I’m of the opinion that there is nothing better than a night of comedy.  Nothing soothes the soul and calms the dark waters of existence (at least temporarily) than a good belly laugh delivered by a funny comedian.  Regardless of whether on video, television, or at a live performance, a funny comedian will constantly work their craft, reduce us to tears, and remind us that living does not need to permanently suck!  And when it comes to selecting a funny comedian act, my tendency is to reach back in the past for some classic humor.

In all honesty, I prefer those uproarious comics of yore who transcended race, gender, and age.  These masters of the genre constantly provided their personal brand of amusement: the laugh-out-loud, help-I-can’t-breath kind of enjoyment that has stood the test of time.

The following are my alternatives for the best 6 comedians of all time:

Funny Comedian #1:  Jack Benny:
Benny is deemed to be the godfather of the genre.  He was well-known for his comic timing and his capability to get laughs from a pregnant pause or a solitary expression, for example his signature exasperated “Well!” His shows on radio and television were enormously popular from the 1930s to the sixties, and  were a fundamental impact on comedians of the following generation. Dean Martin, on the celebrity roast for Johnny Carson in November 1973, announced Benny as “the Satchel Paige of the comedy world.”

Funny Comedian #2:  Jonathan Winters:

Winters got his start as a guest star on  Arthur Godfrey’s, Jack Paar’s, and  Steve Allen’s shows.  Later he would make his mark with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show. His comedy form performed flawlessly in tv, movies,  and books, stemming from the bizarre personas he developed from his own imagination. Although he is getting on in years (at this writing he is still alive), his videos continuously prove to be popular on YouTube. Through the wonder of technology, a fresh generation of fans are becoming introduced to this humorous comedian.

Funny Comedian #3: Bob Hope:
Bob Hope was an American comedy icon throughout the twentieth century.  He starred in vaudeville, and afterwards moved on to Broadway, and then ultimately conquered radio, television and films. Nevertheless, he may be most well-known for his unceasing work on behalf of the US Military and his many USO trips.  He literally entertained large numbers of American military personnel throughout his illustrious career.  In 1996, the U.S. Congress honored Bob Hope by proclaiming him the “first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces.” Hope was truly an American hero, together with being one of America’s most successful  funny comics.  Even while on his death bed, Bob Hope was ever the comedian.   As reported by one of Hope’s kids, when asked on his deathbed where he wanted to be laid to rest, he told his spouse, “Surprise me”.

Funny Comedian #4:  Bill Cosby:
Cosby, more than any other funny comedian, was (and still is) successful with all types of media. And he discovered success while constantly containing a human perspective to his routines. Contemplating his modest beginnings, and his years as a child growing up in the projects of Philadelphia, it’s no big surprise he provides a diverse style to his comedy. He’s successful at storytelling, and has been able to make his stories funny in varied mediums such as cartoons,  television shows, films, and books. It was Cosby who broke the Television colour barrier with his performance on I Spy in the 60s. Later he would grow to be the very first and most successful Black comedian to star in (and wield control) of his own sitcom. His comedy style appears to make  everybody laugh, irrespective of skin color.

Funny Comedian #5: Phyllis Diller:
Diller is one of these uncommon ladies who brought up five children, and nevertheless was able to make history in the man’s world of stand up comedy.  She penned her own material, and successfully presented it for over 40 years!  It’s amazing to realize that she was able to be humorous even while working for charities for children, cancer, and other philanthropic endeavors.  As of this writing, she is still with us, although she has retired from public performances.

Funny Comedian #6: George Carlin:
Born during the Great Depression and growing up during the hippie movement, this high school dropout by no means fit in to the mainstream. His style of dress and his shows continually went against the norm and he originally experienced significant struggles because of it. His well-known Seven Words You can Never Say on Television and his performance as the very first guest on Saturday Night Live marked him as an unpredictable comedian and started a long line of “firsts” for this man of talent. Granted the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize in 2008, one week prior to his death, he was the first to receive the award posthumously.

In the interest of space, I left several  funny comedians off of this list.  Names such as Red Skelton, Joan Rivers, and Lenny Bruce ought to be regarded worthy of inclusion on any list of funny comedians.  

What do you think?  Who would you rank as the top funny comedians in history?

There is more on the subject of comedy here:  How To Do Standup Comedy