Right, I'm brand new to all this so here goes...
Hi, I'm Stu. Don't worry, you'll get used to me after a little while.
I was having this conversation earlier today, so I thought I'd start a thread about it. It's got to be better than another pathetic love request, right? If it does nothing more than give us all a few names to look up on YouTube, and have a bit of a laugh, then I can die a happy man.
My mate and I were duscussing which comedians have had the greatest influence on us, and on the world in general.
One of us (you have to guess which one I was, isn't it fun?!) heald the view that it was guys who really made you think about the world that were the most important. Guys like Bill Hicks and George Carlin, Chris Morris (Brass Eye is the best) and to a certain extent, Mark Thomas. Guys tackling big issues: religion, politics, war, economics and so on, but making you interested and laugh at the same time.
The other argued that it was the complete surrealists that took you to a strange new world. Vic and Bob (George Dawes is the funniest character Mat Lucas has ever done, YouTube his songs now!), Monty Python, Peter Cook, Frankie Boyle, everyone in Big Train and Spaced, Chris Morris (I know he was in the first argument too, but there you go) and loads more that I can't think of right now.
Anyway, we both love Alan Partridge, so we didn't end up fighting over it. But what do you think? Who are the funniest/most important comedians to you?
I appear to have gone on long enough, over to you.

Excellent thread!

The first name that came to mind when I saw this was Bill Hicks! In a similar political/social issues vein I'd add Richard Pryor and Chris Rock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsWa_v3oLWk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7b2oCYgfik

Frankie Boyle, hmmm, incredible. See also: Jerry Sadowitz. Not much of his material about though.

Gotta mention Joan Rivers, Victoria Wood and Jo Brand. There aren't many female comedians compared to male, and even fewer that are actually good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ1oSS5bQvQ

Oh, and love it or loathe it - Peep Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnmlVpTDTpQ&NR=1

Cheers. Nice one kad, bigging up the female comedians. Smart move.
Bill Hicks was a genius, doing stand up in clubs at the age of 14. He really told it like it was.

If you haven't seen it before, you have to watch George Carlin's rant against organised religion (please don't view if your offended by such stuff):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSSwKffj9o

I seem to remember Richard Pryor doing some really funny stuff about being high and setting himself on fire, but I can't seem to find it...

My Chris Rock selection has to be this (think of laws like ... hints):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj0mtxXEGE8&feature=related


And for just plain wierdness:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYOYO8b4wGA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAe17PeVewM&feature=related

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPsY_nhTtxg&feature=related

Oh, go on then. And this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMPJZ4YZnqI

PEANUTS!!!!!

PS Super Hans rocks

richard pryor >>>
_________________

francine needn some attention
wilma givn that thank u smooch
ha no im not pinchin lois' tig ol bitties
betty wonderin how the marry she ended up here

tommy tiernan, without a doubt!! funniest man in ireland,

Stewart Lee is undoubtedly my favourite...so glad he's back on TV!! The first show last week was preeetty goood; very funny, impassioned, cool and often challenging stand-up (on TV!). Great essay-like theme, many of the targets in other's hands, would be low lying fruit; but the style in which he pulped Chris Moyles' "difficult second" (toilet book) was bracing. LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjQws4ZYxZA

Saw him workshoping some of the stuff at Edinburgh, a true master. Obviously obessesed with techincal aspects of comedy, moments of repetition being one...which he can over do sometimes.

Simon Munnery, Robert Newman I'll add to the above lists...you guys have a great taste for comedic chops. Nina Conti and Sarah Silverman are funny as well.

Harry and Paul:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u3j0d6iI_U&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXEKb7-Bkwg


I like Michael Macintyre's clean delivery style:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOHFv602nug

Aye, t'was great. I loved Armando's intonation when reading Dan Brown's legal notification. As well Stu's riff on the cultural significance of Adrian Chiles. A great 11 mins.

Iannucci's self titled TV show is one of the best shows ever created - very funny, plus any conceptual artist could sustain a career on some of his ideas.

Harry and Paul is good, from what I've seen. Mandela's 'fight beer' and the Dragons Den stuff. Will check oot the links.

alan partridge is great, but his type of humor is alittle dark - my x could never understand it, altho she was a bottle blonde btw so that kinda probably explained it...


cheers

Hat off to Stewart Lee.

I see you a Hicks and Pryor, Chris Rock et al and raise you a Peter Cook and a Chris Morris. ; ) PS The Hicks Book 'Love All The People', a transcription of his routines was collated and transcribed by my ex and me.

Top work, everyone. We've all clearly got excellent taste, so the girls are going to come flying in. Right?

Dis how we roll

WARNING - LOTS OF SWEARING

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PsnxDQvQpw&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmG4X9PGOXs&feature=channel

or do the girls here not find this sexy?