Being a jerk seems more the rule than the exception in comedy. Sometimes it’s spun as moody, or dark, or difficult but lots and lots of very famous comedians have been jerks. However much of a jerk he became, Jerry Lewis absolutely killed back in the Martin and Lewis days. Watch some of their TV work on shows like the Colgate Comedy Hour or listen to their radio appearances. These things are available at the Internet Archives, among other sites. Those shows will give you a better handle on their act than any of their movies ever will. In many ways, they were ahead of their time, particularly with their in act commentary on their act . FTR, I consider Dean the more talented of the two, but though he was funny in his own right, he isn’the considered a comedian.
Another vote for Klein. Standup is his thing and he’s been out there supporting the young comics on the way up. Letterman should be mentioned also.
It has to be if that was the answer. Richard Lewis has never been, and will never be worthy to hold Don Rickles’ moldy jockstrap.
Mel Brooks for the win.
I’d agree with Klein. He’s still known as a stand-up comedian.
People like Steve Martin, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, and Bob Newhart haven’t done a stand-up routine in decades. And Bill Cosby disqualified himself.
Brooks’ life has been standup, often while sitting down, and not always on a stage. So it’s Mel for the win.
I think the torch has been passed to the Baby Boomers at this point. Rickles was at the tail end of the WWII generation and I was actually kind of surprised to hear he was alive and working as long as he was. Jerry Lewis is still with us, but I don’t think he has done stand-up since the Kennedy administration. The guys who were active in the 50s (Mort Sahl, Dick Gregory, Bob Newhart) haven’t been active or funny in a while. Richard Belzer may be the correct answer.
I was thinking maybe some old Black comics from the Chitlin Circuit era might still be out and about, but the ones I looked up from memory–anyone who made those “party record” albums like Pigmeat Markham and Rudy Ray Moore–are all long dead.
Ithought Lewis did do standup. (I kind of assumed Conway did, too, but that was really just an assumption.) According to this article from a few years ago, he was doing a one man show that sounds kind of like (horrible) standup, but i guess it’s not quite the same.
As you can see from that article, he’s even more of a jerk than most, but that’s kind of beside the point. What I meant was that I had a vague impression that he wasn’t well liked by his peers, which disqualifies him, I think, from the “elder statesman” role.
Definitely the elder statesman of standup philosophers. he killed at the palace.
Steve Martin did schtick as the opening act for Jerry Seinfeld just last year. (Martin’s opening line: “Jerry couldn’t make it tonight; have a safe ride home!”) He then noted, “I’m here tonight because of that old showbiz saying: ‘Never Lose A Bet To Jerry’.” He then apologized for the price of the tickets – explaining that, sure, it looks like you’re shelling out money for two guys and a microphone; but, in reality, there are, like, some sound people, and lighting people; and drivers, and wardrobe … and catering … and someone to walk Jerry’s Fitbit around; and a celebrity lookalike, in case Steve doesn’t feel like going on. [beat] “Steve says ‘Hi,’ by the way.”
("I used the restroom, and there was a sign that read ‘Employees Must Wash Hands’. And I could not find one employee [beat] to wash my hands.")
I’m not saying it would be impossible, but it would be a real challenge to find a stand-up comic who didn’t have immense respect for Richard Lewis, a comic would wouldn’t hang on every word as Richard Lewis told road stories at the bar after the show, a comic who wouldn’t prize Richard Lewis’ feedback on his/her set, a comic who wouldn’t place great value on career advice from Richard Lewis.
Newhart is definitely still touring. Check the date.
Mel Brooks. I saw him in person recently, and at 90 he’s amazingly entertaining.
Are women comedians eligible?
Well, maybe Carlos Mencia…
While Mel Brooks was my pick too…I want to make sure one unmentioned isn’t lost to the clouds of history and scorn: Rich Little. only 78 but he was prolific back in the day.
A friend of mine actually did some dates with him in Las Vegas a couple months ago. She said he was great- as a performer and in that he really took an interest in the other comics. He’d watch everyone else’s set and have compliments and comments on his favorite bits. He also, when asked, had career advice and he was just very supportive all around.