The thing\nabout comedy is that the relevance of the materials used in each era often loses\nvalidity past a certain time, but even with more updated materials, are the\ncomedians of today as good as these legends of the olden days were?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Often\nhailed as the greatest comedian of all time, George Carlin<\/em> was a name that no one took lightly, even though he\nwas a comedian. His comedy was dark, political, and based on current affairs,\nwhich ranged from seeming almost insensitive and immature, to a sudden jolt\nback to sophistication and wise philosophy that reminded the audience who they\nwere seated in front of. He used his language as painters use their brush and\ndrew socio-political pictures that were as controversial and dark as they were\nfunny. George Carlin was more than just a comedian, as his influences exceeded\nfar beyond that of anyone else in his position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If George Carlin<\/em> is the greatest comedian\nof all time, Robin Williams<\/em> is probably the funniest talk show\nguest<\/a> of all\ntime! His impressions were legendary, his impromptu improvisations were genius,\nand whether he took the microphone as a standup artist or played the lead in highly\nacclaimed movies like Dead Poet\u2019s Society\n<\/em>or Good Will Hunting<\/em>, the man was\nbrilliant in everything he did. While people often talk about the way he passed\naway, he will always be a legend for the way he made everyone laugh and even\ncry sometimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bob Newhart<\/em> is actually still active and although the man\nis nearly 90-years old, he is not planning to retire anytime soon either, as\ntold to Conan<\/em> on TBS<\/em> last year. Ever since the late 1950s, the classic legend has\nmanaged to perfect his trademark expressionless delivery, stammers, meaningful\npauses and blank stares to astoundingly successful comic effects in both\nindividual standup shows, as well as in modern TV shows like The Big Bang Theory<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The very\nfact that Joan Rivers<\/em> managed to make\nit and make it big in a time when the entire standup comedy scene was ruled by\nmen and the audience wasn\u2019t particularly kind to female comedians, is in itself\na testament to her incredible comic genius. While there are excellent female comedians\ntoday, one may be tempted to argue that her self-deprecating humor, wise\nphilosophies, and razor-sharp wit would have been enough to establish her as\none of the prime comedians even today. After all, a line like \u201cThe first time I see a jogger smiling, I’ll\nconsider it\u201d<\/em> doesn\u2019t really lose its comic appeal, even in 2019!<\/p>\n\n\n\n From\nhosting radio talk shows and being America\u2019s first funny Weatherman, to\nbecoming one of the most celebrated, popular, influential and funny talk show\nhosts to ever exist; David Letterman<\/em>\nhas had a bright and illustrious comedy TV career that is unmatched to this day.\nHe was and still is known for his unique style of comedy, which has influenced\nmore modern comedians than perhaps anyone else. The Late Night Show with David Letterman<\/em> lasted for twenty-three\nseasons and had well over four thousand episodes in total, which stands as a\ntestament to his popularity, which is nothing short of legendary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He isn\u2019t\nthe only preacher who turned into a comedian later on, but he certainly remains\nas the best one to take that unconventional step! However, those that were\nlucky enough to see Sam Kinison\u2019s<\/em> few\nperformances before he tragically passed away in a car accident at only 38,\nknew that he wasn\u2019t exactly looking to deliver soft, religious jokes! Often\ncriticized for his juvenile, loud, and somewhat insensitive delivery, Sam Kinison<\/em> is still considered to be a\nlegend because, somehow, he managed to make it all funny in a way that only he\ncould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The final entrant\non this list might very well be a name that you have never heard of before and\nthat\u2019s alright because not many did since he wasn\u2019t that popular at that time\nand, sadly, the satirical genius of Bill\nHicks<\/em> left us before it could mature, as he died from cancer at just 32. He\nhas a select and cult following to this day because his material and delivery\nhad depth beyond its time and it was unapologetically critical of everything\nand everyone from the government and religion, right down to his own audience!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The final\nanswer depends on the audience and unless we are able to bring some of these\nlegends back on the stage with more up-to-date materials, it is hard to draw a\ncomparison between the celebrity comedians today and the established names of\nyesterday. After all, the likes of Seth\nRogen<\/em> and Tiffany Haddish<\/em> are no\npushovers either. Besides, the talent pool is much deeper today than it was\nthree decades ago. Taking a look at this site<\/a> called Summit Comedy<\/em> reveals the names of young and famous college\ncomedians such as Jessi Campbell<\/em>, who\nwas the winner of the 2015 Campus\nActivities Magazine Female Performer of the Year <\/em>award, or Andrew Sleighter<\/em> who has even performed\non Conan O\u2019Brien\u2019s<\/em> shows and\nfrequently appeared on Money from\nStrangers<\/em> (MTV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are\nso many more talented, rising college comedians on the site and you can be the\njudge of whether they have what it takes to compete with the established celebs\nand legends of the bygone era by giving them a chance to perform. They might\njust surprise you as many of these names are the future stars of stand-up\ncomedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRobin Williams<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bob Newhart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Joan Rivers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
David Letterman<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sam Kinison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Bill Hicks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do the Modern Comedians\nCompare to these Legends?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n