The Stand-up world is the development system for comedy talent. The best of the crop would be selected to appear on shows like The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. If Johnny liked you, a career was made. This was also the breeding ground for supplying talent for sit-coms. Most of the people at the top of the stand-up world have become famous on TV and film. And most of the funny people on TV started out in clubs telling jokes for live audiences.
Here are some of the Best (also see the list at 100 Greatest).