EDIT: This thread was started over 6 years ago, in 2008. I'm bumping it in light of the Robin Williams news. His name is on this thread a few times, plus with 6 years, maybe some new names can be added.

I'll leave it pretty open to different genres within comedy, but who do you think is a true genius- not just pretty good, but truly on another level from the rest?

Every time I think of this, the first person that comes to mind is Mike Myers.

[This message has been edited by watty (edited 8/12/2014 7:28a).]

Bill Hicks

Bill Hicks
Red Foxx
Richard Pryor
Eddie Murphy
Jerry Seinfeld
Steve Martin

Those are the one's that pop into my mind. I might could be talked into some others.

Eddie Murphy was the best. Its too bad the movie business ruined him.

Bill Cosby

Demetri Martin

Stephen Wright
Bill Cosby - If you have ever seen the movie "The Comedian" it follows Seinfeld after he quit standup and then started up again with all new material. Anyway, there is a scene with Seinfeld and Chirs Rock siting in the back of a club talking about Cosby. They are both in awe of him. Very cool scene.

eddie izzard

andy dick

George Carlin, Bill Hicks

LHIOB- I have that movie, and I agree, it puts Cosby in a whole different light. I already liked him, I grew up listening to his comedy records and watching the Cosby Show, but to see other top-notch comedians talk about him like that, it really makes you realize he is a true genius.

Peter Sellers

Since OP left this open to other genres, I'll say Monty Python. Kids are still "discovering" them 40 years after they began.

extremely impressive that this board is all over Bill Hicks. He was incredible.

I saw him live probably 15-20 times at Comix Annex in Houston. Actually the 1st time I saw him he was sloppy drunk passed out on my next door neighbor's chair on a Sat afternoon. He was headlining that night. This was either '83 or '84.

Dude was a monster on stage.

carlos mencia












some great names on this list. my standard is:

-funny as hell
-very distinct style that wasn't heavily influenced by others

that's why i loved dudes like hicks or sam kinnison .... who the hell else was doing what they were doing before them? that's also why i hold richard pryor in higher esteem than eddie murphy in the genuis category (and i love eddie, but he was very influenced by richard). i think genuis is truly cutting edge material/style...not just a new way to tell the same sort of joke.

Pauly Shore
Carrot Top
Andy Dick
Bob Saget
Gilbert Gottfried
Carlos Mencia

Robin Williams for his standup in the '80s. That mind of his must be going at a million miles an hour.

quote:

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That mind of his must be going at a million miles an hour.

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That is indeed what cocaine does to you. Or so I've heard.

Stephen Colbert

Dennis Franchione



seriously, Mitch Hedberg, Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle

[This message has been edited by zrock (edited 5/6/2008 2:09p).]

quote:

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That is indeed what cocaine does to you. Or so I've heard.

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No doubt about that!

quote:

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who the hell else was doing what they were doing before them?

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Who's doing anything NOW like Bill Hicks was then? I'm not picking a fight, I'm just curious. Even Denis Leary 10 years ago was only doing maybe 5% of what Hicks was doing during his prime, and Leary was considered very edgy. These days you have dewshpumps like Dane Cook passing for comedy.

Plenty of Bill Hicks on Youtube, by the way.

Ron White

Jonathan Winters.

Bill Hicks
Doug Stanhope
George Carlin

Ricky Gervais

Sam Kinison.

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Lots of talk about standup comedians, what about in the film/t.v. world, whether actor, writer, etc.?

I already mentioned Mike Myers for that. I would also maybe put Larry David in there.

For standup, which I love, I think Seinfeld qualifies. He gave a voice to observational comedy in a way I don't think anyone else ever had.

I thought of Larry David when I saw this thread.

Just the first ones who came to mind...

Charlie Chaplin
Harold Lloyd
Groucho Marx
Sid Caesar
Carol Burnett
Bob Newhart
Peter Sellers
The entire Monty Python crew
Steve Martin
Christopher Guest
Mitch Hedberg

Ron White a genius? LMFAO. Dude has ZERO talent.

I second the vote for Christopher Guest. I think Waiting For Guffman is an entire movie of genius comedy.

While I do think that Mitch Hedberg was a very funny comedian, he was not the first to have that style.

The greatness of Stephen Wright was (as far as I know)

Christopher Guest is a great call.

Bill Cosby
Andy Kaufman
Robin Williams
Jerry Seinfeld/Larry David

to whoever said Peter Sellers.

The problem with movies these days is that some of the best have terrible movies under their belt.

Take Rodney Dangerfield and Chevy Chase. For Caddyshack (oh and how do I love Fletch) they should be in the hall of fame but they made so many bad movies also. Someone like Bill Murray should be up there for not having too many terrible movies.

Also are we talking about writers or just actors. When it comes to comedic actors do you go someone who could actually act or someone who was funny but played the same character (Rodney Dangerfield or Will Ferell these days)?


[This message has been edited by mathlete (edited 5/6/2008 4:29p).]

jonathan winters was great. i'm a huge fan of seinfeld.