A comedian (m), comedienne (f), or comic, is a comic performer who entertains an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting the fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy. A comedian who stands alone and addresses an audience directly is called a stand-up comic.
A comedian can be distinguished from a clown because clowns most often use slapstick, wear costumes and makeup, and engage in buffoonery, whereas comedians most often focus on a more verbal style of humor, telling jokes.
A popular saying, variously quoted but generally attributed to Ed Wynn,[1] is, "A comic says funny things; a comedian says things funny," which draws a distinction between how much of the comedy can be attributed to verbal content and how much to acting.
Since the mid-1980s, a new wave of comedy, called alternative comedy, grew in popularity with its more offbeat and experimental style. This normally involves more experiential, or observational reporting, e.g. Andy Kaufman. Alternative comedy is now arguably the mainstream.
Formats of a comedian's show are flexible and often depend on the type of comedy. Some comedians like Brian Figarol and Jack Tzianabos speak about their own day to day lives, while others like Frank Skinner sing humorous songs.
As far as content is concerned, comedians such as Tommy Tiernan draw on their background to poke fun at themselves, while others such as Bill Maher and George Carlin have strong political and cultural undertones.
Many comics achieve a cult following while touring famous comedy hubs such as the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal, the Edinburgh Fringe, and Melbourne Comedy Festival in Australia. Often a comic's career advances significantly when they win a notable comedy award, such as the now defunct Perrier Award. Comics typically survive by continuous touring and foray into other areas of entertainment, such as film and television, when they have become much better known.
