Well lets just kill this one

[shig]

OK, so I'm sorry for coming across as negative or seeming s if I wanted to talk shit and such. Could a moderator just delete the thread please?

[Travesty.]

-I'm not a fan of Howie Mandel, cause I just can't connect with his material. He seems like a genuinely nice guy, with all the interviews I've seen, but not really a fan of his comedy.

-For how long I've been a HUGE fan of stand-up, I've never seen or heard a Sinbad special or joke. I watched him on It's a Different World, and random movies, etc. Oh, he was HILARIOUS in one episdoe of It Always Sunny, but other than that, I've never seen his stand-up.

-As for Denis Leary, I can't take his style of humor. And it's not just the yelling, per say, cause I like Kinison, it's his execution. I dunno, his jokes just feel forced to me.

Everyone else on that list I like, and I'm surprised you listed Hicks. But hey, to each their own. I could say the same about a lot of well renowned musical artists, so it doesn't really bug me, but I can see the shit storm this will create around here.

[smartbunny]

Jim Gaffigan is beyond awesome.

[shig]

Shit storm?? Wow! As for not liking Bill Hicks, I can't really explain it. He's smart, I agree with him for the most part, but it just doesn't seem like he's a comedian. I guess because he doesn't make me laugh. Really not sure, and believe me, I've gone back so many times and tried, and I just don't ever get into it.

[Travesty.]

Originally Posted by shig

As for not liking Bill Hicks, I can't really explain it. He's smart, I agree with him for the most part, but it just doesn't seem like he's a comedian. I guess because he doesn't make me laugh. Really not sure, and believe me, I've gone back so many times and tried, and I just don't ever get into it.

I understand. Hicks wasn't really a comedian that was looking for a lot of LPM's. He seemed more like a preacher than a comedian, but he still makes me laugh. He's not my favorite, but I do like him.

[Itslikeimsayin]

I think Travesty predicted a "shit storm" because this thread isn't really in the spirit of this board, or at least in AST's ideal world it's not. Comedy is subjective and of course there are a lot of undue successes, but singling them out and seemingly "taking them down a notch" isn't all that constructive. No one's going to be able to write a response explaining in black and white terms why someone is or isn't "so successful," so what's the point? This phenomenon is in no way exclusive to stand-up comedy, either. All art is subjective and "success" is a result of a wide variety of factors, making it seem negative and naive to focus on why perceived lesser works achieve success.

Yes, it's frustrating to see superior artists struggle and mediocrity get rewarded. But creating a master list of overrated/overachieving comics isn't going to fix that. AST should be about celebrating the stuff we like and discussing works that merit our attention rather than a place to vent because Howie Mandel is a household name.

[scamboogah]

As you get older, you'll understand that not everything can be relevant to you. People assume nowadays, because of the internet and the ease of acquiring information, that they can understand everything no matter when it was made or what context it was presented in. The truth is that there are huge aspects of pop culture that you will never 'get', no matter how much you try. And when I say 'you', I mean anyone, including myself. I could sit around all day wondering why The Doors were ever a popular band, and I'll never understand because I wasn't alive in the 1960s to experience everything that led up to them.

Part of being amongst the first to do something, whether it's a style, a type of joke, or whatever, is that after others have built on top of it, it will look like a less-polished version of the copycat's work later on.

If you videotaped a baby's first steps, and then showed it to someone with no concepts of babies, and they just judged it based on walking ability, that person would say, "I don't get why people were impressed. That little person sucked at walking".

Also, Jim Gaffigan's a genius, and I will fist-fight anyone who thinks differently.

[aenemaTron]

You could have named the thread "Complain!"*






*Hat-tip to Tom Scharpling

[Travesty.]

Originally Posted by scamboogah

If you videotaped a baby's first steps, and then showed it to someone with no concepts of babies, and they just judged it based on walking ability, that person would say, "I don't get why people were impressed. That little person sucked at walking".

I don't know why, but that just made me laugh really hard. I kinda feel that way when people start talking about their kids to me.

Also, Jim Gaffigan's a genius, and I will fist-fight anyone who thinks differently.

[Kentock]

All these comics are successful because thousands and thousands of people think they're funny.

[bao]

I'd just echo the sentiment that while this is precisely the kind of dumb argument I have all the time in person, it is not really in the spirit of this board, particularly in that it kind of requires a certain snidenesss or nastiness. Which I fully encourage in private life ... but not in a public forum.

And while I may not beat down anybody who doesn't like Jim Gaffigan, I would certainly swear at them under my breath.

[Hated Milk Machine]

Originally Posted by shig

I've got this obsession with being jaded and grumpy over comics that are successful

yea, and THEY'RE the assholes

[shig]

Originally Posted by Itslikeimsayin

I think Travesty predicted a "shit storm" because this thread isn't really in the spirit of this board, or at least in AST's ideal world it's not. Comedy is subjective and of course there are a lot of undue successes, but singling them out and seemingly "taking them down a notch" isn't all that constructive. No one's going to be able to write a response explaining in black and white terms why someone is or isn't "so successful," so what's the point? This phenomenon is in no way exclusive to stand-up comedy, either. All art is subjective and "success" is a result of a wide variety of factors, making it seem negative and naive to focus on why perceived lesser works achieve success.

Yes, it's frustrating to see superior artists struggle and mediocrity get rewarded. But creating a master list of overrated/overachieving comics isn't going to fix that. AST should be about celebrating the stuff we like and discussing works that merit our attention rather than a place to vent because Howie Mandel is a household name.

Before going on and reading the rest of the replies, I'd just like to respond to this. I know it's subjective. I in no way intend for this to be a "master list." I was just curious about others thoughts on the topic. I meant nothing negative here, and if it isn't in the spirit of the board, then I will understand if a moderator chooses to delete it. I'm new here, and get frustrated with people who aren't even actual comedy fans per se making comics that I think are sub-par at best become superstars. I posted my opinions/ thoughts just in the spirit of starting a dialog with fellow comedy fans. Apologies if my post is unappreciated.

[Valorie]

Originally Posted by shig

[FONT=Verdana]'m a big fan of Ron White...have been known to enjoy some Katt Williams as well.

This is where I stopped paying attention.

[shig]

Originally Posted by Valorie

This is where I stopped paying attention.

At the end

[TheDreamCatcher]

What's with this George Carlin guy? I just don't get it.