# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/41 "2010-01-27T18:32:50Z")
Little Tich must at least be mentioned if we’re talking comedic geniuses of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/42 "2010-01-27T18:48:19Z")
In the “all time” category, Ernie Kovacs _must_ be included. We was probably the first person to realize the comedic possiblities of television as a medium unto itself, rather than as a venue to stage a vaudeville-type sketch show. He was an absolute genius! ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/43 "2010-01-27T18:51:05Z")
> [@Wargamer](#): > > Ahem.. > > Buster Keaton says ‘Hi! Remember me?’ Ahem… cjepson says “check post #3”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/44 "2010-01-27T18:53:51Z")
Billy Crystal when he was younger. Soupy Sales is my comic choice from long ago. The Three Stooges from way,way long ago and the best slapstick comics ever. ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/45 "2010-01-27T18:55:48Z")
I’ll third (is it fourth now?) Mark Twain, and throw in Shakespeare, Wodehouse, and Dickens. And going back a bit, Aristophones for _Lysistrata_. For this era? If I take “era” to mean in my lifetime - any member of Monty Python. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/46 "2010-01-27T19:05:54Z")
From this era: Richard Jeni Bill Hicks Jake Johanson Dan Aykroyd All Time: Sid Caesar Ernie Kovacs Monty Python’s Flying Circus ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/47 "2010-01-27T20:04:21Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > -Russel Peters. the ONLY asian comic that is consistently funny. Plus his uncanny ability to mimic different Engrish accents is nothing short of amazing. Just a quick correction here. Russell Peters is a Canadian, parents from India. He is a great comedian, and I’m glad he was mentioned. I’ll throw a couple more names… Bill Burr. The few times I’ve seen him have been great. Also, I didn’t see him mentioned, but I have to give him his spot in this threadL Sam Kinneson. A shame he’s quickly been forgotten. I guess that’s inevitable when so many other comedians are out there, but for the brief (relatively) time he was in the spotlight, he made me laugh out loud. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/48 "2010-01-27T20:16:50Z")
Now: Denis Leary Simon Pegg All Time: George Carlin Mark Twain Robin Williams ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/49 "2010-01-27T20:31:06Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Also, I didn’t see him mentioned, but I have to give him his spot in this threadL > > Sam Kinneson. And his friend [del]Jack Roy[/del] Rodney Dangerfield. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/50 "2010-01-27T20:41:07Z")
My all-timers have all been mentioned a few times over so I’ll just add a couple of my current favorites that haven’t been given as much love yet: \*\*Paul F. Thompkins \*\*- Saw him here in Chicago about a year ago. Easily the funniest stand up act I’ve ever seen - and I’ve seen Cosby, Carlin, and Hedberg. He’s incredibly smart and quick witted. \*\*David Sedaris \*\*- Try reading his stuff on a train or bus without everyone looking at you because you’re giggling like a lunatic. (and ditto to the people who mentioned his sister, Amy.) ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/51 "2010-01-27T21:13:45Z")
Pauly Shore. Adam Sandler. Colin Quinn. Per above, \*\*handsomeharry \*\*is the greatest comedic genius of all time. But, seriously: All Time: Tie-Mark Twain/WC Fields/Laurel and Hardy Present: Stephen Wright. ---
**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, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/52 "2010-01-27T21:34:48Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I think Dave Chappelle was brilliant. I wish he hadn’t flaked out the way he did. > > All time: Mark Twain I feel pretty dumb for forgetting Dave Chappelle. His impressions alone should earn him a spot. As for forgetting Twain, I must’ve been drunk or something. Back in HS, reading _Huckleberry Finn_, I had a great American Lit teacher who noticed I was a little bored with the book, and being convinced of Twain’s genius, she loaned me a copy of _Letters from the Earth_. (You know school libraries are too afraid to stock fun stuff like that.) After reading the first few chapters, I was hooked on Mark Twain the cynic. I appreciate the novels more nowadays, but its the short stories and essays that put him in my top 5 authors. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/53 "2010-01-27T21:44:04Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Not sure if anyone here will remember this guy, but I always found Steven Write and his quirky and deadpan comedy to resonate with my own personality. Stephen Wright is great. Mitch Hedberg (very similar style) was my favorite, RIP. ---
**Author:** ![ministryman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@ministryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ministryman)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/54 "2010-01-27T22:32:10Z")
**Currently:** No one. **All Time:** Jerry Lewis ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/55 "2010-01-27T23:14:33Z")
> [@ministryman](#): > > **All Time:** > > Jerry Lewis Are you sure you shouldn’t be “L’Homme du Ministere”? :dubious: ---
**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, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/56 "2010-01-27T23:31:29Z")
It just feels so _wrong_ to call him a genius because his writing gets schticky and some of it isn’t funny, but no sportswriter has made me laugh harder than **Bill Simmons** , aka [The Sports Guy](http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/simmons/). ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/57 "2010-01-28T00:45:12Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > Stephen Wright is great. Mitch Hedberg (very similar style) was my favorite, RIP. There’s that bullshit kid ripping them both off on Comedy Central… oh the twist is he carries a guitar! What’s his name? Unpronouncable generic New York kid. Also.. I’ll say Flight of the Conchords have ruined musical comedy acts for awhile by being too good. Geniuses? Time will tell. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/58 "2010-01-28T01:00:04Z")
All Time Plautus Shakespeare Contemporary West Richard Pryor George Carlin (early) Eddie Murphy (early) Chris Rock Mel Brooks (early) Robin Williams Iconic Groups/Ensembles Python Blackadder Jay Ward Productions ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/59 "2010-01-28T12:28:12Z")
Hm, the only girls mentioned are Lucille Ball and Amy Sedaris, neither of whom I think are that funny. All time: Jane Austen Current: Paula Poundstone Julia Sweeney ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594/60 "2010-01-28T12:54:04Z")
Chris Morris is the daddy on this side of the pond. He’s not been too active recently, but _Brass Eye_ has yet to be beaten as satire over here, and that was ages ago. His current project, _four lions_, is currently playing at the sundance film festival and grasps the nettle of muslim extremism - a subject that a lot of comics wouldn’t have the sack for. Reviews I’ve read [haven’t been that good](http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/jan/25/four-lions-chris-morris), though, so we’ll have to wait and see. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whom-would-you-consider-comedic-geniuses-from-this-era-of-all-time/526594.md?page=4)