Comparison 🔎 Unfunny comedians

[Maister]

Are there any comedians - past or present - that you either 1) don't understand their humor or 2) understand it but find it to be 0 on the funny scale?

I'll start: Andy Kaufman. Heralded as a comic genius. Multiple comedians have cited him as being an influence and inspiration on their careers. Here's Kaufman doing his "classic" Mighty Mouse song routine. Yes, you should waste the full minute and 40 seconds watching this to fully appreciate his comic genius

I actually do 'get it'. The joke is an exercise in absurdism along dada-esque lines. The joke is that his character only does a single thing (that taken in isolation isn't particularly funny). You're supposed to be laughing and asking yourself the question - 'WHY am I laughing at this? What's even the punchline?'

I'll mention another one: Gallagher. In fairness, he did some second-rate standup jokes (largely prop driven I understand) that I guess were okay, but what was he mostly famous for? What did audiences love most about him? This:

 

[MD Planner]

I never thought Kaufman was funny either. Gallagher had some funny bits; his take on the English language was pretty clever.

Kathy Griffin comes to mind who is not funny. Never saw the appeal with Sinbad. I'm sure others will occur to me.

 

[ursus]

Yep. Not funny. You know what? Although it's not as egregious as these examples - and make no mistake, I LOVE the sitcom based on it - Jerry Seinfeld's stand up is not all that funny to me. I mean, the jokes are....he's just....not? Not as funny as you'd think he'd be, based on the show, anyway.

 

[MacheteJames]

Sarah Silverman

 

[Maister]

Sarah Silverman

Good one! Or should I say bad one? On a scale of 1 to 10 I give her a solid 1. What did Jimmy Kimmel (who's capable of being actually funny) ever see in her?

 

[Maister]

Yep. Not funny. You know what? Although it's not as egregious as these examples - and make no mistake, I LOVE the sitcom based on it - Jerry Seinfeld's stand up is not all that funny to me. I mean, the jokes are....he's just....not? Not as funny as you'd think he'd be, based on the show, anyway.

Is it true you've worked as a stand-in double for Jim Gaffigan when he's made the mistake of booking himself in more than one location on the same night?

 

[SlaveToTheGrind]

Bad ones: Kathy Griffin, Carrot Top, Bobcat Goldthwait, Gilbert Gottfried and several others that show up on my reels and cannot tell you their name.

I worked in a comedy club 1993-1994. Had a few mid-level names come through. Gallagher's brother, who did the same routine, Bruce Baum, and others. Ron Pearson was always a good show.

Good ones: Jim Gaffigan, Dave Chapelle, Robin Williams, Brad Williams, Mitch Hedburg, Taylor Tomlinson, Iliza Schlesinger, Leanne Morgan, Nate Bargatze, Kelsey Cook, Richard Pryor, Kathleen Madigan, Sebastian Maniscalco.

 

[The Terminator]

Dane Cook

myself

Carlos Mencia

The Simpsons after like 2002

 

[Maister]

Yep. Not funny. You know what? Although it's not as egregious as these examples - and make no mistake, I LOVE the sitcom based on it - Jerry Seinfeld's stand up is not all that funny to me. I mean, the jokes are....he's just....not? Not as funny as you'd think he'd be, based on the show, anyway.

Another observation about Jerry Seinfeld. Here's a guy who never has to work another day of his life, but he made the show Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee which is really nothing more than an interview format more than a vehicle to deliver humor. After watching a dozen or so comedians being interviewed I noticed Jerry is kinda mean-spirited. He's always got an edge but when you're seeing him in a not-comedic venue that edge without the humor comes off as being particularly judgmental at times. I understand the Comedian's role in society is often to convey uncomfortable truths in a palatable way but Jerry in particular seems like a mean messenger.

 

[ursus]

Another observation about Jerry Seinfeld. Here's a guy who never has to work another day of his life, but he made the show Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee which is really nothing more than an interview format more than a vehicle to deliver humor. After watching a dozen or so comedians being interviewed I noticed Jerry is kinda mean-spirited. He's always got an edge but when you're seeing him in a not-comedic venue that edge without the humor comes off as being particularly judgmental at times. I understand the Comedian's role in society is often to convey uncomfortable truths in a palatable way but Jerry in particular seems like a mean messenger.

I think that's true. He needs other people around him to aid in the delivery. You're a comedian - the delivery should feel "sharp" not "mean".

 

[Wannaplan?]

Sarah Silverman

I think she is hilarious.

I think Rob Schnieder is an unfunny comedian.

 

[jumbach]

The Simpsons after like 2002

Yep. The show stopped being funny over a decade ago. And this coming from someone who was bordering obsessed with The Simpsons way back when. Haven't watched an episode, other than the annual Treehouse of Horrors, since about 2013.

 

[bureaucrat#3]

Bad ones: Kathy Griffin, Carrot Top, Bobcat Goldthwait, Gilbert Gottfried and several others that show up on my reels and cannot tell you their name.

I worked in a comedy club 1993-1994. Had a few mid-level names come through. Gallaher's brother, who did the same routine, Bruce Baum, and others. Ron Pearson was always a good show.

Good ones: Jim Gaffigan, Dave Chapelle, Robin Williams, Brad Williams, Mitch Hedburg, Taylor Tomlinson, Iliza Schlesinger, Leanne Morgan, Nate Bargatze, Kelsey Cook, Richard Pryor, Kathleen Madigan, Sebastian Maniscalco.

When I was 12, I thought Carrot Top was funny for a very brief minute. I've seen some funny sets from Bobcat Goldthwait and Gilbert Gottfried, but their voices eventually drive you crazy. Same thing with Sam Kinison. I stopped watching Taxi due to Kaufman. I just didn't get it. There are so many comedians that have a schticky character that can be funny the first time you see them and then its gone. See the redneck comedians. Foxworthy had some good jokes, but became a bit of "one trick pony." Larry the Cable Guy might be the worst to me. I did like Ron White. He seems like he would be fun to drink with.

We used to go to comedy shows back in the early 2000s. By far the best I ever saw live was Mitch Hedberg. Chris Rock was probably second. Jerry Seinfeld wouldn't make the top 10.

 

[DVD]

Steve Martin is hit or miss for me. His skits I tend to love. Same with movies. Some of his stand up, I get it, but I'm just not laughing.

 

[ursus]

Steve Martin is hit or miss for me. His skits I tend to love. Same with movies. Some of his stand up, I get it, but I'm just not laughing.

He's in that same category as Seinfeld - he can be very funny, just not as funny doing stand up, right? I get that....

 

[MacheteJames]

Yep. The show stopped being funny over a decade ago. And this coming from someone who was bordering obsessed with The Simpsons way back when. Haven't watched an episode, other than the annual Treehouse of Horrors, since about 2013.

My kid loves the Simpsons, and it's on in our house constantly. It's up to around season 33 - someone keeps bankrolling it, at least. What I've noticed is that for the past decade's worth of seasons, it's changed into almost a musical theater-based format. Every episode has at least one musical interlude or montage in lieu of the jokes or gags it once had. They also soft rebooted the show and Homer and Marge are elder millennials instead of boomers. I get why they had to change things up as the original voice cast ages and playing on stereotypes like they did with Apu and the Quickie Mart would never fly today.

 

[luckless pedestrian]

I agree that Jerry is mean - he admits it, in one of his coffee shows, which I actually loved (Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker and Mike Richards are standouts) - most good comedians, he says, and accurately, have had a rough go in life at some point, childhood, teenager, whenever - he admits he has it good for his whole life so that does make him a different kind of comedian - he definitely has a mean streak - I saw him last summer in my fair city and he was good, but he is getting into the crusty old man anger humor now

I love Jim Gaffigan - his book cracked me up too - he is very talented

Old Steve Martin (I have the 8 tacks to prove it) is excellent and his moviews are hilarious - I quote his lines all the time, but I am a little weird

I think Bobcat is funny, but only because I went to high school with him - (spongebob too)

I have seen Nate Bargatze, and he is great

Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy skits are also quoted often in our household (ice cream!)

Kathleen Madigan is fantastic - one of the best female standups ever - I have seen her live - she's amazing

Sebastian Maniscalco, I like him, but he's also getting too far in the crusty old man stuff

The only crusty old man humor I love is Lewis Black, who I have seen live and he's so funny

I can't do redneck stuff

I listen to alot of the standup channels on Sirius on my way home from work lol

Who is the guy that talks about sports a lot - he is so funny but I never remember his name

 

[Maister]

I agree that Jerry is mean - he admits it, in one of his coffee shows, which I actually loved (Obama, Sarah Jessica Parker and Mike Richards are standouts)

Michael Richards in particular, I thought was interesting but also kinda tragic. I mean he left you with the impression that he was a broken man following that infamous incident 20 years ago at a comedy club where he angrily shouted a racial epithet at an audience member. The incident effectively ended his career. Jerry asked if he ever planned to get back into standup - practically begged him to do so - and Richards was emphatically no. Never again. I almost felt bad for the guy until I thought about it and realized here's another guy that can live a life of comfort and ease in his Beverly Hills mansion without ever having to work another day in his life.

 

[JNA]

My favorite was George Carlin.

 

[dw914er]

I like Seinfeld but not enough to ever actually go to one of his shows.

The classics like Williams and Chappelle are great. More modern comics like Iliza are also great (I would love to see her show). One comic I do like, even though it is definitely on the raunchier side, is Michael Blaustein - he does really great crowd work. Don McMillian is great for nerdy comedy.

I do not have a well thought out list of comics I dislike. There are certainly things I find more funny than others, though.

 

[Maister]

I had this discussion with my brother this weekend and he cited Emo Phillips as being an unfunny comedian. He thought his jokes were puerile and found his stage persona intensely annoying. I had to disagree and would note that the idea of a comedian playing a fool character on stage is a most ancient tradition. That said, I can also understand if some folks could find the grating character to overwhelm that comedian's humor.

Judge for yourselves:

 

[bureaucrat#3]

I had this discussion with my brother this weekend and he cited Emo Phillips as being an unfunny comedian. He thought his jokes were puerile and found his stage persona intensely annoying. I had to disagree and would note that the idea of a comedian playing a fool character on stage is a most ancient tradition. That said, I can also understand if some folks could find the grating character to overwhelm that comedian's humor.

Judge for yourselves:

I've seen him on one of the Late Night Shows at some point, but I don't think I ever learned his name til now. I think he's funny but it's always a crapshoot how long you can last as a character. He's apparently been doing it for 40 years so I guess it works for him.

 

[Maister]

I've seen him on one of the Late Night Shows at some point, but I don't think I ever learned his name til now. I think he's funny but it's always a crapshoot how long you can last as a character. He's apparently been doing it for 40 years so I guess it works for him.

I think he excels more as a joke writer than stage performer.
"New York's such a wonderful city. Although I was at the library today. The guy was very rude. I said, "I'd like a card." He says, "You have to prove you're a citizen of New York." So I stabbed him."

 

[Wannaplan?]

I did not watch the Golden Globes. I did hear that Nikki Glaser was the host and that she nailed it. I have seen her shows on HBO. She talks about her pussy a lot. And she is blonde. I suppose guys just gawk at her? She seems to be quite popular. I certainly understand why. That said, I don’t really get anything out of her. Just meh. Which is to say, she isn’t unfunny. She’s just not my type.

 

[btrage]

I did not watch the Golden Globes. I did hear that Nikki Glaser was the host and that she nailed it. I have seen her shows on HBO. She talks about her pussy a lot. And she is blonde. I suppose guys just gawk at her? She seems to be quite popular. I certainly understand why. That said, I don’t really get anything out of her. Just meh. Which is to say, she isn’t unfunny. She’s just not my type.

She was at her best when she would do the Comedy Central Roasts. Her humor goes well with roasting.

 

[SlaveToTheGrind]

She was at her best when she would do the Comedy Central Roasts. Her humor goes well with roasting.

 

[JNA]

Mentioning Canadians - Bob and Doug McKenzie were pretty funny

their version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas"
their movie "Strange Brew"

 

[fringe]

Spike Lee, through his drama, can be so funny.

Not to mention Colson Whitehead with his Harlem heist stories

 

[fringe]

I did not watch the Golden Globes. I did hear that Nikki Glaser was the host and that she nailed it. I have seen her shows on HBO. She talks about her pussy a lot. And she is blonde. I suppose guys just gawk at her? She seems to be quite popular. I certainly understand why. That said, I don’t really get anything out of her. Just meh. Which is to say, she isn’t unfunny. She’s just not my type.

John Hartford, with his song about golden globes, was not funny to some, including my wife..."...you can hang them in my face just any old time..."

 

[Dan]

I never quite understood the appeal of comedians from the 1930s and 1940s. A lot of old radio show humor seems to sound like this:

"Say, Joe, how's it going today?"
"Baaaah! The dogs next door keep me awake! I'm a TIRRRRRRRRED MAN!"
(Audience) "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Say, Joe, when does the Red Car leave for Pasadena?"
"Not soon enough! There's an UHHHHHHHGLY DAME here spoiling the scenery!:
(Audience) "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

 

[Wannaplan?]

It tickles me to think that badass Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was once a comedic performer, just the Dark Mirror of quirky recent global events we all need in order to reflect upon that other unfunny game show performer: