Funniest comedians, or Not?
I just finished watching some Richard Pryor, not funny.
shareComedy is sometimes a product of its time.
shareVery true. I'm trying to think of a stand-up routine over 20 years old that holds up, and I can't.
share
MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Funniest comedians, or Not?
George Carlin:
"Richard Pryor had a heart attack; then I had a heart attack.
Richard Pryor went into rehab; I went into rehab.
Richard Pryor set himself on fire...
I said "Fuck that, I'm just gonna have another heart attack."
Brilliant!
Carlin is an all -timer, right up there with a small number of them
Didn't like Pryor, try some Dave
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohSgdZrqTDk
I remember people raving about Chevy Chase. I could never see what all the buzz was about. I liked the guy, but didn't think he was the funniest comedian ever.
I never thought he was funny.
shareI felt the same about Seinfeld. It wasn't that I disliked Jerry Seinfeld... I just couldn't get into that show. Yes, it was one of the better shows on TV at the time, but not worthy of all the hype surrounding it.
Maybe I was missing something here? Was it the NYC-centric humor? (Chevy Chase was from NYC, too) Maybe if I had lived on the East Coast I would have reacted differently.
I don't think it was that, since there are some good comics from NYC, like George Carlin... There's a Chevy Chase, New York, too, and I think it's a decent sized city.
I'd watch the show if it was on, usually TBS, if I was home and about to eat dinner. About a decade ago, I went and rented them from the library, from the beginning, and I kinda liked it. They do reference a few things, so I'd recommend watching it chronologically, but then again, I always recommend checking whatever you can chronologically (music, too) just to see the evolution, but you don't really have to with the show.
I saw Jerry Seinfeld do stand-up about 15 years ago, partly because I had a friend who was obsessed with that show, but never saw stand-up, and I'd already seen a dozen, so I took him, and he liked it, but I don't think he ever saw anyone again. I only remember him starting the show with "Everyone in the city of ________ just has to get out" but I saw him on a late-night show, and he said the same thing about EVERY city, and repeated almost everything verbatim, but making it seem like it was a little off the cuff.
At the time, I think I liked "Curb Your Enthusiasm" because of the natural acting, setting, but I think I liked Larry David more, because he would actually stand up for himself when he got into his "little troubles", but I haven't seen that show in years, and I don't think the show evolved much - it was just the same thing over and over just disguised.
There's a city of Chevy Chase in Maryland. I think that's what you're referring to. It has no connection to the comedian.
I'm not saying NYC comics are bad. I always got some good laughs out of George Carlin. A majority of the classic comedy acts like the Marx Brothers were from NYC. So it's not the city.
I just don't see the appeal of Chevy Chase or Jerry Seinfeld. Maybe I'm still missing something.
ah ok..
Na, you're not missing anything. But when it's on 24/7, and when you're exposed to 330 million, even if only 10% like it, you get 33 million viewers, and each of them go online and say how great they are, despite 90% not being able to stand it, so the appearance is so far from reality.
That makes sense. Just like social media, which can make it appear as though everyone is following or doing a certain thing.
shareHe's very likable, but not a comic I love.
sharenot funny. i remember some rednecks i knew, in texas, thinking he was hilarious.
some people find him very funny indeed. its not a witty or at all subtle humor.
boy, do i sound like a snob. but there it is.