The second of three pieces on comics appearing in TONY’s second annual New York Comedy Festival show

Anthony Jeselnik
Who he is
Dashing crafter of evil-genius one-liners who recently moved from L.A. and is a year away from being on every comedy nerd’s top-ten list.
What he does
Tricks audiences across the country into laughing at horribly dark things; appears soon in his own half-hour Comedy Central special; opens his first HBO appearance with an AIDS joke—and then immediately brags about it.
Why we love him
Jeselnik doesn’t just play the arrogant asshole; he demands that you love him for it. Even when you think you’ve figured out his punch-line twists, he’ll still surprise you. Handsome plus wicked is such a winning equation.

Watch him perform

Anthony Jeselnik performs regularly at the Comedy Cellar; check comedycellar.com for schedules. TONY Approved happens Nov 7.

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Sean Patton
Who he is
New Orleans native who, after plying his absurdist trade in New York for only a year, scored a New Faces spot at Just for Laughs, and who has finally cut his self-dubbed “Ron Jeremy” hair.
What he does
Head-talks for VH1 list shows; lures audiences into a bizarre reality with the hook of a likable stage persona; occasionally, as he’ll tell you onstage, catches the “beat boxes” during flu season.
Why we love him
No one will ever accuse Patton of sounding like other comics. He’s been blessed with both the kind of skewed perspective other stand-ups covet, and the ability to mold that worldview into digestible jokes that won’t weird you out. Also, he’ll sometimes weird you out.

Watch him perform

Sean Patton cohosts Comedy as a Second Language Thu 30. TONY Approved happens Nov 7.

See more TONY Approved comedians >>