I just watched Ari Shaffir's new special on Netflix and really enjoyed it. I always thought he was a decent but not great comic, but his America's Sweetheart special on Netflix is the funniest thing he's ever done. He really stepped up his game.
So now if I had to rank the comedians in Rogan's inner circle, he's right at the top. In fact he might be too good for that circle now.
Here's how I'd have them ranked:
1. Ari Shaffir
2. Joe Rogan
3. Tony Hinchcliff
4. Bryan Callen
5. Joey Diaz
6. Brendan Schaub
I know Rogan is friends with a ton of other comics but I feel like these are the ones in his inner circle.
1- Ari His "Jew" special was decent and I can't say that about any else on this list.
Also I REALLY liked his comedy central long form story telling show. I found a few comics I like from that and just dig the long story format as a unique and different approach to comedy. Gapsar Almonte has a few 10-20 minute jokes/stories that are really funny. "Reverse Drive By" and the one about getting food for his chick when she was pregnant and a story about getting caught fooling around and climbing out the window (he weighs like 300 pounds and lives in Brooklyn or Queens)
If Tom Segura was included he has a few funny-ish stories.
Drop of is monumental from here.
2- Tony Hinchcliff. I have never seen his comedy but he at least contributes something to the comedy world with his Kill Tony show which I have occasionally found other up and comers. There is an eastern European dude who is decent and makes fun of dumb shit in America. Kam Patterson is funny and unique.
3- Bryan Callen- stand up is meh to bad but he has some funny work as an actor. Decent job in Hangover ìf I recall correctly (been a while since I seen it)
4- Joey Diaz. Funny on a podcast, ok stories, nothing great from the little stand up I have seen.
5- Joe Rogan. His Stand up is legitimately BAD. His recent Netflix was loaded with really out of touch date shit. Like talking about it being annoying to go thru TSA screening or just really played out trans jokes (from the 15 ish minutes I could tolerate as background while cleaning ny kitchen before turning it off)
Felt like he wrote the jokes in 2014.
It was painful to watch.
Like really really bad.
6- Brendan Schaub tells other people's jokes poorly. Is he even still doing comedy?