Who’s The Greatest Comedian Of All Time?

I can't believe no one mentioned Bill Cosby yet...One of my favorites

Pixel Pirate wrote: The greatest comedian? George W.Bush,of course.

Glass-Prison:

Uh...hmmmm...well....maybe.  But considering that Seinfeld is a relatively new sitcom as sitcoms go (there were three decades of sitcoms before it), and even if all subsequent sitcoms have been influenced (I'm using a nicer word...) by it (a statement I would not agree with), are you telling me that Larry David was not influenced by others before him?

I think that if you go through the history of sitcoms and TV comedy, you will find that Larry David did not "spring full-grown from the head of Zeus."

Peace.

I enjoy Lewis Black's anger-driven rants. Even if his routines are simply bitching and moaning, they are still funny as hell!

Thought all of you might find this apropos:

"Alebachew Teka, Ethiopian Comedian, Dies at 43
January 20, 2005
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 
 
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Jan. 19 (AP) - Alebachew Teka, a comedian and talk-show host who was a television star in Ethiopia, died on Sunday when his car careered off a road and plunged into a ravine, the police and his friends said.  He was 43.  Mr. Alebachew was driving from Addis Ababa to Jimma, 124 miles to the west, to film a documentary when the accident happened. A cameraman also died and another was seriously wounded, the police said. 

More than 60,000 mourners attended Mr. Alebachew's funeral on Monday in Addis Ababa.
 
Mr. Alebachew rose to prominence during the 1980's in a satirical television show that was a hit under the military dictatorship of Mengistu Haile Mariam. But his successful series, "The Alebe Show," brought him widespread fame. On it, Mr. Alebachew would persuade rich guests to pledge money to help the destitute."

60,000 people attended his funeral.  Given the relative size of Ethiopia and the U.S., this would be the equivalent of over 300,000 people attending the funeral of, say, Ray Romano.  This makes it clear that there are comedians in other countries who are every bit as "great" as those english-speaking comedians we have named.

Peace.

All:

I hesitate to get all philosophical on you (sure...), but...

First, comedy, like music, is largely about taste: what is "funny" to  one person may not be funny to another.  Second, I think there is a difference between actors who do comedy (i.e., "comedic actors") and "real" comedians, who focus on their comedy (even if they happen to do a few movies).  In this regard, we would seem to require two separate lists.

The poll list clearly reflects a "youthful" perspective.  There is virtually no one - either comedic actor or comedian - pre-1960s.

For example, where are Milton Berle (who practically invented "visual" comedy, being the first comedian with a TV show), Jack Benny, Alan King, Red Buttons, Red Skelton, Morey Amsterdam, Peter Sellers and virtually the entire cast of "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," including Jonathan Winters (how on earth did all of you forget him?), Dick Shawn (arguably the funniest man who ever lived), Sid Caesar, Don Knotts, Phil Silvers, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney, Terry-Thomas, Jimmy Durante et al?

Where are the early TV-based comedians - Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Lucille Ball et al - who blazed the trail for the "sit-com," and stars from Carroll O'Connor to Ray Romano?  Indeed, as an aside, not a single female comedienne or comedic actor has been mentioned: from Lucille Ball, Audrey Meadows, Joyce Randolph, Phyllis Diller and Zasu Pitts to Jean Stapleton, Elayne Boosler, Rita Rudner et al.  And, as many have noted, also missing are the pioneers of film comedy, including Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, The Marx Brothers, Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costelle et al.

Also missing are the trail-blazing stand-up comedians (all of whom eventually went into film), including Woody Allen (completely forgotten here!!), Robin Williams, Steve Martin (how could all of you forget him?) and Eddie Murphy, who blazed the trail followed by Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Dennis Miller, Dennis Leary, Steven Wright et al.

Finally, missing is any mention of "Borscht Belt" comics like Myron Cohen, Zero Mostel, Jackie Mason et al, who created an entire genre which survives to this day; indeed, you would not have George Carlin without them.

Even given all of the above, I know I am leaving out many, many important names - innovators, influencers, trailblazers.  And one member is entirely correct that we are being very "english-speaking-centric" about this list.  There are dozens of major comedians in other countries.

Again,  my apologies for "waxing philosophical."  But comedy is, after all...serious business.

Peace.

What about the humour mixed with music? There is an argentina band call Les Luthiers, that makes it's own instruments from a very strange sort of materials: toilet seats, labs tubes, various sizes cans, etc. Those instruments actually works, and they play in live concerts with them. Its shows are ilarius, at least the two which I had the chance to attend.

No Chris Morris?  Come on people, the man's a comedy genius.

I am still VERY annoyed that no-one has mentioned Peter Cook aside from me! Hasn't anyone seen or heard 'Beyond the Fringe' or 'Not Only...But Also'?!! If you possess ANY knowledge of comedy (real comedy that is...i.e. British, sorry guys) you MUST be aware of Peter Cook!

That doesn't mean that America hasn't produced any great comedians: Bob Newhart, The Marx Bros, Buster Keaton...strangely, none are on this list! Offhand, I was almost offended by the fact that the poll focused on all American stand-up comedians. (Chris Rock?! For god's sake! )

Edited by Rob The Good

george carlin: tonights forcast...DARK...with nscattered light to come in
the morning