# Whose is The Funniest Stand Up Comedian of All Time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comedian-jokes\ **Created:** [August 21, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404 "2001-08-21T19:25:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/1 "2001-08-21T19:25:05Z")
I would have to say Eddie Murphy back in his Delirous and Raw days. He had so much relatable comedy and he made fun of everyone. Now Carlin is good and he is funny but I think Eddie’s timing, material and delivery are just a bit better. So who do you think is funniest and who is the runner up? ---
**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:** [August 21, 2001, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/2 "2001-08-21T19:28:14Z")
1. Dennis Wolfberg 2. Chris Rush 3. Jackie Vernon ---
**Author:** ![Tedster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/3 "2001-08-21T19:29:48Z")
George Carlin, hands down. The guy is nuts, but that’s probably required, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Flypsyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@Flypsyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flypsyde)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/4 "2001-08-21T19:30:54Z")
Billy Connolly. Easy. ---
**Author:** ![horhay\_achoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@horhay\_achoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horhay_achoa)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/5 "2001-08-21T19:34:17Z")
George Carlin or Jerry Seinfeld. There is this other guy I saw on Comedy Central once who was REALLY funny. Mitch something was his name. Any one know of any Mitch comics? ---
**Author:** ![finnofranco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@finnofranco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/finnofranco)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/6 "2001-08-21T19:36:11Z")
Steven Wright, Jon Stewart, Dennis Miller ---
**Author:** ![theendisnear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a4c791/32.png) [@theendisnear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theendisnear)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/7 "2001-08-21T19:37:09Z")
I think Chris Rock is damn funny. ---
**Author:** ![23skidoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/f04885/32.png) [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/8 "2001-08-21T19:42:02Z")
A young Bill Cosby. ---
**Author:** ![imthjckaz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/imthjckaz/32/3223_2.png) [@imthjckaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imthjckaz)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/9 "2001-08-21T19:43:17Z")
**Richard Pryor** Murphy and Rock, are funny, but if you ask them, they will say Pryor. ---
**Author:** ![Pepper\_Mill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Pepper\_Mill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pepper_Mill)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/10 "2001-08-21T20:11:43Z")
Bill Cosby and George Carlin. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Bitterdrunk\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@The\_Bitterdrunk\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bitterdrunk_Kid)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/11 "2001-08-21T20:15:19Z")
I second young Bill Cosby. His early stand up material was some of the funniest stuff I’ve ever heard. Who could forget “Noah”, “Chicken Heart”, the one about stealing baby coach wheels to make soapbox racers, and so many more! i also liked his take on Genesis, about Adam & Eve being the first kids with “brain damage”. When they had been asked by God about eating the forbidden fruit, “Why did you do that?”, they answered with the standard kid answer, “I don’t know!” ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/12 "2001-08-21T20:20:36Z")
Bill Cosby was good, as others have mentioned. Anna Russell is great and Bob Newhart was fantastic. His phone-conversation routine is wonderful. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![sewalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@sewalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sewalk)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/13 "2001-08-21T20:43:06Z")
Tsk, tsk. Sam Kinison most certainly deserves mention here. Carlin used to be incredibly funny, but his more recent routines don’t even approach the old stuff. Kinison was a lot more consistent in his material, although he did have a much shorter career than Carlin has enjoyed. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/14 "2001-08-21T20:43:13Z")
For my money, Bill Cosby and Alan King. Both specialized in story-telling observational comedy you could relate to. I also like Steven Wright for his weird Gary Larsonesque deadpan. One night at “Catch a Rising Star” he came out, unannounced, and did the whole show right in front of me. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/15 "2001-08-21T20:45:38Z")
1.Robin Williams in his prime. 2. Eddie Izzard. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/16 "2001-08-21T20:55:10Z")
Another here for Eddie Izzard. Funniest guy I’ve ever seen. George Carlin is good too, he has a certain sarcastic, cynical humor about him that is very appealing to me. I think Sam Kinnison is just stupid, as is Jerry Seinfeld. ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/17 "2001-08-21T21:02:21Z")
Who is Eddie Izzard? Never heard of him. I don’t think anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/18 "2001-08-21T21:02:41Z")
> [@](#): > > _horhay asked:_ > Any one know of any Mitch comics? Mitch Hedberg, probably, who is indeed a very funny man. I’d go with: Steve Martin in his standup days – I’ve only heard the records, but holy spit, he’s funny. Eddie Izzard – _Dress to Kill_ holds up to repeated viewings better than anything since Steve Martin’s albums. I’ve just started listening to Richard Pryor’s comedy albums, and he really was as funny as everyone says. Amazing. And Paula Poundstone’s standup always cracked me up, but I haven’t heard her do standup for a long time. Definitely not so much recently. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/19 "2001-08-21T21:03:16Z")
Bill Hicks. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/20 "2001-08-21T21:05:17Z")
Or Lenny Bruce. Both had this sort of brutal honesty, didn’t give a shit about offending anyone, and were dead funny. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404.md?page=2)