I'll concede that he was funny and enjoyed his movies, but what causes him to be considers a comic genius?

He died.

Samurai divorce court was hilarious. He was part of Saturday Night Live's golden age. And also, because he died.

In his day, he was one of the most aggressive and funny guys in the comedy business. In the decades that have followed, he is just one of many who were that good. But he was one of the first of the modern generation of comics. Before him you had Milton Berle and Bob Hope. We should all be thankful that Belushi paved the way for all the Zach Galifinakis', Chris Farley's, Eddie Murphys, and everyone else who followed. He was a Soul Man.

Blues Brothers was the first successful SNL spin-off movie was it not?

Blues Brothers was the #1 Movie and Album in the same week. SNL was also #1 in the same week.

I think most of the stories you hear of Belushi from his Second City days are why people considered him a genius. He commanded the stage and was the best part of everything he was in. His timing and raw physicality were also something that people had never really seen before. Also, Little Chocolate Donuts.

But Im a fan boy so what do I know

I think Farley was better.

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I think Farley was better.

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Me too!

He was funny as hell and unique, what more do you need to be a comedic genius?

Cheeburger

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Before him you had Milton Berle and Bob Hope.

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Lenny Bruce?

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Before him you had Milton Berle and Bob Hope.

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Lenny Bruce?

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George Carlin, Red Foxx, Richard Pryor...

Everyone will remember him as Jake of The Blues Brothers or Blutarsky from Animal House, and I certainly do, but for me his best role was in Spielberg's 1941 as Wild Bill Kelso.

The genius label is thrown around way too often.

Because the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor

I'm a zit.

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Everyone will remember him as Jake of The Blues Brothers or Blutarsky from Animal House, and I certainly do, but for me his best role was in Spielberg's 1941 as Wild Bill Kelso.

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You should watch Blues Brothers and Animal House sometime. I think you'd like them.

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The genius label is thrown around way too often.

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Sausage Party
Borat
Snakes on a Plane

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Everyone will remember him as Jake of The Blues Brothers or Blutarsky from Animal House, and I certainly do, but for me his best role was in Spielberg's 1941 as Wild Bill Kelso.

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Absolutely.

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Everyone will remember him as Jake of The Blues Brothers or Blutarsky from Animal House, and I certainly do, but for me his best role was in Spielberg's 1941 as Wild Bill Kelso.

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Absolutely.

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Actually the best thing he ever did imho (although not the funniest) was Continental Divide. And yes I loved his roles in BB, AH and 1941....but this showed he had real potential as more than a punch line and pratfall actor. It was one of the last films he was in, released in fall 1981 shortly before he died.

He played a semi serious (albeit wise cracking, sarcastic, smart alec) gruff reporter from Chicago who is in hiding from the mob for his reporting - he ends up stranded in the mountains reporting on a woman ecologist who studies eagles and lives off the grid. It was a semi romantic movie actually. He was the fish out of water.

It was a very dramatic role and he was very very good in it. He showed a lot more range and vulnerability.

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Everyone will remember him as Jake of The Blues Brothers or Blutarsky from Animal House, and I certainly do, but for me his best role was in Spielberg's 1941 as Wild Bill Kelso.

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...and don't you forget it!

Now, turn this tub around. You're taking me to Tokyo.

> Why was/is John Belushi considered a comic genius

Eye Brows

He was on a mission from God.

Continental Divide was on TV recently. Watched it for the first time in over 20 years.

The documentary about National Lampoon (Drunk, Stoned, Brilliant) goes into the early formation of the original cast of SNL. That was all before my time, so it helped me understand the cultural impact that Nat'l Lampoon and SNL had in popularizing a new wave of comedy aimed at adults.

In a time when there were only 3 TV stations and people still read magazines and listened to the radio, he and the other cast members were pretty big deals across a couple mediums.

I don't think a 33 year old comedian could achieve that level of fame today.

When SNL started I was in high school. There were parties centered around the show.

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When SNL started I was in high school. There were parties centered around the show.

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yeah it was must see and there were no DVR's....and even VCR's were rare before 1982 or so. also no youtube clips of the best skits.

we had to actually stay up to watch it. in junior high and high school for me it was something we made sure we were around a tv for.

Too many geniuses.

A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.

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Too many geniuses.

A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.

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That's genius.

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Everyone will remember him as Jake of The Blues Brothers or Blutarsky from Animal House, and I certainly do, but for me his best role was in Spielberg's 1941 as Wild Bill Kelso.

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You should watch Blues Brothers and Animal House sometime. I think you'd like them.

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Wait, what? Is there some sarcasm going on here that I am not picking up on?

I've seen both of those countless times and laughed my ass off each time. Great movies. I just happen to think 1941 is about the most under-rated movie ever made.

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Everyone will remember him as Jake of The Blues Brothers or Blutarsky from Animal House, and I certainly do, but for me his best role was in Spielberg's 1941 as Wild Bill Kelso.

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Absolutely.

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Actually the best thing he ever did imho (although not the funniest) was Continental Divide. And yes I loved his roles in BB, AH and 1941....but this showed he had real potential as more than a punch line and pratfall actor. It was one of the last films he was in, released in fall 1981 shortly before he died.

He played a semi serious (albeit wise cracking, sarcastic, smart alec) gruff reporter from Chicago who is in hiding from the mob for his reporting - he ends up stranded in the mountains reporting on a woman ecologist who studies eagles and lives off the grid. It was a semi romantic movie actually. He was the fish out of water.

It was a very dramatic role and he was very very good in it. He showed a lot more range and vulnerability.

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Yes, Continental Divide was a really good movie and was quite a departure for Belushi. I wonder if he had lived, would he have evolved in much the same fashion as Bill Murray?

One that I have not seen mentioned, that I would really like to see again, is Neighbors. In that one, he went against type and played the "normal" guy whereas the typically straight-laced Dan Ackroyd was the nut case.

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The genius label is thrown around way too often.

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IMHO the requirements for the tag are relative to industry but must include:

Creative
Prolific
Intelligent

In that order.
I mean how intelligent is your "genius" actor or comedian. Maybe pretty smart but no Einstein or DaVinci.

Because he was unique in his approach to comedy. Without Belushi there is no Farley.

I liked Neighbors quite a bit. Granted, it wasn't the box office hit, but Aykroyd and Belushi had to act in this one.
Also, I preferred the comedies over Continental Divide, and it was a good movie.

Just a fan, we went to a Blues Brothers concert at the Dallas Convention Center. There was a buzz in town about the show, either KZEW or KTXQ gave away a replica Blues Mobile in a contest a few days before the concert.

Good times

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The genius label is thrown around way too often.

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Brilliant reply.