Old School Comedy

Posted by Anonymous On 3:06 AM

Comedy today sucks for the most part. I don't think I could possibly listen to another stand-up routine about rampant sex, drinking too much, or the nagging wife. It's been done, and it wasn't that funny to begin with.

I don't like Dane Cook. I know that makes me odd today, but seriously, he stinks. Watch one of his routines on Comedy Central and pretend that there isn't a crowd of drunk morons with the aggregate IQ of a slinky cuing you as to when he's being funny. Without them telling you when to laugh, I promise you he's not funny. He does material that other people have done better - only he does it with gel in his hair! Oooooohhhh... gag.

There are a handful of inventive original comics out there, but they're the exception, not the rule.

You want funny? Go old school. Check out Dean Martin and Foster Brooks. Now this is some good comedy:



Am I wrong? Name a decent comedian. And be serious, please.

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16 Cachinnations

  1. euphrony Said,

    I agree with you, Cach. This was hilarious! Poor Dean Martin just couldn't keep it together with Brooks' routine. The newer comedians use raunch and go for the lowest common denominator for their humor, in the process losing their inventiveness. That's why I posted the Johnny Carson/Jack Webb skit on my sight: it was a simple word play comedy, but just plain funny with Jack Webb's deadpan delivery.

    I love looking back at the Rat Pack. When you see or hear them on stage together, the first thing that strikes you is you really hear a group of friends just joking around with each other. And it comes off great for the audience, too.

    Posted on 4/02/2007

     
  2. Anonymous Said,

    I loved that one, Euph. I loved your intro line just as much too! Well done, sir. Hope all is well with the new baby too.

    Posted on 4/02/2007

     
  3. The Cliff Said,

    I agree the Pack was always Awesome. And before the pack there was Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis...CLASSIC.

    Today most comedy sucks, but there's one that always makes me laugh. No Raunch, no wife/drinking/sex jokes, just all funny comedy...

    Brian Regan

    Posted on 4/02/2007

     
  4. euphrony Said,

    Thanks, Cach. Sometimes, the words come easy. The intro line I wrote for that hit me in about 5 seconds, and I didn't even have to use a thesaurus to find the appropriate words to continue the alliteration.

    I do like several of the old comedy teams: Abbot and Costello still crack me up, and Laurel and Hardy are great, as well as Martin and Lewis.

    Posted on 4/02/2007

     
  5. Tracy Said,

    I know what you mena. Still, I think Ellen DeGeneres is funny! If you ever get a chance, rent her stand-up DVD called "Unplugged". It's hilarious!

    Posted on 4/02/2007

     
  6. Seth Ward Said,

    Recently, I did hear an early clean Jim Carey routine that cracked me up. AND I am always a sucker for Jerry.

    On the whole, I agree. Dane... I am just dumbfounded by his popularity.

    Posted on 4/02/2007

     
  7. Anonymous Said,

    Better to be dumbfounded like Seth than found dumb like Dane!

    Ooooooh! Burrrrrrn!

    Posted on 4/02/2007

     
  8. Moderator Said,

    I'm no fan of Dane Cook. Although I love Sarah Silverman. And Woody Allen circa 1964 was the funniest.

    Posted on 4/02/2007

     
  9. Papa Steve Said,

    I like Brian Regan. His comedy is for the most part clean.

    Posted on 4/02/2007

     
  10. Sarah Said,

    Eddie Izzard. He's English, a transvestite, smart, historical, and you can play drinking games to the frequency that he drops the F-bomb. But he's much better than most American comedians.

    Posted on 4/02/2007

     
  11. Anonymous Said,

    I like dead pan humor, Rowen Atkinson is funny, I don't pay attention to many of the other ones now days, like you said they are too nasty.

    Posted on 4/02/2007

     
  12. Karen S Said,

    Yeah, Eddie Izzard's funny and clean (meaning the comedy's clean). His language is a product of being English, where the f-word is nowhere near as strong an expletive as it is in the States.

    Posted on 4/03/2007

     
  13. Red Said,

    First, I love comedy shows. Since moving to ATL we have frequented this great little comedy club and seen some very funny stuff. That said...

    I'm with Don & Steve...Brian Regan is so funny and I don't think he has any questionable material. He's just funny and original in his delivery which makes him really unique. Mitch Hegberg is another comedian who could deliver a line and make it funny, his monotone voice and lack of care is what we liked about him. He died young though, so you can only hear him on CD these days.

    I love Jim Gaffigan , he is so funny. He's known for his bits about the food network and Hot Pockets.

    Jeff Dunham is another great one, he is a ventriloquist and works with puppets, most notably "Jalapeno on a Stick". He's even more impressive live with improv than on comedy central.

    Another funny one is Daniel Tosh. While he is a little crass, he is very funny.

    Of course, I don't have much ground to stand on because depending on the mood and the company, I think Dane Cook can make you roll - "the nothing fight" - come on...you can't say that's not funny.

    Posted on 4/03/2007

     
  14. euphrony Said,

    I kinda like Tom Wilson (aka Biff from Back to the Future). He does some pretty funny stuff, and clean as well.

    Posted on 4/03/2007

     
  15. Anonymous Said,

    I'm not even really that concerned with the comedy being "clean." I just don't think the same old tired crap is funny. The sex/drinking/wife jokes are so tired. There's just no one doing inventive comedy there.

    I love Eddie Izzard. I also like some of the other ones mentioned here: Jim Gaffigan, Brian Regan, Sarah Silverman. I also confess to being entertained by Carlos Mencia.

    Posted on 4/03/2007

     
  16. CXLink Said,

    Careful with liking Carlos, if you have a problem with people reusing material. He is known for stealing routines his only problem is that the people are still alive and they complain.

    Posted on 4/05/2007