Well, Palin did write that joke that killed everyone who heard it.
But Jones made everyone around him laugh uncontrollably.
But he only did it once. Slacker.
It’s hard to know who was funnier, because they all had different strengths. Some were good at writing comedy, some good at performing comedy, then there were the songs and animations, which each take unique skills again. Plus they worked in pairs, supporting each other and contributing different elements to a sketch.
When I first watched the show as a kid, Eric Idle was the one who made me laugh the most, because he has an expressively gormless face.
And it’s why I voted for Jones. I’m not sure if anyone could replace him as the completely straight man. Part of the humor in it to me is that Jones continues to show a stiff upper lip despite being annoyed only because Idle is being annoying and coy. Anyone other straight man might have played it as being offended at inquiries into their personal life, but he doesn’t, which is unexpected and therefore humorous.
I could see Palin doing it straight or clueless.
For the record, “Nudge Nudge” was originally written for the Two Ronnies, who turned it down as too risqué even for them.