NationStates Jolt Archive

I saw Jim Norton's special on hbo the other night and it was terrible. I think he is the worst comedian I have ever seen, I didn't laugh once. Oh, and Cathy Griffin is bad too. who's your least favourite comedian?

I don't know about "worst," but most overrated: Jerry Seinfeld.

I don't know about "worst," but most overrated: Jerry Seinfeld.

He has quite a few good jokes.

Russell Brand aka whats that guy still doing on T.V

I don't know about "worst," but most overrated: Jerry Seinfeld.

I for one would love to hate Lee Evans

I don't know about "worst," but most overrated: Jerry Seinfeld.

As a comedian, I can see how were your coming from. However, the show was incredible. Like, this-might-just-be-the-greatest-thing-to-come-from-the-90's incredible.

Kathy Griffin would get it, but unfortunately, I caught a couple minutes of Ralphie May's act a couple nights ago. Ugh.

As a comedian, I can see how you're right. However, the show was incredible.

I hated that show. With a passion.

I hated that show. With a passion.

[thread-derailment] But why?

UK: Russell Brand. There are other bad ones but he's the most notable. Alan Carr is a close second. (Not Jimmy Carr though, he's brilliant).

Don't really know enough about US comedians to answer for them.

But why? [thread-derailment]

It just wasn't funny to me. I know that puts me in the minority. :p

It just wasn't funny to me. I know that puts me in the minority. :p

That's quite understandable, I for one don't find slapstick funny (usually).

I wish people would apply this logic to other things in life.

Larry the Cable Guy.

Russell Brand is about as funny as a colonoscopy without lube.

Mind you does anybody remember Jimmy Cricket, Stan Boardman or Norman Collier? :p

Carlos Mencia is my least favorite, no contest. I've tried watching his show a couple times, but he just isn't funny. I miss Dave Chapelle, at least I got a chuckle out of him once in a while.

Russell Brand is about as funny as a colonoscopy without lube.

Mind you does anybody remember Jimmy Cricket, Stan Boardman or Norman Collier? :p

Jimmy cricket....o sweet christ.........Worse than frank fucken carson.....

The one I hate the most is jim davidson....

Not Jimmy Carr though, he's brilliant

I wouldn't go that far, I mean I don't dislike him but I would never go to any of his shows

Carlos Mencia is my least favorite, no contest. I've tried watching his show a couple times, but he just isn't funny. I miss Dave Chapelle, at least I got a chuckle out of him once in a while.

Mencia is philosophically the worst. He capitalizes off of bigotry and stereotypes...without any higher social commentary.

I saw Jim Norton's special on hbo the other night and it was terrible. I think he is the worst comedian I have ever seen, I didn't laugh once. Oh, and Cathy Griffin is bad too. who's your least favourite comedian?

Andrew Dice Clay.

The one I hate the most is jim davidson....

Yes, and the rest of his ilk. Roy Chubby Brown, Bernard Manning et al.


I was only tempted to mention Jimmy Carr, he's not a bad comedian but I find him very smug and happy in his own ignorance (quite funny because he seems to enjoy laughing at people he deems less intelligent than himself).

Adam Sandler. *bleah*

I never got into Jim Gaffigan. No comedian needs to tell the audience what they're thinking. The audience is more intelligent than that.

Andy Kauffman.

Just...

Not...

Funny...

Maragret Cho

yep. I said it.

The one I hate the most is jim davidson....

I didn't even think about him or others like him... I guess I don't even consider him a comedian.

Gallagher. At no point was I even slightly amused during the show.

Russell Brand aka whats that guy still doing on T.V
UK: Russell Brand.
Russell Brand is about as funny as a colonoscopy without lube.
Yes, yes and yes.

Although perhaps the worst comedian was the guy I saw at a comedy night a wee while back, ripping off Russell Brand.





Nah, scratch that.

Jim Davidson.

Sarah Silverman. I'd punch her right in the baby maker.

Sarah Silverman. I'd punch her right in the baby maker.

You beat me to it. Also, Carlos Mencia sucks epic ass.

Bill Maher. Actually watched him for years(he was on just before the program I wanted to see) and thought he was just an idiot until someone told me he was a comedian and "social commentary".
Any society that needs Bill Maher's commentary should be eliminated.

I don't know if Dane Cook counts as a comedian.

I saw Jim Norton's special on hbo the other night and it was terrible. I think he is the worst comedian I have ever seen, I didn't laugh once. Oh, and Cathy Griffin is bad too. who's your least favourite comedian?

Hmm, this didn't seem to bad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-85nBlJQte4

Then again, I find that alot of comedians go through peaks and troughs. I guess its the old story of 'trying new stuff' - because obviously you can't use the same material over and over again, people would lose interest.

As for me, I can't stand Jerry Seinfield - what the hell did he do to justify just adulation?

Lets be honest, American comedy is crap; I've yet to see a mainstream television show from the US whose comedy isn't stomach churning.

It just wasn't funny to me. I know that puts me in the minority. :p

I didn't find Seinfeld funny either, just irritating.

Worst comedian I can think of is Ray Romano - Everybody Loves Raymond is not in the slightest bit funny, but it is extremely predictable & boring.

Carlos Mencia is my least favorite, no contest. I've tried watching his show a couple times, but he just isn't funny.That's the one I was trying to think of. What's worse than his total lack of funniness quotient (apparently yelling and swearing passes for humour in his mind) is that he steals most - if not all - his jokes and then attempts to pass them off as his own.
Which shows just how damn unfunny he is - not only can't he think of his own damn jokes, he actually makes other people's jokes lame in his retelling of them.
Yet he continues appearing on the idiot box. why?

Carlos Mencia, hands down.

I watched his show once for 15 minutes without hearing a single joke that didn't involve some sort of racial stereotype. On top of that...the jokes aren't even funny.

Oh, and he was apparently dropped on his head as a child...his voice is stuck on "yell". Gives me a fucking headache.

George W Bush ;)

Kathy Griffin would get it, but unfortunately, I caught a couple minutes of Ralphie May's act a couple nights ago. Ugh.

Bingo. I saw the same one a couple nights back, most likely. Awful.

The thing about bad comedians is, I can never remember them or their act. Hopefully I'll wipe that horrible Ralphie May hour from my memory in a day or so. Ugh. :p

I didn't find Seinfeld funny either, just irritating.

I'm not alone! :eek:

Everybody Loves Raymond is not in the slightest bit funny, but it is extremely predictable & boring.

I couldn't agree more. :)

Hmm, this didn't seem to bad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-85nBlJQte4

Then again, I find that alot of comedians go through peaks and troughs. I guess its the old story of 'trying new stuff' - because obviously you can't use the same material over and over again, people would lose interest.

As for me, I can't stand Jerry Seinfield - what the hell did he do to justify just adulation?

Lets be honest, American comedy is crap; I've yet to see a mainstream television show from the US whose comedy isn't stomach churning.

Yeah, Jim Norton's not half as bad as the other comics mentioned in this thread. He's not great, and goes painfully far out on a limb to offend sometimes, but he's no Kathy Griffin, Sara Silverman or Ralphie May. Norton ad libs pretty well, which sort of made his appearances on that old Comedy Central program (the one with Colin Quinn hosting) tolerable. :p

As to U.S. t.v.: It's not *supposed* to be good, at least on the mainstream channels during primetime. It's designed to sell ad space - that's about it. Off the beaten path is some good stuff, though. :)

Lets be honest, American comedy is crap; I've yet to see a mainstream television show from the US whose comedy isn't stomach churning.

Let's be honest: You're just trying to stir shit here. I could easily name a dozen mainstream American comedies that are original and funny (not to mention well-written), but I'm not going to give you the satisfaction.

I could easily turn around and say that every British comedy I've ever seen is crap... Then again, I'd be blackballed from here to fucking Ulaanbaatar. Funny, that, since I'm the only one here to have called you out on your rather obnoxious line there.

Yeah, Jim Norton's not half as bad as the other comics mentioned in this thread. He's not great, and goes painfully far out on a limb to offend sometimes, but he's no Kathy Griffin, Sara Silverman or Ralphie May. Norton ad libs pretty well, which sort of made his appearances on that old Comedy Central program (the one with Colin Quinn hosting) tolerable. :p

Here is the difference, in New Zealand, as pointed out by an American comic, we're offended when a comedy doesn't offend us :) We want offence - so bring it on! :)

There were some great programmers years and years ago, but today its all crap. Anyone remember Cheers? damn that was a good programme. What have got now, garbage which lacks any sort of humour, decending to that off toilet jokes and slap-stick comedy which keeps the majority of pea brained half witts out there satisfied.

As to U.S. t.v.: It's not *supposed* to be good, at least on the mainstream channels during primetime. It's designed to sell ad space - that's about it. Off the beaten path is some good stuff, though. :)

Oh, there are some good movies; but they never become mainstream - "Thank for smoking" being one example of a awesome movie, I laugh my sides till they split - and yet, never give the air time it deserved. What was given air time? crap 'romatic comedies' starring half baked actors whom I wouldn't hire to look after my gold fish let along entertain me.

Larry the Cable Guy.

Agreed.

I hate Robin Williams. He's occasionally funny, but I can't stand his schtick. He's one of those guys who won't act normally even when they're not performing. I see him being interviewed and I think, "Is this guy even a real person? Or is he so caught up in his "on" personality that there is no Robin Williams?"

Jim Carrey, Martin Short, Dana Carvey, those guys all creep me out because they are all obviously stuck in some defense mechanism they used to escape their problems as kids. They never calm down.

I hate Robin Williams. He's occasionally funny, but I can't stand his schtick. He's one of those guys who won't act normally even when they're not performing. I see him being interviewed and I think, "Is this guy even a real person? Or is he so caught up in his "on" personality that there is no Robin Williams?"

Jim Carrey, Martin Short, Dana Carvey, those guys all creep me out because they are all obviously stuck in some defense mechanism they used to escape their problems as kids. They never calm down.

Wha? Those two give normal interviews all the time, and are apparently like the rest of us, just famous.

Jim Carrey, on the other hand... He never stops.

Carlos Mencia, hands down.

I watched his show once for 15 minutes without hearing a single joke that didn't involve some sort of racial stereotype. On top of that...the jokes aren't even funny.

Oh, and he was apparently dropped on his head as a child...his voice is stuck on "yell". Gives me a fucking headache.

Did you hear that he's getting sued by a couple other comedians for stealing their material? I think Joe Rogan is one of them. He stole about 15 minutes worth of material from another dude.

Jim Carrey, on the other hand... He never stops.

Actually, I saw him act normal and serious once, in an ad supporting Aung San Suu Kyi.

Here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NySuaJ2B20E)

Actually, I saw him act normal and serious once, in an ad supporting Aung San Suu Kyi.

Here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NySuaJ2B20E)

Well, that changed my mind about him.

Lets be honest, American comedy is crap; I've yet to see a mainstream television show from the US whose comedy isn't stomach churning.

You Euros (I assume that is where you are from) sure do love that sentence structure: "American _____ is crap; I've yet to see a mainstream _________ from the US whose ______ isn't stomach churning." Its like madlibs for uninformed opinions.

Perhaps, just perhaps, we have more television shows than what me send over there. Maybe all of our comedians don't do TV shows, or even crappy HBO specials. Maybe you get what is most profitable, which is rarely the best quality.

On topic, I have two images.
http://www.lesjones.com/www/images/posts/carrot-man-and-woman.jpg
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1409296/2/istockphoto_1409296_antique_toy_top.jpg

jerry seinfeld is the worst comedian ever! Why won't some kill him already? Why are people continuing to let him forever ruin the human race. Aren't humans stupid enough already. And, the bee movie. Please someone kill him!

On topic, I have two images.
http://www.lesjones.com/www/images/posts/carrot-man-and-woman.jpg
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1409296/2/istockphoto_1409296_antique_toy_top.jpg

What. The. Fuck.

That second carrot-thing looks like the lower half of a man, complete with an oversized, urinating penis.

Wha? Those two give normal interviews all the time, and are apparently like the rest of us, just famous.

Jim Carrey, on the other hand... He never stops.

I'd sooner see an intense (which is what I'd call Jim Carrey) but sincere guy than than a try hard like comedian such as Alec Baldwin and his over rated show called '30 Rock' which was hyped by the 'critics' but the reality was shown that those critics were Alec's friends. Reality was - no one was watching it.

I'd sooner see an intense (which is what I'd call Jim Carrey) but sincere guy than than a try hard like comedian such as Alec Baldwin and his over rated show called '30 Rock' which was hyped by the 'critics' but the reality was shown that those critics were Alec's friends. Reality was - no one was watching it.

Who the hell said anything about 30 Rock being good?

Jim Carrey, on the other hand... He never stops.

Yeah....but that catches up with one...wink wink etc.

What. The. Fuck.

That second carrot-thing looks like the lower half of a man, complete with an oversized, urinating penis.

check out the image link and see what it's called ;)

Yeah....but that catches up with one...wink wink etc.

Trying to steal my thunder, eh?

check out the image link and see what it's called ;)

That's the best. Though said man and woman have serious anatomical oddities.

Who the hell said anything about 30 Rock being good?

Look at the 'reviews' by 'critics'.

Look at the 'reviews' by 'critics'.

No no, who the hell in this thread said anything about it? Critics don't count. We all know that.

No no, who the hell in this thread said anything about it? Critics don't count. We all know that.

The fact that it was given numerous awards; the fact that it was exported, played on NZ tv for a couple of episodes then removed - and yet, it is still shown on tv in the US.

The issue is about crap comedies in the US which I raised - 'critical aclaim' and 'award's' a prime example of a country deluded by not knowing what a decent comedy actually is.

Chevy Chase...and I know lots of people are going to disagree with me on this - I have never ever found John Belushi even remotely amusing.

I would say Carlos Mencia, but calling him a comedian, even a bad one, is an insult to comedy everywhere.

George W Bush ;)He's a joke, not a comedian.

But seriously now, Robin Williams. I just watched "Insomnia" and I didn't laugh once! :mad:

jerry seinfeld is the worst comedian ever! Why won't some kill him already? Why are people continuing to let him forever ruin the human race. Aren't humans stupid enough already. And, the bee movie. Please someone kill him!

I don't find him funny, either, but killing the guy!? :eek:

I saw Jim Norton's special on hbo the other night and it was terrible. I think he is the worst comedian I have ever seen, I didn't laugh once. Oh, and Cathy Griffin is bad too. who's your least favourite comedian?

Well, yes, I'd say that Jim Norton is among the worst. Dennis Miller got pretty bad after 9/11. Not simply that I disagreed with him, but he stopped making sense. Probably why his talk show got canceled so quickly once the contract was up. Sheryl Underwood is just plain awful too. I think she got into comedy because she tried to be a preacher and everyone laughed at her, so she just figured she'd role with it.

Chevy Chase...and I know lots of people are going to disagree with me on this - I have never ever found John Belushi even remotely amusing.

Belushi I found funny, Chase no.

I never got into Jim Gaffigan. No comedian needs to tell the audience what they're thinking. The audience is more intelligent than that.

Some audiences, yes.

That was what I liked about Jimmy Carr's special. "I bought my girl a book called Cheap and Easy Vegetarian Cooking. Which was great because not only is she a vegetarian..."

Any American comedian would have had to fill in the ellipses.

But as for Jim Gaffigan. I loved his joke about Mexican food. When my Cousin from Ireland came over for my wedding we went to a bar. After a while my brother suggested we get something to eat. So my cousin looked over the Mexican portion and asked:
"What's nachos?"
"That's tortilla with meat cheese and vegetables."
"What's fajitas?"
"That's tortilla with meat cheese and vegetables."
"What's tacos?"
"That's tortilla with meat cheese and vegetables."

Then he looked up and saw my brother vibrating with suppressed laughter. I have Jim Gaffigan to thank for that story.

Joe Brand. Disgusting women, who's just not funny. She sully's every show of QI and Mock the Week she appears in.

Also, all recent british TV comedy's who base thier humor entirely around Ricky Gervais patented "awkward silences".

EDIT: Holy poop. 1,300th post!

Jimmy Carr, i'm really not into that type of gag humour, it is just punchline after punchline after punchline... about 75% of them fall flat on their face and its like he's trying too hard. I'm more into storytelling humour derived from real life situations and anecdotes.

So therefore; Richard Pryor FTW!

Joe Brand. Disgusting women, who's just not funny.

Hah. Women? Plural?

Oh.... I see. She is rather large.

As for US humour, Jon Stewart is a comedy genius.

I tend to forget the unfunny stuff though.

hmm, worst I don't know. Though I agree with others who said Seinfeld sucks. I also find most female comedians to be lacking much humor in their acts, so just about any female comedian.

Two of my favorites are Pablo Francisco and Dave Attell (based only on one show they did, which were quite funny).

Jethro
Russel Brand

I don't rate Gervais that much either

If you guys think that Seinfeld and the many other very famous (Mencia isn't famous) comedians are the worste then you just need to watch an hour of whoever is on comedy central.

I think that lots of people here like to hate what everyone else likes and feel different.

and to whoever said all American comedians are bad...Lewis Black.

Also, all recent british TV comedy's who base thier humor entirely around Ricky Gervais patented "awkward silences".
Ricky Gervais himself is utterly crap.

"Oh look, my silly freind said this racist/mysoginist/xenophobic/homophobic remark. But because it's my friend, and not me, who said it, I can repeat it and get some cheap laughs. Aren't I clever?"

The guy is terrible, and can't stand on his own two feet without a mass of writers behind him.

That was the best thing about Stardust: Gervais getting stabbed in the gut.

There was an audible cheer in the screening I attended.

The guy is terrible, and can't stand on his own two feet without a mass of writers behind him.

One is a mass?

One is a mass?
Well, Stephen Merchant and all the script supervisors, editors, etc.

Perhaps a 'mass' is exaggeration, but I still hold that Gervais is horribly unfunny and rather untasteful when he goes solo. He's got one 'character' that doesn't change wherever he goes.

Well, Stephen Merchant and all the script supervisors, editors, etc.

Perhaps a 'mass' is exaggeration, but I still hold that Gervais is horribly unfunny and rather untasteful when he goes solo. He's got one 'character' that doesn't change wherever he goes.

Script supervisors :D

I'm sure he'd be crippled by the lack of a girl to check his jacket looks the same across three takes.

The Office was written by Merchant and Gervais and it was a fantastic piece of writing and directing. Just because he's not a great stand up doesn't mean that you can dismiss the brilliance of the work he's done before.

Script supervisors :D
Script editors then; the point still stands.

The Office was written by Merchant and Gervais and it was a fantastic piece of writing and directing. Just because he's not a great stand up doesn't mean that you can dismiss the brilliance of the work he's done before.
It was an allright piece of writing by Stephen Merchant, who's obviously the workhorse in the team - you just have to take a look at Gervais' abysmal solo work to see that he contributed his 'character' to The Office and little else. By no means was The Office 'brilliant'. It was above-average fair, helped by fairly talented actors.

Incidently, I think the US version is much better than the UK one; funnier, deeper, more '3D', if you see what I mean.

Script editors then; the point still stands.

iIt was an allright piece of writing by Stephen Merchnat, ho's obviously the workhorse in the team - you just have to take a look at Gervais' abysmal solo work to see that he contributed his 'character' to The Office and little else.

Script editors are also completely besides the point. They don't write. Writers write.

It was a joint effort from Merchant and Gervais. To claim to know who did what is ridiculous. They co-authored it and were clearly both crucial to it being such a fine piece of television.

I'll just respond to the freshly edited bits.

It was above-average fair, helped by fairly talented actors.

Incidently, I think the US version is much better than the UK one; funnier, deeper, more '3D', if you see what I mean.

I'd have to disagree with the first bit. I don't even think the acting was particularly great.

And I've also got to disagree about the US version. Whilst Carell is a very talented actor, the US writing/directing style means it doesn't have that unity and completeness that the original autered version had.

Echoing Carlos Mencia. Or rather, Ned Holness. Unfunny, unoriginal, and unintelligent.

It was a joint effort from Merchant and Gervais. To claim to know who did what is ridiculous. They co-authored it and were clearly both crucial to it being such a fine piece of television.
I contest that it was a 'fine piece of television', but yes, I can't know what happened for sure when they wrote it. I just note, from what I've seen and heard fom Merchant and Gervais seperately since The Office, that Merchant is much more adept on standing on his own two feet. He's not a comedy genius, but he can hold his own. Gervais can't; he can portray a single character - the character of Brent/guy-in-Extras/whatever he's in. It's all the same, unfunny, shit.

I'd have to disagree with the first bit. I don't even think the acting was particularly great.
It's not outstanding, but it's not piss-poor.

And I've also got to disagree about the US version. Whilst Carell is a very talented actor, the US writing/directing style means it doesn't have that unity and completeness that the original autered version had.
Really? That's surprising.

I felt almost completely the opposite; that the US version porrayed a more rounded -- and well expanded -- set of characters, didn't dwell too much on one or two jokes ("these two characters are in love, this guys a dick") like the UK version did, and used the concept of the presence of the film crew in clever ways.

Ach, personal preference. When it comes down to it, I laugh much harder at the US version.

Echoing Carlos Mencia. Or rather, Ned Holness. Unfunny, unoriginal, and unintelligent.

Dear god he is crap, and boy does he run on the "if you don't laugh at my jokes, you obviously hate Mexicans" routine.

Here is clue for the guy, we don't laugh because we think you suck.

I dislike dumb comedians. Anything along the lines of "hey, these races/genders/nationalities are different". The guys who make up the numbers and employ all that hackneyed stuff. Comedy that the audience could basically do themselves.

Script supervisors :D

I'm sure he'd be crippled by the lack of a girl to check his jacket looks the same across three takes.

The Office was written by Merchant and Gervais and it was a fantastic piece of writing and directing. Just because he's not a great stand up doesn't mean that you can dismiss the brilliance of the work he's done before.

Agree the Office was excellent and Extras had it's moments. The problem is that he tries to emulate it in his stand up routine and it doesn't work without the interaction of other characters which was the true magic of the office.:p

I saw Jim Norton's special on hbo the other night and it was terrible. I think he is the worst comedian I have ever seen, I didn't laugh once. Oh, and Cathy Griffin is bad too. who's your least favourite comedian?

http://www.seinfeldonline.com/bania.jpg

Eddie Murphy.