Top Five Comedians to Help Forget About COVID | Osric Baird

With everyone panicking about the government, climate disasters, and global supply chain disruptions, sometimes we need a good laugh. Comedy is good medicine; it’s more impactful than the fast-spreading false news that plagues television. Comedy is a true, full form of art. Comedian Jonathan Douglass believes, “Mainstream comedy has had a lack of risk-taking in the past couple of years. I think it is important that people be unafraid to put their voice into their comedy; Bill Burr does that, I believe Chris Rock and Trevor Noah do as well.” 

Here are the top five comedians that will help you forget about COVID-19.

Trevor Noah

Noah discusses current events with an open mind. His comedic approach is vast and he expresses truth to power. When COVID-19 was all over the news, he reported on it unlike any other reporter. He kept his content interesting by joking about America’s terrible handling of the pandemic. Many agree with most of his points, especially Americans; this is probably because we all need to hear that honest tone. “Many Americans refuse to wear a mask because it makes it harder to breathe. But you know what else can make it difficult to breathe… coronavirus.” His honest commentary and rhetorical questions frequent his Twitter. He sometimes even uses them in his late-night show, making it hard to miss out on all of the fun.

Chris Rock

Sometimes, it’s good to hear the truth from someone as honest as Chris Rock in a world full of lies. He will tells you of horrible events from his past and, as he told Rolling Stone, he talks about current problems. “Hey guys, I just found out I have COVID-19, trust me, you don’t want this. Get vaccinated.” Like many other comedians, he offers an honest look at the dark times we are all experiencing. “Comedians tend to find a comfort zone and stay there and do lamer versions of themselves for the rest of their career.” Chris Rock understands better than most comedians what his audience wants and delivers in a very personal way.

Dave Chappelle

Chappelle is one of the most recognizable comedians. Many praise him for his comedy, especially when it comes to heavy topics that can shake up today’s cultural and political conversations. Recently, he has received a heavy amount of blowback by joking about the genitalia of trans women. He is the one who turns the rock over to let the bugs spill out. However, Chappelle understands that his humor is not for the faint of heart. Despite his unfiltered content, he has accumulated a large crowd of supporters and a loyal fan base. Chappelle has plenty to say about COVID-19. “And after all these months and after doing all these shows, goddammit, my number was up and then I had the ‘Rona!” He challenges his audience by giving them different perspectives on topics they otherwise thought were one-dimensional or insignificant. He had been off the grid for some time and took a break from social media. He requested his fans to “boycott Chappelle’s Show. Do not watch it unless they pay me.” No one had heard from him in years until he came out with loads of new material.

Bill Burr

Burr’s comedic act deals with America’s current dilemmas, giving a voice to the more obscure difficulties that many face. Burr’s delivery on these social issues is not for your grandma or eight-year-old. Burr’s comedy comes from his attitude; his blunt delivery makes him sound the most compelling out of all the comedians previously mentioned. He is a comedian that does not care about the opinions of others. He will say what needs to be said. He will express his anger with the average American, adding fuel to the fire of an already outrageous society. On Complex News, he said, “I don’t care. I don’t care if you think the world is flat. I don’t care what you think. Just do whatever the hell you’re going to do.” Jonathan Douglass agrees that Burr’s brutal honesty makes him popular. “Bill Burr is a comedian that has the grit to say what he wants but has the heart to work on himself, Burr proved that with his Paper Tiger special.” Unfortunately, Burr is still unable to perform for a cable television audience. His material is too raw; comparatively, Trevor Noah is much more filtered for a mass television audience.

Kevin Hart

Hart’s act is all about the hard times he has gone through to make himself feel better, but it’s not all narcissistic. His jokes are incredibly relatable; he has been in many commercials during the pandemic. The commercials he featured in have made him a household name, making his content ironically relatable to his target audience: families. With everyone locked in their houses for long periods of time, family problems may arise. His comedy aims to answer these problems by looking at his past failures, pains, and successes.  Although he will talk about things such as his father, who was addicted to cocaine, he will find a way to look at them positively.  In August of 2017, Hart told the website Detox Rehab, “Laughter heals all wounds, and that’s one thing that everybody shares. No matter what you’re going through, it makes you forget about your problem.” 

Hart makes battling demons funny. Everyone is able to go to work now, and we are starting to witness the problems that have surfaced due to the lockdown, such as high gas prices, relationship problems, and work requirements. Hart is a man of heart, working up the courage to tackle these problems, grab them by the neck, and swing them back at his audience to make them laugh.

Osric Baird is a Staff Writer for the Blue Muse Magazine

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