Movie Who do you rate as comedic geniuses?

[Big Blow Hard]

Rove McManus
Peter Hellier
Julia Morris
Corinne Grant
Charlie Pickering
Akmel Saleh
Wil Anderson
Dave Hughes
That old bitch who constantly reminds us she's a bad parent, on dancing with the stars.
Mick Molloy
Lehmmo
Eddie Perfect
Judith Lucy
Merrick and/or Rosso
Tom Gleeson - You're a redhead, It never gets old.
Rebel Wilson - You're a fat bogan, it never gets old.
Matt Tilley
Michael 'lispy' Chamberlain
......

Oh wait, you said Genius didn't you? My bad

 

[The_Eagles]

Dave Chappelle, Rowan Atkinson, Eric Bana, Shaun Micalef, Glenn Robbins

 

[QueensofLeon]

For mine

Ross Noble
Larry David
Billy Connolly
Mitch Hedberg
Dave Chapelle

I am sure that I have missed a few but these are my favourites, Suprised noone else has picked Ross previously I really enjoy his Randomness.

I knew I had forgotten some Ricky Gervais, Steve Merchant and Karl Pilkington

I don't know if you can count Karl as i am still not sure if he is really trying to be funny or is just an ill informed man child idiot. Still absolutely hilarious though.If anyone hasn't listened to these three on Podcasts do yourself a favour.

 

[AndyLesPaul]

Ricky Gervais
Jerry Seinfeld
Larry David

Seinfeld + The Office ftw

 

[Barry Zuckercorn]

Everitt, Milligan, Cleese....sessions.

Hahahaha! Brilliant!

Ricky Gervais, Larry David (agree 100% with the poster who said a lot of Seinfelds success was due to David's brilliance) and to a lesser extent John Cleese, Bill Murray and Sacha Baronn Cohen.

Also someone also mentioned Chevy Chase which I agree with 100%. I piss myslef laughing just looking at the bloke.

Gervais & David in a league of their own though imo.

 

[deledio7]

The last 3 posts sum it up for me. Gervais is the best IMO. Along with Merchant and Karl....my god he is a character. Gotta respect Larry David also.

More on Karl Pilkington, get a hold of Gervais' stand up DVD Politics(?), then watch the special features segment where Ricky picks the brain of Karl Pilkington, seriously the funniest thing i've ever seen.

 

[chesson]

My favourite is Buster Keaton.

[youtube]DlkdtS8OFlA[/youtube]

Jacky/ie Chan's influence.

Buster Keaton is still funny. Timeless.

Whoever put that video together, well done.

 

[Grandmaster_B]

Ricky Gervais
Stephen Merchant
Larry David
Rik Mayall
Rowan Atkinson
Adrian Edmondson
Sacha Baron Cohen
Tony Martin
Stephen Fry

 

[raskolnikov]

No love for Bill Cosby?

 

[Spandex]

Graham Kennedy

Excellent call. I've always thought that if Kennedy had been an American on American TV, he would have been world famous.

Rove McManus
Peter Hellier
Julia Morris
Corinne Grant
Charlie Pickering
Akmel Saleh
Wil Anderson
Dave Hughes
That old bitch who constantly reminds us she's a bad parent, on dancing with the stars.
Mick Molloy
Lehmmo
Eddie Perfect
Judith Lucy
Merrick and/or Rosso
Tom Gleeson - You're a redhead, It never gets old.
Rebel Wilson - You're a fat bogan, it never gets old.
Matt Tilley
Michael 'lispy' Chamberlain
......

Oh wait, you said Genius didn't you? My bad

Good hit list there.

Just on Michael Chamberlain, I saw him a couple of times on that Foxtel show The Mansion. He might have been funny. But I wouldn't know. I couldn't understand a word he was saying. Seriously.

I knew I had forgotten some Ricky Gervais, Steve Merchant and Karl Pilkington

I don't know if you can count Karl as i am still not sure if he is really trying to be funny or is just an ill informed man child idiot. Still absolutely hilarious though.If anyone hasn't listened to these three on Podcasts do yourself a favour.

Yeah Karl is brilliant, by accident. There are times when he is actually being funny and can be clever with his unique perspective on things. But for the most part, he is just himself, it's funny as hell and he doesn't know why.

Someone on Youtube has posted every one of their episodes from the Xfm radio show all the way back to when Karl wasn't meant to be on the show, you can hardly hear what he is saying as he doesn't have a mic yet, he was just the producer. I've downloaded and saved every episode. Well worth it.

Gervais & David in a league of their own though imo.

Yeah, I didn't list Gervais in mine for some reason, even though my signature is a Gervais reference.

More on Karl Pilkington, get a hold of Gervais' stand up DVD Politics(?), then watch the special features segment where Ricky picks the brain of Karl Pilkington, seriously the funniest thing i've ever seen.

This......


[youtube]NQBlZIXu3Yg[/youtube]

 

[deledio7]

hahaha thanks spandex. Didnt think to look on youtube, it'll save getting the dvd out whenever I need a good laugh.

I'm currently in the process of downloading seasons 1-5 of the Ricky Gervais Show. I don't think I will be disappointed.

 

[Saint KFC]

Here's one from left field - Harry Shearer.

Appeared in "The Jack Benny Program" (radio/TV comedy series that ran for more than three decades), was part of "The Credibility Gap" (radio comedy group) for 7 years, co-wrote "Real Life" and "Fernwood 2 Night". Had a stint as a write on Saturday Night Live, co-created, co-wrote and co-starred in "This is Spinal Tap" and has hosted "Le Show" since 1983 (satire, music and sketch comedy radio program). His most notable role has to have been in "The Simpsons", voicing 60-odd characters. Has written three books and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his radio work.

Obviously not on the same level as others already mentioned, but his name popped into my head and thought I'd chuck him in here.

 

[Plugger35]

So many to choose from.

Easier to divide them into nationalities or regions I think.

UK - Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Monty Python (Cleese & Chapman in particular), Rowan Atkinson, Billy Connolly, Ben Elton, Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Stephen Fry, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Ross Noble, Sacha Baron Cohen.

US/Canada - Mel Brooks, Robin Williams, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Bill Hicks, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell, Conan O'Brien, Jim Gaffigan, Harland Williams, Dave Chapelle, Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, Michael Richards.
.
Australia/NZ - Paul Hogan, Roy Slaven, Shaun Micallef, Lano & Woodley, The Sandman, John Clarke, Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords).

Germany - Nil

South Africa - Nil

Probably a few others I've forgotten about but that will do.

 

[Minkus_Swan]

Off the top of my head there's a few that haven't been mentioned...

David Mitchell and Robert Webb (Peep Show, That Mitchell and Webb Look)

John Safran (say what you want about him, but he's one of the few original and interesting australian comedians/personalities)

Bill Bailey

David Cross


and in extreme stoner/drunken night episodes... Tom Green

 

[Mr Shankly]

Gervais needs Merchant to really strike gold. I think this is shown by Gervais's standup, which is pretty average.

I agree with most of the suggestions here, although Robin Williams I vehemently disagree with. Sure, he's funny, if you think speaking really really fast is funny. Also, he's a great comedic mind, just like Denis Leary and Carlos Mencia are great comedic minds. Google will help you find the common theme here.

Two that have not been mentioned and absolutely should be listed are Chris Morris and Armando Iannucci, the two geniuses around whom the cutting edge British comedy seemed to cluster in the mid-to-late 90s. Graham Linehan was one of that group and is top-shelf himself. He co-wrote Father Ted, the first seasons of Big Train and Black Books, and The IT Crowd (which is poor, considering the talent involved).

 

[Suspense]

Bill Murray

is awesome.

 

[SunKing]

Good to see Paul Hogan get a mention some of his '70 stuff is gold.

[youtube]W4-7UObXxeI[/youtube]

 

[JimDocker]

OK, here's my quick list...

Peter Sellers
Spike Milligan
Peter Cook
Eric Sykes
Ronnie Barker
John Cleese
Johnny Speight
Gerald Wiley

Gerald Wiley was a pseudonym used by Ronnie Barker, but I guess you know that ! That is a great list of Brits with Ricky Gervais and Ben Elton to come in from the modern side. Johnny Speight was a brilliant writer, Till Death us do Part was magnificent.

I agree with the Larry David fans. He is a true genius, but surprised not to see Woody Allen and Matt Greoning as I consider them 2 of the greatest satirists in history.

 

[Spandex]

Steve Coogan............

[YOUTUBE]hzSQ3xgoh-w[/YOUTUBE]

just like Denis Leary and Carlos Mencia are great comedic minds.

Graham Linehan was one of that group and is top-shelf himself. He co-wrote Father Ted, the first seasons of Big Train

Yeah, Leary and Mencia are frauds. Good to mention it.

And again, yeah, the first season of Big Train is some of the best sketch comedy ever. Simon Pegg does some great comic acting too.

Plenty of sketches to choose from, but I think this is my favourite.

[YOUTUBE]EtllWIiOTuA[/YOUTUBE]

And this....

[YOUTUBE]I3FruN_Lu5g[/YOUTUBE]

Or this....

[YOUTUBE]zcAqR-Hs9II[/YOUTUBE]

I agree with the Larry David fans. He is a true genius, but surprised not to see Woody Allen

I was about to post Woody Allen, was surprised nobody had yet, including myself. Without Allen, there wouldn't have been Larry David or Seinfeld. Plus Allen's standup is brilliant, although it can sound a little dated at times, mainly because it has been immitated over and over again. Also, Allen's early films are brilliant. I think my favourite would be 'Sleeper'.

Some others have mentioned Ross Noble. Lately I've found some of Noble's material to be a little predictable. But I have a couple of CD's of gigs he did in the late 90's in small clubs that is some of the best free-form standup you'll ever hear. Exceptional.

Another name nobody has mentioned is Bob Newhart. Some of his routines from the 50's and 60's are classic. 'King Kong climbing the Empire State Building' and 'The USS Codfish' are probably my favourites. 'The Driving Instructor' is probably his most well known.

 

[Spandex]

While I am at it, I received a few messages asking me what Gervais reference my signature is referring to.

This is it. It's an out-take that is on the making of the Office doco that's on the series 1 DVD.

[YOUTUBE]ukV82WsJa_k[/YOUTUBE]

 

[BunnyMoto]

Micth Hedberg, Alexei Sayle and Shaun Micallef

 

[PrinceLugosi]

A lot of good comedians here.

A few oldies that were pioneers:
George Burns
Jackie Gleason
Lucille Ball

And from Saturday Night Live, taken way too early from us, John Belushi.

Anyone remember The Goodies?

And of course, one of the greatest radio shows of all time - The Goon Show.

How can you forget Art Carney.

 

[PrinceLugosi]

Is this enough for you,lol

Was Alive

Groucho Marx
Chico Marx
Harpo Marx
Rodney Dangerfield
Lou Costello
Don Knotts
Don Adams
John Candy
John Belushi
Sam Kinison
John Banner
Joe Flynn
Andy Kaufman
Al Lewis
Moe Howard
Curly Howard
Larry Fine
Shemp Howard
Frank Sutton
Phil Silvers
Peter Sellers
Richard Pryor
Jim Varney
Red Buttons
Dom DeLuise
Lucillle Ball
Redd Foxx
W.C. Fields
George Carlin
George Burns
Jack Benny
Jimmy Durante
Ed Wynn
Bob Crane
Art Carney
Harvey Korman
Johny Carson
Milton Berle
Buddy Hackett
Dick Shawn
Jackie Gleason
Molly Sugden
Graham Kennedy
Morey Amsterdam
Werner Klemperer
Bob Denver
Jackie Coogan
Gale Gordon
Tom Poston
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John Ritter
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Dave Allen
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Ronnie Barker

Still Here

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Bill Murray
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Fran Drescher
Ed Oneill
Gareth Hale
Norman Pace
Ronnie Corbett
Gilbert Gottfried
Mike Meyer
Dana Carvey
Pauly Shore
Ross Higgins
Nick Giannopolulos

 

[Heisenberg_]

Nick Giannopolulos ?
haha.
You have some very good ones, but some awful ones like the one I mentioned, the Wayans brothers, Rob Schneider, but i cbf to go through everything

 

[Karl Pilkington]

Mitch Hedberg, Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Andy Kaufman and George Carlin are probably the 5 best standups of all time. Though Kaufman would object to being called one.

As far as writing comedy goes, Gervais, L.David, Sacha Baron Cohen are all pretty awesome.