# Funniest Living Comedian? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 8, 2000, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494 "2000-08-08T00:34:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/21 "2000-08-08T09:32:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skwerl \* > \*\*The Amazing Jonathan’s Lounge Lizards performance on Comedy Central was a riot, I thought. \*\* I agree! I forgot all about the Amazing Jonathan! ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/22 "2000-08-08T12:46:34Z")
tough, because each is a different style: Robin Williams can’t be beat for manic style comedy Steven Wright - for exactly the opposite reason and Dennis Miller when I want brains with my laughs. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/23 "2000-08-08T13:19:38Z")
My votes are George Carlin and Chris Rock. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/24 "2000-08-08T13:48:02Z")
I vote for 3 comedians that are also magicians: 1. Stephen Bergatze He does the funniest straight jacket escape I’ve ever seen. 2. Michael Finney He now has a CD out. Some incredible stuff. 3. The Amazing Johnathon Absolutely histerical. ---
**Author:** ![Gomez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d78d45/32.png) [@Gomez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gomez)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/25 "2000-08-08T14:18:25Z")
My favourites have to be. 1. Jack Dee. 2. Lee Evans 3. The one and only Eddie Izzard. ---
**Author:** ![ThisYearsGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThisYearsGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisYearsGirl)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/26 "2000-08-08T14:24:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Smeghead \* > \*\*So I’m giving myself another vote. Got a problem with that? > > Does anyone else know who Mitch Hedburg is? He has a special on Comedy Central - he’s got longish hair and wears these blue-lensed glasses. That show just about made me wet my pants. \*\* Is he real deadpan in his delivery, and did he have this joke about how stage diving is just 10% away from swimmming? If so, I second him. ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/27 "2000-08-08T14:55:12Z")
1. Dana Gould 2. Eddie Izzard 3. Jon Stewart BTW, Homer said: > [@](#): > > Those two guys who do the special reports for the Daily Show are really funny, too. The guy with the glasses, and the other guy. You know. Their names are Vance Degeneres and Stephen Colbert. I’m a total Daily Show junky. Most underrated comedy on TV IMHO. Special mentions go to Richard Pryor and Jonathan WInters for the work they did back in their day. ---
**Author:** ![oldscratch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@oldscratch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oldscratch)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/28 "2000-08-08T16:06:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silver\_Fire \* > \*\*I’ll second the nomination for Chris Rock. I also think that Robin Williams is a great actor, as far as comedy goes, (actually, as far as anything goes) but I’ve never seen much of his stand-up. \*\* I’m lucky. I live in SF, and every now and then he does a performance at the comedy clubs around here. He’s still pretty manic and funny. Dennis Miller is definetely tops for intellectual stimulation. And since no one’s mentioned a female yet. I have to say Margaret Cho’s new movie was freaking hilarious. But, Izzard is still my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/29 "2000-08-08T16:22:57Z")
George Carlin, all the way. Also, I know he’s new to the scene and hasn’t had much exposure, but from what I’ve seen from him, I’d say Jay Mohr. Now, I’m talking about his stand-up here, his acting is, well, something else. ---
**Author:** ![Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/30 "2000-08-08T17:11:03Z")
Lewis Black is hilarious. Also I don’t remember his name, but he was on lounge lizards and had a bit about his freind buying some Oreos. He’s a black guy. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/31 "2000-08-08T18:20:29Z")
Andy Kaufman. He’s still alive I tell you!! It’s all a stunt. ::reality crashing in:: ☹ Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Vega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a9adbd/32.png) [@Lord\_Vega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Vega)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/32 "2000-08-08T20:08:53Z")
Jonathon Winters. The original madman! V. ---
**Author:** ![Ramboli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Ramboli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramboli)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/33 "2000-08-08T20:17:13Z")
Dane Cook, Chris Rock, Steven Wright, and Jon Stewart, in my opinion, are the funniest comedians right now. By the way Goose, the guy you’re thinking of is Rondell Sheridan (sp?) ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2000, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/34 "2000-08-08T20:58:10Z")
Like evilbeth, I’d also forgotten The Amazing Jonathan. He’s absolutely hilarious! Add him to my list. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/35 "2000-08-09T00:04:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ThisYearsGirl \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Smeghead \* > > \*\*So I’m giving myself another vote. Got a problem with that? > > > > Does anyone else know who Mitch Hedburg is? He has a special on Comedy Central - he’s got longish hair and wears these blue-lensed glasses. That show just about made me wet my pants. \*\* > > Is he real deadpan in his delivery, and did he have this joke about how stage diving is just 10% away from swimmming? If so, I second him. \*\* That sounds more like Steven Wright. This guy told a joke about how if you are wearing a turtleneck and a backpack, it’s like a real weak midget is trying to bring you down. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/36 "2000-08-09T00:09:58Z")
Oh SilverFire, get thee to a video store! You must see Robin Williams’ stand up stuff! Dated but still hilarious. Loved old Eddie Murphy stand up. Also, in no particular order- Dennis Miller Jon Stewart Richard Pryor Chris Rock Billy Connolly Jay Mohr Chicks? Margaret Cho ---
**Author:** ![hypergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/49beb7/32.png) [@hypergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hypergirl)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/37 "2000-08-09T03:03:41Z")
Nobody said Andrew Dice Clay??? He is one of the funniest people I have ever heard. Although i agree with some of the ones on here. George Carlin in particular. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/38 "2000-08-09T04:09:52Z")
The ones I can always count on for a laugh are Dennis Miller and, strangely, Howie Mandel. ---
**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/39 "2000-08-09T05:12:34Z")
I thought I had an answer, until I read some of the other choices - now I can’t decide! Steve Martin - not only did he have his day (I’m compelled to say the words “buried with a donkey” whenever anyone mentions King Tut) - but he’s still going strong. He occasionally writes amusing things for _The New Yorker_. Eddie Izzard - is brilliantly funny. What really amazes me is that my older sister and my even older mother think so, too. Ma, who hates any form of vulgarity, laughs merrily at every “fuckin’ 'ell.” Mitch Hedburg - what a scream! He’s so low key, he’s hardly on the stage. He’s what you hope you sound like when you’re high and think you’re funny. Some others to watch out for: Ed Byrne - a very funny Irish comedian who turns up on Conan O’Brien every once in a while. Wanda Sykes Hall - I saw her on the Comedy channel while I was recovering from some painful oral surgery. She made me laugh so hard - and the drugs hadn’t even kicked in yet - that I spit the cotton in my mouth across the room. ---
**Author:** ![Ator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Ator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ator)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2000, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494/40 "2000-08-09T07:39:24Z")
Hands down, it’s Eddie Izzard. His HBO special had to have been the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. I immediately ordered “Glorious” from Amazon and was just as impressed. “I was told pajamas in the land of the dead!” -Eddie Izzard [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/funniest-living-comedian/28494.md?page=3)