No Right Answer: Best Standup Comedian Ever

[2xDouble]

If you're going for most influential comedians: Milton Berle, Richard Pryor, Johnny Carson, Jon Stewart, Merv Griffin (yup, comedian).

Quantity:quality ratio of material: George Carlin, Bill Cosby, Tim Allen (surprisingly enough), Steve Martin (and/or Martin Short, depending on who you ask), Jeff Foxworthy.

But the best comedian of all time, in terms of pure comedy, is Rodney Dangerfield. (He knows a lot of f*k'n jokes.) Some comedians hit or miss, but Dangerfield's rapid-fire delivery always connected with an audience.

Incidentally, and *spoilers*, Richard Pryor topped the lists of 100 "best" comedians. IIRC, Cosby was 3rd, Carlin 2nd.

 

[mykalwane]

First off I want to congratulate you on a great episode. This mixture seems to be the sweet nectar boiled from the vat of episodes. This seems to be what you are aiming for with No Right Answer. This is the first No Right Answer I have enjoyed, and been watching it because I love Media Sandwich. I agree both have their own right, but out of the choices I would have agree with George Carlin because he made you laugh and think. Now personally as much as I enjoy George Carlin but it tends to be more of an intellectual love rather then funny love. That would go to Roddney Dangerfield and Christopher Titus. That being the case I put my vote with Christopher Titus because the man is still around making funny stuff.

 

[Techno Squidgy]

You're all wrong! (Unless you happen to agree with me)

My all time favourite stand-up comedian and I would argue one of the best if not THE best, is Bill Hicks.

The man made people think.

 

[Alphamarigi]

Ben Bailey hedid a special and i was glorious

 

[Kyber]

My personal favorite by far is Frankie Boyle!

 

[Vrach]

Didn't watch the video as I don't like the show, but as far as the discussion goes, yeah, Carlin, Cosby can't compare.

How come no one's mentioning Robin Williams btw? Yeah, he's far more famous as an actor, but he has some hilarious standup comedy bits.

Spoiler: Just gonna leave this here

 

[MattKirby]

Ok, out of the two, I'm going to choose Carlin all the way. You can't beat Carlin because his stand up was like aesops fables a lot of the time, where you learned something out of it and carried that philosophy off with you.

I also think a really good combination of the two is Louis CK, if you haven't watched louis CK's stuff. He's got the great story telling of Bill Cosby with the verbal abuse and creativity of Carlin, whilst also instilling the same philosophies which is nice.

I love Eddie Izzard, it will be impossible for him to be debunked in my mind as my favorite comedian. Though, I recognize that he is not the best comedian, He can get a little convoluted at times toward a general audience and lose them, but he is brilliant.

Robin Williams is another strong candidate depending on his stand up, he is so much faster than everyone else that he holds the crowd because if you don't follow him, you're fucked.

Not too big on Prior, just because I've not seen a lot of his stuff (Though his 2001 bit is perfect)

I hate Lewis Black because he always seems like he tries to hard to be angry.

I'm not too keen on Insult comics so I'm not overly big on Don.

Dane cook is good, not the best, it's hard recognizing his talent just because he's very mainstream and you think you'll be judged as not knowing what you're talking about, but he is good.

I think someone who does Dane Cooks stuff better than him is Pablo Fancisco, I think that guy does crazy long winded stories best.

These are most of the comedians I like and listen too, say a line or two, but out of the two I'd say Carlin, though I think CK, despite not having as much material is beginning to pass Carlin.

 

[thisismyonlypost]

I feel as though he may only have niche appeal so he may be out of the running for greatest ever, but I have to submit Mitch Hedberg's name, if only because he is my favorite. He was (Flying Spaghetti Monster rest his soul) one of the few who did away with the segue altogether and provided the most striking examples of the cognitive shift that no humor would work without.

 

[wsuc]

1. George Carlin
2. Richard Pryor
3. Eddie Izzard
4. Chris Rock
5. Jimmy Carr (after watching this routine http://www.watchstandupcomedy.com/famous-routines/jimmy-carr-on-women , I went and bought all of his DVDs, the guy is brilliant!)

 

[Hindkjar]

No, I disagree. There are many fantastic stand-up comedians, like Eddie Izzard, Dave Chappelle and Eddie Murphy. But there is only one man at the top, and that man is Christopher Titus.

Thought I would be the only thinking that

 

[Luca72]

No mention of Joe Rogan? His standup is pretty good, but as far as comedians using the internet and podcasts as a venue I think he's one of the all-time best.

And you guys have already said it, but George Carlin and Bill Hicks are hands-down two of the most influential comedians today. Louis CK is awesome for how much content he can put out alone, and I'm a big fan of Patton Oswalt and Patrice O'Neal (RIP).

 

[Jegsimmons]

Carlin was more of a prick. and a vulgar one at that. and im not saying no should be vulgar, but cosby Never dated him self and he was truly funny. and i think cosby has done more not just for black people, but people all together throughout his life.

also fat albert.

 

[barmyfred]

How has Bill Hicks only popped up a handful of times?

Also I don't think anyone has mentioned Dylan Moran, the man is a genius maybe not best ever but definitely worth a look up.

Apart from a few I wouldn't put many comics from the last 5-10 years in the category of Hicks, Carlin, Louis CK, O'Neal etc


Seriously anyone who hasn't seen Bill Hicks get off this thread and go watch him now.

 

[Bruce Ungersbock]

I would have to say Paul McMullan find him at