# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Falafel\_Waffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@Falafel\_Waffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falafel_Waffle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/21 "2001-08-21T21:06:10Z")
what a tough question! there are soooo many really good comics. My list: 1. Bill Cosby 2. Richard Pryor 3. Redd Foxx 4. Buddy Hackett 5. George Carlin 6. Robin Williams 7. Eddie Izzard 8. Steve Martin 9. Steven Wright 10. Sam Kinison These are in no particular order. Their ranking depends on the kind of day I’ve had! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![okielady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/fbc32d/32.png) [@okielady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/okielady)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/22 "2001-08-21T21:10:18Z")
Flypsyde took my first answer, Billy Connolly, hands down. He was on a show with Whoopie Goldberg once on HBO. Whoopie opened with a few jokes and then introduced him. I was lucky enough to catch it on videotape. Must have been the late 80s or early 90s, because I remember Whoopie talking about first lady Barbara Bush surveying either hurricane or earthquake damage somewhere. ANYHOW…his routine in that stand-up special was the FUNNIEST I’ve ever seen. Unfortunately, I no longer have the video and have NO clue where it disappeared to. So my plea to you people is that if you have this on VHS somewhere, PLEASE let me know. I’m willing to pay for a blank tape, postage, and any time you use to copy it for me!!! Runners up? Hmmm… Bob Nelson’s “Football Routine” in the mid 80s was hilarious. Anyone else remember this? Eddie Murphy in his Delirious and Raw shows, as mentioned before. And as far as the Mitch guy on Comedy Central…is that the one who was talking about his girlfriend moving in with him, and she was so strict that he came home one day and she had the cockroaches running the sweeper? If so, he was absolutely hilarious. My sister was able to catch part of that on tape, if she hasn’t recorded over it… ---
**Author:** ![DaveX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/96bed5/32.png) [@DaveX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveX)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/23 "2001-08-21T21:15:35Z")
Suprised I haven’t seen more mentions of Hicks around here. I’ll second that nomination. ---
**Author:** ![navtechie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@navtechie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/navtechie)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/24 "2001-08-21T21:24:15Z")
I have to go with these comedians, no particular order since they all have different styles of delivery. Dennis Leary Redd Foxx (this man was DIRTY) Richard Pryor Sam Kinison ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/25 "2001-08-21T22:16:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DaveX \* > \*\*Suprised I haven’t seen more mentions of Hicks around here. I’ll second that nomination. \*\* Which means I get to second Lenny Bruce. (Thank you, Masked Man.) ---
**Author:** ![caircair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@caircair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caircair)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/26 "2001-08-21T22:33:44Z")
Bob Newhart, The Smothers Brothers (do groups count?), Geroge Carlin, Jack Benny, Fred Allen, George Burns… but the best of them all is Bill Cosby. Back in the early '80’s he did a film called “Bill Cosby: Himself”. Just Bill, a microphone and a chair. I’ve seen the video at least 6 times, and each time I end up rolling on the floor, breathless from laughter and praying I don’t pee my pants. ---
**Author:** ![Darqangelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@Darqangelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darqangelle)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2001, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/27 "2001-08-21T22:58:28Z")
Dennis Miller Denis Leary Robin Williams Steve Martin Eddie Izzard ---
**Author:** ![Marc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8dc957/32.png) [@Marc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marc)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/28 "2001-08-22T01:54:58Z")
This is an easy pick for me: Sam Kinison’s appearance on the Rodney Dangerfield Young Comedians show on HBO around 1987. Several of the performers went on to bigger things (I think Tim Allen also appeared), but Kinison’s solution to world hunger was my highlight. ---
**Author:** ![TheNewbie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@TheNewbie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheNewbie)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/29 "2001-08-22T02:13:13Z")
IMHO, The Amazing Johnathan had one great performance on Comedy Central. However, I haven’t seen anything from him since… ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/30 "2001-08-22T02:13:55Z")
I think the best ones were the ones who could improvise and leave you cackling helplessly when the rules get changed on them and they have no access to a script. Yet another nomination for Bill Cosby in his prime. Groucho Marx also deserves serious nomination here. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c2a13f/32.png) [@The\_Man\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_Who)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/31 "2001-08-22T02:32:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > **…and Bob Newhart was fantastic. His phone-conversation routine is wonderful.** Also known as his entire dang act. Except for Driving Instructor. Which kicks ass. For me, Sam Kinison. Three out of four albums still make me laugh after nearly 10 years. “I knew right then that Jesus had never been married. No woman just lets you take off for three days and when you get back you tell her, ‘Honey, I was dead.’ That always works.” I’ve always kind of felt bad that I don’t get Bill Hicks at all. -Myron ---
**Author:** ![fenrir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/43a26b/32.png) [@fenrir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fenrir)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/32 "2001-08-22T02:40:21Z")
I can’t believe no one mentioned the unknown comic. ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/33 "2001-08-22T02:55:15Z")
Well, considering I’m from the South, I readily nominate Jeff Foxworthy. He’s much funnier in person than on television. I also think Sinbad (in standup) is hilarious. Not that funny on the tube. Let me also put my vote in for George Carlin, King of Hilarity. Anybody remember the album FM/AM? I love Bill Cosby, too. Hell, he’s still funny! Oh and let’s not forget Jack Benny. Timing is everything. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/34 "2001-08-22T02:55:36Z")
> [@](#): > > _Whose is the Funniest Stand Up Comedian of All Time?_ Mine. 😛 I really like Dana Carvey, although I’ve only seen one of his shows. Makes me laugh every time. My friends and I recite it during boring moments in class. _She bought some broccoli She brought it home Now she’s chopping broccoli_ ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/35 "2001-08-22T02:58:37Z")
Jerry Seinfeld. Makes ya’ wonder how he got a TV show. Though I do agree with Kinison, Williams, and Wright. Redd Foxx was pretty damn funny too. ---
**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 22, 2001, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/36 "2001-08-22T03:09:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by horhay\_achoa \* > \*\*George Carlin or Jerry Seinfeld. > \*\* Post #5 ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/37 "2001-08-22T03:41:21Z")
My 2 cents, in order: Gracie Allen Jack Benny Bill Cosby Gallagher Rita Rudner Red Skelton Johnny Carson Elayne Boosler (Is she still working?) George Carlin ---
**Author:** ![bedris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@bedris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bedris)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/38 "2001-08-22T07:28:42Z")
My favorites: Steve Sweend and Louis Black. **Parts** of Raw and Delirious were funny but I think they’re far from Eddy Murphy’s best work. ---
**Author:** ![bedris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@bedris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bedris)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/39 "2001-08-22T07:30:56Z")
For some reason I can’t edit my post, but the first name in my previous post was supposed to read ‘Steve Sweeny.’ ---
**Author:** ![Monster104](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Monster104](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monster104)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2001, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404/40 "2001-08-22T07:45:16Z")
My Favorite Five, in no particular order: Dennis Leary, Dennis Miller, George Carlin, Jeff Foxworthy, and Steve Martin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whose-is-the-funniest-stand-up-comedian-of-all-time/77404.md?page=3)