenes, with American comedians performing everywhere from small comedy clubs and theaters to major festivals, television studios, streaming platforms and sold-out arenas. From classic stand-up and sketch comedy to improvisation, sitcoms and modern online humor, comedy in the USA comes in countless styles.
GiggleTime brings together comedians from across the United States, making it easy to discover famous American comedians as well as newer performers from the country's constantly evolving comedy scene.
American stand-up comedy has a long tradition of comedians developing their material in comedy clubs before taking it to theaters, television and streaming services. Major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and Austin have become important centers for stand-up, with clubs providing stages for both established performers and emerging comedians.
American stand-up covers an enormous range of subjects and styles. Some comedians focus on observational humor and everyday life, while others explore relationships, politics, culture, family, social issues or personal experiences. One of the defining features of the American comedy scene is this variety, with performers often developing highly individual voices and approaches to comedy.
The United States has produced generations of comedians who have become influential figures in stand-up, television, film and popular culture. Names such as George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Steve Martin, Jerry Seinfeld and Joan Rivers helped shape American comedy for different generations.
More recent American comedians have continued to expand the possibilities of stand-up and comedy entertainment. Performers such as Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Jim Gaffigan, Ali Wong, John Mulaney and many others have built large audiences through live performances, television, film and streaming specials.
GiggleTime makes it possible to explore comedians from different generations and discover performers beyond the most familiar names.
American comedy is much bigger than stand-up. Sketch comedy has played an important role in television, with programs such as Saturday Night Live introducing generations of comedians, writers and performers to huge audiences.
Improvisational comedy is also an important part of the American scene, particularly in cities such as Chicago and New York. Improvisation and sketch groups have provided a pathway for many performers who later moved into television, movies and stand-up.
American sitcoms and comedy films have also had a major impact on popular culture. From classic television comedies to modern streaming productions, American comedians regularly move between live comedy, acting, writing, producing and online entertainment.
Comedy in the United States is not concentrated in a single region. New York City and Los Angeles are major hubs for professional comedians, while Chicago has a particularly strong tradition of improvisational and sketch comedy.
Other cities, including Boston, Austin, Philadelphia, Seattle and Nashville, have developed active local comedy communities with clubs, theaters, open-mic nights and independent performers.
This regional diversity means that American comedy can feel very different from one city to another. Local culture, accents, experiences and audiences all influence the material comedians develop on stage.
The way people discover comedians in the USA has changed significantly with the growth of streaming platforms, podcasts, social media and short-form video. A comedian can now build an audience through clips and online performances before appearing on television or performing in major venues.
Podcasts have also become an important part of the American comedy ecosystem, allowing comedians to develop their personalities and connect with audiences outside traditional stand-up performances. Social media has created another route for emerging comedians, particularly those who specialize in short sketches, observations and viral comedy.
Whether you enjoy classic American stand-up, modern comedy specials, sketch comedy, improv, sitcoms or internet humor, there are countless American comedians to discover.
Explore the GiggleTime comedian directory to find comedians from the United States and discover different generations, comedy styles and voices from across the American comedy scene.
