Bill Hicks
Carlin
Louis CK
Steven Wright
Joe Rogan
Henry Rollins (quasi-stand-up)
Dov Davidoff
Richard Pryor
Eddie Murphy
Ricky Gervais
Ron Shock
Dave Chapelle
Sam Kinison
and it just keeps going like that. Maher seems to think the trick to being edgy is repeatedly saying how edgy he is. He also seems to confuse dumbass metaphors with witty satire.
Good list. Only 2 people i would add to that. Christian Finnegan and Christopher Titus. Your spot on about Maher. The other thing i can't stand about him is how he attacks people and doesn't give them a chance like michael moore. If only Moore had quit after Canadian Bacon.
P.S. Back to School is an awesome movie and Kinison as a history teacher is hilarious and dead on.