Stand up comedy is the only art form you can't practice alone.  You have to actually get on stage and practice in front of other people in order to become skilled at it.  Most people can't hack it.  We've compiled a short list of some of our favorite comedians, some of which you may have heard of, the others are right on the brink of stardom.

Daniel Tosh

Daniel Tosh isn't your typical stand up comic.  He's tall, thin, and pretty good looking.  He's becoming one of the most popular comedians.  Fans love him, comedians love him.  His jokes are well written, his timing is great, and he has edgy material without going for the easy joke.  Over the past seven years he quickly emerged as one of, if not the, top comedians performing today.

 Zach Galifianakis

This guy is completely unorthodox.  Zacharius Knight Galifianakis entertains from a realm of absurdity and awkwardness, that often has a live soundtrack to it.  During many of his shows he plays a piano while spouting one-liners, and then relying on the melody to finish the joke.  He constantly pushes the limits of what is considered stand up comedy, from hiring street performers to sing on stage during his show, to walking into the crowd and having a timid girl repeatedly slap him in the face, and telling her she likes it.  You can also check him out as the star of Kanye West's video for "Can't tell me nothin'".

Greg Giraldo

You’ve probably seen Greg Giraldo [http://www.greggiraldo.com/] on Comedy Central. Besides his two stand up shows (Comedy Central Presents Greg Giraldo, The Stand Up Show with Greg Giraldo), he’s also a regular on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, and Comedy Central Roast. The Harvard Law School graduate naturally provides intellectual and politically provocative comedy. No impersonations or funny microphone sounds here. Not that his performances aren’t riddled with curse words and sexual references. And he certainly isn’t above some standard "potty" humor. But in general he provides thought provoking, witty humor. Giraldo’s delivery is most impressive. His confidence is evident in his fast paced, non-stop rants.

Mike Birbiglia

Birbigs, as he is sometimes called, is quickly becoming one of the hottest comics on the scene today.  Mike's appeal lies in his ability to tell true personal stories which border on the unbelievable, and on his child-like view of the world.  His popularity lies in his "Everyman" persona and approachable demeanor.  He's the type of guy most guys can relate to. 

Mitch Hedberg

Saving the best for last: A salute to a comedian who was absolutley fantastic.  Mitch was insanely popular with crowds and comics alike.  He was a true "rock-star" comic who, as friend Mike Birbiglia put it, "was famous without having his own sit-com." His style was so unique that it is nearly impossible to give someone a sample of his jokes, if they have never heard him before.  He is often compared to Steven Wright, because of the quick, non-sequitor jokes, but that is only because it is hard to compare him to anyone else.  Unfortunately, now he can also be compared to John Belushi and Bill Hicks, because he also died young.