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100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics Ever
Another thing for quietcomedian: Sara Silverman has a funny show. I saw her live at Embaradero, and was extremely disappointed. Her entire act, was her entire movie "Jesus is Magic." How lame is that? I understand, as she yelled at the audience, "Comedians don't just have a different act for each city? You guys all have Youtube now and see this stuff, unlike in the day when Richard Pryor performed." That's true. But...when you have a movie like that...well then, wait to tour, until you have new material. Standup doesn't work like the Rolling Stones. They can play Satisfaction, and everyone is, well, satisfied. Hearing a joke you know the punchline to, doesn't work so well. And, on your list of more contemporary comedians, where was Brian Regan? That guy is one of the Top 5 working today.— June 22, 2008 2:54 a.m.
100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics Ever
reply to quietcomedian: first, this is insane. i'll write something about how I hate that OJ Simpson got away with murder, and I get one person replying about it. a defense attorney that wants to grill me on how everyone deserves the right to a fair trial. but, i say a few comedians suck, and we get all kinds of feedback. incredible. anyway, i love rita rudner. and, she got me into a bit fight on the air. i was being interviewed on 103.7 fm, when Dick & Skibba had a nighttime radio show. they had these female comedians coming in after me. one had a show on TBS or something. so, they ask me right before airtime, "are you one of those guys that hates female comedians?" I say, "Uh, no. i like any comedian that's funny." so, they say, "okay, well...i bet you can't name 10 female comedians." So, I say "Judy Gold, Rita Rudner, Lisa Lampenlli, Lucy Ball, Carol Burnett, Judy Tunetta..." and they interupt to say "okay, well...try naming someone from these last few years, other than Lampenelli." I ask them what their problem is, and they go on about how it's so hard for female comedians to get booked into clubs, and it's easier for guys. I said they're full of crap. So, the microphones get turned on, and we have this huge fight on the air. I sound like a jerk, that isn't sympathetic to woman. And, the worst part is, I've never done a day of stand up in my life, so who am I to be telling them who does and doesn't get booked into a comedy club, right? Wow, the fight got ugly. The funny thing is, Dick, who does stand up locally (and is pretty good)...he agreed with me (he told me during the commercial). I go see them perform that night. And, the one that argued with me, it was so bizarre. Not only was she NOT funny (the other women were good), but she used 5 jokes, that are old as the hills. Two of which, are old Bill Hicks jokes. I was dying, just dying, for her to email me, to ask what I thought of the show, for me to tell her this. And, for me to say, "Maybe that's why it's so hard for you to get booked. Your material isn't original." And, I don't think she's "stealing." She may not even know, that the joke about the smoker sitting on the couch, watching the TV, and seeing the person with the hole in their throat, has been done. But...I have. And, maybe, the club owner does, too. I just don't buy the fact that, a club owner wouldn't book someone just because they are "female." Heck, males in the audience would probably rather look at a female in front of a brick wall, then a man. You also brought up Emo. His voice is annoying, but boy, does he write some great material. I saw him on Letterman a year ago, and wondered why I don't hear more from him.— June 22, 2008 2:47 a.m.
100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics Ever
Reply to Easy: Wow, didn't know that about Bill. I'll assume that's true. What point would he have to lie. But, when I was reading a story in R&R Magazine (a radio trade paper), an FCC story said how ALL telephone calls played for an audience, need to first tell callers they are going on the air, so that a bit like Kinnisons, could not be real (it's why KGB, on their morning show, or any morning radio show, always starts by saying "You're on the air"...if they don't, it's probably fake). Also, one time I saw Sam, it was a Saturday night (this was pre-cell phone days). An awful lot of these women were home. And, why didn't they just hang up? They stayed on the line, started crying as Sam yelled at them. It just seemed a little to, perfect, for the bit. Either way, Kinison was truely a comedic genius. I read in the paper years ago, Howard Stern bought the rights to his life, and wants to make a movie. Do it already!!!! TBF: Comedy is subjetive, yes...but really, if someone likes a bad comedian, give them a hard time. I was smoking cigars in my friends garage. I look at some CDs he had on a shelf, and I see two Andrew Dice Clay discs. I said "Really? You had $20, and you bought those with it? You couldn't buy a Radiohead, or Beatles CD you didn't have. But, you wanted to hear dirty nursery rhymes." Regarding Dennis Miller, he saves those rants for the O'Reilly Factor and his radio show, not usually his stand up act. That's why I don't lump him with the other comedians. But the ones I mentioned...wow, I saw Rosie on an HBO special. She had just done this horrible movie with Akroyd, where she's an undercover cop going to an island. Siskel & Ebert said it was the worst movie of the year. And, it was. She spent 20 minutes talking about how they are the worst critics. Well...how is that funny stand up? Sometimes, people just don't get it. The stage isn't a time for your vendettas. Be funny, or get off. Regarding Duchovny, I think you have that a bit wrong. It's David that was the straight guy there. And, Shandling, with those bug eyes, being the "physical" comedian in that bit. But yeah, I remember that episode. They had him back a second time, and joked about not knowing whether he was gay or not. Good stuff. I interviewed Bobcat Goldthwait, and he was telling me during a commercial, that he was going to hang out at the set of Larry Sanders Show, all the stand up comedians would, because they loved it so much. I hinted to him, that I wanted to go. He didn't invite me. Steven Wright...I don't agree that was one of his better lines (but I love that underrated Mike Myers movie...get the soundtrack, too). If you want to see good movie use of Wright, check him out as the lowkey DJ, of a station that plays all 70s hits, in Reservoir Dogs (You'll never think of "Stuck in the Middle With You" the same again)— June 22, 2008 2:33 a.m.
100 Greatest Stand-Up Comics Ever
Reply to tinker: I'm not exactly sure what you're saying. I think Gilbert is hysterical. Just not one of the Top 100 best stand ups. It's like Steve Garvey. Great baseball player. Just not one of the Top 100, or even a Hall of Famer. Anini: Comedy Central did the list, working with a variety of current comedians. I just wrote my comments after each name. towelhead: I saw Ahmed on an Axis video I rented. It wasn't very good. But, I saw him on the Vince Vaughn movie, and it was very funny. Regarding Chris Rock, he's hit and miss. But, on SNL, his characters were never that great. And, in a book I read on the show, they come up with their characters (working with writers on the show). Take Mike Myers. He'd do a lot of characters, and all very funny (Wayne's World wasn't considered that funny, but audienced loved it, so it was moved into an earlier time slot, then eventually, movies). Rock's Malcolm X talk show character, never took off. Just like his movie career isn't. Again, he deserves a spot on the list. Just not as high as Comedy Central had him. Regarding black comedians, I don't mind them using their "blackness". Dat Phan, the local comedian who won the first season of "Last Comic Standing," always gets accused of using his race. I was being interviewed on a radio show, and he was a guest with me. He's hysterical. I say, use whatever you have to be funny. What it is, is when blacks just get up there, and use this manic energy, and really don't say anything. I can give a better example with a rap lyric, from one of the first rap songs ever. The Sugarhill Gang on Rapper's Delight sang: I don't mean to brag/I don't mean to boast/But we like hot butter on our breakfast toast." Now...read that lyric. It's crap. Yet, everyone sings along, and when it came out, people thought it was so great. Black comedians get up there, and like the one that was made fun of so well in Eddie Murphy's version of Nutty Professor...(I think played by Eddie Griffin)...all he kept saying was "B****** love to shop! B****** love to shop! Don't be givin' them the credit card, because b****** love to shop!" The black crowd is laughing like they've never heard anything funnier, as Eddie Murphy looks around confused. Confused, wondering, what is so funny, about repeating this line. Over and over. This...is the epitome of what the "live at the Apollo" and "BET" type of comedy shows do, that are often times, not funny.— June 22, 2008 2:20 a.m.
You Can't Hide Your Pryin' Eyes
Good call. But, I'm on a diet. Why did they change from Thrifty's to Rite Aid, anyway? I think they still call the ice cream Thrifty's, though. That Chocolate Brownie is the bomb.— June 20, 2008 11:46 a.m.
None
Jay...I always dig when you show what the riders have the band macking on backstage. Something I've noticed. After some shows, you see roadies taking the left overs onto the bus. I'm assuming it's for them. It's not like these big name musicians need that, when the next venue will have a new, fresh stock. The weirdest was Liz Phairs lead guitarist/boyfriend though, who was carrying what looked like a heavy case of bottled water, out of 4th & B, and onto the bus. Really? Are you that thirsty? Or that cheap?— June 20, 2008 2 a.m.
Secret Samurai
I never think I'm into surf music, even though Bow Wow Wow is my favorite 80s band. And, I own a handful of Dick Dale CDs. Yet, when I catch a surf band in a bar, I always dig the guitar. Hearing a hollowbody making surf sounds, is just so sweet. And, my thanks to Clint for working on this piece, while spending time with his dad who isn't doing so well. My wishes are with him.— June 20, 2008 1:55 a.m.
Bikers, a Bust, and Bachata
Hahaha. Well, you got to experience a club, without waiting in line and dealing with an annoying bouncer and a dress code. And, hanging with bikers without getting sunburned. Did ya notice in that video, I was going for the shakey, Cloverfield dizziness vibe? Yikes. Barbarellas videos put mine to shame. Oh well. I'll just keep going for girls in bikinis. That'll be my ace in the hole.— June 20, 2008 1:43 a.m.
Buy Me Some Peanuts & Cracker Jack
Well, I'm watching my weight, so I don't buy the sugar cereals any more. I was addicted to them. Last time I had some, a year ago...I saw this cool looking toy. Turns out, you had to log onto a website. And you could win it. I've said before...any contest, like a Coke bottle cap, that merely has a code...if they think you're going to log onto a computer to see if you win something, wow. Anyone that actually does, has way too much time on their hands.— June 20, 2008 1:37 a.m.
Ted Nugent For President
They joked about that on Saturday Night Live about 18 years ago. They were at a Van Morrison concert, and everyone stood when he did Brown Eyed Girl. Then, the woman dancing in front of them, was continuing to stand, and the guys behind her wanted to sit down. They were like "Is she going to stand the entire show? I mean, we have seats. You're only supposed to stand during the hit songs." It was hysterical.— June 20, 2008 1:35 a.m.