Only thing sadder than Carlin's death is...

[BitterYoungMatador2]

What's left behind in his wake (or after his wake) in terms of comedy. Aside from Seinfeld and Chris Rock, two guys that really are committed to the art of stand up, from there is a Who's Who of slaps. Carlos Mencia, Dane Cook, Lewis Black, Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy are your starters going by popularity. The only guy I like on that starting five is Black. Aside from that, who's left? Robin Williams is going back out on tour for the first time in years this year. Eddie Murphy hasn't toured in years and probably never will again, nor will Martin Lawrence or Bill Cosby. I find Robert Schimmel and Doug Stanhope hilarious, but they're both too dark and perverted to ever become mainstream. Dennis Miller's career died the minute he jumped over to his new position of GOP spokesman.

Honestly, who we got left?

 

[BYH]

Honest to goodness, I thought BYM's post was going to end with ...Dane Cook is alive.

So I was pretty close.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

Ron White is very good and fairly popular. Got famous as part of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, but he's put out a couple of his own albums now too.

Bill Engvall isn't too bad either.


Larry the Cable Guy is awful.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Honest to goodness, I thought BYM's post was going to end with ...Dane Cook is alive.

So I was pretty close.

You're pretty damn close. I was texting with Ms. Matador about the first SNL with Carlin running Saturday, which led to a conversation about how few "good" comedians are left. She texted back, "Dane" and I God damn ****ing near went Bobby Knight on her.

 

[slappy4428]

Dane Cook... funny... wow...

 

[StaggerLee]

It's pretty bad out there right now. Most of the comics are hack, because that's what the corporations want pushing their product(s).

I read a great story a while back about how standup comedy is dying because of guys like Dane Cook, Mencia, Larry the Cable Guy and others who just find a gimmick and shtick (pun intended) with it forever.

It's no wonder SNL is as bad it's ever been. It's because most comedians these days don't actually work on improvisation as much as trying to find a gimmick that sells.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

Our society is getting dumber by the minute and the masses don't want someone who will challenge them to think and laugh at the same time. You can listen to a vacuous slap like Cook for an hour and not be forced to jog your brain once. Carlin did it in 10 minutes. I hate to say it but I think a lot of people went to Carlin's shows towards the end or watched his HBO specials because he was George Carlin, the legend. If BitterYoungMatador went the stand-up route in 2008 with Carlin's approach, command of the language, work ethic and mental facilities I'd probably be labeled "too bitchy and political" and probably wouldn't rise above the level that Doug Stanhope has.

 

[BYH]

Well, that, and you'd spend 60 minutes ranting about Wlat.

 

[Dickens Cider]

If Dave Chappelle were still going, he'd be right up there, both in terms of talent and popularity. I realize that's a big What If?

 

[nafselon]

That Chappelle guy is still pretty funny and he's been known to pop up and do marathon sets at comedy clubs every now and then.

I'm really hoping that, if there is anything good to come of Carlin's passing, is that Paul Mooney might want to take over that spot as the elder irreverent comedian. If HBO gave him an hour...I'd watch it.

 

[mike311gd]

There are some very good comedians out there, but no one with the staying power of Carlin. But how many comedians like him are there anyway? He's the best. It'll be a long, long time until someone comes close to being a George Carlin.

 

[StaggerLee]

There are some very good comedians out there, but no one with the staying power of Carlin. But how many comedians like him are there anyway? He's the best. It'll be a long, long time until someone comes close to being a George Carlin.

Wrong, it'll never happen again. Because the PC police won't let it.

Guys like Carlin, Pryor, Lenny Bruce, Steven Wright, et al are a thing of the past. If it makes you think, or is borderline offensive, agents/bookers won't touch it.

And that makes me sad.

 

[JLaff]

I thought about this. Most of my favorite comedians are either dead (Mitch Hedberg, Carlin) or will most likely never do it again (Eddie Murphy, Denis Leary). I can't imagine Dr. Doolittle ever doing anything like Raw or Delirious again.

I watch Comedy Central's half-hour specials every now and then, but haven't heard anyone that really stood out. My other friends who like stand-up don't understand how I don't worship at the shrine of Dane Cook. He's a ****ing idiot.

I saw Gabriel Iglesias live, and he's one of my favorites, but I get most of his schtick because I'm a big guy myself. Anyone else on here heard him?

 

[mike311gd]

I thought about this. Most of my favorite comedians are either dead (Mitch Hedberg, Carlin) or will most likely never do it again (Eddie Murphy, Denis Leary). I can't imagine Dr. Doolittle ever doing anything like Raw or Delirious again.

I watch Comedy Central's half-hour specials every now and then, but haven't heard anyone that really stood out. My other friends who like stand-up don't understand how I don't worship at the shrine of Dane Cook. He's a ****ing idiot.

I saw Gabriel Iglesias live, and he's one of my favorites, but I get most of his schtick because I'm a big guy myself. Anyone else on here heard him?

I'm a big fan of Demetri Martin and Jim Gaffigan. Of the two, Martin's probably going to have the longer career. He's young, sharp, witty and very creative and original. Gaffigan, while I love his stand-up, has turned into somewhat of a one-note joke with his eating/food. I'll stop the television every time he's on Comedy Central or That 70s Show or a late night talk show because I get a kick out of his material and delivery. But he won't be doing stand-up when he's 70. Few, if any, will.

 

[nafselon]

There are some very good comedians out there, but no one with the staying power of Carlin. But how many comedians like him are there anyway? He's the best. It'll be a long, long time until someone comes close to being a George Carlin.

Wrong, it'll never happen again. Because the PC police won't let it.

Guys like Carlin, Pryor, Lenny Bruce, Steven Wright, et al are a thing of the past. If it makes you think, or is borderline offensive, agents/bookers won't touch it.

And that makes me sad.

Actually I still feel like stand up gets a pass because, outside of Jeff Foxworthy, the really really successful comedians are the ones who scare the PC police.

And I'm not counting Dane Cook as a comedian...just a ****ty face in today's pop culture.

 

[doubledown68]

The best I've heard recently is Hedberg, and he checked out.

The best among those still kicking include Black, Todd Berry and Ron White... those are who I can remember at least. I'm kind of buzzed.

 

[mike311gd]

Mitch was great with the one-liners. His observations were so sharp, you didn't quite laugh until he was on his next joke.

My favorite Hedberg story is when I sat my girlfriend down to listen to him. I knew his stand-up front to back, so I just listened for her reaction. And it was the same with mine, my best friend's and the kid next door -- delayed. No one seemed to get him at that second, but two seconds later, he was "a genius."

 

[StaggerLee]

There are some very good comedians out there, but no one with the staying power of Carlin. But how many comedians like him are there anyway? He's the best. It'll be a long, long time until someone comes close to being a George Carlin.

Wrong, it'll never happen again. Because the PC police won't let it.

Guys like Carlin, Pryor, Lenny Bruce, Steven Wright, et al are a thing of the past. If it makes you think, or is borderline offensive, agents/bookers won't touch it.

And that makes me sad.

Actually I still feel like stand up gets a pass because, outside of Jeff Foxworthy, the really really successful comedians are the ones who scare the PC police.

And I'm not counting Dane Cook as a comedian...just a ****ty face in today's pop culture.

Oh there's no doubt there are some GREAT comedians out there on the circuit. The problem is that you're not going to see these guys in mainstream comedy.

 

[greenlantern]

I wouldn't rank him up here with Carlin, but I'm a fan of Patton Oswalt. Also a big fan of Lewis Black. Not sure if you can list him as a true stand-up comedian, but Henry Rollins is funny as hell. As far a ****ty comedians go, I didn't hate Dane Cook ... at first. I originally caught him on Comedy Central Presents before he got big. Problem is he's one-dimensional. I like him on occasion, but he's definitely not groundbreaking or anything. Worst comedians I've heard are all the Comedy Central roast guys. Greg Giraldo, Colin Quinn, etc. I don's see how Quinn still has a career. He can't speak coherently.

 

[dargan]

I find Jim Gaffigan hilarious, and Ron White's pretty funny, too. Although his show was awful, Rodney Carrington is funnier than White or anybody else on the Blue Coller Comedy Tour.