2012 Best of The Spit Take

Comedy is cool again. Perhaps cooler than it's ever been. Yet in traditional media, coverage of the stand-up world still tends to get lumped in with that of music. Why is it that unlike music, film, literature, theater, architecture, or television, the public perception of comedy remains that of mere good-timey, alcohol-enhanced, interactive sideshow as opposed to legitimate art form? In print and online, there are knowledgeable, unbiased, professional writers debating and deconstructing everything from sports and fashion to food and video games. Where are the great comedy critics? TheSpitTake.com likes to think that we've found a few of them already. Josh Bell, Daniel Berkowitz, Patrick Bromley, Elise Czajkowski, Dyan Flores, Danny Gallagher, Steve Heisler, Austin L. Ray, Michael Tedder, John Wenzel and Nick A. Zaino III review 2012 releases and live performances by talent including Chris Gethard, Kevin Hart, JB Smoove, Bob Saget, John Mulaney, Colin Quinn, Patrice O'Neal, Ron Funches, Sara Benincasa, Garfunkel and Oates, David Koechner, Ralphie May, Doug Stanhope, Steve Martin, Lewis Black, Maria Bamford, Moshe Kasher, Rick Shapiro, Jim Gaffigan, Lisa Lampanelli, Paul F. Tompkins, Marty Allen, Patton Oswalt, Todd Glass, Kyle Kinane, Lizz Winstead, Reggie Watts, Tenacious D, Hannibal Buress, Gary Gulman, Michael Ian Black, Jimmy Fallon, Ernie Kovacs, Jim Norton, Matt Braunger, Todd Barry, James Adomian, Amy Schumer, Mike Birbiglia, Robert Kelly, Brent Weinbach, Eugene Mirman, Weird Al Yankovic, Tig Notaro, Rory Scovel, Brian Regan and more.