Twitter touts itself as a revolutionary communication tool, but it’s mostly a timesuck that allows you to explore interesting or diverting videos and stories when you could (or should) be doing other, real work. Yet with more and more users, it can be tough to separate the wheat from the chaff and know what’s worth reading and what’s worth deleting. Thankfully, there are more than enough comedians out there tweeting through their days to make sure you never have to worry about missing a joke. Bookmark these accounts or put them in a list, and you’ll actually have a legitimate reason to log in. Tweet on:

1. Stephen Colbert: The official Twitter feed of Stephen Colbert is perfectly in tune with his character from “The Colbert Report”: pompous, uninformed, and determined to rock out like a true American. It’s like getting bonus scenes from the show.




Should news organizations make campaign contributions? Isn’t it enough that they refuse to ask follow-up questions?Wed Aug 18 03:50:42 via SocialOomphStephen Colbert
StephenAtHome

2. Jim Gaffigan: Jim Gaffigan has been touring and performing for years, and he recently acted for a few seasons on TBS’ “My Boys.” His feed is a great resource for tour info, as well as the latest dry one-liners from the man who once rhapsodized about Hot Pockets.




“North Korea threatens South Korea.” Gee, that doesn’t sound like the North Korea I know.Mon Aug 16 01:36:38 via webJim Gaffigan
JimGaffigan

3. Conan O’Brien: Coco got his Twitter account shortly after leaving “The Tonight Show,” and it quickly earned him more than 1 million followers. Reading it is like hearing a monologue one joke at a time, but in a good way.




The FDA egg recall has hit a total of 380 million eggs. I can’t wait till they find the tired, evil hen that did this.Thu Aug 19 19:40:58 via webConan O’Brien
ConanOBrien

4. Michael Ian Black: Michael Ian Black’s often surreal humor has set him apart in everything from “The State” and “Stella” to Wet Hot American Summer. Like many comics on Twitter, he’s also great about promoting his friends’ projects.




Just learned that Tallahassee is an old Seminole word meaning, “Trailer park.”Tue Aug 24 23:43:54 via webMichael Ian Black
michaelianblack

5. Eugene Mirman: Smart political humor mixed with rampant silliness. One of the best out there.




I hope the House Committee on Un-American Activities looks into Obama being Muslim & if he’s guilty, sends him back to Russia!Mon Aug 23 18:36:35 via webEugene Mirman
EugeneMirman

6. John Hodgman: John Hodgman is known for his appearances on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” and hilarious books like The Areas of My Expertise, full of fake information organized like an almanac. He tweets mostly conversationally with other comedians and friends, but he’s always an entertaining read.




“pokemon” on NPR’s to do list must have come before “friendster” and just after “confirm every cliche about NPR”Sun Aug 15 13:36:59 via Twitter for iPhonehodgman
hodgman

7. Patton Oswalt: One of the biggest names in alternative comedy (as well as the voice of the lead character in Ratatouille), Patton Oswalt’s tweets revel in the absurdity and trash of modern America.




Just a matter of time before the U.S. is liquidated by international margin calls. And there’s a PIRHANA sequel in the works!Tue Aug 24 08:26:23 via Twitter for BlackBerry-Patton Oswalt
pattonoswalt

8. Paul F. Tompkins: Paul F. Tompkins is one of the best in the business at harnessing social media for his act. He uses his Twitter feed to encourage fans to round up 300 dedicated ticket buyers in a given city, at which point Tompkins books a show there.




Hey, stupid spinning class, is blasting Fleetwood Mac’s “Hold Me” pumping ANYONE up? You’re just cranking your “Totally Random” playlist.Sat Aug 21 17:21:09 via Twitter for iPhonePaul F. Tompkins
PFTompkins

9. Rob Delaney: A younger comedian based in Los Angeles, Rob Delaney’s Twitter feed is a great place to see his act in its larval stages. Funny, occasionally over the line, often NSFW, and always worth checking out.




“Carrion” is probably my favorite word that sounds like a posh man’s name but actually means “dead animal meat bits.”Tue Aug 10 19:21:03 via txtrob delaney
robdelaney

10. Kyle Kinane: Kyle Kinane’s gotten a recent boost by touring with Patton Oswalt. His tweets are great for getting a feel for life on the road.




At a roadside diner outside Tulsa with two separate couples both looking like they’re about to recreate the opening of Pulp Fiction.Tue Aug 17 06:06:42 via Twitter for BlackBerry-Kyle Kinane
kylekinane

11. Rob Huebel: Probably best known as a talking head on VH1′s “Best Week Ever,” Rob Huebel is one of the go-to guys for modern sketch comedy or web-inspired series, including “Human Giant” and “Children’s Hospital.”




I wanted my haircut to say “supersmooth karatebadass” but I think it says “rollerblader”Thu Aug 19 22:26:01 via webRob Huebel
robhuebel

12. Aziz Ansari: Another “Human Giant” alum, stand-up Aziz Ansari currently stars on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.” He’s been an active tweeter for a while now, and has even used to service to rally fans around random causes, like his war against Imax.




Damn I wish Hermes made edible snacks, Cheezits just ain’t dope enough for my mouth. #PredictingKanyeTweets @kanyewestThu Jul 29 21:40:56 via EchofonAziz Ansari
azizansari

13. Aubrey Plaza: Aubrey Plaza has been performing comedy for a while at venues like the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, but it’s her role on “Parks and Recreation” that’s brought her a new level of exposure. Her Twitter feed is a repository of jokes, interesting links, and news about her appearances.




realemailfrommylandlord:”I found a necklace. It looks like it belongs to someone in a satanic cult so I left it on your screen door handle.”Mon Jul 26 02:12:37 via webAubrey Plaza
evilhag

14. Seth Meyers: Seth Meyers has been with “Saturday Night Live” since 2001, and is currently the head writer and anchor of “Weekend Update.” His feed is simple but witty, and a welcome source of his humor when the show is in reruns.




Saying leaked docs may hurt war effort is like saying straight D’s may hurt effort to attend Harvard.Tue Jul 27 12:42:37 via webSeth Meyers
sethmeyers21

15. Jimmy Fallon: Former “SNL” star and current host of “Late Night,” Jimmy Fallon has always been a proponent of Twitter, even going so far as to use it to get questions for interviews and jokes for the monologue. Following his feed is like getting to interact with the show.




MTV launched an online “Jersey Shore” video game. It’s the only online game that’s GUARANTEED to give your computer a virus. #FallonMonoWed Jul 28 02:31:04 via webjimmy fallon
jimmyfallon

16. Dave Holmes: Actor and comedian Dave Holmes has appeared in practically everything, and his tweets offer a hilarious look at the occasionally surreal L.A. life of a comic.

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Some 9-year-old girls made costumes out of oily rags they found in the garage and they’ve choreographed a…wait, no, it’s Ke$ha on Today.Fri Aug 13 15:48:45 via webdave holmes
DaveHolmes

17. Paul Scheer: A regular face on “Funny or Die Presents,” Paul Scheer of “Human Giant” performs regularly when he’s not appearing in films and TV series.




Whenever I’m at a crossroads, I ask myself, “What Would Wesley Snipes do?” Then I buy a gun and don’t pay my taxes.Sun Aug 08 21:23:51 via Twitter for BlackBerry-Paul Scheer
paulscheer

18. Rob Corddry: Former “Daily Show” correspondent and current “Children’s Hospital” star Rob Corddry is a prolific tweeter, and he tweets jokes as much as he replies or retweets.




It’s finally over for Frankie Muniz, right? We can put that behind us?Sat Aug 21 04:13:51 via TweetDeckrob corddry
robcorddry

19. Todd Barry: Todd Barry is soft-spoken but packs a razor-sharp wit. He’s also one of the comedians who will actually reply to you if you tag him in a tweet, which has to be worth something.




Not sure if there’s an award for “hottest woman seen eating Chicken McNuggets on a train,” but I think I have a nominee.Sat Aug 07 02:46:14 via -berTwitterTodd Barry
toddbarry

20. Mike Birbiglia: Mike Birbiglia’s comedy is all about his personal life, from his random childhood to his bouts of sleepwalking. He’s another frequent tweeter who interacts with his fans, which makes his Twitter feed a great resource for those who can’t see him live.




guilty pleasure: my favorite rock and roll bassist is mike huckabee.Mon Aug 23 00:57:04 via TweetDeckMike Birbiglia
birbigs

21. Louis C.K.: Often — well, almost always — rough around the edges, Louis C.K.’s Twitter feed is a must for fans of the brash comedian, currently starring in his own series on FX.




i have kissed exactly one man on the lipsSun Jul 18 03:49:47 via mobile webLouis C.K.
louisck

22. Stephen Fry: British comic presence Stephen Fry tweets about a variety of things, from pics he’s taken to things he’s reading at the time. Though he uses the feed (like all comics) to promote his material, it never feels overly commercialized.




That was a long day. Rather hoarse. I believe vodka and soda is a cure for that. Let’s find out.Thu Aug 19 17:37:12 via Twitter for iPhoneStephen Fry
stephenfry

23. Chris Hardwick: G4 personality Chris Hardwick tours a lot, performing solo stand-up and as part of the comedy duo Hard ‘n’ Phirm. He’s one of the more popular comedians on Twitter, with more than 1.3 million followers as of August 2010.




I’m going to start wearing more low cut shirts. I think it would really help my career if I had more “accidental” nip-slips.Sun Aug 15 22:03:41 via webChris Hardwick
nerdist

24. Eddie Izzard: Of course, Eddie Izzard is even more popular than Hardwick: More than 1.6 million people follow the British comedian, who tweets news headlines, smart opinion, and everything else going on in his world.




A friend of mine sent me this about human behavior in the work place http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc&feature=player_embeddedTue Aug 24 14:36:35 via Twitter for iPhoneEddie Izzard
eddieizzard

25. Miles Kahn: Miles Kahn is a writer and producer for “The Daily Show,” and his posts are consistently entertaining.




I’m doing Atkins and Weight Watchers simultaneously. I want to see how long it will take until my liver explodes.Wed Aug 25 14:35:47 via TweetDeckmileskahn
mileskahn

26. Brian Posehn: One of the participants in the Comedians of Comedy, Brian Posehn tweets about life as a touring comic as well as series and movies he’s enjoying. An avowed metalhead and down-to-earth guy, Posehn’s one of the better comedians when it comes to chatting with fans.




Dear guy that screamed “awesome” during the climax of the Expendables, thanks for speaking for the entire theater.Sat Aug 14 22:29:08 via EchofonBrian Posehn
thebrianposehn

27. Dave Hill: Dave Hill has appeared on multiple networks and contributes to a variety of online outlets, including Salon and the Huffington Post. He’s based in New York City and is one of the more frequent tweeting comedians.




Just woke up from a nap. In a closet of some sort. Smells like damp cardboard and cleanser mostly. Hear footsteps!Mon Aug 23 16:35:18 via webDave Hill
mrdavehill

28. Michael Showalter: Michael Showalter’s tweets are examples of the wry humor he’s been perfecting on stage and screen for decades now. He regularly tweets at other comics and friends, so it’s like being in on weirdly specific conversation.




Why does Dr Oz wear scrubs on his show? Is he squeezing in an episode between surgeries?Mon Aug 23 16:00:10 via webMichael Showalter
mshowalter

29. David Wain: Another comedian who got his start with the State, the troupe that featured Showalter, Black, and others on this list, David Wain is always busy with a project or concert of some kind, all of which are helpfully rounded up in his feed.




Yet another glamourous Hollywood night eating a burrito from a truck alone in hotel room on toilet. Gotta clean the beans off my keyboard.Wed Jun 09 05:05:37 via Twitter for iPhoneDavid Wain
davidwain

30. Thomas Lennon: Thomas Lennon, star of “Reno 911!,” mostly tweets about his social life and upcoming gigs, as well as links to video projects and more. Always funny.




If you run into me today, and we make eye contact: I consider that grounds for a dance-fight. You have been dance-warned.Thu Aug 12 14:23:30 via webThomas Lennon
thomaslennon