If you could have only one deceased comedian back, who would it be?

[_testify_]

I'm going with the 'prematurely' deceased here - if you're longing for Bob Hope or Don Knotts, you're in the wrong thread. Also, I'm not listing Andy Kaufman, 'cuz he's not dead.

[Duer 157099]

1. Lenny Bruce

[_testify_]

2. oooh I forgot him

I will add him!

[LaraMN]

3. Mitch Hedberg!

I thought he was hysterical!

[_testify_]

4. god how I wished it was a hoax

Didn't it happen around April Fools last year?

[LaraMN]

5. I believe so.

:-(

[_testify_]

6. Best Mitch Hedburg bit (IMO):

You know they call corn-on-the-cob "corn-on-the-cob," but that's how it comes out of the ground, man. They should call that "corn," and call every other version "corn-off-the-cob." It's not like if you cut off my arm you would call it "Mitch," then reattach it and call me "Mitch-all-together."

[jpgray]

28. An escalator can never break. It can only become stairs

Instead of "escalator temproraily out of order," you'd see "escalator temporarily stairs--sorry for the convenience."

[Autonomy]

7. Had to go with Bill Hicks

But I'd bring 'em all back if I could. Even Kinison, my least favorite. I'd love to see Lenny perform, really miss Farley and Hartman.

[_testify_]

8. I voted for Phil Hartman

He was soooo much funnier than many realize, due to the fact that he played the straight man in so many SNL bits.

[fightingdem]

11. I agree

I voted for Belushi, but Hartman's death was just aweful. Plus, Newsradio would still be on today. I sure miss that show.

[_testify_]

16. Yeah, the fact that it was no fault of his own made it a bit worse for me

I loved NewsRadio too.

[Gormy Cuss]

9. Richard Pryor. n/t

[seemunkee]

14. Agreed, Pryor should be on the list

[_testify_]

15. I was going for the 'dead before their time'

Pryor was 65 (still young, I know)

[Gormy Cuss]

17. We lost him as a comedian before his time because of his MS

Although he lived to a decent age we lost him as comic force a long time ago.

[_testify_]

18. You are right about that. I didn't even consider that...

He just sorta went away in my mind, like his friend Gene Wilder (another genius!)

[fightingdem]

10. Belushi

Then I'd smack him and ask, "What the hell were you thinking? Give up the drugs, man!"

[Ryano42]

12. All great choices...but at this moment in our history...

Bill Hicks would be front and center in the loyal and so very vocal opposition! :patriot:

We sure need him...

It would be a matter of time before he was black-bagged by Cheney's fingermen! :scared:

[kay1864]

13. Andy Kaufman!

And you forgot Poland :P

[Left Is Write]

19. Gilda Radner.

[Oeditpus Rex]

20. This poll is seriously remiss

[YankeyMCC]

21. No Rodney Dangerfield?

[RevCheesehead]

22. You're gonna get in trouble for leaving some out.

That being said, I'm voting for Phil Hartman.

[Initech]

23. Hard to choose between Bill Hicks and Phil Hartman

[Twillig]

26. I sure miss Troy McLure.

I think Bill would have gone up in a tower with a rifle by now if he had lived
in these wonderful times.

[Initech]

30. Dont forget Lionel Hutz.

And yeah... you may be right about Hicks, he probably would have gone insane living under Bush 2.

[elehhhhna]

24. Hartman was the comedians' comedian. Where's RIchard Pryor?

[elehhhhna]

25. Jim Fay, Secod City Chicago. Incredible.

[hyphenate]

27. I went with John Candy

because appearances are deceiving and John had a great sense of timing, was good in some dramatic roles as well, and had a gentle soul.

[Metta]

29. Lennie Bruce. Without him there would be no others.

Fact.