Dave Letterman - He's the king of late night. Late night comedy owes more to him than anyone
Dave Chappelle - His is the most influential sketch show of the last thirty years, and it holds up. SNL gets all the attention, but its influence is fleeting and it's never been very funny. He is also the greatest living stand-up.
John Stewart - His influence is obvious in everything from sketch comedies to late night shows that do the comedy news schtick.
Jerry Seinfeld - He's up against Louis C.K. for this last spot, depending on whether you think the Seinfeld-style sitcom or the Louie-style sitcom is more influential on television today, and how willing you are to ignore Louis' misdeeds.
Late night/stand-up/sketch/news/sitcom, all bases covered.
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Fri November 06, 2020 12:19 am
by Stickman
I would concur with these selections.
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Fri November 06, 2020 12:45 am
by VinylGuy
I think Letterman, Carlin, Kinison, Seinfeld, Chapelle, Louie are the greatest.
Also Pryor and Eddie Murphy belong near.
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Fri November 06, 2020 12:59 am
by Norah
Needs Mel Brooks.
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Fri November 06, 2020 2:34 am
by The Argonaut
other contenders may include:
Eddie Murphy
Chris Rock
Bill Cosby
Andy Kaufman
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Sat November 07, 2020 2:23 am
by wease
VinylGuy wrote:I think Letterman, Carlin, Kinison, Seinfeld, Chapelle, Louie are the greatest.
Also Pryor and Eddie Murphy belong near.
Add Bill Cosby. He may be a shitheel, but you can’t deny his talent.
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Sat November 07, 2020 2:45 am
by tragabigzanda
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Sat November 07, 2020 3:10 am
by The Argonaut
My personal Rushmore, the four that are most meaningful to me, the closest to my heart, would be Conan, Chappelle, John Stewart, and Louis C.K.
But for the real Rushmore, you can't put Conan on there while Letterman is still alive. 100% undeniable that there would be no Conan without Letterman
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Sat November 07, 2020 3:16 am
by verb_to_trust
Mitch Hedberg was underrated
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Sat November 07, 2020 3:22 am
by tragabigzanda
Steve Albini wrote:Whenever there's active promotion on the part of somebody else, whenever I see somebody all dolled up for a fancy photograph and someone's handing out flyers or whenever there's active promotion for something like that, as an imposition on my day, I hate all those people and I want them to fail. I have a visceral reaction to advertising and promotion. There's just something about salesmanship that grates on me on a very base level and I react very negatively towards it. I want those people to suffer and I want their enterprises to fail.
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Sat November 07, 2020 4:11 am
by The Argonaut
tragabigzanda wrote:
The Argonaut wrote:My personal Rushmore, the four that are most meaningful to me, the closest to my heart, would be Conan, Chappelle, John Stewart, and Louis C.K.
But for the real Rushmore, you can't put Conan on there while Letterman is still alive. 100% undeniable that there would be no Conan without Letterman
None of this is real Argo
you've given me a lot to think about today
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Sat November 07, 2020 4:25 am
by daft twat
Living?
Louis, Chappelle, Seinfeld, Bargatze
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Sat November 07, 2020 7:28 am
by Ello Sailor
Dave Chapelle
Louis C.K
Norm Macdonald
Patrice O'Neal
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Sat November 07, 2020 7:29 am
by Ello Sailor
Swap in Burr for Patrice if we're talking living.
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Sat November 07, 2020 10:07 am
by BurtReynolds
Ello Sailor wrote:Dave Chapelle
Louis C.K
Norm Macdonald
Patrice O'Neal
heh that was my same list
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Sun November 08, 2020 12:30 pm
by Ello Sailor
Regrettable
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Thu November 12, 2020 9:52 pm
by VinylGuy
Heidecker special is wonderful.
Re: The Stand-up Comedian Thread
Posted: Tue November 24, 2020 6:45 pm
by The Argonaut
Pretty intense little set right here. Dave is pissed