Greatest standup comedian of all time?

I don't know if he was considered a stand up comedien, but Groucho Marx was the funniest man to ever live. Richard Pryor second.

perhaps a little too corny for this forum ?
i enjoyed VICTOR BORGE'S antics - saw him live a couple of times -
he certaily made me laugh !

here he is with DEAN MARTIN doing PHONETIC SPELLING .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7L02tCNi0I

I can't believe that no one mentioned Bill Cosby, the man is a comic genius. I would say that he is in fact the best of all time.

My husband was telling me about this hilarious stand up comic he saw in Chico once named Tree. An internet search only turned up your comment here. Just curious....where did you see him perform?

Is he the comic who said that tofu in Japanese is spam?

Never saw him in person (not even in Chico, where I've spent a bit of time) -- just caught him on a TV showcase at some point and he stuck in my memory.

And since it's been resurrected...

Zach Galifianakis has been in movies a lot lately -- saw him here in town 3 or 4 years ago and I just about died laughing. Absurdity piled on top of absurdity. Definitely building on Steve Martin's sculpted weirdness and nonsequitur standup from the 70s.

I must agree that Bill Cosby is a masterful comedic storyteller.

But noone has made me laugh more than Geo.W.Bush. Hysterical.

Neil Hamburger is the greatest comedian ever! Anyone that relies jokes like the fouling, deserves some credit.

"Why did God create the Paris Hilton sex video tape?
Well, so that the mentally retarded would have something to masturbate to."

"Hey, what's the difference, what is the difference, between Courtney Love and the American flag?
Well, it would be wrong to urinate on the American flag."

"Why does Arby's put so much mayonnaise on their sandwiches?
It makes it easier to flush them down the toilet."

"Why did the Red Hot Chilli Peppers cross the road?
Well because they were running away from the rehab clinic."

Greatest standup comedian of all time? Not sure about that; I do like George Carlin though

i second mr carlin.

With all seriousness, my three favorite comedians are Bill Hicks, George Carlin, and Stephen Wright. I also find myself enjoying a good Doug Stanhope rant as well from time to time.

I was in a job interview and I opened a book and started reading. Then I said to the guy, "Let me ask you a question. Suppose you are in a space bus traveling at the speed of light, and you turn on the headlights--what happens?" He said, "How should I know?!" I said, "Forget it, I don't want to work for you." - Steven Wright

"Since light travels faster than sound, isn't that why some people appear bright until you hear them speak?" ~ Stephen Wright

Pryor/Carlin

I'm really not a snob when it comes to expletives, but I really have fond memories of my favorite comedian, Graucho Marx.

Daniel Tosh, Eddie Murphy, and of course Russell Peters

I saw Tree perform at a comedy club in Fresno once, back around '87 or '88 I think. He came out there looking so big and tough with that shaved head, dark sunglasses, and leather, and he really looked intimidating. Then he ripped off the glasses and totally flamed (as in homosexual) out! I have never laughed as hard at any comedian before or since. There is one video of him on YouTube, but the sound is way out of sync. Can't seem to find any others, but I'd dearly love to see him again!

I was just scrolling through because I'm astounded no one, including myself, mentioned Bill Hicks. Genius. Good catch, Kicky.

Lewis black is terrific and Richard Jenni, R.I.P. was a terrific and underrated comedian

Dean Martin, by far. I still have 8 VCR tapes of his celeb Roasts, and 17 VCR tapes of his weekly shows. Make me an offer