Who are your favorite stand-up comics and movie comedians?

[meltzerboy]

I had a friend when I was in graduate school who, like I, was studying psychology. However, after earning an MA in psychology, he decided he didn’t want to pursue the PhD and left to become a stand-up comic. He took the professional name, Peter Jung. I recall we used to go to comedy clubs together a lot in those days. I also observed him perform in clubs in New York and New Jersey. That is when I developed an appreciation of stand-up comedy and just how challenging it must be to develop and perfect a routine, and eventually make a name for oneself in the business.

With this as a background to my appreciation of stand-up comedy, I wonder who some of your favorite stand-up comics and movie comedians are, realizing these two vocations often require very different kinds of gifts.

Among stand-up comics, my favorite is of course Peter Jung! Others I particularly like include Jerry Seinfeld and Woody Allen, both of whom started their careers in stand-up comedy. Among old-timers (in movies and/or on stage) there are several, including Jack Benny, George Burns, Red Skelton, Jerry Lewis, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, the Marx Brothers, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Johnny Carson, Eddie Murphy, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, and so on.

Now how about some of YOUR favorites?

 

[SuperLuigi]

I like Jerry Seinfeld.

 

[pianistclare]

Jim Gaffigan, John Candy, Sinbad

George Lopez used to be hilarious, but now he’s just as “blue” as anyone else.

 

[Exiled_Child]

Chris Rock, hands down. Of course, he’s rather on the secular side of things, but he’s always had a knack for making me laugh uproariously.

 

[Exiled_Child]

I like Jerry Seinfeld.

+1 for the mighty Jerry.

 

[johnnyc176]

Stand up - David Adkins (Sinbad), Jerry Seinfeld, Steven Wright

TV/Film - Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball, W.C. Fields, Jackie Gleason, Laurel & Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Wendie Jo Sperber

 

[John_Lazarus]

Off the top of my head:

Stand-up:

Derek Edwards
John Pinette
Mitch Hedberg
Steve Wright
Bob Newhart
Jimeoin

Film:

Buster Keaton
Charlie Chaplin

Sketch comedy:

Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show, especially when he was trying — and usually succeeding — to get the others to crack up.

My favourite skits with him in it were the one where he is a new dentist, working on Harvey Korman’s tooth, and a misadventure with novocaine; an SS officer interrogating a downed American pilot (Lyle Waggoner) with a Hitler puppet; and a segment of Mama’s Family where he tells the story of the Siamese elephants, joined at the trunk.

 

[pianistclare]

Off the top of my head:

Stand-up:

Derek Edwards
John Pinette
Mitch Hedberg
Steve Wright
Bob Newhart
Jimeoin

Sketch comedy:

Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show, especially when he was trying — and usually succeeding — to get the others to crack up.

My favourite skits with him in it were the one where he is a new dentist, working on Harvey Korman’s tooth, and a misadventure with novocaine; an SS officer interrogating a downed American pilot (Lyle Waggoner) with a Hitler puppet; and a segment of Mama’s Family where he tells the story of the Siamese elephants, joined at the trunk.

OH! I forgot the late great and wonderful John Pinette! God rest his soul.

 

[book_and_bead]

I’m with you, johnnyc176, although the 40’s and 50’s were just a tad before my time, I love the comedy of that era.

I like Denis Leary, John Pinette, Bobby Collins, Ray Romano, Jerry Seinfeld. I miss the golden days of roasts; I used to love the Dean Martin roasts. I watched a few of the recent ones and was shocked at how profane and mean-spirited they’ve become.

 

[meltzerboy]

Off the top of my head:

Stand-up:

Derek Edwards
John Pinette
Mitch Hedberg
Steve Wright
Bob Newhart
Jimeoin

Film:

Buster Keaton
Charlie Chaplin

Sketch comedy:

Tim Conway on The Carol Burnett Show, especially when he was trying — and usually succeeding — to get the others to crack up.

My favourite skits with him in it were the one where he is a new dentist, working on Harvey Korman’s tooth, and a misadventure with novocaine; an SS officer interrogating a downed American pilot (Lyle Waggoner) with a Hitler puppet; and a segment of Mama’s Family where he tells the story of the Siamese elephants, joined at the trunk.

Bob Newhart, of course. So great and clean (and Catholic, I believe). And yes, Tim Conway as well, and, as you noted in passing, Harvey Korman. What about Carol Burnett herself?

 

[meltzerboy]

I’m with you, johnnyc176, although the 40’s and 50’s were just a tad before my time, I love the comedy of that era.

I like Denis Leary, John Pinette, Bobby Collins, Ray Romano, Jerry Seinfeld. I miss the golden days of roasts; I used to love the Dean Martin roasts. I watched a few of the recent ones and was shocked at how profane and mean-spirited they’ve become.

The Dean Martin roasts were always profane but not really mean-spirited, as far back as I can remember. But so much fun!

 

[meltzerboy]

A few others I forgot to mention include the legendary Bob Hope, the ground-breaking Phyllis Diller (one of the first women stand-up comics), the late Joan Rivers (not to everyone’s taste but I liked her), and the gifted film comedienne, Madeline Kahn, who died of cancer, much too young. I sometimes ran into Madeline in her jogging outfit in the supermarket when I lived on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

 

[on_the_hill]

John Pinette, Jim Gaffigan, Jake Johannsen, in no particular order. Steven Wright, Rodney Dangerfield.

I listen to XM Radio’s comedy channel, but I don’t know comedians all that well.

 

[meltzerboy]

Chris Rock, hands down. Of course, he’s rather on the secular side of things, but he’s always had a knack for making me laugh uproariously.

In one of his wonderful routines, Chris Rock said something to the effect of: “You’re worried about the effects of El Nino; what about El Negro?”

 

[7_Sorrows]

I had a friend when I was in graduate school who, like I, was studying psychology. However, after earning an MA in psychology, he decided he didn’t want to pursue the PhD and left to become a stand-up comic. He took the professional name, Peter Jung. I recall we used to go to comedy clubs together a lot in those days. I also observed him perform in clubs in New York and New Jersey. That is when I developed an appreciation of stand-up comedy and just how challenging it must be to develop and perfect a routine, and eventually make a name for oneself in the business.

With this as a background to my appreciation of stand-up comedy, I wonder who some of your favorite stand-up comics and movie comedians are, realizing these two vocations often require very different kinds of gifts.

Among stand-up comics, my favorite is of course Peter Jung! Others I particularly like include Jerry Seinfeld and Woody Allen, both of whom started their careers in stand-up comedy. Among old-timers (in movies and/or on stage) there are several, including Jack Benny, George Burns, Red Skelton, Jerry Lewis, Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, the Marx Brothers, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Johnny Carson, Eddie Murphy, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, and so on.

Now how about some of YOUR favorites?

You did a good job of naming my favorites from the golden years. so much stand up comedy nowadays has to be filthy and using bad language like the B word, the N word and the F word. that turns me off right away and I will change the channel. I did make it through The Kings of Comedy. I like Cedric the Entertainer and I like Steve Harvey, but I guess he doesn’t do much stand up anymore.
I used to think George Lopez was good, but I don’t listen to him either anymore. Of course, Steve Martin was one of my favorite stand up comics. I really miss John Candy.

 

[meltzerboy]

John Pinette, Jim Gaffigan, Jake Johannsen, in no particular order. Steven Wright, Rodney Dangerfield.

I listen to XM Radio’s comedy channel, but I don’t know comedians all that well.

Your mention of Rodney Dangerfield, a master stand-up comedian if ever there was one, reminds me of five comics I saw live in Atlantic City: one was Rodney Dangerfield; the others were Buddy Hackett, great and dirty from the very first joke, Don Rickles, who takes no prisoners, Alan King, and Robert Klein, all exceptionally gifted in their craft.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Your mention of Rodney Dangerfield, a master stand-up comedian if ever there was one, reminds me of five comics I saw live in Atlantic City: one was Rodney Dangerfield; the others were Buddy Hackett, great and dirty from the very first joke, Don Rickles, who takes no prisoners, Alan King, and Robert Klein, all exceptionally gifted in their craft.

those were definitely more kings of comedy.
I liked larry davidson’s show he had on HBO. Don’t know if it is still on…
Whatever became of Robert Klein anyway?

 

[meltzerboy]

those were definitely more kings of comedy.
I liked larry davidson’s show he had on HBO. Don’t know if it is still on…
Whatever became of Robert Klein anyway?

I don’t know what happened to Robert Klein, or if he’s still performing. Either way, he made his mark. I love Larry David’s show Curb Your Enthusiasm. It can be dirty at times but that doesn’t bother me if it’s also funny, which it definitely is.

I must also mention Phil Silvers, who many may have forgotten and the younger generation probably has never heard of. He was another king of comedy.

And what about Jerry Stiller and the late Anne Meara, as well as Ben Stiller?

 

[7_Sorrows]

I don’t know what happened to Robert Klein, or if he’s still performing. Either way, he made his mark. I love Larry David’s show Curb Your Enthusiasm. It can be dirty at times but that doesn’t bother me if it’s also funny, which it definitely is.

I must at least mention Phil Silvers, who many may have forgotten and the younger generation probably has never heard of. He was another king of comedy.

I remember Phil Silvers.

Thanks for the correction on Larry’s last name and giving the name of his show.

 

[utah_rose]

I remember Phil Silvers.

Thanks for the correction on Larry’s last name and giving the name of his I

I loved Carol Burnett, Jack Benny, John Belushi, Jim Candy (sure miss him too) Tim Conway. George Burns, Martin and Lewis, and lots of the old time comedians. I liked Joan Rivers in her earlier years before she got a potty mouth. Now I love Jim Parsons on the Big Bang series. His facial expressions remind me of Jack Benny. The show can be a little on the crude side although all of them are funny. Oh I forgot Gracie Allen and Madeline Kahn, also Mel Brooks.