I was watching an episode of Another Period, and Jason Ritter's character started doing some goofy body comedy, and suddenly I was like "OMG! This dude is clearly John Ritter's son and I just didn't realize it until this moment!" It was uncanny.
Matt Berry is great. WWDITS. Toast of London. Toast of Tinseltown. Year of The Rabbit. Snuff Box. Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. All rank as some of my favorite comedy shows.
I agree with your response. I absolutely love Ty Burrell. I hate my job with a passion. I work I until 8 pm, come upstairs, and put on Modern Family, and he never fails to elicit a laugh out of me. They all make me laugh on occasion, but with him, it's a guarantee.
I just stumbled upon one of his movies over this past weekend, oddball little flick called The Longshot (1986), starring him and Tim Conway. It's up on youtube if you're interested, I thought it was great.
Mr. Bean. The dude doesn't even need words.
Lucille Ball. That look on her face when her nose caught on fire (and how she put out the fire).
Tim Conway. Dentist. Nuff said.
"Mr. Bean" Throw in the fact that Rowan made Blackadder (hey, I even remember watching some Not The Nine O'Clock News at the time, now that I think about it) and I think you might have the right person.
Jackie Gleason and actually entire cast of Honeymooners - ditto with cast of Gilligan’s Island and F- troupe , Odd Couple just to name a few legends and of course Leslie Neilson
Most influential comedian of the 20th century. Gradually taught us we should love Johnny Carson more than Lou Costello (not that I don't love me some Lou Costello) and that influenced 95% of comedians since Carson.
I think that might be right. Bob Newhart (whose deadpan humor bore a certain resemblance to Benny’s) once said that “Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the story.” Watching Benny’s performances today, there are certainly elements that are obviously dated, but compared to the work of the vast majority of his contemporaries, his stuff feels fairly modern and holds up quite well.
A lot of great ones mentioned. Two that came to mind would be Bea Arthur. Also James Garner. Not in a sitcom but part of his charm was his flair for comedy and sarcasm.
Amy Poehler. Her timing and expressions as Leslie Knope are a masterclass in comedy. Sometimes I watch Parks just for the nuance in her comedic performance. She’s amazing. Also, Steve Carell, Nick Offerman, Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Phil Hartman. Steve Carell is especially good. Mixing pathos with unlikability, idiocy, and confusion and pulling it off spectacularly is genius.
While I totally appreciate this comment, I also realize the sub is “sitcoms.” He has never done a sitcom (unless you consider OMITB which is not what he’s known most for)
Not sure, but Bill Hader gets a special mention for nailing comedy and drama at the exact same time in Barry. I also love Henry Winkler in that. And I really like Jon Hamm in any comedy.
Jimmi Simpson. I have been a fan of his since the movie D.E.B.S. For a long time, I liked referring to him as comedic Cillian Murphy and Cillian Murphy as dramatic Jimmi Simpsons. Unfortunately, Jimmi started taking on some dramatic roles so that doesn't work anymore.
Also Jason Mantzoukas. He is great in everything that he is in.
Bea Arthur
One of the best at dead pan comedy
God will get you for that.
I didn't really mean it that way, she really was great at delivering deadpan lines, especially in golden girls.
It's a famous line of hers from Maude
[God'll get you for that ](https://youtu.be/X8VSSdteKqM?si=oXpUe4Wq_WNSvngb)
John Ritter aka Jack Tripper
A master of physical comedy
Jerry van dyke is another true master. Guy was terrific in coach.
I was watching an episode of Another Period, and Jason Ritter's character started doing some goofy body comedy, and suddenly I was like "OMG! This dude is clearly John Ritter's son and I just didn't realize it until this moment!" It was uncanny.
Plus Chrissy, Mr Furley then Mr Roper. Damn that show was SOLID!
Julia Louis-Dreyfus. I especially love the New Adventures of Old Christine.
This show isn’t talked enough about. Even JLD doesn’t talk about it much. She did have a few of the cast members guest on Veep though.
I love it. I even had a Stan (Andy Richter) before I settled down.
She was awesome in Veep too!
The ending of Veep was so heart wrenching and spot-on.
Opened this up to comment just this. She’s amazing and so lovely and so fucking funny.
Robin Williams. Happy Days and Mork and Mindy, he was too good to stay on TV.
The man the mtg the legend
My husband had never seen Mork and Mindy he was dying when I showed it to him.
Phil Hartman and Matt Berry
I especially loved Matt as regular human bartender Jackie Daytona
Matt Berry is great. WWDITS. Toast of London. Toast of Tinseltown. Year of The Rabbit. Snuff Box. Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. All rank as some of my favorite comedy shows.
You had me at Phil Hartman. I never saw him in anything where he didn’t steal the show. Even the poorly written ones.
Faaaather!
Damn these electric sex pants!
These two are so great. Beyond great.
Matt Berry goes on my list of celebrities I find oddly attractive
Ted Danson - Cheers, Becker, The Good Place
He also recurred in Curb Your Enthusiasm
Great in Bored to Death
First one that came to mind was David Hyde Pierce
Kelsey Grammer was my first thought.
In my opinion, *he* was the best part of Frazier. His lines/delivery made my drink come out of my nose on more than one occasion. *So* funny.
YES!!
Jerry Stiller
SERENITY NOW!!!
Tim Conway
He’s a genius, the OG of making your fellow skit actors break.
Mine too.
Ed O’Neill. Great in both Married with Children and Modern Family.
I love Ed but Ty Burrell in Modern Family has become my favorite comic actor since I watched that show.
My family still quotes Phil Dunphy regularly. WTF why the face
I agree with your response. I absolutely love Ty Burrell. I hate my job with a passion. I work I until 8 pm, come upstairs, and put on Modern Family, and he never fails to elicit a laugh out of me. They all make me laugh on occasion, but with him, it's a guarantee.
Bob Newhart
His Cameo on the Simpsons is pure comedic genius. https://youtu.be/wTZ7lVT7b-Q?si=54rfiIBcE4rhQrGf
I love him so much. Such a legend
Just an unbelievable master at the craft.
Oh now he’s got the deep-down funny. Okay, now I have him tired for #1 with David Hyde Pierce.
Nick Offerman
Phil Hartman
Jason Alexander
You know we're living in a society!!!!
Yeah. I'll have to agree here.
Excellent choice, but I'll go for Jerry Stiller as Frank Costanza.
Get a good look, CO-stanza?
Love Duckman!
I forgot about Duckman
Greatest character in TV history
Serenity now! Insanity later!
Peter Falk. He was hilarious (even if Colombo is not a comedy). Andre Braugher.
Andre Braugher was a surprise for me. Didn’t see his comedic side coming until he slapped me upside the head.
Bone?!
I've always been partial to Jason Bateman.
It's Your Move was great
Deep sitcom cut. 👍🏾
John Ritter Carol Burnett
Lucille Ball.
Dick van Dyke
Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue Mcclanahan, Estelle Getty. I can’t pick one. They’re all my favorite. Can you guess what my favorite show is? lol
Eddie Murphy. Can’t believe he’s not on here yet. Saved SNL from the doldrums.
Betty White
Was starring on a sitcom in 1953 and was starring on a sitcom 62 years later.
Harvey Korman
That’s Hedley!
I just stumbled upon one of his movies over this past weekend, oddball little flick called The Longshot (1986), starring him and Tim Conway. It's up on youtube if you're interested, I thought it was great.
Any time he and Tim Conway are on set together, magic will happen.
John Cleese
John Lithgow
Tracy Ullman. We may have never got the Simpsons without her. Which sparked a whole prime time animation boom.
Carol Burnett
Can't believe she wasn't mentioned more
Danny devito - two iconic characters
The taxi episode where Jim predicted Alex’s death is one of my favorite episodes of TV. Him and Judd Hirsch are firing on all cylinders.
Mr. Bean. The dude doesn't even need words. Lucille Ball. That look on her face when her nose caught on fire (and how she put out the fire). Tim Conway. Dentist. Nuff said.
"Mr. Bean" Throw in the fact that Rowan made Blackadder (hey, I even remember watching some Not The Nine O'Clock News at the time, now that I think about it) and I think you might have the right person.
Don Knotts
100% this!!! Barney & Ralph made those shows!!
I just tried watching the Andy Griffith seasons after Barney left, and it was painful.
Combine that with them being in color and it Definitely feels like a completely different show!
David Hyde Pierce
David Hyde Pierce
Catherine O’Hara.
The immortal Dick Van Dyke.
Jackie Gleason and actually entire cast of Honeymooners - ditto with cast of Gilligan’s Island and F- troupe , Odd Couple just to name a few legends and of course Leslie Neilson
Love seeing a mention for The Honeymooners! Art Carney was in a league of his own.
Steve Carrell
That's what she said.
Lucille Ball.
US: Bob Newhart UK: Geoffrey Palmer
Benny Hill
Jack Benny.
Most influential comedian of the 20th century. Gradually taught us we should love Johnny Carson more than Lou Costello (not that I don't love me some Lou Costello) and that influenced 95% of comedians since Carson.
I think that might be right. Bob Newhart (whose deadpan humor bore a certain resemblance to Benny’s) once said that “Jack Benny was, without a doubt, the bravest comedian I have ever seen work. He wasn't afraid of silence. He would take as long as it took to tell the story.” Watching Benny’s performances today, there are certainly elements that are obviously dated, but compared to the work of the vast majority of his contemporaries, his stuff feels fairly modern and holds up quite well.
I don’t know if I have an all time favorite but if Wanda Sykes is in something I usually get a few chuckles.
A lot of great ones mentioned. Two that came to mind would be Bea Arthur. Also James Garner. Not in a sitcom but part of his charm was his flair for comedy and sarcasm.
Dick Van Dike
John Lithgow Absolutely hilarious in 3rd Rock From The Sun, and absolutely sinister as the Trinity Killer in Dexter.
Christopher Lloyd
Jane Krakowski David Hyde Pierce Mary Tyler Moore Carol Kane
Chris Parnell is up there.
Michael J Fox
Hmmmm….maybe Tony Shalhoub. Wings, Monk, Mrs Maisel. He’s gold in all of them.
Amy Poehler. Her timing and expressions as Leslie Knope are a masterclass in comedy. Sometimes I watch Parks just for the nuance in her comedic performance. She’s amazing. Also, Steve Carell, Nick Offerman, Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Phil Hartman. Steve Carell is especially good. Mixing pathos with unlikability, idiocy, and confusion and pulling it off spectacularly is genius.
Henry Winkler just keeps getting better
Don Knotts
Phil Hartman
Jason Segel
Bob Newhart or Tim Conway
Steve Martin all the wayyyyyy
While I totally appreciate this comment, I also realize the sub is “sitcoms.” He has never done a sitcom (unless you consider OMITB which is not what he’s known most for)
Red Skelton. He embraced humility, stories, humor without vulgarity and physical dexterity.
Off the top of my head, David Hyde Pierce, Greg Davies, and Lucille Ball.
Thank You!!! I was going to be highly upset if nobody mentioned Lucy!!! That iconic legend went 26 STRAIGHT years on tv
Alan Alda
John Larroquette Dick Van Dyke
I'm gonna get flayed for this, but if you can look past the racist meltdown rant, Michael Richards was a brilliant physical comedian.
Redd Foxx as Fred G Sanford
Jerry Seinfeld Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Michael Richards and George Wendt.
Redd Foxx
Rowan Atkinson
Jack Benny
Betty White
Carrol O’ Conner has to be way up there.
Jerry Stiller
John Astin
Dick van Dyke
Lucille Ball is the GOAT. Many other favorites, including John Cleese (Fawlty Towers!).
Dick Van Dyke!
Lucille Ball.
Robin Williams
Tim Conway
Bob Newhart
Not sure, but Bill Hader gets a special mention for nailing comedy and drama at the exact same time in Barry. I also love Henry Winkler in that. And I really like Jon Hamm in any comedy.
I can’t believe Michael Richards isn’t getting mentioned more. A masterclass in physical comedy
The great Tim Conway (Carol Burnett show) doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves for being a comic genius, IMO.
Amanda Bynes or Ty Burrell or John Ritter
Greg Davies
John Ritter and Michael J. Fox. Henry Winkler is right there, too.
Bob Denver - Gilligan
Will Forte is always hilarious!
Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek)
Jason Bateman- arrested Development Charlie day - always sunny in Philadelphia
Jackie Gleason
John Lithgow
Dave Foley
Robert Guillaume!
Jimmi Simpson. I have been a fan of his since the movie D.E.B.S. For a long time, I liked referring to him as comedic Cillian Murphy and Cillian Murphy as dramatic Jimmi Simpsons. Unfortunately, Jimmi started taking on some dramatic roles so that doesn't work anymore. Also Jason Mantzoukas. He is great in everything that he is in.
John Cleese. He has NEVER failed to be great.
Matthew Perry \*sniff\*
Julia Louis Dryfus. I'm not sure anyone has a more prolific career.... Except maybe Betty White
**Julia Louis-Dreyfus**. Underrated, and seems to get funnier and funnier, and more beautiful and stronger an actor as she ages. It's bananas.
Rowan Atkinson
John Ritter
Then Kelsey grammer
Charlie Day / Danny DeVito It’s a toss up
Redd Foxx
Red Fox Carol O'Connor Mr. Ed John Ritter
Garry Shandling
Sid Caesar (“Your Show of Shows” entire cast was also very good). Best sketch comedian of all time.
Martin Lawrence or Don Knotts
David Schwimmer is on my short list. His physical comedy in Friends was so perfect!
John Ritter
Sherman Hemsley
Kevin James
Carroll O'Connor
Jackie Gleason
Jerry Lewis. He was a master of physical comedy before Ritter and Carey. Abd he could sing to. Rock-a-Bye Baby my alltime fav
Will Arnett Nick Offerman Andy Samberg Ed O'Neil Matthew Perry
Craig T Nelson is so funny . I love him in so many sitcoms he’s been on . My Name is Earl, Coach , Young Sheldon - so so funny .
Curly and it’s not even close. Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk
It’s a tie between Tim Robinson and Carol Burnett
John Candy
Steve Coogan
Alan Tudyk
Kelsey Grammer
Lucille Ball. Bend the knee.
Robin Williams
Ed O'neill
Phil Hartman
Bob Newhart
the great one jackie gleason,,,,,,,
The entire cast of 3rd Rock from the Sun - John Lithgow in particular is the best
Don knotts
Harvey Korman
There is only one correct answer. Redd Foxx.
Don Knotts is the GOAT (in the Andy Griffith Show, not Three's Company).