richard pryor was the best i ever saw. i rented out two of his videos last week and was astounded how well his work from the '70's has held up. that man was damn funny as hell!
early robin williams is next in my eyes.
No Seinfeld votes! I'm amazed.
George Carlin is my favorite. And Robin Williams is astonishingly quick. I don't think anyone can ad lib as well or as quickly as he can. Everybody else mostly works from a script.
Jes, I saw Robin Williams on his HBO special and I nearly wet my knickers laughing. I had never thought him exceptional until I saw his stand-up act.
My fave comic female would be Ellen Degeneres.
Or for comic duos, a British act, Morcambe & Wise, were excellent.
I thought of Seinfeld and Larry David, but they always get, from me, a head nod, or a "Yeah, I know what you're talking about."
Neither of these have ever passed the "Ohmigosh, I think I peed in my pants," test of a hilarious comedian.
Seinfeld's show, however, is another matter, entirely. But I think George Costanza and Kramer were the pee-worthy comics.
Steven Wright, and George Carlin, honourable mentions to Chris Rock and Eddie Murphy.
Whoopi Goldberg was brilliant, once upon a time. It bordered on being "performance" rather than standup, though...
I agree about Whoopie, patiodog. I've seen the show she did early in her career as well as Lily Tomlin's show - both were truly performances. They became characters, instead of just telling stories.
standups
Has anyone seen Steve Martin do a stand up? He almost caused me a hernia.
I voted for Steve Martin. I never saw him live, but I had a couple albums of his as a teen.
standups
LittleK, you say you VOTED for Steve Martin. Was there a poll of some sort that I missed? You've got a superior sense of humor. The man is a serious actor, producer (I THINK he's a painter as well) and his SILLY humor is simultaneously childish and sophisticated. IMO
No poll, the Q asks for my choice, I choose S.M. and Richard Pryor. Steve Martin has been less than thrilling as an actor, in my opinion.
I agree with BillW, I vote for Graucho! He was witty and quick. Clean, too! I also agree that Jack Benny had the best timing as a comedian. I also enjoy George Carlin's wit. Robin Williams is too hyper for me. c.i.
pryor, rock, martin, and williams.
newhart was great though. carson, letterman.
never really cared for leno.
wright was good.
leary's pretty good too.
Robin Williams
David Letterman
Ellen DeGeneres
Tim Allen
yeaaaaahhhh, Dennis Leary.
I never cared for Carson, though I do like David Letterman.
What about J. Garafalo?
Yes, Janeane Garafalo cracks me up!
standups
LittleK, I agree about Martin's acting, competent at most. I just heard on public radio, interview with the authors of The Trials of Lenny Bruce, that Bruce brought freedom of speech to the comedy clubs. He was funny too.
