# Whom would you consider comedic geniuses from this era? Of All Time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 27, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594 "2010-01-27T00:23:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/1 "2010-01-27T00:23:18Z")
This era can be loosely defined as from now to five years ago. I’ll start the proverbial ball rolling: **From this era:** Sasha Baron Cohen Larry David (a holdover from Seinfeld days) Jack Black (for his work with Tenacious D) **Of All Time:** Eddie Murphy (Re: SNL, 48 Hours and “Donkey” from “Shrek”) Richard Pryor Bill Murray There are some others who come to mind, but I haven’t watched them enough to be worthy of identifying them. Question: does Jon Stewart belong on either list? ---
**Author:** ![MeDrewNotYou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@MeDrewNotYou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeDrewNotYou)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/2 "2010-01-27T00:33:08Z")
Currently Stephen Colbert (I think Jon Stewart is more of a semi-serious newsman, however poorly that reflects on journalism.) Seth McFarlane (I’m not a huge fan of his shows, but I have to admit there’s something to their popularity, even if it isn’t my style.) All-Time Groucho Marx Mel Brooks Gene Wilder ---
**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 27, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/3 "2010-01-27T00:57:55Z")
All Time: Charlie Chaplin Buster Keaton W.C. Fields Jacques Tati Woody Allen Mike Nichols and Elaine May Monty Python’s Flying Circus Currently Ricky Gervais Zach Galifianakis ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/4 "2010-01-27T01:02:05Z")
Current: Eddie Izzard Russell Brand All time: Eddie Izzard Mel Brooks Stephen Wright ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/5 "2010-01-27T01:38:59Z")
All Time: Will Rogers - the original John Stewart Abbot and Costello - Nailed the buddy schtick Marx Bros - The great ensemble comedy, funny at multiple levels Stooges - perfected physical comedy Lenny Bruce - made it funny to be crude George Carlin - Took Lenny’s work further Today? Stewart / Colbert are my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/6 "2010-01-27T01:53:18Z")
I knew someone had to mention Ricky Gervais - Yes I enjoyed The Office but that guy is the most over rated “genuis” ever. And his stand up is awful. anyway I will mention laurel. & Hardy ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/7 "2010-01-27T01:56:11Z")
> [@Rrose\_Selavy](#): > > I knew someone had to mention Ricky Gervais - Yes I enjoyed The Office but that guy is the most over rated “genuis” ever. And his stand up is awful. > anyway I will mention laurel. & Hardy I’ll ditto Gervais :). Especially for Extras. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/8 "2010-01-27T02:18:40Z")
Current: Larry David, for taking Jewish humor to it’s supreme height, with all beauty of improvisation. Stephen Colbert, for folding over reality in character. Amy Sedaris, for being a foible to what’s supposed to be femme cutesy, wicked good with the truth. ---
**Author:** ![Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prelude_to_Fascination)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/9 "2010-01-27T02:28:46Z")
I don’t know enough about current comedians to comment, so I’ll stick with the classics: Groucho (first, then the rest of the Marxes) WC Fields Mel Brooks Carl Reiner Allan Sherman Bill Cosby George Carlin Steve Allen (more of an all-around entertainer, but still) Henny Youngman Monty Python (Irretrievably balanced toward Jewish humor. Whattya gonna do?) ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/10 "2010-01-27T02:35:43Z")
Kanye West is the best comedic genius of all time, ALL TIME! \*That meme is probably old but I don’t care, it’s still funny. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/11 "2010-01-27T02:51:34Z")
Stephen Fry Simon Pegg Bill Bailey ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/12 "2010-01-27T03:06:00Z")
Bob Newhart doesn’t get enough credit. Two huge hit television shows, some of the highest selling comedy records of all time and a completely unique comedic persona. I \ Bob Newhart. ---
**Author:** ![Civil\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d78d45/32.png) [@Civil\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Civil_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/13 "2010-01-27T03:20:06Z")
Well, under “all time,” it couldn’t be Mark Twain. His twin brother might count, though, as the one who survived that childhood bathtub drowning incident. According to Mark Twain. ---
**Author:** ![spazurek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@spazurek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spazurek)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/14 "2010-01-27T04:45:33Z")
**Current** : 1. Will Ferrell. I think he can pretty much do no wrong. I hope he starts extending himself somewhat beyond his current character type, as Adam Sandler has done (with surprising success). 2. Bill Murray. He’s always funny in the most satisfying way even when he’s being serious. Groundhog Day is my vote for the best comedy of all time, and its success depends almost entirely on Murray’s performance. 3. Jake Johannsen. Sure, he’s basically unknown, but I’ve never seen standup that can compare. Check him out on YouTube, [here’s a sample.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xigd_glQQ9k&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/15 "2010-01-27T05:01:46Z")
Danny Kaye ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/16 "2010-01-27T05:11:58Z")
Today: Brian Regan, Larry David, Jake Johannsen, Jim Gaffigan, Amy Sedaris. All Time: W.C. Field ---
**Author:** ![Oregon\_sunshine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/50afbb/32.png) [@Oregon\_sunshine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oregon_sunshine)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/17 "2010-01-27T05:17:48Z")
Groucho! and Bill Hicks 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/18 "2010-01-27T05:19:24Z")
Laurel and Hardy Carlin Mel Brooks Monty Python Peter Sellers The creators of Rocky and Bullwinkle Show Beluchi ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/19 "2010-01-27T05:22:57Z")
My favorite comedian is Patton Oswalt. I think he’s fucking hilarious and ideologically I generally agree with him (I’m not talking about politics, he’s not really political, I mean his outlook on life and how people are.) Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, also amazing. I’m a huge Ricky Gervais fan. I think Steve Carell has also proven himself to be a great comic talent. So that would be my list of the comedic geniuses from this era: Patton Oswalt for standup, Bob and David and Ricky Gervais for TV, and Steve Carell for film. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/20 "2010-01-27T05:29:49Z")
Andy Kaufman [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594.md?page=2)