Who is the greatest comedian?

[Ivan Seeking]

Who is the funniest person or three that you have ever seen, heard, or the funniest author if that applies instead.

I think at his peak Robin Williams was incredibly funny. So was Steve Martin and many from the SNL crowd. When I was a kid, there was also a old guy around that went by the name of "Dean Martin's Uncle". I don't know if he really was Martin's uncle or not but this guy could walk back and forth on a stage telling one liners that would keep me and my dad in stitches as long as he talked.

Of course, what's funny today may be another thing tomorrow. I once thought Bugs Bunny was about the funniest wabbit awound.

[check]

Bill Cosby and Jerry Seinfeld are the funniest I think.
Another really good one is Sarah Silverman (funniest woman I think. Hot too!) I have a few video clips of her on Conan. I think I'm gonna go watch them now. :)

[remcook]

When I was younger, I used to enjoy Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean)

[check]

When I was younger, I used to enjoy Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean)

Aww, whatever happened to him? Johnny English was just about the worst movie ever. I heard tat he was being treated for depression but later found out that it's not true.

Bring back Mr. Bean!

[kuengb]

Since I've seen the movie "Man on the Moon" I must say I'm a fan of Andy Kaufman, though I don't know him very well. Actually I've only seen that half hour original material that came with the DVD, e.g. the "And the Bird Goes" song and some woman-wrestling scenes. But that was just soo cool :rofl:

Weird, but cool.

[allanpatrick]

I think the funniest person I've ever seen on TV is Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow of FRIENDS because they are always able to say the funniest, stupidest yet wittiest things all at the same time.

[recon]

It's funny that Matt LeBlanc has never hosted SNL (to my knowledge).

[The Bob]

Aww, whatever happened to him? Johnny English was just about the worst movie ever. I heard tat he was being treated for depression but later found out that it's not true.

Bring back Mr. Bean!

Johnny English was good. I like Mike Harding. He is a class comedian. Or Jim Davidson. Man, both really funny. :biggrin:

The Bob (2004 ©)

[Gokul43201]

Robin Williams -if you haven't seen the Bravo interview with RW on 'Inside the Actor's Studio, with James Lipton... well, too bad !
Jerry Seinfeld
Steve Martin
Jerry Lewis
Richard Pryor
John Stewart
Kevin Nealon
Chris Rock
and occasionally, Mike Myers

Rowan Atkinson is incredibly talented, but I really can't take maore than 10 minutes of his goofing off.

[Artman]

Jeff Foxworthy is pretty funny. I also like Robin Williams. Eddie Murphy can be hilarious. John Cleese in Faulty Towers. Colin Mockery (sp? from Whose Line Is It Anyway?)

[Njorl]

My favorites:

Bill Cosby
Steve Martin
Woody Allen
Jonathon Winters
Mel Brooks

Have any of you ever seen reruns or clips of "Your show of shows"? It was incredibly funny. It went off the air even before I was born, but it still holds up.

Njorl

[recon]

I'm not very in touch with comedy. But I have to say that "Whose Line is it Anyway?" cracks me up pretty well.

[zoobyshoe]

I think the single funniest person on the planet is Hal Holbrook doing Mark Twain in his show Mark Twain Tonight!.

If you've never seen it, check out your local video store. Some have it on tape.

[Janitor]

I am old enough to remember Red Skelton and his gentle brand of humor.

[Stranger]

definetly, Rowan Atkinson

[check]

I think the funniest person I've ever seen on TV is Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow of FRIENDS because they are always able to say the funniest, stupidest yet wittiest things all at the same time.

That doesn't make them comedians though. They don't write their own lines. If you think that they're funny on FRIENDS, you should give credit to the writers.

[zoobyshoe]

That doesn't make them comedians though. They don't write their own lines. If you think that they're funny on FRIENDS, you should give credit to the writers.
Er...no. There are no "actor-proof" jokes that can't be screwed up by bad delivery. I majored in acting in college and saw some of the funniest lines you could imagine turned to lead balloons by people with no sense of timing or delivery.

On the other hand, a good actor can take something that is only marginally funny on paper and turn it into a gut busting show stopper with just the right inflection.

If a joke works, it is 100% due to the actor.

[Gokul43201]

I'm probably the only person with this opinion : I enjoyed John Cleese more in Fawlty Towers than Monty Python.

[Math Is Hard]

Bill Cosby is amazing. My favorite was his "Those of you with or without children, you'll understand" routine.
I also loved Gilda Radner and Steven Wright.

[Evo]

This got me to thinking about some of the older comedians.

Jack Benny

Abbott & Costello - Who's on first?

George Burns & Gracie Allen

Groucho Marx had some great one liners.

Lucille Ball in her "I love Lucy" series.

[Ivan Seeking]

I'm too young to remember those guys.

[Evo]

I'm too young to remember those guys. :devil:

My favorites were the Looney Tunes cartoons where Jack Benny & Abbot & Costello were mice. Those are classics. :biggrin:

[Ivan Seeking]

Oh wow, I remember those. Yes I liked them also.

Of course, I always watched the re-runs of You Bet Your Life. I loved Groucho Hurray for Captain Spalding Marx. A&C Who's on first: I've probably heard it several dozen times.

Moving ahead a decade or so, some of the old Monty Python Stuff used to keep me in stitches.

[Chrono]

Robin Williams and Bill Engval.

[Evo]

Moving ahead a decade or so, some of the old Monty Python Stuff used to keep me in stitches.The guys from Monty Python, Terry Gilliam, Michael Pallin, John Cleese, are a riot. My two favorite movies that they did are "The Holy Grail" & "Time Bandits". They're both they type of movie that you have to watch several times to catch all of the jokes.

I LOVE the credits for the Holy Grail.

Møøse trained to mix concrete and
sign complicated insurance forms by JURGEN WIGG

Editor JOHN HACKNEY
Møøses' noses wiped by BJORN IRKESTORM-SLATER WALKER
Large møøse on the left half side of the screen in the third scene from the end,given a thorough grounding in Latin, French and "O" Level Geography by BO BENN
Suggestive poses for the møøse suggested by VIC ROTTER
Antler-care by LIV THATCHER


For those of you that would like a refresher on the "credits" for the Holy Grail, or "gasp", for those of you that have never seen it. Here's a link. Enjoy!

http://www.esquilax.com/mpython/mp2.html

[BobG]

Steve Martin (not only is he funny, he's really good with a lariat, too)
Red Skelton
Laurel and Hardy
Jerry Seinfeld
Gilda Radner
Art Carney (Jackie Gleason is good, but I really felt Art Carney and the actress that played Gleason's wife really made the Honeymooners work)

[Dagenais]

Funniest comedians:

1. Jerry Seinfeld
2. Jay Leno
3. Conan O'Brien
4. Chris Rock

In that order.

[check]

Er...no. There are no "actor-proof" jokes that can't be screwed up by bad delivery. I majored in acting in college and saw some of the funniest lines you could imagine turned to lead balloons by people with no sense of timing or delivery.

On the other hand, a good actor can take something that is only marginally funny on paper and turn it into a gut busting show stopper with just the right inflection.

If a joke works, it is 100% due to the actor.

It's true that they may be good actors and very funny on television, but I doubt that if you'd meet them on the street, or, better example, see them being interviewed on a talkshow, they'd be nearly as funny.

[Grizzlycomet]

Some of my favourites:
- Steve Martin
- John Cleese
- Rowan Atkinson
- Jay Leno
- Douglas Adams (author)
- Homer Simpson :rofl: :rofl:

[jimmy p]

In no particular order

Tommy Cooper
Rowan Atkinson
John Cleese
Lee Evans
Roy "Chubby" Brown (for that lower-middle class humour)

[jcsd]

Tommy Cooper
Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean wasn't that great tho', but Black Adder and Not the Nine O'clock News were.)
Monty Python crew
Harry Enfield
Ben Elton (only his writing tho' which includes Black Adder and the Young Ones)
Eddie Izzard
Bill Murray
Jerry Seinfield

[Dagenais]

I just finished watching a movie with Will Ferrell in it.

He's hilarious.

He goes right at the top of "best comedians".

[Ivan Seeking]

I just finished watching a movie with Will Ferrell in it.

Anchorman? The local news reporters were raving about it one morning - too true they say.

[Gokul43201]

I like Darrell Hammond for imitations

[Gokul43201]

Anyone seen the "Carry On" series ? I saw them as a kid and thought they were hilarious. Now I'd probably feel differently.

Just your regular crude, ribald slapstick...but they tickled me silly.

[Loren Booda]

I saw a sidesplitting video, 100 minutes "straight" of Robin William's solo manic antics. My doctor thinks he is diagnosable as schizoaffective.

[Math Is Hard]

I just have to mention Flip Wilson. I know most folks here won't remember him, but I sure loved him when I was a tiny tot. Anyone remember "Geraldine"?

[Evo]

Chevy Chase, my favorite movie of his was "Christmas Vacation". I can't count the times I have watched that movie. :biggrin:

He injured himself pretty badly with all the prat falls on Saturday Night Live as the clutzy President Ford.

Anyone remember President Ford?

[Ivan Seeking]

Did anyone ever consider the irony of Chevy doing Ford?

Sorry, the devil made me do it! Uh oh, here come da judge...

[Math Is Hard]

Anyone remember President Ford?

I gave my parents a video of all the SNL Christmas specials for Christmas last year. There's classic footage of Chevy as Pres. Ford trying to trim the Whitehouse Christmas tree. (Ladder required to reach the top of the tree of course.) Hilarity ensues!! :rofl:

[Math Is Hard]

Sorry, the devil made me do it! Uh oh, here come da judge...

hee hee hee! I love it!!! :rofl:

[Janitor]

Yep, I agree with Evo on the Chevy Chase vacation movies.

For those who mentioned Robin Williams, there is his short but sweet rendition of the Pointer Sisters' song Fire at the top of this list at this page: http://www.toontracker.com/demented/demented.htm

The same link, down near the bottom, has the immortal Blue Christmas done Porky Pig style.

[Evo]

I gave my parents a video of all the SNL Christmas specials for Christmas last year. There's classic footage of Chevy as Pres. Ford trying to trim the Whitehouse Christmas tree. (Ladder required to reach the top of the tree of course.) Hilarity ensues!! :rofl:That's a classic! :biggrin:

[Ivan Seeking]

I think some of the early stuff that Eddy Murphy did on SNL was legendary. Of course the writing helps but he could pull of satire with the best of them. Anyone remember Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood? or "I'm Gumby damnit!", or Butt Wheat? I can still see the slow motion repeats of Butt Wheat getting shot; over, and over, and over. :rofl:

[Evo]

Janitor, thanks for the link!!!

[zoobyshoe]

I saw a sidesplitting video, 100 minutes "straight" of Robin William's solo manic antics. My doctor thinks he is diagnosable as schizoaffective.
Nah. William's official diagnosis is Hypermaniacal Looneybird with Touretticklish Features. Check your DSM-IV. That's on the axis between Lunar Psychotics and Fruitcake Disorders.

[Evo]

or Butt Wheat? I can still see the slow motion repeats of Butt Wheat getting shot; over, and over, and over. :rofl:OMG!!! YES!!! :rofl: :rofl:

I think some of the early stuff that Eddy Murphy did on SNL was legendary. Of course the writing helps but he could pull of satire with the best of them. Anyone remember Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood? or "I'm Gumby damnit!"Those were so funny, you're bringing back memories. :biggrin:

[Ivan Seeking]

Nah. William's official diagnosis is Hypermaniacal Looneybird with Touretticklish Features. Check your DSM-IV. That's on the axis between Lunar Psychotics and Fruitcake Disorders.

He was a cocaine addict when at his best! I once saw an interview in which he was asked if he agrees that he is not as funny since he quit using cocaine - which was right after Belushi's death I think.... I'm not sure how he responded but the overwhelming impression was an affirmative. I guess mixing cocaine and Williams was like putting a match to dynamite - the guy would just explode into these long, unscripted rants that were absolutely hillarious. Much of what was seen on the Mork and Mindy show was unscripted. His spontateous outbursts of insanity on camera would often win the day. I guess insanity is funny? :biggrin:

[Gokul43201]

Nah. William's official diagnosis is Hypermaniacal Looneybird with Touretticklish Features. Check your DSM-IV. That's on the axis between Lunar Psychotics and Fruitcake Disorders.

Fruitcake !

That reminds me of the Pete Stark incident. Boy, was that something comical or what ?!:rofl:

[zoobyshoe]

I guess insanity is funny? :biggrin:
Actually, manic people are often incredibly charming and can be amazingly entertaining if they're in that kind of mania. I suppose being on cocaine is about the same thing.

Edit: Johnathan Winters is diagnosed bipolar. Every now and then he has to go "away" to a quiet institution somewhere to grow his lost marbles back.

[zoobyshoe]

Fruitcake !
Don't call me a fruitcake. I'm hypo-batty.
That reminds me of the Pete Stark incident.
Never heard of him. What happened?

[Ivan Seeking]

There is a lady that I knew long ago in a land far, far away, who was as nuts as anyone I have seen functioning in "normal" social circles. Now in her 70's [I would think], she assumes the charater or various historical figures and can single handedly keep a crowd entertained for an hour or two - a one woman show. She does this for civic groups, dinner theater and other public forums that are appropriate. Considering what I remember of her eccentricities this makes perfect sense; really. She probably believes she really is the character she plays. I would bet the whole thing is a fantasy for her; one that pays well no less.

[Dagenais]

Anchorman? The local news reporters were raving about it one morning - too true they say.

Actually, it was Old School.

I watched Anchorman the day it came out. The last time I went to the cinema was about 2 years ago.

Old School is a hilarious movie. Watch it if you like comedies.

Probably the funniest movie I've seen this year.

I'd like to mention Ray Romano in this thread too, since he's pretty funny too.

[Gokul43201]

Don't call me a fruitcake. I'm hypo-batty.

Never heard of him. What happened?

Rep. Pete Stark (D) Calif, I think is 70-odd years old and umm...has a way with words, shall we say.

Pete Stark to Bill Thomas (chmn. House Ways & Means Comm.) : "... it overwhelms me, Mr. Chairman, just like your intellect does. It is -- oh, you think you are big enough to make me, you little wimp? Come on. Come over here and make me. I dare you. ...You little fruitcake. You little fruitcake. I said, you are a fruitcake."


Bill Thomas called the sergeant at arms, and called in the Capitol Police to restrain Grampa Stark. This incident made all the news shows.

Another Pete Stark gem : ''Dan, this is Congressman Pete Stark, and I just got your fax. And you don’t know what you’re talking about. So if you care about enlisted people, you wouldn’t have voted for that thing either. But probably somebody put you up to this, and I’m not sure who it was, but I doubt if you could spell half the words in the letter, and somebody wrote it for you. So I don’t pay much attention to it. But I’ll call you back later and let you tell me more about why you think you’re such a great goddamn hero and why you think that [these] generals and the Defense Department, who forced these poor enlisted guys to do what they did, shouldn’t be held to account. That’s the issue. So if you want to stick it to a bunch of enlisted guys, have it your way. But if you want to get to the bottom of people who forced this awful program in Iraq, then you should understand more about it than you obviously do. Thanks.''

[zoobyshoe]

You little fruitcake. You little fruitcake. I said, you are a fruitcake."
I see. Eloquent, verbally creative. My kind of guy.

[zoobyshoe]

I'd like to mention Ray Romano in this thread too, since he's pretty funny too.
You love Raymond? So do I. I guess everybody loves Raymond.

[zoobyshoe]

...can single handedly keep a crowd entertained for an hour or two - a one woman show.
If you followed the TV show "ER" you may remember the episode where Maggie's bipolar mother shows up at the hospital out of nowhere, and while she's waiting for Maggie to arrive, kind of takes over the ER with a non-stop monolog that has everyone quite amused. (It's clear that she's a little nutty, but no one realizes she's manic.)

[jcsd]

Anyone seen the "Carry On" series ? I saw them as a kid and thought they were hilarious. Now I'd probably feel differently.

Just your regular crude, ribald slapstick...but they tickled me silly.

They had their moments, particularly Kenneth Williams:

"Your mail, doctor?"

"Yes I am and I can prove it!"

[Artman]

I think some of the early stuff that Eddy Murphy did on SNL was legendary. Of course the writing helps but he could pull of satire with the best of them. Anyone remember Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood? or "I'm Gumby damnit!", or Butt Wheat? I can still see the slow motion repeats of Butt Wheat getting shot; over, and over, and over. :rofl:

Or the immortal "Butt Wheat Tings for the Tids," or his classic love songs such as "Your once, twice, free times a madey." I still crack up over that.

[JD]

There are so many great comedians. Bill Hicks is one of my favourites.
A little dark but that's par for the course.
Laurel and Hardy can make me hysterical on a good day.
Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas vacation for his bizarre facial expressions and the scene where he gets trapped in the attic.