Ellen- Best darn comedian around.

haymarket · Mar 27, 2015

Perotista said:
I have never seen anything funny about her. Most of today's sitcoms are not funny to me. But that could be because of age. I always liked Bob Hope, Abbot and Costello, Jack Benny, Red Skelton, even the three stoogies and of course Lucile Ball.

I think the last modern sitcom I watched and enjoyed was Barney Miller.

While visiting Cooperstown my grandson and I watched on a TV monitor Abbot & Costello do "Who's on First". One of the best bits of all time.

CanadaJohn · Mar 27, 2015

Perotista said:
LOL, I recently bought Groucho Marx DVD of You Bet your Life. I laughed my butt off. I have some of Jack Benny and his old TV show. How about Jackie Glessen and the Honey Mooners? There was Dobbie Gillis and Phil Silvers.

Now those were good comedies that made you laugh.

I remember all of them, fondly. I think the Honeymooners only ran for one year but it's classic. Everything is reality TV these days and it's boring. The last true age of TV Sitcoms, in my view, was when Mary Tyler Moore, All in the Family, Mash, etc. were all running at the same time.

Perotista · Mar 27, 2015

haymarket said:
While visiting Cooperstown my grandson and I watched on a TV monitor Abbot & Costello do "Who's on First". One of the best bits of all time.

You bet.

CanadaJohn · Mar 27, 2015

JumpinJack said:
MY ANSWER (once again, the narrow view of the pollster limits his ability to know others' answers): Other

My explanation: There is no ONE comedian that is the best. There is only one of the best.

It depends on the routine and the mood I'm in.

Jon Stewart is one of the funniest. So is Ellen. So is TINA FEY(though she's not a standup comedian). So is SARAH SILVERMAN. So is Carol Burnett. Stephen Colbert hands down one of the most gifted comedians these days. David Letterman is still one of the best....a natural, as they say. And let's not forget Roseanne Barr. She's not funny, anymore. But she started as a standup and was hysterical in those days. So was JOAN RIVERS. Some of you may be too young to remember some of these guys in their early days.

It's because of Phyllis Diller, Joan Rivers, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett and others that it's possible for an Ellen or Tina or Sarah to exist.

Some of the other "one of the best" have passed on: George Carlin, Robin Williams.

All true, and this may pre-date you, but almost all of them, at least the older ones, owe their careers to Ed Sullivan. I can still remember my entire family sitting around the TV on Sunday evenings after dinner and before I had to go to bed and watching his show. Good memories.

Perotista · Mar 27, 2015

CanadaJohn said:
I remember all of them, fondly. I think the Honeymooners only ran for one year but it's classic. Everything is reality TV these days and it's boring. The last true age of TV Sitcoms, in my view, was when Mary Tyler Moore, All in the Family, Mash, etc. were all running at the same time.

The Honeymooners was unique. A lot of sitcoms back in the 50's were performed before a live audiance and the the tape was shown with flubs, bloopers and all. I like the Dick VanDyke Show which Mary Taylor Moore was an off shoot. Most of the TV watching I do these days is on the History Channel or sports.

JANFU · Mar 27, 2015

JumpinJack said:
MY ANSWER (once again, the narrow view of the pollster limits his ability to know others' answers): Other

My explanation: There is no ONE comedian that is the best. There is only one of the best.

It depends on the routine and the mood I'm in.

Jon Stewart is one of the funniest. So is Ellen. So is TINA FEY(though she's not a standup comedian). So is SARAH SILVERMAN. So is Carol Burnett. Stephen Colbert hands down one of the most gifted comedians these days. David Letterman is still one of the best....a natural, as they say. And let's not forget Roseanne Barr. She's not funny, anymore. But she started as a standup and was hysterical in those days. So was JOAN RIVERS. Some of you may be too young to remember some of these guys in their early days.

It's because of Phyllis Diller, Joan Rivers, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett and others that it's possible for an Ellen or Tina or Sarah to exist.

Some of the other "one of the best" have passed on: George Carlin, Robin Williams.

I based that upon, nationwide show, day in day out, day after day.
A truly funny lady.

Quag · Mar 27, 2015

This list has her ranked 31st for stand up comics
Funniest Stand Up Comedians | Greatest Standup Comics

As all round funniest people ever shes only 53rd
Funniest People Ever | List of All Time Top Comedians & Comic Actors (Page 2)
of course it isn't that accurate as it has John Cleese below Zach Galifianakis

SMTA · Mar 27, 2015

JANFU said:
Ellen- Best darn comedian around.
Day in, day out, she makes you laugh.
And without all the cash hoopla of Oprah.

Never cared for her at all.

Top Cat · Mar 28, 2015

DiAnna said:
This. I can't think of anyone more likeable than Ellen, and I've always enjoyed watching her (although I don't watch daytime tv, so haven't seen her newest show). Other comedians are funnier, in my view, and some (like Ron White) have been known to make me practically wet myself! Still she's a great person, and wonderful comedian, and did a really outstanding job hosting the Oscars... unlike too many others, who've laid bowling-ball sized eggs in their Oscar hosting efforts!

Kathleen Madigan and Ron White are my two faves. Kathleen slays me.

Top Cat · Mar 28, 2015

Navy Pride said:
All the great Comedians like Hope, Benny, Abbot and Constello are are gone...Nowadays there are no great comics sadly.

Actually you make many of us laugh.

Top Cat · Mar 28, 2015

Quag said:
This list has her ranked 31st for stand up comics
Funniest Stand Up Comedians | Greatest Standup Comics

As all round funniest people ever shes only 53rd
Funniest People Ever | List of All Time Top Comedians & Comic Actors (Page 2)
of course it isn't that accurate as it has John Cleese below Zach Galifianakis

In what universe is Dennis Miller funnier than Groucho Marx or Jack Benny? Those lists are total bull****.

Fiddytree · Mar 28, 2015

She is great. I just wish she stood on the stage more often, although I can admit her current and much more profitable venture can be quite enjoyable from time to time.

Fiddytree · Mar 28, 2015

Top Cat said:
In what universe is Dennis Miller funnier than Groucho Marx or Jack Benny? Those lists are total bull****.

I'd agree, but I find the whole idea of ranking the greats to be rather pointless. After we come to an agreement that there's maybe a couple hundred comedians from the past century that were the best, what metrics do we really use to say said comedian in slot #52 is better than comedian in slot #53? They are all too varied in their subjects, delivery, and innovations.

At that point we should just pop in their record or video special and enjoy.

Quag · Mar 29, 2015

Top Cat said:
In what universe is Dennis Miller funnier than Groucho Marx or Jack Benny? Those lists are total bull****.

I already admitted it wasn't a the most accurate of lists.
TBH I didn't read through them all I just looked for where Ellen was and noted that somehow Zach ended up above John.
Of course these things are always subjective and the flavour de jour always ranks up much higher than they should, 10 years from now when they do it again those people will drop down closer to where they belong.

Amadeus · Mar 30, 2015

Amy Schumer has been killing it the last few years.

Scrabaholic · Mar 30, 2015

CanadaJohn said:
The last true age of TV Sitcoms, in my view, was when Mary Tyler Moore, All in the Family, Mash, etc. were all running at the same time.

I totally agree. Most network TV these days is crap. There are a few good shows but the crappy ones outnumber them.

I have All in the Family on right now on Deja View, it will be followed by MASH.

Scrabaholic · Mar 30, 2015

My favourite comedian is Ron James, a Canadian. I also really liked Carlin. Not a fan of Ellen but it has nothing to do with her orientation (I figured someone would chime in with a crack about that), I just don't find her funny.

Ellen- Best darn comedian around.