Funny People, Yet Another List

I'm on a role this morning. It's time for another top 25 list. Look, I'm a list-maker, I make lists. I guess it's the organizational freak in me. This time I have compiled a list of the funniest people in show-bidness. It is most likely not complete yet, because it's simply off the top of my head, so I reserve the right to revise if the mood hits me or I have a compelling argument for an addition that I have yet to think of. The list only goes to 25, but I actually have one that goes as far as 63. Some big names or one of your favorites may reside there, but if you have any suggestions as to someone you feel deserves a place in the top 25, please feel free to let me know and I will consider adding them (perhaps this is just a blatent attempt to get more comments.) Anywho, here's the list:

1. Richard Pryor
2. Peter Sellers
3. Bill Cosby
4. Carol Burnett
5. Robin Williams
6. Bill Murray
7. Jonathan Winters
8. Groucho Marx
9. Eddie Murphy
10. John Candy
11. Phil Hartman
12. Jerry Lewis
13. Lucille Ball
14. Buster Keaton
15. Ellen DeGeneres
16. Michael Palin
17. Gene Wilder
18. Whoopi Goldberg
19. John Cleese
20. Albert Brooks
21. Steve Martin
22. Gilda Radner
23. George Burns
24. Billy Crystal
25. John Belushi

Some might say that I have too much time on my hands, and they are probably correct but as I said, I make lists. It gets the thoughts out of my head, freeing up room for other useless information and/or thoughts. Some very big names did not get high enough to rank on this page but deserve mention anyway - Mel Brooks (as an actor, not director - as a director he rates much, much higher), Eugene Levy, Steve Zahn, Don Knotts, Tim Conway, Graham Chapman, George Carlin, Bob Newhart, Harry Shearer and Eric Idle just to name a few. Let me know who you think is funny as I'm sure I have missed some people.

[Edited 11/15/03] Replaced Jack Black with George Burns per Konior's wishes. Can't argue with that point. Carlin, however, was considered but just doesn't get that high up due to his sour mood these last ten or so years. It's effected his stand-up to the point that I no longer find it very funny.

That is all.

Comments

[Keith Konior]

Even though lists such as these are the epitome of "opinions are like assholes...". I feel that you were negligent in not including a couple of George's on the "top 25." Mssr's. Carlin and Burns. Any of the following could relinquish their lofty status to make room for them...Candy, Lewis (never liked him), Goldberg or Black (not enough of a track record for the company he keeps here). Surprisingly, I have to make the strongest argument for George Burns, whose eon's ahead of its time "George Burns and Gracie Allen Comedy Hour" was "Seinfeld" 50 years before Jerry graced the airwaves. It was "a show about nothing," as well. Hey, though...as I said, "opinions are like..."