Who Is The Funniest Comedian You Saw Live?

Thats impossible to answer. I see comedy shows 300+ times a year so I see the funniest comedians every week, if not every day. I have shared the stage with legends like Gary Gulman, Bill Burr, Judy Gold, Jen Kirkman, Chris Franjola, Nikki Glaser,  Max Amini, Maz Jobrani, Greg Fitzsimmons, Alonzo Boddin, Bret Ernst, Dane Cook and even Bob Newhart to name a few. This is not to mention all the amazing Chicago comedians I work with on a regular basis or started with who are selling out theaters.  I get to see all of them not only on stage but off stage. I am blessed.

As a kid, I loved Edie Murphy and Andrew Dice Clay. My brother snuck me into the theater to see RAW when I was 12 and I illegally bought Andrew Dice Clay cassettes at the record store.  My two favorite comedians that I used to watch on the Tonight Show and Letterman were Jerry Seinfeld and Jake Johannsen. My friend Tracey took me to see him at Zanies in Chicago for my first real stand up show when I was in law school. The whole time I was laughing, I was surprised I did not go to comedy shows more often. And I was equally surprised and star struck when he was at the door shaking hands (and I think selling CDs).  I think I told him I loved him on Letterman.

Fast Forward to last year when I got to feature for Jake at the same club I saw him at 25 years earlier. A club I work often in Chicago now. I think he liked me or my stuff because we ended up grabbing drinks and talking all weekend. I opener for him at Zanies Rosemont after that and we stayed in touch, chatting via text every so often. Because I still go to sleep watching Johnny Carson now, (you can watch the Best of Carson live on Amazon Prime), whenever he was I would send him pictures and we chat it up. And honestly, I still woudl crack up by myself in bed watching his set from 35 years ago.  

Last month I auditioned for the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach and got to work with him again. He made sure to introduce me to all the staff and made me feel less like an imposter. I will be back at that club in October and hope he is there again.  So yeah, Jake Johannsen was the funniest comedian I saw live. #standup #comedy #comedian
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