About a month or so ago, I did a list of the top eight stand up comedians of all time, which you can find right here. Well, a couple of nights ago, I was hanging out with my family watching TV when suddenly, Patton Oswalt's comedy special comes on. Hate is a strong word, but I strongly, strongly dislike the comedic stylings of Patton Oswalt. In fact, I dislike his work so much that he inspired me to create The Canon Review's Most Disliked Stand-Up Comedians. They may not be the worst, even if most of them are pretty terrible, but in my opinion, these are the worst comedians to stand behind the mic. So enjoy, and let the hating of people much more successful than me begin.
8. Rosie O'Donnell - Before she became, well, whatever she is today, O'Donnell was a stand-up comedian who got her big break on Star Search. Well, that's good enough for me to put on this list. I don't care much for Ms. O'Donnell, because she's a loudmouth who spouts on and on about typical liberal topics, who only can make a point by screaming. On top of that, I don't think she is funny at all.
7. Sarah Silverman - I am totally perplexed as to why she's as popular as she is, to be honest. I guess in the comedy world, a woman who tells a bunch of unfunny racist jokes and fart jokes in an attempt to shock the audience is one of the best comedians alive, good enough to get her own show and her own movie based on her stand-up act. She seems to pander to the lowest denominator, so to speak, and the only reason her act gets as much praise as it does is because she happens to be a decent-looking woman who's "quirky". I don't begrudge her for that, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. Also, I know that a lot of comedians tell racist and gross jokes and I don't have a problem with that per se, it's just that her comedy isn't funny.
6. Bob Saget - Ever since he left Full House and America's Funniest Home Videos, Saget has based his entire career on the shock value of seeing TV's Danny Tanner cursing and telling dirty jokes. That would be great, except that's pretty much his entire act, just cursing a lot and telling dirty jokes, providing nothing that any other hack comic would deliver at amateur hour at your local comedy club, but because he's Bob Saget he gets millions of dollars for it.
5. Paula Poundstone
Man, what's her deal? She dresses up in men's suits and just drones on and on about random subjects and has all the stage presence of a frightened beetle. She's not very popular now, in large part due to the whole endangering children drunk driving and the whole sexual harassment of a minor thing, but back in the 1980s and 1990s, she was kind of a big deal, and I could never figure out why.
4. Kathy Griffin
Bottom Line: she's a famewhore who talks 500 miles a minute and owes her whole career to telling vile and hateful stories about whatever celebrity she just happened to run into or read about in US Weekly this week. She's nothing but a loudmouth who has built whatever name she has off of the names of others. Worst of all, she's not funny.
3. Patton Oswalt
Just painfully unfunny. I really have no other reason to hate on the guy other than that. Well, that and his trying to be profound and deep by expressing his half-baked political ideals, although to be fair, he's not the only one that does that.
2. Larry the Cable Guy
Larry the Cable Guy is a smart, smart, man. He developed a character and a style designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator of American society, tells a bunch of dumb jokes and came up with a slogan that's is both white-trash and short enough to fit on a hat. Now he's one of the biggest names in comedy and worth over 50 million dollars. Think about that for a second. Personally, I find his whole shtick to be nauseating, but the man sure can hustle.
1. Carlos Mencia
Say what you want about all of the other comedians on this list, and I have, but at least they have the decency to come up with their own material. Mencia, on the other hand, takes jokes from people that are actually funny and tries to pass them off as his own. Yet he somehow got his own TV show and millions of dollars anyway. Life isn't fair sometimes. Bottom line, Mencia is nothing more than a phony.
Well, there you have it. If you're least favorite comedian failed to make the list, than feel free to tell us why. So until next time, so long.
Showing posts with label comedians. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comedians. Show all posts
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
The Canon Review List-A-Mania: Top Eight Stand Up Comedians
Today's post comes from an idea by reader Maggie W. who wanted a list of the top stand-up comedians of all-time. So here is the list of The Canon Review's Top Eight Stand-Up Comedians. Why eight, you ask? because eight was the first number that popped into my mind. Like other lists of this ilk, this list is just my personal opinion, so if your favorite comedian is left off or you want to create a list of your own, than feel free to do so. I must warn you that some of the accompanying video clips will have some strong language.
8. Denis Leary
This may be a controversial selection, but when he was doing stand-up, Leary was one of the funniest comedians around. I know that people have accused Leary of stealing Bill Hicks' routine, but it's not as if Hicks was the only angry comedian to ever exist. Yes, there may have been some similarities, but there are also a lot of differences and Leary's material and ranting style gives him a unique style all of his own.
7. Chris Rock
Rock's taste in movie roles may leave something to be desired, but there's no doubt that he's one of the most popular stand up comedians of the past 20 years, and for good reason. Rock is edgy, perhaps a bit too in-your-face for some audiences, but he also is a very entertaining comic.
6. Jerry Seinfeld
I will admit that my love for the show Seinfeld has influenced his placing on this list, but it is my list so oh well. Besides, if Seinfeld wasn't so good at stand-up, he never would have gotten his own sitcom in the first place. Still, judging by his stand-up alone, Jerry Seinfeld is quite humorous.
5. Bill Cosby
One of the few comedians on this list that doesn't swear a lot, Cosby has built a legendary career with his wit and excellent storytelling skills. A true legend, even if he did star in Leonard Part 6.
4. George Carlin
Nearly every stand-up comedian over the past 40 years, including a lot of people on this list, were heavily influenced by the wit and style of George Carlin. His biting, angry style often dealt with social issues and language, and about how much he despises people and their rules and regulations. A hell of a funny man, I even read a book of his (Brain Droppings) and it was probably the funniest book I have ever read, although I haven't read many funny books, so take that with a grain of salt.
3. Bill Hicks
A little like Carlin, although Hicks talked more specifically about the government and the media's negative influence on society. Hicks would often make people think, as well as laugh. Unfortunately, Hicks died young at 32 in 1994. One must wonder what material Hicks could have come up with during the George W. Bush presidency.
2. Rodney Dangerfield
The man still gets no respect, as he only gets number two on the list. Dangerfield's schtick is probably the most imitated comedy act ever. Dangerfield's routine was self-depreciating and pessimistic, but he told his jokes and one-liners in such a snappy fashion that you couldn't help but laugh at them. Plus, he was Al Czervik in Caddyshack, the funniest character in one of the most hilarious movies of all time.
1. Sam Kinison
Our number one comedian made a name for himself at a show for young comedians hosted by our number two comedians. Like Dangerfield, Kinison was also self-depricating, but unlike Dangerfield's use of snappy one-liners, Kinison would rant and rave and often sounded like a "fire and brimstone" preacher, which, oddly enough, he was before becoming a comedian. Kinison was also known for his trademark yell and his anti-religious rants. Unfortanetly, Kinison died young in a car accident at the age of 38 in 1993. Nevertheless, he's number one on The Canon Review list of top stand-up comedians.
Well, thanks for reading, and if you have any ideas for future posts on The Canon Review, than by all means let me know about them so I could get cracking on them, either by leaving a comment or by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
8. Denis Leary
This may be a controversial selection, but when he was doing stand-up, Leary was one of the funniest comedians around. I know that people have accused Leary of stealing Bill Hicks' routine, but it's not as if Hicks was the only angry comedian to ever exist. Yes, there may have been some similarities, but there are also a lot of differences and Leary's material and ranting style gives him a unique style all of his own.
7. Chris Rock
Rock's taste in movie roles may leave something to be desired, but there's no doubt that he's one of the most popular stand up comedians of the past 20 years, and for good reason. Rock is edgy, perhaps a bit too in-your-face for some audiences, but he also is a very entertaining comic.
6. Jerry Seinfeld
I will admit that my love for the show Seinfeld has influenced his placing on this list, but it is my list so oh well. Besides, if Seinfeld wasn't so good at stand-up, he never would have gotten his own sitcom in the first place. Still, judging by his stand-up alone, Jerry Seinfeld is quite humorous.
5. Bill Cosby
One of the few comedians on this list that doesn't swear a lot, Cosby has built a legendary career with his wit and excellent storytelling skills. A true legend, even if he did star in Leonard Part 6.
4. George Carlin
Nearly every stand-up comedian over the past 40 years, including a lot of people on this list, were heavily influenced by the wit and style of George Carlin. His biting, angry style often dealt with social issues and language, and about how much he despises people and their rules and regulations. A hell of a funny man, I even read a book of his (Brain Droppings) and it was probably the funniest book I have ever read, although I haven't read many funny books, so take that with a grain of salt.
3. Bill Hicks
A little like Carlin, although Hicks talked more specifically about the government and the media's negative influence on society. Hicks would often make people think, as well as laugh. Unfortunately, Hicks died young at 32 in 1994. One must wonder what material Hicks could have come up with during the George W. Bush presidency.
2. Rodney Dangerfield
The man still gets no respect, as he only gets number two on the list. Dangerfield's schtick is probably the most imitated comedy act ever. Dangerfield's routine was self-depreciating and pessimistic, but he told his jokes and one-liners in such a snappy fashion that you couldn't help but laugh at them. Plus, he was Al Czervik in Caddyshack, the funniest character in one of the most hilarious movies of all time.
1. Sam Kinison
Our number one comedian made a name for himself at a show for young comedians hosted by our number two comedians. Like Dangerfield, Kinison was also self-depricating, but unlike Dangerfield's use of snappy one-liners, Kinison would rant and rave and often sounded like a "fire and brimstone" preacher, which, oddly enough, he was before becoming a comedian. Kinison was also known for his trademark yell and his anti-religious rants. Unfortanetly, Kinison died young in a car accident at the age of 38 in 1993. Nevertheless, he's number one on The Canon Review list of top stand-up comedians.
Well, thanks for reading, and if you have any ideas for future posts on The Canon Review, than by all means let me know about them so I could get cracking on them, either by leaving a comment or by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
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