I judge a comedian on this...if I can watch his routine over and over and STILL LMAO to the point where I am in tears,..then they are great.

So far Dave Chappelle is on top. I have all of his DVD's and each time I watch them I am dying and I get a sideache.

Mooney...

Charlie Murphy...although NOT his brother.

Richard Pryor

George Carlin

Robin Harris

Debra Wilson...plus I love her tats.

Special shout out to Lewis Black. Although I can only listen to him scream once or twice.

noimageatall said:

I love your list

Although I still couldn't get into Robin Harris, I tried to see what the big deal is but all I got from him were chuckles at best, nods at worst. Not fimiliar with Lewis Black though, I might check him out

Now Dave, I just WISH his 1st stand up special "Live In San Francisco"(from 98) gets released in DVD, thats arguably his very BEST performance ever.
[Edited 2/6/10 23:09pm]

Some ignant ass shit but still funny

Harlepolis said:

Yeah I have a Robin Harris special on DVD. I couldn't get into it

bboy87 said:

My aunt loves her some Robin Harris, but she downplays my lack of enthusiasm saying I don't get it, that he spoke to the working class of HIS generation I'd say so what? Chris Rock & George Carlin were working class messengers, and I love those guys.

Harlepolis said:

The first time I heard him was on a cassette tape. I had some headphones on and I was in tears. If you ever listened to his Bebe's Kids you had to laugh. I didn't think he was funny in House Party, but his standup was great.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Love the Wildman!!! 'Shackin' Up' was a great record too.

bboy87 said:

Send it to my house, I'll get into it for ya!

60. Shirley Hemphill


A big star from the 70s’ and 80s’, we all remember her a Shirley from What’s Happenin!! and later Whats Happenin' Now!! and her other 70s’ appearances. She was so big, they gave her a short lived sitcom in 1980 “One and a Million.” Her stand up was featured on The Alan Thicke Show in the early 80s’. She was a mainstay at the Laugh Factory. She passed away in 1999.



59. Chris Spencer

http://www.youtube.com/wa...re=related

I always thought this cat was a genius, discovered by the Wayans clan, he is not only one of the top comics in the business, but a writer for many you’d wouldn’t believe (Jamie Foxx being one of them.) His first appearances were in many Wayans projects like 'In Living Color', 'Blackman', 'A Low Down Dirty Shame' and 'Don’t Be A Menace'. He went on to host the series Vibe in 1997, before being fired (they didn‘t get his comedy ... oh and tell him he'd be fired.) He performed on both incarnations of HBO"s Def Comedy Jam(1995 and 2006), did BET Comic View: One Mic Stand (2008) and will have a special on Showtime later this year.



58. Jimmie Walker

http://www.youtube.com/wa...543W5qehk8

Dyn-o-Mite! Is what JJ Evans would scream. After starting is career in 1969, he quickly made a name for himself in the comedy clubs of New York. He was THE star of the classic series Good Times, released an album with the catch phrase “Dyn-o-Mite!” and made many appearances on the rounds in the 70s and 80’s like Laugh In, Midnight Special, Rock Concert, Evening at the Improv, Dean Martin’s Celebrity Roast, Caroline’s, you name it … He had three specials on Showtime in 88, 89 and 90, An Evening With Jimmie Walker and Friends.



57. Adele Givens

http://www.youtube.com/wa...qIW27hP6JY

Too me, she was always the funniest lady on Def Comedy Jam in the early years, and she kept it goin’ years after. She was so funny, she became the first lady to host Def Comedy Jam, in 1995. Before that, starred n the Def Comedy Jam special; Bad Girls of Def After, she got her own HBO Comedy Half Hour in 1996 and starred with three other ladies in the Queens of Comedy Tour and Special. She starred in her own Comedy Central Presents in 2002.



56. Michael Colyar

http://www.youtube.com/wa...wClsD_TH8c

Michael Colyar started out as a street comic at Venice Beach in the early 1980s, rivaling another comic across the country. After parts in television and movies in the late 80s, like Hollywood Shuffle, HBO gave him his own One Night Stand. He appeared on Evening at the Improv, many Def Comedy Jam episodes as well as the series Martin! BET gave him his own late night talk show, BET Live for two seasons in the late 1990s. He roasted Shaquille O’Neal and Emmit Smith and performed on the Tom Joyner Show. The Michael Colyar Project is the name of his special and he hosted the Big Black Comedy Show.

Harlepolis said:

I'm guessing for Robin Harris, you had to see him at his rawest form, at the Comedy Act Theater. All comics speak highly of him, ALL COMICS (Robert Townsend, Keenen, Eddie Murphy), he must have did something right. A bunch got their style from him (Martin, Bernie Mac, DL Hughley. Joe Torry).

LittleBLUECorvette said:

noimageatall said:

Before he passed ... well, I'll give you that info when he comes up in the list!!

Great thread LBC

55. Reynaldo Rey

http://www.youtube.com/wa...XmM28LIf2Q

Discovered by Redd Foxx in the 60s, he’s been doin’ stand up for over 40 years. He was on the road and opened for Redd some 18 years and recorded three albums including “Fly Away Little Bluebird” in 1974. He made his first TV appearance on, what else Sanford and Son. He’s best known for his roles on 227 and as co-host for many BET Comic View seasons. His comedy has also been showcased on Def Comedy Jam but was first seen on Robert Townsend's Partners in Crime in 1989. Little known fact, co-wrote the hit “Superman Lover” with Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson.


54. Sheryl Underwood

http://www.youtube.com/wa..._SekDf68EA

One of the top females working today. She’s hilarious, at everything. Sheryl should have been on Queens of Comedy, as I have her ranked higher than the four ladies who appeared on the classic. She’s made the rounds, BET Comic View (was the host in 2005 in New Orleans), Def Comedy Jam, Uptown Comedy Club, 1st Amendment Stand Up among others. Her Comedy Central Presents and Showtime Laffapalooza came in 2003 as did a special in 2008.


53. Mike Epps

http://www.youtube.com/wa...0q-qvxrcWo

Day-Day was Mike Epps break out character in the 2000 hit comedy, Next Friday. But that's not whee it begin, Mike’s been gettin’ work before than. He appeared in two Def Comedy Jam episodes and was a Comic View staple. His first stand-up special, "Inappropriate Behavior" debuted on HBO in 2005 and his latest on Showtime in 2009, Faded, Underrated and Never Faded and Funny Business ON DVD. In between that time, he hosted Def Comedy Jam in 2006 and has appeared on Laffapolooza.


52. Faizon Love

http://www.youtube.com/wa...nvGjWQvNnM

Faizon Love, a funny comic who got his name in fame in the early 90s‘. His voice was used as the late Robin Harris; in his creation 1992s' "Bebe’s Kids." After appearances on Def Comedy Jam in 92’, Comic Justice in 93’ and Uptown Comedy Club in 94’, he went on to star with Robert Townsend in The Parent Hood. His career took a major turn in the past decade appearing in many movies and his own stand-up comedy special.


51. Tracy Morgan

http://www.youtube.com/wa...vxByzdSRg0

Just the way this dude talks, is hilarious ...The star of '30 Rock' is really a dirty, filthy, nasty comic, but he’s hilarious at his craft. He started his career with comics Flex, Debra Wilson, Y’Vette Wilson, Jim Bruer and others on the series "Uptown Comedy Club" from 1991 to 1994. After appearing on HBO's Def Comedy Jam, the then host of that series put him on as Hustle Man on his series Martin. From 1997 to 2005, he was a cast member of Saturday Night Live and had a short lived show titled what else, “The Tracy Morgan Show.” Possibly one of the funniest specials, 'One Mic' appeared on Comedy Central in 2002 and I haven’t seen it since.
[Edited 2/8/10 22:16pm]

Now, we reach the top 50, who will make the cut, where will they be listed at ...


50. Richard & Willie



The second comedy team to make the list (Skillet & LeRoy.) But, were they a comedy team in reality ... They are more than Willie Tyler and Lester, Richard could stand on his own as a comic. Richard Stanfield and his dummy Willie formed the team Richard and Willie in the mid 1960s’. After many top selling albums (12 to be exact like “Snow White and the Black Knight”) they joined forces with another Richard in 1975 for the album “Richard Pryor Meet Richard & Willie … and the SLA.” Besides Willie, his "black dummy" he had a "white dummy" named Mr. Charlie.


49. Marsha Warfield

http://www.youtube.com/wa...J1iVpR67Mk

Discovered by Mr. Paul Mooney in the 70s, he put her on the series, 'The Richard Pryor Show' with many up-starts comics in 1977. After the series was over, she went on to star in many television shows from the 80s', including 'Night Court' and 'Empty Ness.' Her stand up includes The Eddie Murphy produced Uptown Comedy Express in 1987, The Tommy Chung Roast from 1986, The Arsenio Hall Show many times and Comic Relief II from 1989. Her comedy was raw, she held nothin' back. She was a majar performer at the Comedy Act Theater in LA.


48. Stu Gilliam

http://www.youtube.com/wa...VF5s7jCPhY

In one of his album covers titled “Stu Gilliam at the Basin Street West”, Redd Foxx said this guy "... amazing, the greatest new talent of this decade," Stu Gilliam.” And Mr. Foxx was somewhat right. He had many hit albums, and was on may TV shows In the next handful of years. He showcased his act on The Hollywood Palace, Playboy After Dark and three different times on The Ed Sullivan Show among others from that time. He played the game show circuit around the 60s’and 70s’ also appearing on Match Game 73' and Hollywood Squares.
You might all know him as the voice of Curly Neal on the many Harlem Globetrotters cartoons from the 70s'.


47. Timmie Rogers

http://www.youtube.com/wa...tsu4SaySVw

He went by the names "Clark Dark." He's the first comic to appear from the Golden Age of Comedy, the 1950s. He started out in the vaudeville era of the 40s', but refused to wear the blackface these acts would put on their face. He ade his first TV appearance in 1949 in "Sugarhill Times." He was actually the first comic to sell out Harlem's Apollo Theater back in 1957 and was he first black artist to perform with a tuxedo on, making him look extra sharp (like the Billy Eckstine of comedy.) He changed the whole game up being one of the first blacks on television in days when their were barley any. He performed his comedy in the 50s and 60s on the Ed Sullivan Show, The Jackie Gleason Show and many more. You might all know him as the MC at the Apollo on the Five Heartbeats. He released albums, including Super Soul Brother in 1970.
[Edited 2/10/10 17:29pm]

46. Scoey Mitchell



Scoey Mitchell was one of the first multi-talented brothers in the business. He acted, wrote, produced, directed oh and was a top stand-up comedian in his day. He showcased his stand up on many of the older show around that time (the 1960s' and 70s'.) HE appeared on such shows as Playboy After Dark, The Mike Douglas Show, The David Frost Show, Hollywood Palace, Laugh In and other hit shows of that era. He hosted his own short lived variety show in 1972, of course named; the Scoey Mitchell Show. He also stared in Barefoot at the Park a short lived series. He made many appearances on game shows also.


45. Guy Torry

http://www.youtube.com/wa...oRbKox4gj4

A brother from the same mother. This cat is great, after following his brother to Hollywood in 1992, he started gettin’ work behind Joe. He started with the stage name “The Famous Guy T.” and would appear on Def Comedy Jam countless times in the first few seasons. In recent years, he's appear on 1st Amendment Stand Up on STARZ. Staring on the mid 90s, he went on to host 'Phat Tuesdays' at the Comedy Store for black comics as they couldn’t get on any other day unless you were a Wayans brother or Chris Rock. He hosted the stand up series Late Friday on NBC in 2001. Little know fact, he was an Original King of Comedy, he started out on the tour in 1997. He couldn't continue dou to other obligations, the rest is history ... more on the other 5 Kings of Comedy members, yes FIVE.



44. J. Anthony Brown

http://www.youtube.com/wa...0BdUnVELEA

J. Anthony Brown was a writer for The Arsenio Hall Show and the Parent Hood in the 1990s and now is Tom Joyner’s main man on his syndicated morning show. Hr started his comedy in the 1970s, before finally making his way onto the tube in the 1980s’. By the early 90s, he played Def Comedy Jam many times even guest hosted the series (no called Def Comedy All-Star Jams.) In 1997 he hosted BET Comic View in 2002. The very next year, he appeared in Latham Entertainment Presents a special comedy showcase. He owns his own club called "The J Spot" and can be heard murdering the hit son the radio.


43. Tim & Tom

http://www.youtube.com/wa...27f6AM2_hg

Not the first duo, but they were the first black and white duo and met in 1969 and started performing all over the world soon after. This would be Tim Reid and Tom Dressen. They performed at black and white night clubs and their shows were different depending on the audience they hosted. They performed their act on the David Frost Show and the Merv Griffin Show in the 70s'. They split up in 1976 and Tim went on to the 'Richard Pryor Show' soon after and than 'WKRP in Cincinnati' and Tom went on to tour with the likes of Smokey Robinson, Sammy Davis, Frank Sinatra and appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson a total of 61 times!
[Edited 2/10/10 20:41pm]

42. Joe Torry

http://www.youtube.com/wa...D0E3SKSIgE

OMG! original Def Jam host Martin Lawrence is gone, what is we gonna do?, Who’s gonna take his spot, Joe Torry, that‘s who. He was groomed for this spot. This isn't the first time he was taking over as MC. He was groomed to take over the late Robin Harris spot as MC at the 'Comedy Act Theater', so it was natural for his Def Comedy Jam hosting gig. After not only appearing on HBO's Def Comedy Jam already four times, and being the warm-up to Martin for the series, he took over Martin’s hosting job for the third season (1994.) He would be a rotation host the next year in 1995 and All-Star Jam host in 1996. Before and during his Def Jam days, he was in movies like "Strictly Business", "Poetic Justice" and "Sprung." In late years, he did a BET Comic View one hour special and was on Martins' 1st Amendment Stand Up. Him an his brother Joe released the DVD "The Torry Brothers" in 2002.


41. Slappy White

http://www.youtube.com/wa...CmN6S-EaT4

One of the first comics with a dirty mouth. He told jokes, but in a way that he could perform in not only for his black audiences, but also white audiences in Los Vegas. He started out in a comedy team first with Willie Lewis and than with Redd Foxxx from 1951 to 1954. They were very raw and had to change if the wanted to play the white rooms. He got a gig with Dinah Washington in Vegas, that’s where he slightly changed up his routine. He was one of the first black comics to use topical humor in front of a mainstream audience. He would later be known as "the father of the integrated joke." He made his TV debut on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1961. Others shows included The Jackie Gleason Show, The David Frost Show and the Flip Wilson Show, Laugh In among others. HE appeared on Sanford and Son many times and w a featured player on the Redd Foxx Variety Show in 1977.a Some of his Records include “The First Negro Vice President” and “Live at the Playboy Club” He passed in 1995.


40. John Witherspoon

http://www.youtube.com/wa...YOtK-MrexU

“Bang! Bang! Bang!" that is one of his many, many quotes. He started out as a male model and in 1970 doin various magazines and ads around Detroit. A few years later, he became “Detroit John” a stand up comic. He worked as a doorman at the Improv and later at the Comedy Store. He was discovered at the Comedy Store by writer/comic Mr. Paul Mooney, Paul put him on "the Richard Pryor Show" in 1977 with a star studded cast. He went on to become a major player with Robert Townsend. HE appeared in his movies like "Hollywood Shuffle" and "The Five Heartbeats" and his four HBO specials, Partners in Crime. In later years, starred on "the Wayans Brothers" series and the "Friday" series. He performed his stand up on Def Comedy Jam and has many appearances on his good fried David Letterman’s many shows. He was roasted by nine comics who all are on this list last year on TV One's Roast and Toast of John Witherspoon. The highly rated "You Got to Coordinate" appeared on Showtime in 2008.


39. Wanda Sykes

http://www.youtube.com/wa...YOtK-MrexU

The best female comic working today. She was a writer and starred on good friends show "The Chris Rock Show" and currently host her one show on FOX “The Wanda Sykes Show”. She started her career in the mid 1980s’ and first appeared on television in 1988 on a stand up showcase and the Tonight Show in 1992 performing her stand up. She than became a writer for two shows, The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show in 1997 and the Chris Rock Show in 1998. She had her first Comedy Central Presents in 1998 and after appearing on Premium Blend on the same station, she became host in 2002-2003 (there are many more host from Premium Blend to appear here!). They also gave her a special "Tongue United"0 in 2003 and HBO came calling with "Sick and Tired" in 2006 and "I'ma Be Me" last year. She also co-hosted the Emmy Awards.

The greatest black comics IMHO are these:

1.) Richard Pryor
2.) Redd Foxx
3.) Lawanda Page (yes she did stand-up)
4.) Dave Chappelle
5.) Bill Cosby
6.) Paul Mooney
7.) Eddie Murphy (though I admit his anti-homosexual jokes were not so funny lol)
8.) Martin Lawrence
9.) Robin Harris
10.) Adele Givens
11.) Bernie Mac*

Notables include Wanda Sykes, Chris Rock (funny in some parts, not-so-funny in others), Debra Wilson, and Slappy White.

Timmy84 said:

Is Debra Wilson a stand up? I couldn't find no info on her doin stand up now or back in the day. I always thought she was juts a comedic actor. Although it's very possible shes a stand up (just found out a few months back Tim Meadows was a stand up, as he host some stand up show on TBS. From what I saw, he's not very funny, which is why he's not on this list, lol.)

Any that don't resort to
1. Copious amounts of swearing and words like nxxxer, shit, ho, bitch, fxxk etc
2. Lots of crude sexual jokes
3. Militant humour
4. Material that pokes fun at themselves (self depreciating humour)
5. Extremely fond of the word motherfucker
6. Like to sound uneducated

To me these guys just reinforce racist stereotypes of black men as walking phallic symbols, jive ass, happy go lucky individuals. These people should be proud they are black, not just saying motherfucker and pussy every second word.
Hey I will laugh at any black comedian, but its sad when I realise none of the humour is deep.
Comedians that fall into this category

1. Chris Tucker, talkative, potty mouth, immature, crude, hedonistic
2. Chris Rock, motherfucker every 1.5 words, swearing, crude sexist humor, yet occasioally has valid stuff
3. Martin, same sex talk and motherfucker this and that.
4. Eddie Murphy, lots of swearing and crudity, yet his late movies are cleaner and more lame than ever.
5. Redd Foxx, Richard Pryor, all the above plus depreciating nigger this and that crap.

Honestly show me a black comedian whose successful, who dosen't have to resort to crude sex jokes and the word motherfucker all the time.

Honestly would you ever hear Seinfield say motherfucker every second word.

I love Adele Givens

We livin' in our last days!

There's a very funny scene in Extras (UK comedy - Gervais/Merchant) where Gervais is asked to name some great, black, English comedians. His face goes blank and as he searches for an anwer his gaze falls upon a poster of Lenny Henry. He looks away and says, "No, you're right, there aren't any."

Just an English perspective.

TheVoid said:

For fucks sake don't ever play any Super Mario game!!!

38. Jamie Foxx

http://www.youtube.com/wa...Dl6bJQEhLE

Eric Bishop was born in Terrell, Texas. After goin' to Atlanta to start comdy, he changed his name to Jamie Foxx, to get into the comedy clubs as he noticed there was a shortage in women comics. It worked, as he got a gig on he hottest show on TV "In Living Color." Before 1991, he won a Bay Area Back Comedy Competition in Oakland and actually auditioned for ILC in 1990. He continued his stand up, working with Shawn Wayans and opening for #35. He had three specials on HBO, “Straight From the Foxxhole” in 1993 while he was still a star on In Living Color. “Unleashed” followed in 1997, as he now had his own show "The JAmie FOxx Show" on the WB network. His latest came with 2002s' “I Might Need Security” as his film career was starting to take off. Over the years, he's hosted the series Laffapolloza on Showtime starting in 2003. He hosted Def Comedy All-Star Jams in 1996.


37. George Kirby

http://www.youtube.com/wa...dFK31vMMvc

One of the early comedy performers from the 1950s. He might have never been the biggest black comic of his time, but he was the biggest black comic geared at a white audience at that time. He started his career in the 1940s', first as a blues singer, releasing a single. But that went along with his show, as a master impressionist. By the 1950s' he was appearing on The Toast of the Town (Ed Sullivan) and Kraft Music Hall and Tonight Show with Johnny Carson . By the 60s'he was releasing records like "Night In Hollywood" and "Feeling Good." You see, he was doin' both comedy records and soul records. His 1970 special, The George Kirby Show turned into the series Half of the George Kirby Comedy Hour and later that year Kopycats in 1972, a show filled with impressionist. Other shows he appeared on included The Dean Martin Show and Laugh In. In 1978, HBO filmed him "On Location."


36. Chris Tucker

http://www.youtube.com/wa...Uq-C_bb-x0

PISSED OF MAN! those were his first words was on the first season of Def Comedy Jam, but those were not his last. He appeared a few seasons later and tore it p of course like he did the first time. He blew up with his performances from Def Jam. It took him pretty quick to make it in the big time, about four years to be exact. Cats used too get mad cause this young blood was just killin' down in Atlanta. After DCJ, he did his stand up on The Arsenio Hall Show, than the Uptown Comedy Club and the Soul Train Comedy Awards in 1993. He blew up with Friday and Rush Hour series made him an international superstar. He's hosted many awards shows like the NAACP Awards, Soul Train and others. He continues to perform to this day.


35. Mark Curry


http://www.youtube.com/wa...-Hd9evHqNo


This former NBA try out is from Oakland and tried out for the Golden STtte Warriors. He won the Bay Area Back Comedy Competition in Oakland in 1988. He than opened for Damon Wayans in 1990 and 1991. He was so good, HBO gave him a One Night Stand in 1991. After that gig, he became host on "Showtime at the Apollo." During this time, he also starred in his own sitcom, "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper." In 1996 and 1997, he guest hosted Def Comedy All-Star Jams on HBO. Also on HBO, his comedy special "The Other Side" premiered in August of 1996. The next year, he had his own Comedy Central Presents. His stand up was included on The Arsenio Hall Show, MadTV, Just For Laughs, Laffapalooza and Comedy You Can Believe In last year. Also last year, roasted John Witherspoon.
[Edited 2/12/10 22:46pm]

I alwasy liked these guys....



"guess what....yo ass need a job"



"since you gave us Barack Hussein Obama we givin' you OJ!"

DesireeNevermind said:

I didn't hear a word he said, that Chuck Berry process had me distracted the whole time

And this is the FUNNIEST Adele Givens bit(and SO true)...


You ain't Foxy Brown, if you is, ol' Foxy needs some oxy

34. Godfrey Cambridge

http://www.youtube.com/wa...4z3ycMbA6E

Mr. Cambridge was born in 1933 in Harlem, NY but grew up in Canada with his grandparents. He learned both sides of the world being around blacks in NY and more whites in Canada. Before stand up, he was a well trained actor even winning an Obie Award in 1961. That same year, he turned to stand up comedy as a way to express himself. He would perform his act on The Tonight How, Merv Griffin, The Hollywood Palace among others. His upbringing made hsi comedy that much more special deal. He also recorded four comedy albums, The Godfrey Cambridge Show: Live at the Hotel Aladdin (1968); G.C. Toys with the World; Ready or Not and Them Cotton Pickin' Days Is Over. His films included "Watermelon Man" and "Cotton Comes to Harlem."


33. Charlie Barnett

http://www.youtube.com/wa...cipjlqqrDg

Who, Charlie Barnett, the ultimate street comic! He performed in the Village in New York. He started his comedy career in the 70s working the streets and if you could make people on he streets watch you, you could make anyone watch you!. He was looked at as the heir apparent to Mr. Richard Pryor. He may be best known as Noogie from the series Miami Vice and starred in D.C. Cab. He tought Dave Chappelle the comedy game, taking him under his wings ... (watch many of his stand u and check the credits.) Little Known fact; after word of mouth of this funny comic, e auditioned for a spot on Saturday Night Live in 1980, and basically got the spot, until a kid named Eddie Murphy came in. Why it went to Eddie ... he couldn’t read, so it went to Eddie and the rest is history.


32. Steve Harvey

http://www.youtube.com/wa...UAJPKRYeNk

One of the Original Kings of Comedy (the first on this list.) He started his comedy career in the mid 80s’and by 1990, was on the tube for good appearing on The Comedy Concert Hour on TNN an Evening at the Improv in 1991. Def Comedy Jam is where he got his name appearing in 1992 twice on the first two seasons. He did Comic Justice in 1993, than preceded #35 Mark Curry on Showtime at the Apollo in 1994. That same year, ABC gave him a television show, ME And the Boys that lasted one season and WB got him The Steve Harvey Show, the long running program. Oh, but the stand up didn't stop, In 1995, HBO gave hima Comedy Half Hour and he was back with his special, One Man in 1997. Oh yeah, that same year begin the Kings of Comedy Tour with Cedric the Entertainer, Bernie Mac and Guy Torry (two other names joined the tour later on ...) Two DVD came the past few years, Don't Trip in 2006 and Still Trippin' in 2008. Little known fact, Harvey went to college with Arsenio Hall and A.J. Jamal (Ohio State.)


31. George Wallace

http://www.youtube.com/wa...4o_7cATReE

Mr. Las Vegas. One of the most respected comics in the game, everyone from from Jerry Seinfield to Chris Rock give this man props and deservedly so. HE was born in Atlanta Georgia and started doin' comedy in the mid 70s with Jerry Seinfield. By 1978 was appearing on Th Big Laugh Off and the Allan Thicke Show in 1980-81 doin' his stand up. By the 90s he started to get goin'. He had a HBO One Night Stand in 1991, did Evening at the Impov many occasions and hosted Def Comedy All-Star Jams in 1996 and 1997. In 2004, he performed on BET's Comic View and released a video, Large and in Charge. His bit about "I Be Thinkin" is hilarious. Little know fact, was the best man at Jerry Seinfield's wedding.
[Edited 2/13/10 22:51pm]

Huggiebear said:

ScarletScandal said:

30. Bill Bellamy

http://www.youtube.com/wa...gbv4axfDC8

The inverter of the term “Booty Call.” He titled his first stand up special after the term in a 1994 high rated Showtime special. He was born in 1965 in Newark, New Jersey (same for his little big cousin Shaq.) He started his career in 1985. He did his comedy on Showtime at the Apollo than appeared on Def Comedy Jam in 1992 and 1993. He was actually the first performer to make it big from Def Jam, getting a hosting job on MTV for many years and appearing on their Rock N Jock B-Ball Jam specials in the 90s'. He host two stand up show’s Last Comic Standing and Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes and with these went back to his roots for his 2005 Comedy Central Special, Back To My Roots. The next year he appeared on the return of Def Comedy Jam.



29. Pigmeat Markhum

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ZY6qW2Aktk

“Here Comes The Judge, Here Comes The Judge.” This man might be the first black stand-up comic as we know it today. He was born Dewey Markhum in 1904 and by 1917 was performing as a dancer with Bessie Smith. Later on he went on to perform with the likes of Milton Berle, Red Buttons in blackface. Pigmeat was in the Vaudeville era of Step'n Fetchit, Sleep'n Eat: Willie Best, Mantan Moreland and Hattie McDaniel. After World War II, he decided to lose the blackface and started doin' something called "stand-up comedy" slightly different from the comedy he and his vaudevillian buddies came from. By this time, Moms Mabley, Redd Foxx and Nipsey Russell joined the trade. By 1950, he was THE KING OF COMEDY releasing comedy albums like "Tune Me In" "The Crap Shootin' Rev" and "Would The Real Pigmeat Markham Please Sit Down." He's best know for the top ten hit from 1968 "Here Comes the Judge." He appeared on "Toat of the Town" "Rowan & Martin's Laugh In." He was the man on the Chitlin' Circuit, performing at the Regal in Chicago, Howard in DC, the Uptown in Philadelphia and of course the Apollo Theater.


28. Arsenio Hall

http://www.youtube.com/wa...-8KG9CEmj4

After hosting many shows in the early 80s and staring in films, this 'Black Pack' member became the first black with a late night TV show, “The Arsenio Hall Show.” Wat was goin' on before than, he was born in 1955 in Cleveland and by the age 6, was performing on stage, but not stand up just yet, he was a magician. He started performing comedy in 1977 during his college years an Ohio State then Kent State. BY the early 80's he became "Mr. Host" hosting everything from Soul Train, Solid Gold, Thicke in the Night and Half Hour Comedy Hour. When Joan Rivers decided to step down, he stepped right in as the Host for the Late Late Show on Fox. He was so good that they gave hihis own syndicated show, "The Arsenio Hall Show." His stand up was seen on Evening at the Improv, his best friend Eddie Murphy's produced Uptown Comedy Express and HBO's Comic Relief in 1989. Speaking of Eddie, he starred with him in Coming to America. He's been making a comeback this past decade hosting Star Search and many shows on the tube. Little know fact, the movie Coming to America was originally titles Quest and was to star another 'Black Pack' member, the guy is actually next on the list ...


27. Keenen Ivory Wayans

http://www.youtube.com/wa...Qjr8-plEWc

Another 'Black Pack' member, he shot to fame with the family series In Living Color in 1990, but was a fixture in comedy a decade earlier. He started his career in 1978 as a part time comic while still attending Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. By 1980, he was the hottest comic in NY not named Eddie Murphy. Eddie is actually quoted saying "I thought I was the only funny black guy in New York. Now I see there are two." He went to Hollywood to audition to pilots and got some roles like "For The Love of War" in 1983 a series and that same year did his stand up on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. After years of small roles, he finally got with his 'Black Pack' member Robert Townsend and they came up with the film "Hollywood Shuffle" in 1987. That same year, his other 'Black Pack' buddy Eddie Murphy got with him and Robert for his concert film, RAW. Now Keenen was in business, was a main performer on Townsend' specials on HBO and his own films like I'm Gonna Git U Sucka! and than In Living Color hit. This sketch show was the ultimate sketch show and nearly every member of the cast is here on this list. After ILC, he went into movies and actually back to stand up in 1999. He's performed his stand up on Evening at the Improv.
[Edited 2/14/10 12:47pm]