For more recent comics, I've got to go with Brian Regan. That guy is so damn funny. I don't ever go see comedians live but I've paid to see him twice and I laughed like crazy both times.
I don't know if he does stand-up comedy, but Wayne Brady is one of the funniest guys I've ever seen . . .
Dammit. I knew the other sentences seemed foreign to me, but chopin' brocoli will always be on my brain due to Beluishi's rendition of Beethoven. Augh I'm weird.
Gallagher was good back in the day, but he's turned into a gimmick now... Jim Carey was actually very good at stand-up before he became a movie star. Richard Pryor is my all-time favorite.
Jake Johanson (no, he doesn't have a sitcom, but he's funny as hell). Jay Mohr does the funniest Christopher Walken you've ever seen. Do Tenacious D count? Damon Wayans. Dennis Miller. And I can't believe that nobody's mentioned Chris Rock.
Another stand-up that is underrated: Dana Gould. I think his stand-up is brilliant..he had a few showtime specials that were genius. I think he has produced stuff for the Simpsons. More on Hicks: John Cleese said he was like Lenny Bruce only funny. I have a couple of Lenny Bruce cds and I find him more interesting as a person than very funny. The material is dated and the hip slang sounds indistinquishable from Maynard J. Krebs, daddy-o. Just my opinion. The Goldman biography of him is not bad. As for funniest comic minds: Woody Allen Albert Brooks Michael Palin John Cleese David Foley Scott Thompson (Kids in the Hall was awesome). Conan O'Brien Chris Elliot Jack Benny Grouch Marx Harpo Marx Peter Sellers JB and KG of Tenacious D Now, hear me out: the best skit comedy show *ever*: Mr. Show with Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. The show was set to come out on DVD, but the bastards at HBO are sitting on it until their movie gets a release date. They are the best thing about entertainment in the last 10 years. If and when their show comes out on DVD, or is replayed on HBO I urge you all to watch and make a stain in your pants (in a good way). Sarah Silverman is in this, as well as Jack Black. Their spoof of Sid and Marty Krofft ("The Alterd States of Drugachusetts) is one for the time capsual.
Two more examples of people who kick comedic ass: Larry David, the co-creator for "Seinfield" and model for George Costanza. He now had his own HBO show, "Curb Your Enthusiasm," that makes Seinfield look like "My Three Dads." Well, almost. Billy Connolly: he is probably best known in the US as the Scottish replacement teacher for Howard Hessman on "Head of the Class." This is unfortunate. Not unfortunate because he is Scottish.... he is still is Scottish. He is also such a funny stand-up comedian that he makes people cry (in a good way). I like this topic, as you might have gathered.
Can't believe I forgot him. His stand up before his movie career took off is great, great stuff. Influenced generations of comics. Also: Denis Leary. Everything on "No Cure for Cancer" makes me laugh until I'm doubled over in pain. And then I laugh some more.
yeah definitely denis leary, i've listened to both his cd's countless times. lock and load has too many songs but it's too funny. with him my favorites would be chris rock and eddie murphy.
Actually, my favorite is George Carlin. My favorite "joke" of his is talking about cats and dogs, and how cats act so cool when they run into sliding doors and stuff, like they meant to do it. But when they get behind the couch: (limping) "****in' meow, oh, ****in' meow".
Damn, how could I forget Billy Connolly!!? He's really big in Australia. I went to one of his shows in Melbourne, and these people arrived 15mins late and sat down in the first row of seats, and he yelled out, "Hello!! We were just killing time until you got here!!" They were so embarrased! It was a killer!
"that's the best part -- that's the taint, man!" easily one of the funniest, most diabolically wicked skits in.. well, ever. why is dennis leary a star and bill hicks isn't? because there's no cure for cancer. leary has borrowed generously from the hick repitore. btw, why has janeane garafalo not been brought up yet? female, sure, but easily one of the two funniest females in like... well, ever.
