Just saw Rhod Gilbert tonight at the Ipswich Regent - he was so funny he had me making those funny noises only heard when you're short of breath. My question is who are the funniest people you've seen (in person or otherwise)? Been thinking that a few surveys might be interesting to see what the average R's fan is like (music, films etc). Thoughts please and I'll see what I can do when I'm back in the land of the sober.
Hard to say any one individual. I like observational comedy in the style of Dave Allen but visual comedy which is a much harder version is great when it works, Benny Hill, for instance, is probably the master of that genre despite being destroyed by the PC brigade. Bill Bailey is quirkily different and if you like live comedy Rudi Lickwood is worth seeing...
Stewart Lee, Tim Minchin. Back in the day it was Bill Hicks and Richard Pryor - though I never saw them in person. (There are a bunch of others - including Tommy Tiernan, Ciarrai, such as Jim Jeffries and Boy With Tape on His Face too at the mo.)
Billy Connolly for me, not just because of the comedy but he used to live up the road from me and used the local shop and always would stop and chat. So all round good guy. Rita Rudner has me in stitches (Jewish American Comedienne). Also met Dave Allen and he was funny off stage too. But there can only be one Tommy Cooper RIP.
Of course Tommy Cooper and Billy Connolly! (Actually every time I read this thread there'll be names I'd forgotten. Eddie Izzard
Of course Tommy Cooper and Billy Connolly! (Actually every time I read this thread there'll be names I'd forgotten. Eddie Izzard and Dylan Moran
As I go for the more observational, political humour I would have to say the greatest ever comedian is Bill Hicks. Though closer to home I would say Mark Thomas.I would recomend his exposé of the arms trade 'As used on the famous Nelson Mandela', truly a fascinating and enlightening read ( And also VERY funny)
Bob Monkhouse and Dear Old Spike were comedy gold. These days, I like Milton Jones, Tim Vine, Al Murray, Boothby Graffoe. A lot of comedians are amusing these days rather than funny. The problem is that you can go to a show, have a chuckle at 2 hours of observational stuff, but end up with no new material to share in the playground afterwards.
I particularly like it when he dons that fat suit and stays in those low-budget hotels on telly. What a card.
Damn some people are showing their age here, not me, I'm going to keep it current. For me the man of the moment is Mickey Flannigan, he always make me wet myself. I also like Kevin Bridges.
I have a list of Tommy Cooper one liners on the wall at work and makes me chuckle even though I've read them many times before. Lee Evans just has a funny face and, for people of my generation, has the advantage of being the double of Alfred E. Neuman from 'Mad' magazine! See for yourselves:
So many to choose from but I think my top 5 would be Lee Mack, Lee Evans, Milton Jones, Sarah Millican and Micky Flanagan
