The Best Comedian of All-time Tournament
 

My role model once remarked "...ideas are bulletproof...", and how true he was. The most talented of individuals chance upon instant ideas and give them shape according to their best talents, and the most talented of this lot are comedians.

Whether stand-up or general, in movies or stage shows, they are remarkably brilliant in making the public go wild in hysterical laughter and doubling up in fits with each word they speak, and each action they make. Often the most talented but not necessarily the most recognised, comedians carve their own niches amongst their fan followings. They are the best of the trade, and throughout their lives they strive to be exactly that.

But who is the absolute best? The topper among all the comedians, from history till now?

Let's find out.

I have been reading mentions of comedians here and there sporadically in HDC. And I am sure Newb, Zero, Elvis and Urge, amongst countless others here, will love this idea.

But first, I ll need plenty of suggestions. I have a few 100 in mind, but I need more. As soon as we have enough talent to fill the brackets of the tourney format, the first match will be off.

Can we include duos and comedy teams? There are so many that made their marks as such- Laurel & Hardy, Abbott & Costello, Monty Python, New Kids in the Hall, etc.

Mitch Hedberg
H. Jon Benjamin

For sure.

I am still debating on whether to include some of them as separate entities, or as a team. For example, Groucho Marx.

Would it be fair to pit a team against an individual though?

Sure, I think it would- they each have their own body of work and a matchup between Monty Python & Gerge Carlin would be pretty even, I think.

Bill Hicks
Sarah Silverman
Dave Chappelle
Chris Rock
Dom Irrera
Kevin Meaney
Louis CK
Kevin Nealon
Rodney Dangerfield
Jon Stewart
Stephen Colbert
David Cross
Bobcat Goldthwaite
Russell Peters
Denis Leary
Lewis Black
Dane Cooke

Good work, MD.

Keep thinking of more.

Wow, good lists, don't forget Steve Wright though. You cannot deny Robin Williams his spot either, I was just watching Inside the Actor's Studio with him... phenomenal. Hmmmm, let's see, why has nobody mentioned Lenny Bruce or George Carlin yet? Tim Conway too, funny as hell that guy. Damn, keep having to add to the list, Milton Burle was a RIOT. Thank God for the edit button: W.C. Fields, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Groucho Marx, Mel Brooks, Leslie Nielson, Harold Lloyd, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal, Bill Cosby, Carol Burnette...

Russel Brand. I know he doesn't stand a chance but I think he's hilarious
Mitch Fatel
Matt Lucas and David Williams from Little Britain
Pretty much anyone from Second City television.

eddie izzard
mike myers
john cleese