# Comedians Whose Popularity You Can't Understand (No Recent Ones, Please) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 9, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234 "2003-11-09T14:50:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/61 "2003-11-11T22:16:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gail \* > \*\*Andrew Dice Clay…At least Lenny Bruce had a purpose for his “shock value”. Andrew just tried to be disgusting. > > Sam Kinneson \*\* You picked my two. ---
**Author:** ![Lucki\_Chaarms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lucki\_Chaarms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucki_Chaarms)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/62 "2003-11-11T22:51:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cholo \* > \*\*George Carlin. > > I loved his early stuff (70’s) but in the last 15 years or so…ech. What a grump old grouch. I absolutly HATED his “Brain Droppings” book. \*\* Oh, come on! I’ll give you the last 5-7 years, but not a moment more! He’s the only comedian I know of that actually has a genuinely funny “flying on an airplane” bit. Steve Martin from the 70’s was awful, but I like some of his movies. Three Amigos, anyone? That scene in Roxanne where he gets the newspaper out of the machine… heh. I’m gonna get flamed for this, but Gilda Radner is just not funny. Ditto for Paula Poundstone. Andrew Dice Clay, Gilbert Gottfried, Pauly Shore and Carrot Top make me wonder about the future of our race. And for the record, I smoke pot, and Cheech and Chong are very rarely funny. They have a few jokes that are kinda funny in retrospect, but sitting through a whole C&C movie or album is pretty painful. LC ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/63 "2003-11-12T03:34:15Z")
Rowan Atkinson. I mean, I love Blackadder but I just don’t get Mr. Bean. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/64 "2003-11-12T03:50:43Z")
Gilda Radner wasn’t funny? _shocked_ How DARE you! ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/65 "2003-11-12T11:47:34Z")
I would like to second Benny Hill; practically everyone in Britain was sick of him after seeing him on telly for 30 years; now he seems to have some kind of incomprehensible cult following in other countries. Nope. Rubbish. And also second Aristophanes. If they ever thought he was funny 2000 years ago (which is not necessarily the case) this certainly doesn’t translate to the modern era. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/66 "2003-11-12T15:40:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*And also second Aristophanes. If they ever thought he was funny 2000 years ago (which is not necessarily the case) this certainly doesn’t translate to the modern era. \*\* You’re kidding, right? I crack up every time I hear or read “Brek-ek-ek-ek, co-ax, co-ax.” Doesn’t _everyone_? And _Lysistrata_: the idea that women could have some sort of power over men just by withholding sex. What a riot! ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/67 "2003-11-12T17:39:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AtomicDog \* > \*\*Rowan Atkinson. I mean, I love Blackadder but I just don’t get Mr. Bean. \*\* Well quite, but since you don’t seem aware that he’s not dead, I’m not sure you’ll “get” most things. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/68 "2003-11-12T18:03:43Z")
**Flip Wilson** : unoriginal, unfunny, joke thief. His bits were done better and funnier by people who came before him. More recently: **Tracey Morgan** , **Joe Piscopo** and **Tim Meadows**. I don’t think I’ve laughed at _anything_ these three have ever done. **Red Green** : Stoopid For those who have only seen comics like Red Skelton and Ernie Kovacs on tape, please keep in mind that these people were cutting edge comedy for their time. The material being dated doesn’t mean is wasn’t screamingly funny back then. ---
**Author:** ![wakimika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@wakimika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wakimika)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/69 "2003-11-12T18:44:39Z")
**Richard Belzer** had a career as a comedian which completely mystified me. I used to really dislike **Gilbert Gottfried** , but he is hilarious doing celebrity roasts. Truly. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/70 "2003-11-12T22:08:28Z")
Oh yeah: **Whoopi Goldberg**. She should have opened a hardware store. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_scratch\_fever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/73ab20/32.png) [@Cat\_scratch\_fever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_scratch_fever)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/71 "2003-11-12T22:27:39Z")
Bob Newhart was a cute young man, is a cute old man is not funny Benny Hill!? Come on – that’s comedic gold! I love all the running around and butt slapping. ---
**Author:** ![burntsand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@burntsand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burntsand)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/72 "2003-11-13T05:20:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*John Candy was highly overrated too, but he was a lot funnier than Chris Farley. \*\* I think John Candy made some poor movies, but he was brilliant on **SCTV**. Any man who could play Johnny LaRue, Yosh (or was it Stan?) Schmenge, Mayor Tommy Shanks, Doctor Tongue, and countless other characters and be consistently funny deserves a place in the comedy Hall of Fame. Most of the other SCTVer’s also did their best work there (at least until Michael Guest started his repertory company): Catherine O’Hara, Andrea Martin, Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty, Dave Thomas, Rick Moranis. The only notable weak spots were the short timers: Tony Rosato and Robin Duke. ---
**Author:** ![PalJuicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@PalJuicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PalJuicy)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/73 "2003-11-13T12:44:34Z")
Ditto **Bob Hope**. **Henny Youngman** and **Jack Benny** are like Bob; I don’t think one-liners are funny. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_scratch\_fever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/73ab20/32.png) [@Cat\_scratch\_fever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_scratch_fever)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/74 "2003-11-13T20:00:48Z")
uhhh Yakov Smirnoff ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/75 "2003-11-13T20:16:29Z")
What a country! _points up_ Smirnoff’s only joke. Repeat endlessly. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/76 "2003-11-13T20:51:19Z")
**Chris Elliot** - more annoying than Tom Greene and nowhere close to being outrageous. one of my favorite movies of all times is “My favorite Brunette” starring **Bob Hope** (so all of you Hope haters are on my **list** )) and - **Ellen DeGeneres** had to turn into a fish before I thought she was funny ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/77 "2003-11-13T21:22:55Z")
Ditto on Red Skelton- he reminded me of the annoying uncle/cousin/grandpa every kid has who thinks he’s funny. (Clem Kadiddlehopper- what was that about? I’ve literally seen funnier characterizations from second graders.) Buddy Hackett- I remember watching some HBO specials that seemed to be all masturbation jokes. That’s an image nobody needs now that Syrup of Ipecac is FDA approved. Joan Rivers- funny for three minutes in 1974. After that it’s “Insert insulting comment here” Oh Grow Up! Can We Talk? “Insert either the “why can’t you be like Sheila?” or “Menstrual cycle/Schwinn” joke here” repetition, plus she committed the cardinal sin of not being able to take it good naturedly when she became the butt of jokes from drag queens and a revenant Liz Taylor. Joey Bishop- mentioning that you’re Jewish in every sentence isn’t an act. OTOH, it would be hard to distinguish yourself when you’re on a stage with Frank, Sammy & Dean (all of whom had impeccable comic timing in their prime as well as singing talent). and the Clown Prince of the Unfunny, the one I Really Can’t Understand Why He Was Ever a Megabucks Star and Comedy God- Tastes Must Have Changed More than Moby’s Underwear- Jerry Lewis. Whether it’s his “Hey Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaady!” retarded kid schtick or his post 1970 “but seriously, all kidding aside…” slop, I just don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/78 "2003-11-14T00:26:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cat scratch fever \* > \*\*uhhh Yakov Smirnoff \*\* Okay, it wasn’t funny, but Smirnov said something I’ve always remembered (paraphrasing): You can move to Italy and live there 20 years, but you won’t become an Italian. You can move to Germany, but that won’t make you German. But anyone, from anywhere in the world, can come to America and _become an American._ That’s what makes America a great county. And you know, he’s right. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/79 "2003-11-14T00:28:53Z")
Mr. Bean Rocks! Of course, he wouldn’t be funny at all with Rowan… I never liked Milton Berle(i am old) The stupid dressing up as a woman, etc. Woody Allen. Never got it.(no ones mentioned him yet?) ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234/80 "2003-11-14T00:31:50Z")
with **out** Rowan. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comedians-whose-popularity-you-cant-understand-no-recent-ones-please/212234.md?page=5)