Acidman solicited a listing of bloggers choices for their top 10 comedians. I have been a participant in the polls at Right Wing News, but I'd much rather write out my list and reasoning here.
For my listing I'm sticking to acts that I've seen, which eliminates Lenny Bruce, Mort Sahl, Red Foxx, and a few others who I imaging that I might put on my list if I had exposure to their material. Comic actors and actresses like Lucile Ball, Carol Burnett, John Cleese, etc. are also excluded so I can focus on standup comics. My top ten standup comedians:
- Richard Pryor - His early records were raw genius. He sustained a high level of quality material longer that anyone on this list, with the possible exception of George Carlin.
- Sam Kinison - The master of in your face shock comedy. The laughs he generated were of the painful gut splitting variety. Giving cunnilingus by sketching out the alphabet is a bit I remember vividly. Words to live by...
- Bill Cosby - He's somewhat of a blowhard these days, but I direct you to his concert movie, "Himself". There is no funnier standup comedy special or movie in my humble opinion.
- Edie Murphy - His fist two tours and concert movies were really the zenith of the stand-up comedian as superstar era.
- George Carlin - Seven dirty words was quite an educational experience for me as a youngster. He's veered in to grouchy old comedian territory, but still has occasional flashes of the brilliance of his past.
- Ellen DeGeneres - I always like her standup act. Her recent HBO special proves she's as good as ever, and since it was an hour long tribute to procrastination I was sure to be riveted to the tube.
- Steven Wright - In my view he was as innovative a stand-up act as I ever saw. He still is.
- Dennis Miller - Thinking man's humor; esoteric and riddled with references to historical events. Occasionally brilliant, usually thought provoking, and always entertaining.
- Bob Newhart - Before he was a sitcom star he was a standup comedian. His phone bits were priceless.
- Dennis Leary - Funny and edgy… His "Wakeup and smell the hazelnut crunch" line still make me laugh just thinking about it.
Bonus Choices
- Newcomer: Dave Mordahl (Featured on NBC's Last Comic Standing). I would pay good money to see him live. He is one seriously funny guy.
- Obscure: Franklin Ajaye - Obscure comedian from the late 70's. Starred in the movie Car Wash. I had one of his comedy records as a kid. He had a bit about sex during a woman's period, burning the sheets, shopping for feminine protections products... Funny stuff.
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Comments (19)
No Robin Williams? Man, his... (Below threshold)1. Posted by zombyboy | August 6, 2003 2:01 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
No Robin Williams? Man, his stand-up was freakin' brilliant. Yep, he would have to be on my list.
1. Posted by zombyboy | August 6, 2003 2:01 PM |
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Posted on August 6, 2003 14:01
2. Posted by john | August 6, 2003 2:01 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
No Chris Rock???
2. Posted by john | August 6, 2003 2:01 PM |
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Posted on August 6, 2003 14:01
3. Posted by jen | August 6, 2003 2:09 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Ellen is very good at stand-up. Thanks for listing her.
And I agree about Dennis Leary. Did you know he's going to be roasted? I saw an ad for it on Comedy Central, but I didn't catch the date it's going to be on TV.
3. Posted by jen | August 6, 2003 2:09 PM |
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Posted on August 6, 2003 14:09
4. Posted by James Joyner | August 6, 2003 2:21 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I actually forget Chris Rock. He is pretty good, although I'm not sure who I'd take off the list to add him.
4. Posted by James Joyner | August 6, 2003 2:21 PM |
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Posted on August 6, 2003 14:21
5. Posted by Kevin | August 6, 2003 2:40 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Robin Williams should be on the list... Chris Rock while hilarious equates in my mind to Eddie Murphy in his prime.
5. Posted by Kevin | August 6, 2003 2:40 PM |
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Posted on August 6, 2003 14:40
6. Posted by trigger | August 6, 2003 8:57 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Your top two are from Peoria, IL. I thought I'd point that out being a Peorian.
6. Posted by trigger | August 6, 2003 8:57 PM |
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Posted on August 6, 2003 20:57
7. Posted by anthony0101 | August 10, 2003 8:07 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
george carlin and pablo francisco should be on the list
7. Posted by anthony0101 | August 10, 2003 8:07 PM |
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Posted on August 10, 2003 20:07
8. Posted by tessa | August 13, 2003 2:08 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
You're absolutely right about Dave Mordahl. When he was taken off of the show by the morons in the audience I couldn't believe it. He is so very funny. Whenever they panned to his face on camera you could just see the wheels turning. And usually something very funny came out. He has a great sense of humor and better yet is very witty. He made me pee my pants laughing when he offered the rat to Dat Phan for a birthday gift. What an idiot! I think someone should pick up on him soon if they want a very funny "Stand-up Comic" not a "poser" as Cory K. said Dat Phan was and he is. This was supposed to be about stand-up comics not comedic actors; big difference. Also yes, Bill Cosby in his early days was very funny. I just let my kids listen to his old stuff and they laughed hysterically;he's still relevant. If you want to see some really funny stuff take a look at the Montreal Laugh Fest showing weekly on television right now. There are some very funny comics being showcased. Take care, bye, Tess.
8. Posted by tessa | August 13, 2003 2:08 AM |
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Posted on August 13, 2003 02:08
9. Posted by JJ | August 13, 2003 11:08 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
dave mordal, ralphie may, and rich vos out of all the last comic standing contestants were the funniest to me.
9. Posted by JJ | August 13, 2003 11:08 PM |
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Posted on August 13, 2003 23:08
10. Posted by michael | August 13, 2003 11:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
does anyone know when comedy central is gonna repeat any of the last comic standing episodes?
10. Posted by michael | August 13, 2003 11:17 PM |
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Posted on August 13, 2003 23:17
11. Posted by nick | August 20, 2003 6:17 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
i saw the chris rock stnad up called bigger and blacker, it was so funny i recomend it.
11. Posted by nick | August 20, 2003 6:17 PM |
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Posted on August 20, 2003 18:17
12. Posted by Pabs | September 7, 2003 4:56 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
What about dave chapelle??? That guy is amazing... he is sooo funny. He makes the funniest voices when imatating white people...
12. Posted by Pabs | September 7, 2003 4:56 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on September 7, 2003 16:56
13. Posted by yo | December 29, 2003 6:57 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
degeneres is a hack who doesnt belong at all...her shit is weak.
edie murphy is an actor who had 1 good comedy special.
that whole list is f*cked up.
BUT...he did get the top three...ALMOST right.
#1 is pryor no question
#2 is carlin
#3 is kinison
13. Posted by yo | December 29, 2003 6:57 AM |
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Posted on December 29, 2003 06:57
14. Posted by anthony | December 31, 2003 4:11 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
if you havent seen or heard mitch hedburg you need to check him out,, funny as hell
14. Posted by anthony | December 31, 2003 4:11 AM |
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Posted on December 31, 2003 04:11
15. Posted by Josh | January 16, 2004 11:41 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
WHERES CAHPELLE HE'S THE FUNNIEST GUY IN THE WORLD. IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN "KILLIN THEM SOFTLY" I WOULD WATCH IF I WAS YOU. HE'S GOT HIS OWN SHOW AND EVERYTHING. IM RICH BIATCH
15. Posted by Josh | January 16, 2004 11:41 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 16, 2004 11:41
16. Posted by John Saleeby | January 16, 2004 1:29 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Franklyn Ajaye! A very tasteful and sophisticated choice. Why isn't he the biggest comic in the world? Probably too cool to bother.
16. Posted by John Saleeby | January 16, 2004 1:29 PM |
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Posted on January 16, 2004 13:29
17. Posted by BF | April 14, 2004 9:46 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Picking the best comedians is not a popularity
contest.
Here is the real top 3:
1. Richard Pryor
2. Lenny Bruce
3. Bill Hicks
17. Posted by BF | April 14, 2004 9:46 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 14, 2004 21:46
18. Posted by lipstick girl | August 30, 2004 11:16 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Dave Mordal is by far the funniest guy I have ever seen, ever!!! We have never laughed as hard as when we watched him perform, and tonight on NBC's new season, the cow bit was hysterical! But it seems some don't get his humor-they must have NO sense of humor! GO DAVE! We are official Mordal groupies now!
18. Posted by lipstick girl | August 30, 2004 11:16 PM |
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Posted on August 30, 2004 23:16
19. Posted by Hände | September 23, 2004 8:01 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Hände http://beauty.gelago.de/cat141/Body-&-Wellness/Körper/Hände/
19. Posted by Hände | September 23, 2004 8:01 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on September 23, 2004 20:01