# The Funniest Comic/Comedian -- a search for names for a poll
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [May 26, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341 "2011-05-26T19:30:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/1 "2011-05-26T19:30:56Z")
In [Who was/is Funniest?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=610018) (started Today, 08:34 AM) in [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=13845880&postcount=14) I proposed what I have decided to put into a separate thread.
As support for the process, here are some older threads on the basic issue:
> **[Your All-Time Favorite Comic/Comedian](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=194233)**
>
> If we could have a Comedy Olympics and award a gold medal to the person who has exemplified the most consistently funny act or routine, who would it be? Some candidates: Jonathan Winters Brother Dave Gardner Dennis Miller Robin Williams Rita...
Your All-Time Favorite Comic/Comedian
06-29-2003, 10:28 AM
07-02-2003, 01:57 PM
> **[Funniest Living Comedian?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=33745)**
>
> Who is it. Robin Williams is up there, but he gets so schmaltzy sometimes. I vote eddie Izzard. All day all I can think about is “I’m covered in Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees” hilarious hilarious stuff.
Funniest Living Comedian?
08-07-2000, 07:34 PM
05-27-2005, 10:24 PM
> **[Best current stand-up comedian?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=434987)**
>
> It’s been way too long since I’ve actually laughed at stand-up. The last two I recall are George Carlin (15 year old recording) and Aries Spears (live, 7 years ago). I also think Dave Chapelle is quite funny, but mostly in his skits, not so much his...
Best current stand-up comedian?
09-01-2007, 05:06 AM
09-08-2007, 02:31 AM
My hope is that we can come up with a candidates list in the range of 20-30 for a poll to decide who SDMB thinks makes the grade.
Use your own count for posting favorites or those you feel should be in the voting.
If we can get at least 50 posts with names, I will use frequency of mention to select the names for the final poll. It may be that fewer posts with a wider variety of names may work as well. We’ll see.
Suggestions and sources for candidate names like [http://www.listology.com/list/comedy-central-100-greatest-standups-all-time](http://www.listology.com/list/comedy-central-100-greatest-standups-all-time)
are welcomed!
---
### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2011, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/2 "2011-05-26T19:34:32Z")
Do we list our suggestions here?
George Carlin
Brian Regan
Mitch Hedburg
Stephen Wright
Louis CK
---
### Author:  [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/3 "2011-05-26T19:38:37Z")
Louis CK
Gabriel Iglesias
Christopher Titus
It’s fascinating to look at that thread from 2000. Louis CK was barely known back then, and I guarantee you he’ll be on everyone’s top comics list these days.
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/4 "2011-05-26T19:43:21Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#):
>
> Do we list our suggestions here?
Yes, please. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear.
Each post should have a list (as many as you feel apply) of the ones you want to see on a poll of 20-30 candidates. You can (of course) vote in that eventual poll for the names that make that ultimate list, whether you submitted the name in this thread or not.
The idea in this thread is to narrow down the hundreds of legitimate candidates to a manageable group, hopefully in the 20-30 range. But you can list as many as you want to here. I’ll use frequency of mention (in this thread) to build the poll.
I have supplied some sources to give ideas of those you might not think of offhand. How you use those sources (or others) is obviously up to you.
Discussion in this thread is welcomed as well.
---
### Author:  [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/5 "2011-05-26T19:54:36Z")
In that case, I’ll expand a bit:
Richard Pryor
Richard Jeni
Lewis Black
Adam Ferrara
Daniel Tosh
Ellen DeGeneres
Caroline Rhea
Jim Gaffigan
Dave Attell
---
### Author:  [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/6 "2011-05-26T20:59:51Z")
I’ve trimmed down from
Comedy Central 100 Greatest Standups of all Time
1. Richard Pryor
2. George Carlin
3. Chris Rock
4. Steve Martin
5. Bill Cosby
6. Bob Newhart
7. Jonathan Winters
8. Bill Hicks
9. Steven Wright
10. Garry Shandling
11. Flip Wilson
12. Dave Chappelle
13. Lewis Black
14. Wanda Sykes
15. Eddie Izzard
16. Howie Mandel
17. Brett Butler
18. Paula Poundstone
19. Louis CK
But must add to those: Mitch Hedberg
For a total of 20.
---
### Author:  [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/7 "2011-05-26T22:11:28Z")
> [@Bosstone](#):
>
> Daniel Tosh
^^ +1
---
### Author:  [@pakalolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pakalolo)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/8 "2011-05-26T22:42:58Z")
Doug Stanhope
Dave Attell
Louie CK
Mitch Hedberg
---
### Author:  [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/9 "2011-05-26T22:49:06Z")
Zach G.
---
### Author:  [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/10 "2011-05-26T23:03:04Z")
My top choices have already been listed, but you could add
Robin Williams
Lenny Bruce
---
### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/11 "2011-05-26T23:05:31Z")
Dennis Wolfberg, though he’s too obscure to get many votes.
Chris Rush, ditto.
---
### Author:  [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2011, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/12 "2011-05-27T00:03:40Z")
Tim Vine
Ed Byrne
Tommy Cooper
---
### Author:  [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/13 "2011-05-27T00:10:10Z")
I’d add:
Patton Oswalt
Paul F. Tompkins
Nick Kroll
Arj Barker
Though I wouldn’t expect any of them to place very high.
---
### Author:  [@norvalnormal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norvalnormal)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/14 "2011-05-27T00:11:42Z")
Seconding Dennis Wolfberg, no matter how obscure he’s become, due to his untimely demise. My gut has never hurt so much as it did from being unable to stop my uncontrollable spasms of laughter, no matter how many times I watched his (originally on HBO?) Comedy thing, with both the His Wife Giving Birth and the Way Too Powerful Laxative Breakfast Cereal bits.
---
### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/15 "2011-05-27T00:33:01Z")
First of all, are we just talking about **stand-up comedy**? In my humble opinion, we should limit ourselves to just stand-up comics here, because otherwise we’re comparing apples and grapefruits, and even just with stand-up we’ll get more than enough names. But, it’s not my thread.
Here’s my list (probably incomplete, since I may be forgetting someone) of stand-up comics who have made me, personally, laugh:
George Carlin
Bill Cosby
Jerry Seinfeld
Norm McDonald
Mitch Hedberg
Louis CK
Jake Johanssen
Richard Jeni
Steven Wright
Emo Phillips
Patton Oswalt
Steve Martin
Rodney Dangerfield
I’m not sure whether to include the following, because I love them not so much for specific routines (they’re best known for delivering ephemeral monolgues produced for them by a team of writers) as for their style, delivery, and influence on comedy:
David Letterman
Johnny Carson
Bob Hope
And the following I don’t think really qualify, because even though they performed “standing up,” they didn’t do monologues but rather the kind of comedy where they had to play off someone else:
The Smothers Brothers
Burns and Allen
Abbott and Costello
Jeff Dunham
---
### Author:  [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/16 "2011-05-27T01:48:12Z")
Louis CK
Patton Oswalt
Katt Williams
Joe
---
### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/17 "2011-05-27T02:19:16Z")
George Carlin
Richard Pryor
Steve Martin
Bill Cosby
Sam Kinison
John Pinette
---
### Author:  [@Mister\_Cheech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Cheech)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/18 "2011-05-27T02:35:00Z")
Bill Hicks
Marc Maron
Steve Martin
Norm MacDonald
Richard Pryor
Zach Galifianakis
Mitch Hedberg
Doug Benson
Sam Kinison
Louis C.K.
---
### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/19 "2011-05-27T02:51:12Z")
George Carlin
Lenny Bruce
Mitch Hedberg
Richard Pryor
Chris Rock
Steven Wright
Steve Martin
Woody Allen
Jerry Seinfeld
Ricky Gervais
Bill Maher
Victor Borge
Bill Cosby
---
### Author:  [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341/20 "2011-05-27T03:54:38Z")
> [@norvalnormal](#):
>
> Seconding Dennis Wolfberg, no matter how obscure he’s become, due to his untimely demise. My gut has never hurt so much as it did from being unable to stop my uncontrollable spasms of laughter, no matter how many times I watched his (originally on HBO?) Comedy thing, with both the His Wife Giving Birth and the Way Too Powerful Laxative Breakfast Cereal bits.
This. Ab-so fucking-lutely this. Pure genius.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-funniest-comic-comedian-a-search-for-names-for-a-poll/583341.md?page=2)