My lifetime achievement award goes to George Carlin, who will always be the king. A second goes to John "Dr. Dirty" Valby, who's milked a 25+ year career out of playing the piano, singing dirty limericks, and turning current events into filthy song parodies at dives nationwide.

What little I've seen of Chappelle's Show, I've liked.

Other current comics I enjoy include Stephen Lynch (who's hysterical live), Doug Stanhope (standup, not Man Show material), Otto & George (the world's filthiest ventriloquist's puppet), Jim Norton, Eddie Izzard, Henry Rollins's spoken word rants (though I like his serious subject matter as well), Lewis Black, and a soft spot for Dana Gould just for his work as Gex the gecko.

I dig Lewis Black big time.

Kids in the Hall were hilarious, if derivative of Python.

The Muppet Show is one of the best variety shows ever, whether or not the actors are human.

My favorite standup guy was Zach (Greek last name - I keep wanting to say Snufflupagus...). He sat at a piano for most of his act. They gave him a show on Comedy Central, but it bombed. Hilarious act, though.

The only thing that's made me laugh out loud lately has been Adult Swim. I'm a stoner, though.

John Valby
 

Is that the guy who sang "Poisoning Pigeons in the Barn"?

If so, he's hilarious!

Re: John Valby
 

That would be Tom Lehrer, who is indeed hilarious.

I still fall apart if anyone holds up thumb and pointer finger, then pinches them while saying
"I am crrrrushing your head."

I actually heard Tom Lehrer played on the radio this morning, on MPR. Made my day! They played Oedipus Rex, but they miscued and started to play Masocism Tango...then caught it...darn. Must be a bit racy for the off to school crowd..."Loving" your mother was able to coast by, when "burn your initials in my shoulder" couldnt.

Haven't listened to Lehrer in a long while. May have to buy me some new CDs ...

John Valby is better known for "There's a Skeeter on My Peter (Whack 'im off) And the "Eat Bite" song.

Valby is COOL.

Valby will never get radio airplay.

Wasn't that a hot mess??? LOL!! You should have seen the show the day before (I think), where he invented a game show called, "I Know Black People!" It was a riot! Oh, and also, "When 'Keeping It Real' Goes Wrong" was funny too.

Went to Philly's ComedySportz Satuday night. Comedy is not in decline, you just have to find it. $15 for two hours of fun, discounted parking across the street, on-street parking two blocks north. Awesome date event.

Or find ComedySportz in your own town.

Alan King
 

Alan King, dead at 76

I loved watching the Friar's Club. Alan King was a comedian, but he also had a lot of class. He was able to mix Buddy Hackett with James Bond. He had the smartass routine down pat. He would make observations about everyday life that would bring tears to everyones eyes. He was the kind of comedian who could maintain his dignity while delivering off-color jokes.

He will be missed.http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/otn/ez/pi_cry.gif

My current favourite comedies/comedians are
The Office ( english version), Eddie Izzard, BillBailey, BlackBooks,Spaced ( couple years old but still funny) Jeremy Hardy, Linda Smith, Little Britain ( very very funny) DarkPlace ( only 4 episodes long but had me laughiong out loud) ....there sa bunch of other uk comedians whose names now escape me but who will no doubt spring t mind while I am trying to concentrate on work....Much of the really good comedy in th UK is to be found on BBCRadio4 though, rather than tv....Most of the really good tv comedy started life as radio. ( Have I Got News For You for instance)

I think Will and Grace is a damned good show, it just goes to show that if you censor tv heavily, comedy gets very good at double entendre. I know it has a very staged feel to it, but I like that , it observes certain comedic conventions very well and has the feel of theatre to it at times. Most of the really good American comedy seems to be in the form of cartoons. South Park is one of the cleverest and funniest programmes I have seen yet. Especialy the later series which have been ( imo)more overtly political and satirical.

"I'm rich, bitch!" Bahhhahaha! :haha:

OMG, the Dave Chappelle forum:
http://www.davechapelle.com/bs/index.php?act=SF&f=2

Check out the member names...LMAO!!

We just got the DVD to Season One...funny stuff.

Sound bytes from his show:
http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_show...w/sounds.jhtml

"Mmmm mmmm, bitch!"

Dave Chappelle is fucking awesome. I can't wait until season 2 comes out on DVD...the episode he did with Wayne Brady was hysterical.

Dave Chappelle is one of the funniest out there. I pulled a "Chappelle" on a buddy of mine. We're on line in Toys "R" Us, I turn to him, and say,"What did the five fingers say to the face?" My wife tried to stop me, but she wasn't fast enough. "SLAP!" Palm across the face. My buddy dropped his Star Wars figures and stared at me. I fixed my jacket, looked at him, and said "I'm Rick James, bitch!"
Some of the best comics have been the ones who pushed the limits in their times.
Sam Kinison was perfect in the time he was here.
Lewis Black, Jim Norton (crinkle crinkle), Otto and George, Nick DePaulo, Ron White (Tater Salad) all deserve to be headliners where-ever they go.
But remember, comedy is subjective.
What I like, you might not.
If you like it, great.
If you don't, don't tell me that I'll burn in Hell for liking it.
There's lots of things I'll burn in Hell for other than my taste in comedy.