I'm of the viewpoint that there's nothing better than a night of comedy. Nothing soothes the soul and calms the dark waters of life (at least for the short term) than a decent belly laugh supplied by a funny comedian. Regardless of whether on video, tv, or at a live show, a funny comedian will regularly work their craft, reduce us to tears, and remind us that living does not need to completely suck! And when it comes to picking a funny comedian act, my inclination is to reach back in time for some classic humor.
In all honesty, I favor those hilarious comedians of yore who transcended race, gender, and age. These masters of the genre consistently provided their personal brand of entertainment: the laugh-out-loud, help-I-can't-breath type of enjoyment that has stood the test of time.
The following are my selections for the best six comedians of all time:
Funny Comedian #1: Jack Benny:
Benny is deemed to be the godfather of the genre. He was famous for his comic timing and his capability to get laughter from a pregnant pause or a single expression, such as his signature exasperated "Well!" His programs on radio and television were tremendously popular from the 1930s to the 1960s, and have been a fundamental impact on comics of the following generation. Dean Martin, on the celebrity roast for Johnny Carson in November 1973, introduced Benny as "the Satchel Paige of the comedy world."
Funny Comedian #2: Jonathan Winters
Winters got his beginning as a guest star on Arthur Godfrey's, Jack Paar's, and Steve Allen's shows. Afterwards he would make his mark with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. His comedy form performed perfectly in television, films, and books, arising from the bizarre characters he developed from his own creativity. Although he is getting on in years (at this writing he is still alive), his videos continuously prove to be popular on YouTube. Through the magic of technology, a brand new generation of enthusiasts are becoming introduced to this humorous comedian.
Funny Comedian #3: Bob Hope:
Bob Hope was an American comedy star all through the twentieth century. He starred in vaudeville, and later on moved on to Broadway, and then eventually mastered radio, tv and films. Nevertheless, he may be most famous for his constant work on behalf of the US Military and his countless USO trips. He literally entertained millions of American armed service personnel during his illustrious career. In 1996, the American Congress honored Bob Hope by proclaiming him the "first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces." Hope was definitely an American hero, together with being one of America's most successful funny comics. Even while dying, Bob Hope was truly the comedian. According to one of Hope's kids, when questioned on his deathbed where he desired to be buried, he told his spouse, "Surprise me".
Funny Comedian #4: Bill Cosby:
Cosby, more than any other humorous comedian, was (and still is) effective with all types of media. And he discovered success while regularly containing a human perspective to his acts. Contemplating his humble beginnings, and his childhood growing up in the projects of Philadelphia, it is no surprise he provides a diverse style to his humor. He's successful at storytelling, and has been able to make his stories funny in diverse mediums such as cartoons, television programs, films, and books. It was Cosby who shattered the Television color barrier with his performance on I Spy in the sixties. Later he would grow to be the first and most successful African american comic to star in (and wield control) of his own sitcom. His comedic style seems to make everybody laugh, regardless of skin color.
Funny Comedian #5: Phyllis Diller:
Diller is one of those uncommon women who raised 5 kids, and nevertheless was able to make history within the man's world of stand-up comedy. She penned her own scripts, and successfully performed it for over 40 years! It's amazing to recognize that she was able to be funny even while championing causes for children, cancer, and other philanthropic endeavors. As of this writing, she is still with us, although she has retired from public appearances.
Funny Comedian #6: George Carlin
Born during the Great Depression and coming of age during the hippie movement, this high school dropout never fit in to the mainstream. His style of dress and his acts continually went against the norm and he primarily experienced substantial struggles because of it. His famous Seven Words You can Never Say on Television and his performance as the first guest on Saturday Night Live marked him as an unpredictable comedian and started a long line of "firsts" for this guy of talent. Awarded the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize in 2008, one week prior to his death, he was the first to acquire the honor posthumously.
In the interest of space, I left a number of funny comedians off of this article. Names including Red Skelton, Joan Rivers, and Lenny Bruce ought to be considered deserving of inclusion on any list of funny comedians.
What do you think? Who would you rate as the best funny comedians of all time?