Posted on 04/12/2013 6:00:41 PM PDT by fhayek
In a recent thread about the death of Jonathan Winters, it was stated that he was one of the funniest men who ever lived. He WAS funny, but he wouldn't be on my list of the funniest who have ever lived. And by "ever", I mean since the dawn of recorded media. My list of the funniest people who have ever lived would be as follows:
Groucho Marx
John Cleese
Mike Myers
Bill Cosby
Peter Cook
Rowan Atkinson
Charlie Chaplin
George Carlin
Mel Brooks
Woody Allen
Douglas Adams.
The sole criterion is that they make me laugh. Hard. Everybody is different. What makes you laugh might make me cringe. And verse visa. So list away...
Stephen Wright:
“I used to work in a fire hydrant factory. You couldn’t park anywhere near the place.”
“For my birthday I got a humidifier and a dehumidifier. I put them in the same room and let them fight it out.”
http://www.notso.com/wright.htm
Rush Limbaugh, Phil Hartman, Steve Martin, Damon Wayans, Rip Taylor, Sasha Baron Cohen, Jack Nicholson, Rodney Dangerfield, Marion Barry, Nancy Pelosi, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden.
I love Stephen Wright. Driest humor out there.
Been watching some old Abbott and Costello movies lately - Costello was a master of physical comedy and while lots of the humor was broad, he could muster some of the most marvelous, subtle funny expressions ever.....
-PJ
Allan Sherman.
-PJ
Sad that he went in that direction. His early stuff was a riot. Thanks for updating me.
I totally agree about Wodehouse, once I laughed so hard I fell out of my chair, I think it was while reading Uncle Fred Flits By. Jeeves, Mr. Mulliner, the Drones Club, and all the rest have given me hours of fun.
Netflix streaming video has 8 episodes of “The Bob Hope Comedy Hour” from the early 50s. Really fun to watch.
Phyllis Diller.
Scripted comedy is brilliant when the writers and deliverers are quality. But there is nothing funnier than someone really clever just ad libbing to whatever is going on. And I laugh every night listening to the great Tim Conway Jr on the radio on the way home. I don’t remember his dad’s comedy too much, but he is just a very funny man. Real, self deprecating, pretty conservative too. His quick wit makes even the 405 freeway traffic bearable.
Jack Benny. George Burns. Mark Steyn.
I bought some instant water....
Up on Cripple Creek...
Buster Keaton
Mr. Mulliner and his extensive family.
Well, it’s not mutually exclusive—there are comedians who are also jokes.
Didn’t you ever see David Brenner?
HEY! No mixing show biz and politics!
oh, wait........
Red Skelton gets my vote too.
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