Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Who's Your Favorite Funny Guy?

We’re all so different, aren’t we?

Sometimes our writing connects with readers and sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes movies connect, sometimes they don’t. Personally, I think comedy has to be the hardest genre out there to write.

When it comes to what strikes our funny bone, I think it’s more than just the a simple you say tomato, I say tomato thing going. Not only are their cultural and race differences, but age, sex, mood, topic, political biases, and religious affiliation all play a part in our perceptions.

My husband routinely sends me jokes and stories via email that I just do not think are funny. There’s the sixteen year old teenaged boy who lives for South Park. Then you got your ninety year old grandmas who wouldn’t know how to turn on a computer who think no one could ever match the Lucille Balls and Jerry Lewis’s of their day. Remember Red Skelton? OMG am I old.

Well, at least I know what OMG means. LOL!

There’s haha funny, there’s funny cute, there’s laugh-your-butt-off funny, there’s heart-warming humor. And, unfortunately, there’s always the didn’t-quite-make-it, don’t-get-it, don’t-ever-want-to-get-it, yeah-right kind of comedy. That cutting edge type humor that works for one person and falls totally flat for another.

Thank God for comedians who take risks, otherwise, we probably wouldn’t have M*A*S*H, or Jerry Seinfeld, or Saturday Night Live. Think about how many SNL skits fall flat. But when they’re funny, they are tears-streaming-down-my-face funny. There’s nothing quite so entertaining as comedy that surprises and hits us just right.

I’ll bet we could narrow down our favorite sexy actors to about five guys. But if we’re going to talk favorite comedians, will our answers hit all over the place or will there be a consensus?

So I’ve thrown up some pictures to spark the conversation, but, tell me, who is your favorite funny guy?

22 comments:

Unknown said...

Great post, Helen! I LOVE funny guys and I guess my favorite humor runs the gammut from Mel Brooks to Robin Williams to Tim Allen to Larry the Cable Guy. Yes, I'm not afraid to say I can often LAUGH at that guy. Must be my Appalachian upbringing!

You know, at one time or other, every guy you've listed (with the exception of Seinfeld)has made me really laugh. And their methods are as different as their faces are expressive. I have also laughed my butt off at Chris Tucker, Robin Williams, Stanley Tucci, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock, Gene Wilder, any of the Wayans brothers, Jamie Fox, and --believe it or not-- Jack Nicholson.

Many of my biggest laughs came in movies. . . Like "Young Frankenstein," "Big Trouble,"
"City Slickers," "Something's Gotta Give," "Evan Almighty,"(I loved that movie! Go figure!), "Me Myself and Irene," and the original "Rush Hour."

But the old Robin Williams stand-up routines are unbelievable. As are sketches by Jack Black and Jim Carrey and Jamie Fox on the old "In Living Color" show. I've also loved some of MAD TV's stuff, but they're a lot more hit-and-miss with me.

Thanks for thinking of this, Helen! You've put a smile on my face early that will last the day!

Keri Ford said...

I've became a huge fan of Vince Vaughn. He really hits my funny bone. So much so, that now when I watch a movie, I think, this would be soooo much better if they'd got Vince Vaughn.

I'll laugh all day everyday at the Ace Ventura movies, but I haven't found anything thing else that I really like Jim Carey in.

Owen Wilson is great...when he hits the nail on the head.

I love comedy and my hubby and I love the Rush Hour movies with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker

Keri Ford said...

Betina, you reminded me of Mel Brook's Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Stupid movie, but I laugh on the floor when I watch it.

Samantha Hunter said...

I love Mike Rowe -- I guess technically he's not a comedian, but he's pretty funny on Dirty Jobs. :) And hunky, too. *G*

Sam

Helen Brenna said...

Betina, glad to be of service!

Keri, this is what I mean. I didn't like the Ace Ventura movies but loved Jim Carey in Liar, Liar.

Vince on the other hand had the dead pan type humor down pat. Love the guy.

Sam, had to google Mike Rowe. Hunky, he is!

Hellie Sinclair said...

Dude. I can't limit myself.

1. Will Ferrell (Elf. Nuff said.)
2. Vince Vaughn
3. Ryan Reynolds (cute and funny!)

These two are consistently funny to me. Even their bad stuff is still pretty funny.

Hit & Misses:

Ben Stiller
Owen Wilson (I'll never forgive The Royal Tenenbaums!)
Steve Carrell
Adam Sandler (loved him in 50 First Dates; couldn't stand Little Nicky!)
Jim Carrey
Dane Cook
John Cusack (he might not be a strict comedian...but he's funny)
Billy Crystal


Who I don't get:

Jack Black--he gives me hives.

Rob Schneider sometimes falls into this category. He's funny, but he sometimes gives me hives when he tries to be 'sexy'. *LOL*

Hellie Sinclair said...

Oops. THREE, not two.

English major.

Christie Ridgway said...

I think because I live with all guys, I don't like "guy" humor--you know the kind, jokes about bodily functions and other crude things. I like witty/sarcastic/wordy kind of humor. Say, Jon Stewart. And then I watched a rerun of "When Harry Met Sally" as I was cooking for T-Day and it has just everything funny I like...funny guy, funny girl, funny talk, funny situations. Heart.

Debra Dixon said...

Love Owen Wilson. He's such a gentle funny for me.

Vince Vaughn, but more because I think he's hot.

And we generally love Jack Black if he's acting versus being "comic guy."

Michele Hauf said...

Vince Vaughn! Because yeah, he's funny, and hawt. :-) (Though, he didn't quite do it for me in Fred Clause). I'm not keen on a lot of funny guys, because maybe I don't get humor that much. But Adam Sandler in The Wedding Singer was perfect for me.

I remember my dad taking me to see Steve Martin in The Jerk when I was younger. That so went over my head. But remember that song he sang? King Tut? We used to sing that all the time when we were kids.

Unknown said...

I'm with Betina, who is, by the by, one of the funniest people I know...I loved Big Trouble, although I'm usually not crrrraaazy about Tim Allen. Love Owen Wilson though. I tend to like a little um softer humor than some. Not too obvious. A little understated.

Helen Brenna said...

Ms Hellion - ever see Jack Black in High Fidelity? I thought he was hilarious - John Cusack too.

Christie - more and more, I'm not liking the "guy" humor. I must be getting old and narrow minded. Ooops, not that you are. LOL

Deb - Owen Wilson's "gentle humor" - well said.

Michele - See! I didn't like The Wedding Singer, and haven't been all that crazy about Adam Sandler. Liked 50 First Dates, though.

Lois - so, so true about our Miss Betina's humor. She always nails it.

Hellie Sinclair said...

Sorry, Helen, I have seen Jack in HF and that's the sort of thing I can't stand. *LOL* I don't know what it is. I think another comedian could have gotten away with it...but Jack is too...hairy or something...and when he makes his lewd gestures, my skin just crawls. That mouth and those eyebrows...like Popeye with an eyebrow problem. Blech.

Owen Wilson is so cute. I still haven't forgiven him for Tenenbaums, but he's so roguish and adorable in most anything else, it's fun to watch him in action. *sighs*

Helen Brenna said...

Yeah, Jack is pretty hairy! :))

I have to admit I like the Royal Tenebaums too. Eerily prophetic, though. OW co-wrote that script and in the movie, his brother Luke's character attempted suicide.

Jane said...

I like Jon Stewart. He's funny and smart. I think Vince Vaughn is a close second.

Helen Brenna said...

Isn't it interesting, Jane, that both of those guys aren't what most people typically consider handsome, and yet both are incredibly sexy?

Linda said...

Okay, gonna show my age - Red Skelton is all time funny for me. He made me laugh without any dirty language. On the other hand, Robin Williams makes me roll on the floor wheezing with laughter. Billy Crystal is kinda like a happy medium. And being a Southerner, the Blue Collar Comedy Tour group pushes all my funny bone buttons, especially Bill Engvall.

Helen Brenna said...

Yay, another Red Skelton fan.

I think Robin Williams is hilarious, but am I the only one tired after watching him?

Samantha Hunter said...

Oh Jon Stewart... yeah....smart, hot and funny.

Sam

Keri Ford said...

byrdloves, you are so right. Blue Collar Comedy is wonderful, I have to put it on there, even if just for a second every time I see it on the guide.

"Are you, Ron 'Tater Salad' White?"

hehee, keri

Dara Edmondson said...

I have to agree that Robin Williams is about as funny as they get. Vince Vaughn in funny-sexy. Since Jen seems to be through with him, I'll take him!

Helen Brenna said...

I'll have to check into the Blue Collar Comedy. Not familiar with it.

Dara, you may have to fight off a few other Riders for Vince!