Acidman asks: "Who do YOU think were the 10 FUNNIEST COMEDIANS OF ALL TIME?"

OK, so... define "comedian."

Comedy comes in all shapes and sizes. The funniest guy I know of isn't a professional comedian, but one of the two best friends I've ever had - and he can make anyone laugh, any time. He should be on the list.

What about writers? Most of the comedy we see today isn't created by the performer, but by a writer laboring in relative obscurity - though once in a while a comedic writer will make a lasting impression.

But the Acidman asked for comedians, by which I presume he means performers; "all time..." hmm... that's an awful long time, so I'll just stick with what I know. In no particular order:

1. Steve Martin - "It's like those French have a different word for everything."
2. Bill Cosby - "Right!"
3. Laurel & Hardy - "Oh, well. Easy come, easy go."
4. Bob Newhart - "I don't like country music, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like country music, denigrate means put down."
5. Jack Benny - "Oh, Rochester...."
6. Carol Burnett - [insert earlobe tug here]
7. The Monty Python ensemble - "This is an ex-parrot!"
8. Jackie Gleason - they didn't call him "the Great One" for nothing.
9. Sid Caesar - 'nuff said.

and yes, of course...

10. Bob Hope - I grew up watching the "Road" movies; when the young men from my childhood church came back - or not - from Vietnam, I knew he'd been there for them. When I served in Korea, I hoped he wouldn't have to come visit - because that would have meant we were in the deep kimchi. He went to the Gulf in his late 80s - my grandfather's age - and supported the troops. He defined the expression "keep on keeping on."

Posted by Russ at 11:21 PM, August 5, 2003 in Bloggery