Yeah, let me amend the Amazing Johnathon to my post. That Comedy Special is hilarious. Also, can I add an anti-funny vote for Dennis Miller? Man, that guy is the most unfunny induhvidual I’ve every seen. I have no idea what people see in him.
George Carlin!
“And have you seen that wife of his, Marilyn Quayle? She looks like Prince Charles! Tell me, does he actually have to f*** that woman? I wouldn’t f*** her with a stolen dick!”
I’d have to agree with most of you here: Eddie Izzard, George Carlin, and the Amazing Jonathan are the best right now. When I saw an Izzard special a while ago, I was literally crying on the floor.
Jman
no particular order-
Jon Stewart,
Ed Byrne (i think that’s how it’s spelled), and
Louie CK.
Three of the god-awfullest funny people i have ever seen. Haven’t seen any Eddie Izzard yet, but he came to town a little while ago and there were some great articles about him.
As for being alive, were it not for cancer, we would still have the funniest person EVER with us. Mr. Bill Hicks. damn he was good. screw that, he was fucking fantastic.
I have to second (or third) Jay Mohr. He looks like a normal guy and all, but he’s one of the most morally deficient people on the planet. And, of course, living in New Jersey means that I find that kind of stuff hilarious.
I hardly ever get to see him perform stand-up, but on any random day he’ll be on the Opie and Anthony radio show on WNEW 102.7 in New York. He doesn’t “plug” anything, he just hangs out.
Also, speaking of Jay Mohr and Opie and Anthony, I want to just drop the names of Otto and George. The sickest “ventriloquist” act I’ve ever seen.
Hard to pick, but for standup comics, I like:
Steve Martin
Jonathan Winters (I have his first 2 albums…He’s amazing…)
Bob Newhart
Robin Williams
and Bill Cosby (I grew up with his records playing in the house…and he was pretty funny when I went to go see him.)
Chris Rock and Paula Poundstone.
If anyone hasn’t yet watched Chris Rock’s HBO comedy hour, I suggest it. “Nigga’s vs. Black people” is soooo funny:
[quote]
“I take care of my kids.” You supposed to, ya dumb motherfucker! “I ain’t never been to jail!” What, you want a cookie? YOu ain’t supposed to go to jail, you low-expectation having motherfucker!
[quote]
Paula cracks me up too. Her Harvard special makes me laugh so hard I cry.
Nobody said Sam Kinneson!
That was one funny dude.
Richard Pryor
Billy Conolly (Big Yin)
George Carlin
He used to leave me in stitches when I watched the Merv Griffin Show, the Mike Douglas Show or his own sitcom, CPO Sharkey.
As he got older his humor got a little less sharp (and more insulting), but it was GREAT hearing his voice in Toy Story and Toy Story 2 as Mr. Potato Head.
I just wanted to renew this thread, becasue I’m looking for some new, terrific stand-up comedy.
Two worth mentioning are Jake Johanssen and Brian Regan.
I vote for Stephen Wright. Of my three all-time favorite stand-up comics, the other two are dead (Bill Hicks and Mitch Hedberg).
Wayne Brady. That dude has some serious talent.
George Carlin. Robin Williams & Wayne Brady.
I vote for Steven Wright, and Jon Stewart.
Disqualified. 
Another vote for Eddie Izzard.
Billy Conolly
with Eddie Izzard a very close second
Lewis Black cracks me up. So does Paula Poundstone, especially when she interacts with audience members.
Wow. I remember seeing Jake Johanssen like fifteen years ago on TV, and he was great. Haven’t seen nor heard anything from him since.
Brian Regan - he has one half-hour routine they show occassionally on Comedy Central. Freakin’ hilarious, just unbelievably so. But I’ve never seen anything else by him.
I don’t go to comedy clubs, obviously