# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/61 "2020-01-19T04:02:57Z")
> [@Asuka](#): > > Stand-up comedians who use celebrity impressions as their sole focus are the absolute worst. People like Rich Little and Fred Travalena who were all over talk shows and events in the 70s and 80s with the most basic obvious impressions everyone was doing. Rich Little was really talented but I hate most impersonators. Frank Caliendo comes to mind. And “guitar guy” comes on stage? I’m going to the exit. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/62 "2020-01-19T04:09:38Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > 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. I nominate myself for “worst” then. I was the opener for comedy school graduation school. The sound man heckled me because my mike wasn’t on, and I told a joke about a local woman that gave birth to a baby in a local sports bar bathroom and left it to die. This all in front of an audience that just wanted to see their friends and relatives graduate and do 5 minutes. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/63 "2020-01-19T04:11:13Z")
> [@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. See Sam Kinnison). With an honorable mention to Andy Kaufman. Making people uncomfortable isn’t comedy, it’s just painful. If Kaufman we’re still alive he would accept this as a supreme compliment. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/64 "2020-01-19T04:13:18Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I’m fascinated by the lack of Louis CK on anyone’s best or worst list. He’s the comic I’m most petulant about being awful, because so much of his material about parenting resonates with me on a daily basis. > > Carlin’s never done much for me, which makes me feel flawed. His schtick of being a smirking curmudgeon calling out hypocrisy probably wasn’t played out when he was doing it, I guess? > > Trevor Noah’s standup is outstanding, and he and John Mulvaney are the folks I’m most excited about these days. Saw Louis CK pre-scandal and he is brilliant. His gift is constantly coming up with new material which isn’t easy to do. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![atimnie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atimnie/32/11_2.png) [@atimnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atimnie)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/65 "2020-01-19T06:05:36Z")
Katt Williams? Vulgar and sanctimonious at the same time. Not half as funny as creationists and flat earthers on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@Disgruntled\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disgruntled_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/66 "2020-01-19T11:10:34Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I have greatly soured on Robin Williams. When he first came out I thought he was the greatest thing ever. I’d imagine he’s soured a bit himself by now. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/67 "2020-01-19T11:26:50Z")
I don’t have a worst. A lot of them I don’t find funny at all, their style is not to my taste, or I even hear they’reunpleasant people in real life, or whatever. But no reason to label them as “worst” if they have a strong fanbase. My favourite would probably be Billy Connolly, though there’s a comedian named Ross Noble who is a spiritual successor in many ways. I also really like people like Aisling Bea, Chris Addison, Dara O’Briain, and Sarah Millican. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/68 "2020-01-19T13:02:45Z")
Two stand-up comedians that always have my full attention are Stewart Lee and Doug Stanhope. Worst? the ones that dn’t make me laugh tend to not stick in my memory and supposed offensive material doesn’t bother me at all so I struggle to pick out a candidate there. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/69 "2020-01-19T13:50:06Z")
Now that I am old and jaded the guys I listen to most are Doug Stanhope and Stewart Lee. I’m sure that both are acquired tastes and in fact Stewart Lee features online critiques on [his website.](https://www.stewartlee.co.uk/) I think both are interesting and thoughtful although apparently acerbic and angry. For added pleasure each has also written at least one fascinating book. Stanhope’s autobiography [Digging Up Mother: A Love Story](https://www.amazon.com/Digging-Up-Mother-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B018EOXAC8) is both funny and moving. The audiobook read by Stanhope and assorted friends, with apparently the assistance of recreational substances is particularly good. Stewart Lee’s [How I Escaped My Certain Fate](https://www.amazon.com/How-Escaped-My-Certain-Fate-ebook/dp/B0042JSPTI/) is equally fascinating. It is part autobiography and part a deconstruction of several years worth of shows. He explains in extraordinary detail the origins and development of his act. It’s a rare chance for comedy fans to see what goes on. **ETA.** Unbelievable. The power of coincidence. I started writing this about 3 hours ago. Came back, completed it and look at what’s above me. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/70 "2020-01-19T14:09:53Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > I nominate myself for “worst” then. I was the opener for comedy school graduation school. The sound man heckled me because my mike wasn’t on, and I told a joke about a local woman that gave birth to a baby in a local sports bar bathroom and left it to die. This all in front of an audience that just wanted to see their friends and relatives graduate and do 5 minutes. > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk You got competition for worst. Once I did a five minute show. My “best” joke was about getting tired of doing laundry and last week when I was putting clothes in I threw in the towel. And it was downhill from there. Best for me is either Steven Wright or Carlin. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/71 "2020-01-19T15:50:10Z")
I don’t know if he would make anybody’s “best” list or not. But there is somebody who at the very least ought to get honorable mention because of the extremely important influence that he had on other comedians – Milton Berle. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/72 "2020-01-19T16:11:26Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > **ETA.** Unbelievable. The power of coincidence. I started writing this about 3 hours ago. Came back, completed it and look at what’s above me. Ha! They are both stylistically similar in that they play the shambolic chancer when really they are incredibly good technically and their speed of thought is astonishing. Stanhope is what Hitchens would’ve been had he turned to comedy, He seems to _think_ in fully-structered comedic routines. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/73 "2020-01-19T16:23:29Z")
Yeah, Stewart Lee for best. Mind you, sometimes he deconstructs the comedy genre so far that you start wondering why you find anything funny at all. For worst - well, we’ve had Bernard Manning and Jim Davidson; what about Bob Hope? Was he supposed to be funny or something? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/74 "2020-01-19T17:11:02Z")
> [@eburacum45](#): > > Yeah, Stewart Lee for best. Mind you, sometimes he deconstructs the comedy genre so far that you start wondering why you find anything funny at all. There’s a l[ovely little routine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvHlD7Lg5x0) in his “comedy vehicle” series for the BBC which pretty nails what he does. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/75 "2020-01-19T18:28:24Z")
Louis C.K. is probably my favorite comic that I’ve ever heard and I thought he was the most talented comic alive when he went down in flames with the public. Dave Chappelle is another all time great, Katt Williams. Norm Macdonald is also one of the all time greats if you’ve never really listened to him before sometimes it takes a few exposures to his style to understand what he’s doing but man he is a master comedian. I used to love Patton Oswalt in his younger days before his whole act became a political virtue signaling. I can’t stand political comedy, Lewis Black, Dennis Miller that sort of thing. Colin Quinn is amazingly funny, Jim Norton, Patrice O’Neil, Bill Burr, Rich Vos, Greg Geraldo, pretty much all the guys that used to be on Opie and Anthony. Joan Rivers was an amazingly underrated standup and way ahead of her time. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/76 "2020-01-19T20:12:43Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Carlin’s never done much for me, which makes me feel flawed. His schtick of being a smirking curmudgeon calling out hypocrisy probably wasn’t played out when he was doing it, I guess?. You’re not flawed. You just have not been fully absorbed into the SDMB hive mind, where Carlin is the Messiah. 😉 Carlin’s schtick was played out by 1973 and he ran on undeserved worship for the next four decades. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/77 "2020-01-19T20:16:21Z")
Saw Leno right before he took over the Tonight Show around 1991, he was pretty good but was great at interacting with the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/78 "2020-01-19T20:17:45Z")
> [@pool](#): > > Colin Quinn is amazingly funny, Jim Norton, Patrice O’Neil, Bill Burr, Rich Vos, Greg Geraldo, pretty much all the guys that used to be on Opie and Anthony. Joan Rivers was an amazingly underrated standup and way ahead of her time. That’s where I learned to appreciate comedy. And to appreciate someone who is a comic’s comic. If a comic could make other stand ups laugh that’s a mark of greatness. Patrice was so funny and quick that if he had lived and put out more material he probably would have risen to be the greatest ever. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2020, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/79 "2020-01-19T20:23:30Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Saw Leno right before he took over the Tonight Show around 1991, he was pretty good but was great at interacting with the crowd. Most only think of Leno from the Tonight Show. Before he got the gig he was a killer stand up. I made sure to always watch his Letterman appearances because he was so funny. ---
**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 19, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612/80 "2020-01-19T20:26:36Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I don’t have a worst. A lot of them I don’t find funny at all, their style is not to my taste, or I even hear they’reunpleasant people in real life, or whatever. But no reason to label them as “worst” if they have a strong fanbase. > > My favourite would probably be Billy Connolly, though there’s a comedian named Ross Noble who is a spiritual successor in many ways. > > I also really like people like Aisling Bea, Chris Addison, Dara O’Briain, and Sarah Millican. That’s a very British list - I’m guessing you might be from round these parts? Ross Noble is touring the UK at the moment - he’s playing a theatre not to far from me. Tickets have been on sale for, what, six weeks? I just checked - plenty still available. By way of comparison, Ricky Gervais sold out that place in about 15 minutes. I’ll grant you that Noble seemed to come from nowhere like a force of nature; but I’m thinking these days he’s pretty much a one-trick pony. He’s not selling too well and I’m not surprised. j [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-very-best-and-very-worst-comedian-of-all-time/846612.md?page=5)