I saw a repeat of Kevin Hart on SNL this weekend. Laughed a whole hell of a lot more than i expected.

Laughing doesn't come so much as being funny, but like the unexpected. I laughed my ass off at the end of the seattle game.

Maybe I'm alone on this, but I find talk shows to be a good watermark. An aziz interview seems scripted. Norm... The guy is completely anti script and his funniest moments have come when he rebels against a set script. I can't take a comedian as seriously if they aren't naturally funny. Then they're just joke makers.

It starts with Richard Pryor. He is the king of comedy. His stand ups are beyond legend.

Going back to the element of surprise. I would probably place Carlin as the best comedian of all time. But really, he's a monologist. I don't think I've ever laughed aloud to one of his bits. But they are so tightly constructed and commonsensical that they 'stick to your ribs.' I can, and do, quote verbatim things I heard him say 20 years ago, because their applicability and aptness arises time and time again.

But his humor arose from the logical progression of his train of thought. You knew approximately what he was going to say, just not how wittily or succinctly he would sum it up. He was YOUR brain doing a better job of processing the world around you.

He is the epitome of someone you can greatly respect for their craft* and really TRULY find funny without laughing at their set. Just a pleasant, satisfied smile borne of sitting in the presence of genius.



* - though he did get crotchety and bitter, and not in a good way, in his waning years.

Carlin picked all the jokes apart better than anyone can.

He's annoying. His first special in Cleveland was good but then his work was like reheated soup. I think these guys are top 5 modern day comedians.

Louis CK
Jim Gaffigan
Dave Chappelle
Hannibal Burress
Ron White

He's definitely top 5-6. In no particular order IMHO mother ****ers:

Dave Chappelle
Louis CK
George Carlin
Kevin Hart
Richard Pryor
Bill Hicks

buuuuuutt...... I might be high.

with a special mention to:

Aziz Ansari
Hannibal Burress
Sarah Silverman
Chris Hardwick
Joey Diaz

of course:

Seinfeld
Martin Lawrence
Chris Rock
Dave Attell
Dom Irrera

Don't get the Hannibal Burress love. Here in 2015, I'd probably replace him with Brian Regan or Kyle Kinane. Close call if I'd put both in and pull Ron White as well. Nothing against him, but I haven't heard anything since Blue Collar from him.

Most of his movies he's not funny imo. But his stand up is pretty good.

Jonathan Winters.

You want brilliant? There you go.

:thumb:
Early Sam Kinison was one who busted me up. His later stuff wasn't nearly as funny.

It actually starts with Paul Mooney :)