# Who is the funniest person on TV right now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 19, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879 "2011-02-19T02:43:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/41 "2011-02-23T04:21:03Z")
Amy Poehler. Stephen Colbert. _Community_ cast-wide tie. Tina Fey. Meredith from The Office. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Wanda Sykes in The New Adventures of Old Christine. ETA I forgot Karl Pilkington! He wins the foreign funny category. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/42 "2011-02-23T04:37:00Z")
> [@Orr\_G](#): > > I was sure someone would mention Louis C.K. by now. > > He was who popped into my head right off the bat, but to be honest I think I’ve laughed more at the clips of his comedy routines on YouTube than at what I’ve actually seen him do on TV. I love Louie CK, but I couldn’t watch his latest TV show. It just lingered in that uncomfortable zone for minutes on end. You know, the sort of humor where the protagonist is treated horribly, or is in a very embarrassing situation and they dwell on it? I think I have too much empathy for the protagonist, and I find it unpleasant. I guess I could take hearing him relate stories on stage, but seeing them play out is like watching a slow-motion train-wreck. Craig Ferguson is funny every time I see clips of him. Tremendously funny, but I never watch his show. Daniel Tosh is also. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/43 "2011-02-23T15:54:35Z")
Glen Beck, unintentional? Sure. Wildly, wickedly weird? Check again. Sometimes cringeworthy? Yep. But you can’t look away. And, the best _humor_ is available on youtube almost instantly. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/44 "2011-02-23T16:17:14Z")
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper. ---
**Author:** ![Keweenaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Keweenaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keweenaw)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/45 "2011-02-23T16:39:13Z")
Rainn Wilson Fred Armisen Just to throw out some other names. Ferguson is probably my real vote. ---
**Author:** ![Lethal\_Babydoll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3be4f8/32.png) [@Lethal\_Babydoll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lethal_Babydoll)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/46 "2011-02-23T18:28:32Z")
Nah. It’s **Seth MacFarlane.** In his many guises ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/47 "2011-02-23T18:45:15Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Lewis Black on the Daly show. Then Stewart. I’d switch these, even after catching Lewis Black’s standup act live a couple of weeks ago. He had great material but Jon does that even off the cuff. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/48 "2011-02-23T18:49:09Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Still Tim Conway, who guests on _Hot In Cleveland_. I’m going with Tim Conway, on a technicality. Of all those listed so far, I feel he has created the most and best funny. And he’s on TV. Now, as to if his current work is the funniest on TV…😃 ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/49 "2011-02-23T19:27:17Z")
There’s too many tv shows to pick from so I’ll pick from the one man shows and this would be: Daniel Tosh. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/50 "2011-02-23T19:41:43Z")
Is anyone running a total for this? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/51 "2011-02-23T19:47:26Z")
Does Ricky Gervais still have a show on HBO? That guy is gutbusting funny. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/52 "2011-02-23T19:52:36Z")
I have no hate for Daniel Tosh, but I have to say I’m surprised by all the love. I catch his show sometimes, I usually enjoy it, and that’s about it. I never would have even considered him as the aswer to the OP’s question. My first thought was Joel McHale, between _Community_ and _The Soup_, both of which consistently deliver the funny in different ways. But I get the vibe that he’s kind of been phoning it in on _The Soup_ lately. Maybe he’s spreading himself too thin. So I’m going to throw a curve here and put in a vote for master voice actor [H. Jon Benjamin](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0071304/). If you haven’t seen _Archer_ yet, see it. The writing on that show is outstanding, but Benjamin’s delivery can pull laughs out of just about anything (e.g. _Bob’s Burgers_). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/53 "2011-02-23T20:03:38Z")
> [@FordTaurusSHO94](#): > > Is anyone running a total for this? This is the best I can do: **Name Total Votes 1/2 1/3** Jon Stewart \*\* 9.17 \*\* 7 3 2 Daniel Tosh \*\* 5.00 \*\* 5 0 0 Stephen Colbert \*\* 4.67 \*\* 4 0 2 Craig Ferguson \*\* 3.67 \*\* 3 0 2 Karl Pilkington \*\* 3.00 \*\* 3 0 0 Donald Glover \*\* 2.00 \*\* 2 0 0 Tim Conway \*\* 2.00 \*\* 2 0 0 William Shatner \*\* 1.50 \*\* 1 1 0 Conan O’Brien \*\* 1.00 \*\* 1 0 0 Joel McHale \*\* 1.00 \*\* 1 0 0 Bill Maher \*\* 1.00 \*\* 1 0 0 Lewis Black \*\* 1.00 \*\* 1 0 0 Charlie Brooker \*\* 1.00 \*\* 1 0 0 Louis C.K. \*\* 1.00 \*\* 1 0 0 Glen Beck \*\* 1.00 \*\* 1 0 0 Jim Parsons \*\* 1.00 \*\* 1 0 0 Seth MacFarlane \*\* 1.00 \*\* 1 0 0 Ricky Gervais \*\* 1.00 \*\* 1 0 0 Joel McHale \*\* 0.50 \*\* 0 1 0 Alec Baldwin \*\* 0.50 \*\* 0 1 0 ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/54 "2011-02-23T21:08:42Z")
I’m gonna include Youtube as television and nominate Felicia Day and Sandeep Parikh of “The Guild,” followed by Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert and Bill Maher. I’d also give Stewart special recognition for being a sort of “Life” glider gun of comedy, his show has launched an amazing variety of talented comedians. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/55 "2011-02-23T22:06:06Z")
Someone on TV who is truly a funny person, who makes you laugh just about every time you see him/her? Really laugh? A regular presence? Me, I’d look for someone who is truly witty. a null set ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/56 "2011-02-23T22:45:52Z")
> [@CC](#): > > Someone on TV who is truly a funny person, who makes you laugh just about every time you see him/her? Really laugh? A regular presence? Me, I’d look for someone who is truly witty. > > a null set Thanks for playing. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/57 "2011-02-24T01:52:46Z")
Upon further reflection, I’d like to give an honorable mention to David Mitchell. He’s [very good](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR7wUUUNyD0&feature=related) at [extemporaneous](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdF76QhVEFE) [ranting](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrZpDYNUWMk&feature=related). He’s also done some great [sketch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1WN0YMWZU) [comedy](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHze0SqB5Zg) and darker comedy on Peep Show. > [@Wheelz](#): > > I have no hate for Daniel Tosh, but I have to say I’m surprised by all the love. I catch his show sometimes, I usually enjoy it, and that’s about it. I never would have even considered him as the aswer to the OP’s question. I’m with you. Tosh is okay, but I don’t think he’s in the same league as many of the performers mentioned in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/58 "2011-02-24T03:45:21Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I have no hate for Daniel Tosh, but I have to say I’m surprised by all the love. I catch his show sometimes, I usually enjoy it, and that’s about it. I never would have even considered him as the aswer to the OP’s question. > > My first thought was Joel McHale, between _Community_ and _The Soup_, both of which consistently deliver the funny in different ways. But I get the vibe that he’s kind of been phoning it in on _The Soup_ lately. Maybe he’s spreading himself too thin. I always assumed Tosh was like a Joel McHale for people who wish Dane Cook would come to their hometown. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/59 "2011-02-24T04:11:05Z")
No, Dane Cook isn’t anywhere near Tosh level. Ever seen any of his standup or just Tosh.0? ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879/60 "2011-02-24T04:16:49Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > I always assumed Tosh was like a Joel McHale for people who wish Dane Cook would come to their hometown. I think Dane Cook sucks, but Daniel Tosh is hilarious. I also really like Stephen Colbert and the Community cast, so my tastes aren’t completely different from yours. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-funniest-person-on-tv-right-now/571879.md?page=4)