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re: Top 5 Comedians - Does Norm Macdonald fall into that discussion
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:36 pm to OweO
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:36 pm to OweO
quote:
There was a black woman comedian back in the day (she might have been big before I was even born in the late 70s. I watched some of her bits on Youtube, but I can't remember her name, but she was hilarious. Anyone have any idea who I am referring to?)
Marsha Warfield?
quote:
Johnny Carson should be in the top 5
Great host, played expertly off of others, I still watch the reruns, but top 5 comedian? Meh.
Top talk show host? absolutely.
0
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:39 pm to texasmason
too many good ones to have a ranking.
redd foxx
steven wright
robin williams
and many others all belong up there with the ones mentioned.
redd foxx
steven wright
robin williams
and many others all belong up there with the ones mentioned.
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:44 pm to Skillet
This thread needs more Jim Gaffigan.
Hot pockets.
Hot pockets.
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:47 pm to upgrayedd
quote:
Norm is one of those comedians that people either like or don't.
I think it's safe to say that about every single comedian....ever
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:48 pm to fightin tigers
quote:
Nirvana effect
Pfft, they copied it from JFK.
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:49 pm to texasmason
It might be interesting to do the top five lists by era maybe
60s-1980
Richard Pryor
Bob Newhart
George Carlin
Steve Martin
Don Rickles
Hon mentions: Joan Rivers, David Letterman, Lenny Bruce, Bill Cosby, Jonathan Winters, Rodney Dangerfield, Jay Leno, Redd Foxx, Cheech&Chong
1980-2000
Robin Williams
Jerry Seinfeld
Steven Wright
Chris Rock
Mitch Hedberg
Hon mentions: Eddie Murphy, Sam Kinnison, Tim Allen, Gary Shandling, Bernie Mac, Bill Hicks, George Wallace, Gilbert Gottfried, Roseanne Barry, Jim Carrey
2000-
Dave Chappelle
Bill Burr
Louis CK
Patrice O'Neal
Norm
Hon mention: Jim Gaffigan, Patton Oswalt, Aziz Ansari, Greg Giraldo, Wanda Sykes, John Mulaney, Ricky Gervais
And I'd probably make a different list tomorrow
60s-1980
Richard Pryor
Bob Newhart
George Carlin
Steve Martin
Don Rickles
Hon mentions: Joan Rivers, David Letterman, Lenny Bruce, Bill Cosby, Jonathan Winters, Rodney Dangerfield, Jay Leno, Redd Foxx, Cheech&Chong
1980-2000
Robin Williams
Jerry Seinfeld
Steven Wright
Chris Rock
Mitch Hedberg
Hon mentions: Eddie Murphy, Sam Kinnison, Tim Allen, Gary Shandling, Bernie Mac, Bill Hicks, George Wallace, Gilbert Gottfried, Roseanne Barry, Jim Carrey
2000-
Dave Chappelle
Bill Burr
Louis CK
Patrice O'Neal
Norm
Hon mention: Jim Gaffigan, Patton Oswalt, Aziz Ansari, Greg Giraldo, Wanda Sykes, John Mulaney, Ricky Gervais
And I'd probably make a different list tomorrow
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:52 pm to texasmason
Any "Top" list of comedians is almost useless and is an exercise in futility.
Comedy and humor is so subjective. It is too subjective to even attempt some universal list of best comedians. Not only is it subjective, but it is often restricted by time and circumstance. Sure, some of the best can transcend those restraints, but some of the best can also be minimized or forgotten.
For instance, your list didn't include Dangerfield or Rickles. Many modern comedians stand on the shoulders of those two as well as others.
Just enjoy a comedian for what they bring. Laugh at their jokes, and think about them, because the best joke tellers are the ones who also make you think.
Comedy and humor is so subjective. It is too subjective to even attempt some universal list of best comedians. Not only is it subjective, but it is often restricted by time and circumstance. Sure, some of the best can transcend those restraints, but some of the best can also be minimized or forgotten.
For instance, your list didn't include Dangerfield or Rickles. Many modern comedians stand on the shoulders of those two as well as others.
Just enjoy a comedian for what they bring. Laugh at their jokes, and think about them, because the best joke tellers are the ones who also make you think.
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:53 pm to texasmason
Not even close to top 5. I wouldn't even put him top 20.
Norm was a comic's comic rather than a people's comic. His quick wit, out of the box thinking, delivery, and timing were all better than the jokes themselves. Comedians appreciated the things Norm did well that audiences didn't even recognize as talent. I think this is why he's getting such an outpouring from the comic community after he passed.
For instance, someone mentioned the Moth joke. The Moth joke would absolutely suck if anyone else told it but Norm could pull it off because of his intangibles. Even so, a lot of people would watch that and find zero humor in it whatsoever.
Norm was a comic's comic rather than a people's comic. His quick wit, out of the box thinking, delivery, and timing were all better than the jokes themselves. Comedians appreciated the things Norm did well that audiences didn't even recognize as talent. I think this is why he's getting such an outpouring from the comic community after he passed.
For instance, someone mentioned the Moth joke. The Moth joke would absolutely suck if anyone else told it but Norm could pull it off because of his intangibles. Even so, a lot of people would watch that and find zero humor in it whatsoever.
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:54 pm to molsusports
Why I hate most comedians.
Women comic- my sex life
Black comic- make fun of whites
Fat comic - fat jokes
Gay comic- gay jokes
Jewish comic- complain about everything joke
White comic- jokes apologizing for being white
Southern comics- redneck jokes
All so predictable and few can be funny or surprising. Most could not even get a laugh without copious amounts of cussing
Downvote away. Still say Norm was not funny.
Women comic- my sex life
Black comic- make fun of whites
Fat comic - fat jokes
Gay comic- gay jokes
Jewish comic- complain about everything joke
White comic- jokes apologizing for being white
Southern comics- redneck jokes
All so predictable and few can be funny or surprising. Most could not even get a laugh without copious amounts of cussing
Downvote away. Still say Norm was not funny.
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:55 pm to RogerTheShrubber
quote:
These lists are so silly
Athlete, musician, actor, comedian..
It changes constantly depending on your exposure.
You're so full of shite. You seriously think that one can't compare Wilt Chamberlain and Duane Allman? Laurence Olivier and Willie Mays? Bob Newhart and Peyton Manning?
Maybe you should go back to a nipsip every so often...
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:57 pm to mmmmmbeeer
quote:
For instance, someone mentioned the Moth joke. The Moth joke would absolutely suck if anyone else told it but Norm could pull it off because of his intangibles. Even so, a lot of people would watch that and find zero humor in it whatsoever.
Your metric for talented comedians is that if anyone can tell their jokes then it's a good joke? That's pretty low brow stuff.
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:58 pm to mmmmmbeeer
quote:
For instance, someone mentioned the Moth joke. The Moth joke would absolutely suck if anyone else told it but Norm could pull it off because of his intangibles. Even so, a lot of people would watch that and find zero humor in it whatsoever.
I’ve told the Moth joke before and people laughed at it.
Posted on 9/15/21 at 3:59 pm to Bamafig
quote:
Why I hate most comedians.
Women comic- my sex life
Black comic- make fun of whites
Fat comic - fat jokes
Gay comic- gay jokes
Jewish comic- complain about everything joke
White comic- jokes apologizing for being white
Southern comics- redneck jokes
All so predictable and few can be funny or surprising. Most could not even get a laugh without copious amounts of cussing
Downvote away. Still say Norm was not funny.
I think I could kill you and not a jury in the world would convict me. In fact, most would be offended I didn't make you suffer long enough.
Posted on 9/15/21 at 4:21 pm to jake wade
quote:Or Jack Benny or Bob Hope.
Surprised not to see Don Rickles or Rodney Dangerfield on these lists.
Posted on 9/15/21 at 4:31 pm to texasmason
Best by class:
One-liner: Steven Wright
Clean: Brian Regan (I don’t like Gaffigan when he drops into “audience voice” mid-joke)
Story Teller: Chapelle
Dirty: Atell
Offensive: Jeselnik
Observational: Carlin
…..
The ????? style: Norm
One-liner: Steven Wright
Clean: Brian Regan (I don’t like Gaffigan when he drops into “audience voice” mid-joke)
Story Teller: Chapelle
Dirty: Atell
Offensive: Jeselnik
Observational: Carlin
…..
The ????? style: Norm
Posted on 9/15/21 at 4:43 pm to texasmason
I don't think I can sit here and create a top 5, because I like way too many comedians with different styles, and I'd be leaving someone out that I'd probably put in if my mood was different.
I will say, most of the names I would bring up have already been mentioned, but one name I don't think I've seen in this thread yet is Daniel Tosh. Even if you don't like Tosh.0, his stand ups are gold
I will say, most of the names I would bring up have already been mentioned, but one name I don't think I've seen in this thread yet is Daniel Tosh. Even if you don't like Tosh.0, his stand ups are gold
Posted on 9/15/21 at 4:47 pm to texasmason
In no particular order
Tim Wilson
Norm MacDonald
Dave Chappelle
Bill Burr
Ali Siddiq
Tim Wilson
Norm MacDonald
Dave Chappelle
Bill Burr
Ali Siddiq
Posted on 9/15/21 at 4:57 pm to texasmason
Who the hell is mitch hedberg and patrice oneal? 
Posted on 9/15/21 at 4:58 pm to texasmason
quote:
Top 5 Comedians
Posted on 9/15/21 at 5:02 pm to mmmmmbeeer
quote:
The Moth joke would absolutely suck if anyone else told it but Norm could pull it off because of his intangibles.
That’s the point. He was so good that he would take dad jokes from the 1940’s and make them funny just to prove that he could. His “intangibles” (which is 80% of what makes comedy funny) were so elite and refined that he could turn something as basic and predictable as a joke about moths and light into something legitimately special and fresh.
Plus, let’s not forget that he improvised most of that joke. He didn’t even know he was booked for 8 minutes until he was headed to the stage.
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