I voted Cosby because I remembered that his routine “The Chicken Heart That Ate New York” used to have me in gasping for breath I was laughing so hard. None of the others managed that, though Pryor came closest. Chris Rock is damn good, too.
Richard’s genius, to me, was that he didn’t put himself between the funny and the audience. If he wanted to make us laugh at the horrific shit you have to go through to make it in show biz, he’d tell about having to blow guys. If he wanted to make us laugh at something a junkie would say, he wouldn’t tell a joke about a junkie, he’d become one on stage.
He was the purest conduit of comic genius I’ve ever seen.
To the OP: I love me some Flip Wilson, but srsly, dude, he does not belong on this list. If you’re going to set Flip up for the kind of ass-kicking he’s going to take on this poll, you should have included Nipsey Russell, just so he’d have company.
There’s smoke and fire and Jello!
I voted for Richard Pryor. His humor hits some sore issues (crack incident) and makes you laugh at the pain.
I’d add Sam Kinison to this list, or are we just dealing with black comedians?
Bill Cosby I’d have to give him the longevity nod. Except for the Cosby Show, I think he’s got the best material that ages well.
I can’t stand Chris Rock. He’s always screaming into the mike. And not in a good way. I don’t like being screamed at by the TV.
[QUOTE=Uncle Brother Walker]
I can’t stand Chris Rock. He’s always screaming into the mike. And not in a good way. I don’t like being screamed at by the TV.
[/QUOTE]
I used to like him but he stopped being funny somewhere along the line and just became loud and obnoxious. It happens to some comedians when they get rich. Perhaps, especially if they’re lucky enough to have a good marriage as well as a big income, they lose the anger that fueled them on their way up.
Ooo…tough choice. For me it’s Pryor or Cosby. I think Pryor hit the higher highs (take that as you will), but, overall, I think Cosby was more consistent and timeless. One more vote for Cosby.
It’s hard to choose between them, except for Eddie Murphy. He just never did it for me.
For me, it comes down to Rock, Pryor, and Cosby. I like Pryor & Cosby, but Rock was getting huge just as I was in high school & college, so I have to go with him. Pryor & Cosby are just too firmly in my mind as comedians my parents watched.
For me it’s Pryor. The Mudbone routines alone are enough for me to consider him the best ever.
Yeah, the whole “Chris Rock is the funniest man alive” meme stopped being accurate five or so years ago. No doubt that, for a little while there, there indeed was no one funnier who was actively doing standup. But as you said, things, and people, inevitably change.
For my money, one of the funniest people doing standup right now is Patton Oswalt.
I voted Redd Foxx, and would have ranked the rest:
Richard Pryor
Bill Cosby
Eddie Murphy
Flip Wilson
Just my opinion, but I don’t find Chris Rock’s stand up all that funny. I don’t think he even belongs on the list.