# Funniest Comedy Duos -- Past and Present **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 4, 2015, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219 "2015-07-04T11:33:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/1 "2015-07-04T11:33:58Z")
Vote for up to FIVE duos. Depending on response this may be preliminary to a Final Round later. =============================== The Group: Abbott and Costello Allen & Rossi Amos and Andy (Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll) The Bickersons (Don Ameche and Frances Langford) Bob and Ray Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner Burns and Allen Burns & Schrieber Butterbeans and Susie Cheech and Chong Peter Cook and Dudley Moore (AKA Derek and Clive) Flanders and Swann Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie (Flight of The Conchords) Franken and Davis French and Saunders Fry and Laurie The Funny Boys (Jim Vallely and Jonathan Schmock) Garfunkel and Oates Homer and Jethro Hudson & Landry Key & Peele Laurel and Hardy Lonzo and Oscar Lum and Abner Ma and Pa Kettle (Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride) Martin and Lewis Rik Mayall & Ade Edmondson Fibber McGee and Molly Mitchell & Webb Kathy Najimy and Mo Gaffney Nichols and May Bob & David (Odenkirk & Cross) Penn and Teller Rowan and Martin The Sklar Brothers (Randy and Jason Sklar) The Smothers Brothers Stiller and Meara Tenacious D = Jack Black & Kyle Gass The Two Ronnies Wayne and Shuster (Johnny Wayne and Frank Shuster) Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey Bert Williams and George Walker ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/2 "2015-07-04T11:53:00Z")
Wow, I am very surprised at how unfunny and unworthy of my vote almost all of these duos are (at least the ones I’m familiar with). I went with Penn & Teller and Stiller & Meara. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/3 "2015-07-04T11:59:08Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Wow, I am very surprised at how unfunny and unworthy of my vote almost all of these duos are (at least the ones I’m familiar with). > > I went with Penn & Teller and Stiller & Meara. > mmm Well, at least there are two of us – so far. Actually, I did have to make some choices; I could have picked maybe ten that I laughed at on a regular basis. But so many of them are dated or were funny when I was so young. Nothing demonstrates “tastes change” more than this group, I’d say. Hopefully someone else will deal with the other groups from > **[Pre-Poll Nominations: Comedy Teams (past and present)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=760807)** > > Title says it. At least two people, please. Up to whatever number stays together most of the time. Monty Python is an example of the latter. A starter group: Nichols and May Jeeves and Wooster Rowan and Martin Burns and Allen Martin and Lewis ... Pre-Poll Nominations: Comedy Teams (past and present) 06-28-2015, 05:30 PM **Happy Fourth Everybody!** 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/4 "2015-07-04T14:05:42Z")
An early checkpoint. How much will it change, if at all? 🙂 View Poll Results: Funniest Comedy Duos – Past and Present – Vote for up to FIVE This poll will close on 07-24-2015 at 06:42 AM ```auto Abbott and Costello 4 57.14% Rowan and Martin 4 57.14% The Smothers Brothers 4 57.14% Nichols and May 3 42.86% Penn and Teller 3 42.86% Stiller and Meara 3 42.86% Key & Peele 3 42.86% Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner 2 28.57% Burns and Allen 2 28.57% Cheech and Chong 2 28.57% Laurel and Hardy 2 28.57% Martin and Lewis 2 28.57% Bob and Ray 1 14.29% Flight of The Conchords 1 14.29% Franken and Davis 1 14.29% Fry and Laurie 1 14.29% Odenkirk & Cross 1 14.29% ``` Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 7 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/5 "2015-07-04T15:36:25Z")
Twice as many Voters: View Poll Results: Funniest Comedy Duos – Past and Present – Vote for up to FIVE This poll will close on 07-24-2015 at 06:42 AM ```auto Abbott and Costello 6 42.86% Penn and Teller 6 42.86% The Smothers Brothers 5 35.71% Burns and Allen 4 28.57% Nichols and May 4 28.57% Rowan and Martin 4 28.57% Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner 3 21.43% Cheech and Chong 3 21.43% Key & Peele 3 21.43% Laurel and Hardy 3 21.43% Stiller and Meara 3 21.43% Franken and Davis 2 14.29% Martin and Lewis 2 14.29% Rik Mayall & Ade Edmondson 2 14.29% Bob and Ray 1 7.14% Peter Cook and Dudley Moore 1 7.14% Flanders and Swann 1 7.14% Flight of The Conchords 1 7.14% Fry and Laurie 1 7.14% Hudson & Landry 1 7.14% Ma and Pa Kettle 1 7.14% Odenkirk & Cross 1 7.14% The Two Ronnies 1 7.14% ``` Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 14 ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/6 "2015-07-04T16:33:47Z")
I can understand why you have not put them there, but ask any Brit and they would be looking for Morecombe & Wise. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/7 "2015-07-04T17:13:43Z")
I had 4 of my 5 before I got out of the B’s. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/8 "2015-07-04T17:15:20Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > I can understand why you have not put them there, but ask any Brit and they would be looking for Morecombe & Wise. My error, because they were mentioned in [this post in the nominations thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18477697&postcount=39) and I had them listed under **— Not billed as an act:** [in this post.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18483178&postcount=63) I didn’t realize they were a duo. Sorry ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/9 "2015-07-04T17:25:51Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I had 4 of my 5 before I got out of the B’s. Maybe I should have set this first pass at more than five votes per! 🙂 With any luck the ones you would have picked are among these leaders: View Poll Results: Funniest Comedy Duos – Past and Present – Vote for up to FIVE This poll will close on 07-24-2015 at 06:42 AM ```auto Abbott and Costello 9 45.00% Penn and Teller 7 35.00% The Smothers Brothers 7 35.00% Burns and Allen 6 30.00% Laurel and Hardy 6 30.00% Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner 5 25.00% Nichols and May 5 25.00% Fry and Laurie 4 20.00% Rowan and Martin 4 20.00% Bob and Ray 3 15.00% Cheech and Chong 3 15.00% Flight of The Conchords 3 15.00% Key & Peele 3 15.00% Rik Mayall & Ade Edmondson 3 15.00% Stiller and Meara 3 15.00% The Two Ronnies 3 15.00% Peter Cook and Dudley Moore 2 10.00% Franken and Davis 2 10.00% Martin and Lewis 2 10.00% Mitchell & Webb 2 10.00% Odenkirk & Cross 2 10.00% Flanders and Swann 1 5.00% Hudson & Landry 1 5.00% Ma and Pa Kettle 1 5.00% ``` Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 20 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/10 "2015-07-04T18:26:46Z")
Updating the spread: View Poll Results: Funniest Comedy Duos – Past and Present – Vote for up to FIVE This poll will close on 07-24-2015 at 06:42 AM ```auto Abbott and Costello 11 44.00% Laurel and Hardy 8 32.00% Penn and Teller 8 32.00% The Smothers Brothers 8 32.00% Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner 7 28.00% Burns and Allen 7 28.00% Nichols and May 6 24.00% Rowan and Martin 6 24.00% Bob and Ray 5 20.00% Fry and Laurie 5 20.00% Cheech and Chong 3 12.00% Peter Cook and Dudley Moore 3 12.00% Flight of The Conchords 3 12.00% Key & Peele 3 12.00% Rik Mayall & Ade Edmondson 3 12.00% Mitchell & Webb 3 12.00% Stiller and Meara 3 12.00% The Two Ronnies 3 12.00% Franken and Davis 2 8.00% Martin and Lewis 2 8.00% Odenkirk & Cross 2 8.00% Flanders and Swann 1 4.00% Hudson & Landry 1 4.00% Ma and Pa Kettle 1 4.00% Wayne and Shuster 1 4.00% Bert Williams and George Walker 1 4.00% ``` Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 25 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/11 "2015-07-04T21:23:25Z")
Another checkpoint: View Poll Results: Funniest Comedy Duos – Past and Present – Vote for up to FIVE This poll will close on 07-24-2015 at 06:42 AM ```auto Abbott and Costello 13 43.33% The Smothers Brothers 12 40.00% Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner 10 33.33% Laurel and Hardy 10 33.33% Burns and Allen 9 30.00% Penn and Teller 9 30.00% Rowan and Martin 8 26.67% Bob and Ray 7 23.33% Fry and Laurie 6 20.00% Nichols and May 6 20.00% Peter Cook and Dudley Moore 5 16.67% Rik Mayall & Ade Edmondson 5 16.67% Cheech and Chong 4 13.33% Key & Peele 4 13.33% Stiller and Meara 4 13.33% The Two Ronnies 4 13.33% Flight of The Conchords 3 10.00% Franken and Davis 3 10.00% Martin and Lewis 3 10.00% Mitchell & Webb 3 10.00% Odenkirk & Cross 3 10.00% Flanders and Swann 1 3.33% French and Saunders 1 3.33% Garfunkel and Oates 1 3.33% Hudson & Landry 1 3.33% Ma and Pa Kettle 1 3.33% Wayne and Shuster 1 3.33% Bert Williams and George Walker 1 3.33% ``` Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 30 ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/12 "2015-07-04T22:31:49Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Wow, I am very surprised at how unfunny and unworthy of my vote almost all of these duos are (at least the ones I’m familiar with). > > I went with Penn & Teller and Stiller & Meara. > mmm Oh this is ridiculous. It’s a long comprehensive list, and full of flat out geniuses. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2015, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/13 "2015-07-04T22:36:03Z")
Yet another checkpoint: View Poll Results: Funniest Comedy Duos – Past and Present – Vote for up to FIVE This poll will close on 07-24-2015 at 06:42 AM ```auto Abbott and Costello 14 40.00% The Smothers Brothers 14 40.00% Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner 11 31.43% Laurel and Hardy 11 31.43% Fry and Laurie 10 28.57% Burns and Allen 9 25.71% Penn and Teller 9 25.71% Rowan and Martin 9 25.71% Bob and Ray 8 22.86% Mitchell & Webb 7 20.00% Peter Cook and Dudley Moore 6 17.14% Nichols and May 6 17.14% Odenkirk & Cross 6 17.14% Key & Peele 5 14.29% Rik Mayall & Ade Edmondson 5 14.29% The Two Ronnies 5 14.29% Cheech and Chong 4 11.43% Flight of The Conchords 4 11.43% Stiller and Meara 4 11.43% Franken and Davis 3 8.57% Martin and Lewis 3 8.57% Flanders and Swann 1 2.86% French and Saunders 1 2.86% Garfunkel and Oates 1 2.86% Hudson & Landry 1 2.86% Ma and Pa Kettle 1 2.86% Wayne and Shuster 1 2.86% Bert Williams and George Walker 1 2.86% ``` Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 35 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/14 "2015-07-05T00:57:34Z")
After 40 Voters: View Poll Results: Funniest Comedy Duos – Past and Present – Vote for up to FIVE This poll will close on 07-24-2015 at 06:42 AM ```auto Abbott and Costello 16 40.00% The Smothers Brothers 15 37.50% Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner 13 32.50% Burns and Allen 12 30.00% Laurel and Hardy 12 30.00% Fry and Laurie 11 27.50% Penn and Teller 11 27.50% Rowan and Martin 10 25.00% Bob and Ray 8 20.00% Mitchell & Webb 7 17.50% Stiller and Meara 7 17.50% Peter Cook and Dudley Moore 6 15.00% Key & Peele 6 15.00% Nichols and May 6 15.00% Odenkirk & Cross 6 15.00% Flight of The Conchords 5 12.50% Rik Mayall & Ade Edmondson 5 12.50% The Two Ronnies 5 12.50% Cheech and Chong 4 10.00% Martin and Lewis 4 10.00% Franken and Davis 3 7.50% French and Saunders 2 5.00% Garfunkel and Oates 2 5.00% Flanders and Swann 1 2.50% Hudson & Landry 1 2.50% Ma and Pa Kettle 1 2.50% Jack Black & Kyle Gass 1 2.50% Wayne and Shuster 1 2.50% Bert Williams and George Walker 1 2.50% ``` Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 40 ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/15 "2015-07-05T01:40:24Z")
Odenkirk and Cross is the only duo I voted for. I consider Stewie & Brian Griffin a pretty good comedy duo. Other than that, no idea. Maybe David Spade and Chris Farley, but that duo wasn’t amazing. Just decent. EDIT: John C Reilly & Will Ferrell is a good duo. I’d vote for them but I didn’t see them. So I’d say Odenkirk & Cross; Stewie & Brian, Reilly & Ferrell. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/16 "2015-07-05T02:11:17Z")
Oops, I missed French and Saunders. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/17 "2015-07-05T02:17:39Z")
After 45 Voters: View Poll Results: Funniest Comedy Duos – Past and Present – Vote for up to FIVE This poll will close on 07-24-2015 at 06:42 AM ```auto Abbott and Costello 18 40.00% The Smothers Brothers 17 37.78% Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner 14 31.11% Burns and Allen 14 31.11% Laurel and Hardy 13 28.89% Penn and Teller 12 26.67% Fry and Laurie 11 24.44% Rowan and Martin 11 24.44% Bob and Ray 8 17.78% Stiller and Meara 8 17.78% Mitchell & Webb 7 15.56% Nichols and May 7 15.56% Odenkirk & Cross 7 15.56% Cheech and Chong 6 13.33% Peter Cook and Dudley Moore 6 13.33% Key & Peele 6 13.33% Flight of The Conchords 5 11.11% Rik Mayall & Ade Edmondson 5 11.11% The Two Ronnies 5 11.11% Martin and Lewis 4 8.89% Franken and Davis 3 6.67% French and Saunders 2 4.44% Garfunkel and Oates 2 4.44% Hudson & Landry 2 4.44% The Bickersons 1 2.22% Flanders and Swann 1 2.22% Ma and Pa Kettle 1 2.22% Fibber McGee and Molly 1 2.22% Jack Black & Kyle Gass 1 2.22% Wayne and Shuster 1 2.22% Bert Williams and George Walker 1 2.22% ``` Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 45 ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/18 "2015-07-05T02:26:27Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > After 45 Voters: I’m impressed. I know the nomination thread got some action but sometimes that falls off during the actual poll. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/19 "2015-07-05T02:38:39Z")
> [@kopek](#): > > I’m impressed. I know the nomination thread got some action but sometimes that falls off during the actual poll. I’m impressed as well. I don’t remember a poll I started that got this much action this soon. People must love Funny Folks is all I can figure! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2015, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219/20 "2015-07-05T02:53:10Z")
Tenacious D has gotta be funnier than Penn and Teller. They’re not comedians. Smothers Brothers had a good TV show, but I’m reminded of the Tom Waits rap where he’s trying to seduce himself and all he’s got for “hip” records is the Smothers Brothers. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-comedy-duos-past-and-present/724219.md?page=2)