Five Comics to Watch

Dwayne Perkins
Age: 37
Hometown: Coney Island, NY
Style: Conversational routines with social commentary
Background Cut his teeth at Harlem's Uptown Comedy Club, where rapid-fire jokes and one-liners keep the crowd from booing. "I'm in the school of George Carlin — he's my hero," Perkins says.
Signature bit: Cousin who got out of jail ("In two weeks he got a job at a bank! ... I'm just messing with you — he did a bank job")
Reminiscent of: Bill Cosby and Chris Rock
Watch: dwayneperkins.com