4. The Duncan Trussell Family Hour
At the far reaches of the comedy multiverse is Duncan Trussell, a writerly comedian with a taste for underground and geek culture. While many nerd comics are content with getting cheap laughs at Gary Gygax's expense, Trussell exemplifies the true meaning of nerdiness: making yourself smarter. His philosophical approach to comedy picks up where Bill Hicks left off. The connection to Hicks is more than just a comparison. Last year, Trussell was diagnosed with testicular cancer. The ensuing operation left him alive and more viable than ever. Like the aforementioned Todd Glass, Trussell is a living, breathing exponent, spilling his guts every time he turns on a microphone, expanding consciousnesses in the process. He's been called a comic's comic by his contemporaries, and with good reason: he refuses to be anyone but himself.