# Who is the very best and very worst comedian of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 18, 2020, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612 "2020-01-18T08:30:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/21 "2020-01-18T14:43:01Z")
For ‘best’ I think we’d have to figure out years spent in comedy, number of albums or specials, amount for material over decades, timelessness. When the dust has settled I’d bet we’d end up with Bob Hope, someone I don’t think is particularly funny, but lots do and for a long time. Then there is Sandra Bernhard, a comedy black hole. She’s a decent host though, she sucks so bad you’re excited to see the next act no matter who it is. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/22 "2020-01-18T15:38:06Z")
I agree with Cosby. I was a teen when he first released an album in 1964. I thought it was the funniest thing I’d ever heard. Now, I had seen many of the comics of the day on programs like Ed Sullivan, and some of them raised a laugh or guffaw, but none had me howling like Cosby did. He was also consistent over all those decades in keeping his humor fresh and clean. He was one of the few who could go on stage with just some ideas and do an hour of stand-up. Most other comedians were in awe of him for that. The next person to make me laugh like that was George Carlin. More cerebral than Cosby, he was terrific at pointing out human foibles. And then came Eddie Murphy. I was in tears listening to his “Delirious” album. I’ve never laughed that hard before or since. And lastly, there’s Tim Conway. His combination of verbal and physical comedy still makes me howl. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/23 "2020-01-18T16:06:58Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Worst: Bernard Manning. > > Two click rule: NSFW, offensive, racist, sexist, not funny and altogether appalling. There will never be another Bernard Manning. Thank god. The worst ever. But honourable mentions to Steve Martin and Robin Williams. Best: Bill Hicks J ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/24 "2020-01-18T16:34:51Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > The one comic who could reduce me to helpless tears of laughter more often than anyone else was Bill Cosby. So he gets to be both the best and the worst IMHO. Yes, good call. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/25 "2020-01-18T16:35:03Z")
Best: George Carlin, Dennis Miller (pre 9/11) Whoppi Goldberg, Bill Cosby Worst: Gallagher or Eddie Murphy. I actually had a college professor who gave us some exam clues (Wednesday before Thanksgiving) and then spent the rest of the class period showing us part of Whoppi Goldberg’s one woman show and there was an extra credit question about it on the final! ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/26 "2020-01-18T16:43:13Z")
Lenny Bruce gets a lot of accolades for his groundbreaking comedy, for standing up for what was right at great personal expense, for being a symbol of the oppressive moral enforcement of his day, etc. Good on him for all of that. But as a comedian, he just wasn’t funny. I’ve listened to a few of his bits. It’s as if he was going for shock value on shock value alone, throwing out words like “Nigger” and “Dyke” and making the audience chuckle uncomfortably, without actually pinning those words onto a coherent set of jokes. A decade later, Richard Pryor did the same thing, only he was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/27 "2020-01-18T16:50:01Z")
Tig Notaro is on my Worst List. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/28 "2020-01-18T16:53:44Z")
I was wondering when someone would mention Pryor. Hes my choice for best. Worst, obviously, they were so bad I can’t remember them. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/29 "2020-01-18T17:05:23Z")
Wouldn’t the worst stand-up comedians be one of the many who never make it past the open mic night at some local comedy club? Rather than, say, Carrot Top, who somehow has a regular show at a Las Vegas casino, or one of the other recognizable names mentioned above. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/30 "2020-01-18T17:13:24Z")
My personal favorite is Rodney Dangerfield followed by George Carlin and Richard pryor. As far as worst I’d go with Pauly Shore. His father --Sammy Shore–was a comedian and co-owned a comedy club with his wife in West Hollywood. Frankly if it wasn’t for his parents I don’t think Pauly’s “talent” would have warranted a career as an entertainer on its own merits. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/31 "2020-01-18T17:22:05Z")
The three I grew up on as a kid were Bill Cosby (“Himself”), Eddie Murphy (“Delirious”) and Robin Williams (“Live At the Met”). Those were my first exposures to stand-up comedy, so my tastes were very much shaped by them. I’ve probably soured the most on Robin Williams’ comedy since then, but I still think he was a master of that hyper-coked-up style of improvisation. My favorites now depend on my mood. I love Bill Burr, though I can see him as being a bit disfavored by some. But he’s probably my favorite right now. Brian Regan is great, and if you want other clean comedy, I think Jim Gaffigan is fantastic and a hell of a lot more than just being the “Hot Pockets” comic. Steve Wright and Mitch Hedberg are definitely masters of their style of their brand of mostly one-liner humor, but I also think Emo Phillips is up there, despite his idiosycratic delivery. Worst, I dunno. I find Carlos Mencia pretty terrible. Jeff Dunham, Dane Cook, same. Larry the Cable Guy. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/32 "2020-01-18T17:25:22Z")
My vote, Best is George Carlin, worst is Emo Phillips, or any of the “delivery” comics (where the delivery, more than the material, is what is supposed to be funny. See Sam Kinnison). With an honorable mention to Andy Kaufman. Making people uncomfortable isn’t comedy, it’s just painful. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/33 "2020-01-18T17:26:36Z")
For me, my tastes change, especially as new comedians build and improve on other’s work. I agree with most of the names mentioned above, both best and worst, but my choices may change tomorrow if I hear someone doing a new riff on their work. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/34 "2020-01-18T17:29:57Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Worst, I dunno. I find Carlos Mencia pretty terrible. Jeff Dunham, Dane Cook, same. Larry the Cable Guy. What little I’ve seen and heard of Jeff Dunham I’ve found really not at all funny. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/35 "2020-01-18T17:30:42Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > My vote, Best is George Carlin, worst is Emo Phillips, or any of the “delivery” comics (where the delivery, more than the material, is what is supposed to be funny. Well, that’s the thing I discovered about Emo when I revisited his work a few months ago. His material actually is funny if you like that style of one-liner a la Steven Wright or Mitch Hedberg. It’s a pity he’s only remembered for his schtick, and his current work is much toned-down in that regard. I remember thinking he sucked in the 80s and 90s, and don’t even know how I went down the rabbit hole to rediscover his work, but I find it a hell of a lot funnier than I remember it. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/36 "2020-01-18T17:35:53Z")
No one (including me) has mentioned Bob Newhart yet. His standup work was outstanding. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/37 "2020-01-18T17:36:16Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > No one (including me) has mentioned Bob Newhart yet. His standup work was outstanding. Ah, yes, classic. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/38 "2020-01-18T17:42:16Z")
Best? Tom Lehrer. Worst? Gilbert Gottfried. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/39 "2020-01-18T18:15:57Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > For ‘best’ I think we’d have to figure out years spent in comedy, number of albums or specials, amount for material over decades, timelessness. When the dust has settled I’d bet we’d end up with Bob Hope, someone I don’t think is particularly funny, but lots do and for a long time. > Then there is Sandra Bernhard, a comedy black hole. She’s a decent host though, she sucks so bad you’re excited to see the next act no matter who it is. I’m getting you for my social director pronto! I can already taste the fun. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/40 "2020-01-18T18:36:54Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > I got to watching some Youtube clips of Don Rickles yesterday and I’ve never LOL’d so hard or so long. I would guess most people might think that Robin Williams was the funniest person ever. But he is almost entirely cerebral. I think the funniest person of all time has to have a mix of both physical and cerebral comedy. So my vote goes to Don Rickles. I’ve always had thoughts about Rickles, but I watched a few of his routines before posting this, just to make sure. I just don’t like Rickles. While he is absurdly quick on his feet, I do not find him very funny at all. First, I’m not a fan of insult comics … too easy. Especially when it’s famous people who need to be seen laughing at themselves. Roasts are not my thing. Second, he’s way too hammy. The tie grabs, the “did I just say that?” looks, and the mugging all cover, to me, weak material. Third, it is uncomfortable watching how close to the line, and oftentimes over the line, he goes in regards to racist stereotypes. I want to laugh, not cringe at half-veiled racists insults. Finally, there’s very little subtlety or thoughtfulness behind his humor. I want to laugh, sure, but I also want a little substance in the humor. Not just “hockey puck” or “look how weird Mexicans’ talk”. Add me to the Bob Newhart for best list. Worst? There are a ton of bad comedians out there. But bad and somewhat famous? Dane Cook. Guy sucked. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612.md?page=3)