Any comedian that stands up and tells jokes is NOT a comedian. He is simply a joke teller. Anyone can tell a joke and in my mind there's no room for it in stand up comedy. Leave it for the pubs.

Now those that can put humourous spins using observation, personal experience or complete surrealism are the true comedians. The true original alternative comedians, well in Britain anyway, are Billy Connolly and Jasper Carrott. Those guys are legends. A few of my personal favourites from more recently include: Paul Merton, Ross Noble, Noel Fielding, Frank Skinner (not as funny nowadays), Lee Evans (did lose it but is hilarious again) and Dave Gorman.