Each year Comedy Central selects a group of up-and-coming stand-up comedians and gives them their very own 30-minute special for a series it calls “The Half Hour."
The network recently released the 15 selections for the show's 2014 season, and it's just one delightful performer after another. Do yourself a favor and check out these NSFW clips to see some of the best young comedians to look out for this year.
Newman was one of Comedy Central’s first class of “Comics to Watch” and has appeared on "John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show," as well as in many videos for CollegeHumor. In the clip below, he can be seen discussing his views on found lobster, dogs and being Jewish:
Voted one of the 10 Comics to Watch by Variety Magazine in 2013, Rothbart boasts a career as an actor, Internet sketch star and stand-up comic. Like many of the comics on this list, he began his career performing at New York City’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. He even had a small role in "The Wolf of Wall Street." In this clip, he discusses near-death experiences and what kind of parent he wants to be:
An actor, writer and comic, Distefano is known for his work on MTV’s “The Guy Code” and “The Girl Code.” Here he is doing a set on “The Late Show With David Letterman,” talking about his mysterious father, grad school and vague mobster jobs:
Perhaps one of the most recognizable faces on the list, Gethard has appeared in films like “The Dictator,” “The Other Guys” and “Big Lake.” He’s done TV appearances on “The Office,” “Louie” and countless others. He also hosts “The Chris Gethard Show” on New York public access (currently being adapted as a pilot for Comedy Central). He can be found here talking about virginity and being weird-looking:
If you recognize Lemon, it’s probably because he drove a taxi in 2012’s “The Amazing Spider Man.” He's also been on MTV 2’s “Guy Code” and “Hip Hop Squares,” as well as “Russell Simmons: The Ruckus” on Comedy Central. Here he talks about getting recognized and wanting it to happen when he's with a girl:
The southern charm of Feimster is subtle, but totally there. She worked as a sketch and stand-up comic in Los Angeles for many years, making a name for herself by becoming a regular at some of the city’s comedy hot spots. She even performed in the Groundlings’ prestigious Sunday Company, whose alumni include Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig. Since then she’s been on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and has worked as a regular writer and performer on “Chelsea Lately.” Here she talks about "modified" yoga, Hooters and coming out to her father:
Wengert has written for the Onion News Network, “The Nick Kroll Show” and Funny or Die. He is another comic from our list who is a regular at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. Here he goes over lowering your standard for how you reward yourself and why you should stop going on “fool’s errands”:
Zimmerman has been featured on “John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show” and “The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson.” He was chosen as one of the New Faces in the Just For Laughs festival in Montreal. At the beginning of 2014, his comedy album “Smiling at Wolves” reached number two on the iTunes charts. Here he talks about Panera and committing to pizza way too far in advance:
This dapper comedian has been lauded by Variety, Time Out New York, Time Out Los Angeles, Comedy Central and the New York Comedy Festival. His TV credits include “@Midnight,” “Chelsea Lately,” “Bob’s Burgers,” “Delocated” and IFC's "Bunk." In this clip he talks about Sublime, breastfeeding and smoking at the age of 10:
Voted the best New York comedian of 2013 by the Village Voice, Normand also won the March Madness Stand-up Competition at New York's Carolines on Broadway. He's appeared on “John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show,” taped the pilot for VH1’s “Best Week Ever” and appeared on the most recent season of “Last Comic Standing.” Here he can be seen talking about hangover cures, gay bars and being an honorary Jewish comedian:
This comic has been a working performer since 2010 and currently writes for "Saturday Night Live." According to The New York Times, he sometimes does five shows at various clubs throughout New York City in less than two hours. He has also been featured on “John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show” and stars in a Web series called “The Realest Candidate.” Here he talks about marrying animals and living in liberal New York:
Since moving to New York City at age 17, Feinstein has been on “Just for Laughs,” “Comics Unleashed” and the seventh season of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” She has also had her own “Comedy Central Presents” special. In this clip she talks about awkward breakups, even more awkward sex and her mother’s reaction to her performances:
Funches has been a regular on Comedy Central’s "Nick Kroll Show" and Disney’s "Crash and Bernstein." He even had a small guest role on Fox’s "New Girl." He can also be seen on NBC’s “Undateable.” Here he takes you through his thoughts on tough guys, black tuba players and obese cats:
A lot of the comics on this list were featured as a New Face at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal. However, Johnagin was the festival's best-reviewed comic in 2007. Since then he’s had appearances on “The Late Show With David Letterman” and finished second on NBC’s "Last Comic Standing." In this clip from "Conan," he talks about getting his girlfriend pregnant and hunting for a nanny:
Sure, this guy is an accomplished stand-up comedian, but others might be more familiar with his popular sketch video characters, Mr. Panos and Maurica. Here he talks about the horror of dog parks and how iPhones killed boredom: