>>and he was already on SNL in it's prime by that point
>>selling out shows at that point of his career doesn't prove
>he
>>had clout as a stand up prior to those shows
>
>do you miss the repeated (and agreed upon) fact that for al
>intents and purposes SNL was "saved" because of him

yea but that doesn't prove he had a history of doing stand up
i'm sure there are SNL alumni who barely did stand up or whatever

ultimately i think it's pointless to base his standing as a stand up comedian on how many unknown shows he did in rinky dink lounges
if will i am had his first stand up special tomorrow and it was the best any of us has seen in 20 yrs then he's a "stand up comedian" as far as i'm concerned