On a perfect day, when all the brain juice is fizzy and the conditions are right, I would put myself in the top 500 for written word, not performance.
The bests ever is tough. Richard Pryor was the man. I think part of him possessed Chris Rock. He can also tell a story that has more depth to it than just the amazing humor. The Chris Rock riff on the difference between being rich and being wealthy is amazing.
I loved Rowan Atkinson's "Bean" character, but his last movie "Johnny English" was mostly a disappointment.
As a kid, I loved Jerry Lewis, but a recent retrospective of his classic movies left me scratching my head.
Red Skeleton, Richard Pryor -- good choices.
Lenny Bruce would be on my list if he didn't make me thing so hard and if he didn't turn into an unfunny (but justified) paranoid towards the end.
Fox News is too scary to be funny. I do love The Daily Show & The Colbert Report.
I'm a big fan of the Marx Brothers.
Steve Wright is my kind of humor:
Him: You can't have everything -- where would you put it?
Me: I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.
Hmmm -- I know I started this thread, but I think I need to think about it some more.
I really wish that Mitch Hedberg was still alive. I would have loved to see his act grow and evolve. I like comedy where you hafta think in order to get the joke.
Lewis Black and Jeremy Hotz are funny but I also have to be in the mood for either of them.
Paula Poundstone and Louis C.K. are usually palatable no matter what my mood.
Koryn Locke
Posts: 31,847
Boston, Massachusetts, US
john_ wrote: It completely depends on my mood.
I really wish that Mitch Hedberg was still alive. I would have loved to see his act grow and evolve. I like comedy where you hafta think in order to get the joke.
Lewis Black and Jeremy Hotz are funny but I also have to be in the mood for either of them.
Paula Poundstone and Louis C.K. are usually palatable no matter what my mood.
I listen to Paula Poundstone on "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me." She's pretty awesome.
ShivaKitty wrote: I listen to Paula Poundstone on "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me." She's pretty awesome.
She's one of the best improvisational comedians I've seen in a long time. Some of my favorite material of hers is from her riffing on the audience.
Rehearsed comedy is great n' all, but the ability to be spontaneous and funny wins in my book any day.
I saw Howie Mandel performing at a casino in SoCal years ago. Most of his act was improv with the audience. That's the only time I've ever seen him funny. I have no idea why he went back to a routine because seriously, he kind of sucks at it. I suspect his OCD makes him over-think anything he's writing.
I forgot about George Carlin, and I don't know how. But I would consider, for me, Carlin to be more incisive than to-the-gut funny. I laughed at his presentation, but more than laugh, he got the brain going.
Gallagher was good, too, until he started smashing stuff. I liked the rest of the routine better. The smashing was an offshoot that become its own self-perpetuating schtick.
Steven Wright: I went to a store that said it was open 24 hours. The guy was locking up. I said, "I thought you're open 24 hours." He said, "Not in a row."
And lord please forgive me, but Larry can get me going with a story.
| 
| 
| edu