ScarletScandal said:

Someone else has told me he cursed a bit in the past, but yeah hes pretty squeaky clean and yet funny. Some Cosby Show episodes were clever, oh come on, that was my favourite show when I was growing up. (It was hardcore popular here in New Zealand). I just loved all that hoagie stuff.

I'm not trying to cause offence, I just want to see and hear a funny black person who dosen't have to resort to being crude to get his message across. Bill has to be Top 10 surely, all that Fat Albert stuff etc.

Richard Pryor
Redd Foxx
Paul Moonie
Bill Cosby
Eddie Murphy
Dave Chapelle
Bruce Bruce
Chris Rock
Chris Tucker
Sinbad


That is all I got.

Huggiebear said:

Sinbad, my mom thought Mark Curry never cursed in his stand up ... LOL.

26. Whoopi Goldberg

http://www.youtube.com/wa...0ok_e-daMw

Yep, she is a stand up comic peoples. Born in 1949 in New York City. She started her stand up career in 1981 in New York. In 1985, HBO gave her Whoopi Goldberg; Direct from Broadway, which was a success. That same year, she appeared in The Color Purple. The next year, along with comics Robin Williams and Billy Crystal, she created the Comic Relief series, that was on HBO for many years and included many comics. She hosted each of the specials, 11 in total. In 1990 and 91, had an HBO Comedy Hour; In Performance (1990) and Chez Whoopi (1991.) She’s a mainstay on the gameshow, Hollywood Squares. Over the years her movie credits include Burglar, Ghost and Sister Acts. She came back in 2007 on a stand up special on the Bravo Network.

25. Tommy Davidson

http://www.youtube.com/wa...e-ABdgDu7A

This brother rose to fame probably faster than anyone else on this list. He was born in 1964 and was raised by white foster parents after his mother a Civil Right activist could no longer care for him. He started his career in 1987 in Washington, DC, and by 1988 was in Hollywood where he was discovered by friends Robert Townsend and Keenen Ivory Wayans. Rob put him on HBO as part of Robert Townsend’s Partners In Crime. The next year, Eddie Murphy cast him in a series based on Coming To America that was never aired. By 1990, he was on the hottest show on the tube In Living Color as Keenen put him on. That same year, had his first special, Taking it to DC which aired on Showtime as was a hit. They liked him so much, they bough him back for the even higher rated Illin’ In Philly (a classic if you can find it.) That same year, also starred in the hit movie Strictly Business (his first). After ILC run was over, he was back on Showtime with On The Strength on New York. He toured with Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence in the 90s’. The Magic Hour was a late night talk show on FOX, and Tommy soon filled the void on that show an saved it. He hosted Premium Blend on Comedy Central in 1999 and Live from Gotham also on that network. Recently, he’s appeared on Shaq’ All-Star Comedy Jam and was the host of John Witherspoon’s roast.

24. LaWanda Page

http://www.youtube.com/wa...OHQJXy3Dzc

The female comic for a new generation after the great Moms Mabley. LaWanda was born in Cleveland in 1920. She started out her career as a dancer playing with fire, her name “The Bronze Goddess of Fire.” After Redd Foxx saw her act, he convinced her to try her hand at stand up comedy. After moving to Los Angeles, she joined Skillet & Leroy and begin as a poor mans (woman’s) Moms Mabley. She would come up with her own style much different from Moms. She released many records on the Laff label which were very graphic at that time (at this time also.) One of her records was Watch It, Suck! Other records include, Pipe Laying Dan, Back Door Daddy, Preach On Sister and Motha is Half a Word. After her famed catch phrase on good friends sitcom, Sanford and Son. She performed her stand up on many of the roast put on by Dean Martin. She passed away in 2002 at the age of 81.


23. Cedric “the Entertainer”

http://www.youtube.com/wa...GbU_CtXea0

Another assemble from “The Original Kings of Comedy.” This young man was born Cedric Kyles in St. Louis, Missouri. He begin comedy in 1988, winning first the Johnny Walker National Contest and than the Miller Genuine Draft Comedy Search both in Chicago. After making a name for him self, he hot the road to LA, California performing at venues like the Comedy Act Theater. He performed on TV for the first time in 1992 at Showtime at the Apollo. That same year, on the second season of Def Comedy Jam, he’s make an appearance and also on Comic View. 1993 was a god year, he’d perform stand up on the Uptown Comedy Club and than host BET Comic View’s 2nd season after his King of Comedy buddy did the first season in 1993-1994. After appearing on Def Jam a few times, he was to star in Def Comedy Jam: Prime Time a series on Fox in 1995, only the pilot aired. He would host Def Comedy All-Star Jams in 96 and 97. In 1996, he was costarring with his buddy on the Steve Harvey Show from 1996 to 2002. In between that time, he joined the Kings of Comedy Tour (and film in 2000) with Guy Torry, Steve Harvey, Tommy Davidson, Bernie Mac and D.L. Hughley at different times over the 3 years. He hosted two special, Cedric he Entertainers Starting Line-Up in 2002 and 2004. His series Cedric the Entertainer was great but only lasted one season. In 2006, he finally did his own HBO one hour special, Taking You Higher and hosted Shaq and Ceds All-Star Comedy Jam in 2009.
[Edited 2/15/10 20:51pm]

ScarletScandal said:

+

DesireeNevermind said:

I forgot about Sinbad! I remember him being the first person I heard say "hoochie mama" on his show, when his daughter was dressed some weird way and he called her that

ScarletScandal said:

Sinbad is coming up soon.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

You mean Walter Oates.

22. Rudy Ray Moore

http://www.youtube.com/wa...yEGOwwa5hA

“Dolemite.” Probably the first original rapper (along with Cassius Clay.) Rudy was born in 1927 in Arkansas, but moved to Cleveland by his teens and peeled potatoes to make a living as a young’s. Hs first job was as an entertainer, but not comedy just yet, he was an R&B singer and released a few 45’s as “Prince Dumarr.” While in the Army, he discovered that he wanted to take up comedy after improving on a number he was performing, so in 1959, the comic was born. His first record was Below The Belt, a party record, something him and his buddies created. There was already explicit material being made from the like of Redd Foxx and LaWanda Page, but Rudy made it X-Rated. His breakthrough came in 1970, as Et Out More Often was a gold record. But it was his 1974 file, Dolemite, that changed everything for him and a few of his friends. Jimmy Lynch, Blowfly and Lady Reed. Other films followed like The Human Tornado, Petey Wheatstraw and Frenchies favorite; the Disco Godfather. By the 80s’ and 90s’ he was a comedy (and music) legend. Everyone from comics like Keenen Ivory Wayans and rappers like 2 Live Crew gave this man props, and deservedly so. He performed hi comedy on the stand up special Rude (with Skillet & LeRoy) Live AT the Wetland. He also appeared on the Arsenio Hall Show and a special Def Comedy Jam episode that never aired (featured Charlie Barnett, Wildman Steve.) He passed in 2008.


21. Franklyn Ajaye

http://www.youtube.com/wa...MyX7JnnYs4

Keenen Ivory Wayans gave him the name “The Jazz Comedian” as he said his comedy was like Miles Davis. His comedy was laid back and smooth and intelligent, just like Jazz. He was born in New York to an African and an American, but grew up in LA. After doin’ comedy for five years just too make enough money, he decided to make it his craft, and was pretty good at it. He made his TV debut on the Flip Wilson show in 1973, that same year released his first record, Franklyn Ajaye, Comedian. The next year, he was on the Johnny Carson Show and came back with I'm a Comedian, Seriously. Other records followed including Don't Smoke Dope, Fry Your Hair (1977), Plaid Pants and Psychopaths (1986), and Vagabond Jazz & the Abstract Truth (2004.) In the 70s’ he appeared on many shows like Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert, The Midnight Special, Soul Train and SNL performing his stand up. By the 80s’ he was appearing on good friend Robert Townsend’s HBO specials and movies Hollywood Shuffle. He became a write for In Living Color, Townsend Television and The Parent Hood and had a one hour special on BET Comic View in 2004. Little known fact, he crated one of my favorite cartons, C-Bear and Jamal.


20. David Alan Grier

http://www.youtube.com/wa...yEGOwwa5hA

Another assemble from the cast of “In Living Color.” As a Yale graduate, he went into comedy after being a theater major. At a New York city club in 1982, his first night doing comedy, he met Keenen Ivory Wayans. He said Keenen was the only comic that was nice too him and taught him many things he uses on his show today. By 1984, he was acing in the hit A Soldiers Story, their he met Robert Townsend, another inspiring comic at this time. In between sets, he would do his act, and so fourth. By the mid 80s’ David started doin’ stand up more and more, appearing on It’s Showtime at the Apollo in 1987. The next year he was back with his buddies Robert Townsend and Keene Ivory Wayans in their movies and specials. By 1990, he was on the hit TV show, In Living Color and was now headlining across the country. He would appear over the years in many television shows and awards shows as host or presenter. HE was on Saturday Night Live 3 times, (hosted twice.) In 2001, Premium Blend put him on as host. Two years later, gave him his first hour long special The Book of David: The Cult Figure's Manifesto, a hilarious special that I have not scene since 2002. That same year, his buddy from In Living Color, Jamie Foxx put him on his series Laffapalooza. Later in the decade he came out with the criminally underrated series, Chocolate News and last year, Comedy You Can Believe In on TBS.


19. Bernie Mac

http://www.youtube.com/wa...1xGIRSAfoc

‘Who You Wit!’ Bernard McCullough started his comedy career in his hometown of Chicago in the mid 70s‘ as a street performer. Along the way, he did odd jobs around the city along with his comedy to make ends meet. It finally paid of in 1989 when he won the Miller Genuine Draft Comedy Search hosted by Damon Wayans. After, he was opening for the likes of Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole and comic Redd Foxx. By 1991, he was performing on Def Comedy Jam and things were on the up and up. Damon Wayans remember h and put him in his film Mo Money s a doorman and he was back for the second season of Def Jam in 1992. In 1994, he put together the Who You Wit! Tour that went across the country featuring a band and dancers. It was so successful, HBO made a short live series out of it titled “Midnight Mac.” In 1997, he joined the Kings of Comedy Tout with Harvey, Ced the Ent and D.L. At the time the film was released, he was the only member to not have a television show (though he was a frequent star on Moesha.) The Bernie Mac Show premiered in 2001 and ran until 2006. In 2008, he decided that was gonna be his last year of stand up comedy. He was to release the stand up concert “The Whole Truth, Nothing but the Truth, So Help Me Mac.” Sadly, it would be his final year of stand up, s he passed away that same year.

18. Nipsey Russell

http://www.youtube.com/wa...1Yseb6Dz8Q

One of the first mainstream comics of the 1950s’. NIpsey was born in 1924 and by the age of six, was performing his act (singing, dancing, mc.) He attended University of Cincinnati, where he found out he loved poetry. He started out in the 1940s’ and by the 50s’ he was playing the “Catskills” or white audiences. He also played he chitlin’ circuit which included the grand Apollo Theater so he worked on his craft at both white and black clubs. He didn’t want to be known as “just” a black comic. He joined with the great Mantan Moreland as part of a successful stage show. He started getting major work in the late 50s’ and early 60s’. He released many albums during this times, As co-host on The Les Crane Show in 1965, Nipsey Russell was the first black emcee on a national television program. He is famous as a game show performer, appearing on everything from Family Feud to the Pyramid to Hollywood Squares to the Match Game. He was also very consistent in roasting the best on many of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast. His poetry is one of the reasons he’s considered one of the first rappers.


17. Robert Townsend

http://www.youtube.com/wa...J8nTrdgp_g

A member of the famed “Black Pack.” He changed the game in 1987 With his film Hollywood Shuffle. He was born in Chicago in 1957 he got his start early. His first credit in 1971 was The Great American Dream Machine. He started performing stand up sometime in the mid 1970s. He did things here and their in the 70s and early 80 (the only one worth mentioning is A Soldiers Story where he met David Alan Grier.) 86 was a decent year, he performed his stand up on Evening at the Improv, a Rodney Dangerfield special from HBO and was a rotation host on the Late Late Show (which his ‘Black Pack‘ buddy Arsenio Hall took over …) But he found out I was harder and harder for a black man to get a decent role in a film unless it was a pimp, a hood or a rapist. His “Black Pack” buddy Keenen Ivory Wayans was experiencing the same thing, so hey put their brilliant minds together and came up with Hollywood Shuffle, an unsuspected hit. Also that year, HBO came aboard and gave him many specials, Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime. Take No Prisoners and The Mutiny Has Just Begun followed both in 1988 and Playing the Nutroll, his last of the series in 89. These series were the front runners for In Living Color and Def Comedy Jam and included the Wayans, DAG, Tommy Davidson and Robin Harris (his best friend). He got with Wayans again for The Five Heartbeat in 1991 and in 93, Townsend Television (I would love to see some footage on this!!!) premiered on Fox. Robert performed his comedy on the 1987 HBO special Uptown Comedy Express and That‘s Adequate, he recently returned to stand up last year.


16. Robin Harris

http://www.youtube.com/wa...TFv2YmowJg

Along with Charlie Barnett, he’s one of the unsung great comics who just didn’t get that time and the spotlight. Robin, like his best friend, was born in Chicago and moved to Los Angeles in the 60s’. After attending college, he started performing comedy around 1978 in small beat don clubs in the hood. By 1985, Robin was the MC for the newly opened Comedy Act Theater on Crenshaw owned and ran by Michael Williams who first met Robin five years prior. He knew Robin would be perfect for this spot, and he was right. This Theater housed the best in black comedy across the country. In the first week their, he met future friends and comics Damon Wayans and Robert Townsend. Him and Robert came real close, and Robin was hanigin’ with ‘the Black Pack’; Townsend, Damon and brother Keenen, Arsenio, Paul Mooney and the ring leader, Eddie Murphy. Robin Harris was like an urban legend, everyone heard of him, but yet never scene him, that’s because he wasn’t Hollywood (yet.) By 1988, his best friends and performer at the CAT put him on his Mutiny Has Just Begun III special in 1988, his first time on television. Keenen that put him on I’m Gonna Git U Sucka! And Eddie and Arsenio were next, on Harlem Nights and performing on late night TV. 1990 was gonna be the year of Robin. He co-starred in the it House Party, HBP gave him his own One Night Stand. It was over by then, movies, One Night Stands, comedy albums and death … Robin died unexpectedly after a sold out show back home in Chicago at the Regal. In production, three movies with Paramount, two television series, one produced by Robert Townsend. Oh, one of those films would be Bebe’s Kids. Oh, the other series was to be Def Comedy Jam, he would have been the original host as Russell Simmons got the idea from the Comedy Act Theater.


15. Eddie Griffin

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

One of the first breakout stars from Def Jam. He was the first Def Jamer to have an HBO One Night Stand (after a Def Jam performance.) Eddie was born in Kansan City, Missouri in 1966 and by 1984, was a married man. At a club, he started his stand up career as a dare, it worked as he’s been ding comedy over 20 years strong. One of his first acts was impersonating Andrew Dice Clay. He did it so good that Dice invited him on tour with him. Dice is not the only top comic to take notice of the young budding star, Robert Townsend is back in the mix. HE toured with Robert in 1991 as he was promoting the Five Heartbeats. The next year HBO came calling twice. First a Def Comedy Jam performance, than his very own One Night Stand later that year (hilarious, OMG, the part about his drunk uncle at the funeral, genius.). A Comedy album in 1993, yeas at a time when albums were goin’ out of style he put out ‘Message In a Hat’. Next year he was back on HBO with a Comedy Half Hour. Upstart UPN gave him the sitcom Malcolm and Eddie which lasted four seasons. His first of many specials Voo-Doo Child, premiered in 1997 and teamed up with hip-hop mogul Master P twice. First, for the comedy showcase, I Got The Hook-Up Comedy Jam and the next year starring as comic in the Film Foolish. In theaters, he dropped Dysfunctional Family in 2003 and was very successful and 2008, Showtime premiered Freedom of Speech.
[Edited 2/17/10 22:10pm]

14. Moms Mabley

http://www.youtube.com/wa...DbYI0tDGJ8

Jackie “Moms” Mabley is the only comic on this list who was born in the 1800s’. She was born in North Carolina, her birth name Loretta Mary Aiken. By the time she was 13, both of her parents had tragically passed away and she was rapped twice. She moved to Cleveland in her late teens to become an entertainer. She met her befriend, Jack Mabley, who basically gave her his name. She was discovered by the early Vaudeville team of Butterbeans and Susie. In 1921 and went on tour with them. She worked with Zora Neal Hurtson and made her film debut in 1933s’ Emperor Jones. She became a stand up before stand up comedy even existed (as that name.) She played an older woman way before she was an older woman. She appeared at the Apollo Theater more than any over performer between 1939 and 1960. She released her first album in 1960 The Funniest Woman in the World, she was 66 at that time and it went gold. Her next album was a top 20 Billboard hit (Live at the UN) she released over 20 hit albums. She performed her stand up routine on many shows in the late 60s’ like The Ed Sullivan Show, Playboy After Dark ad the Merv Griffin Show. After appearing in the cult classic Amazing Grace, she passed away the next year.


13. Sinbad

http://www.youtube.com/wa...gZo06eryFg

This brother was a star comic in the 80s’ and 90s’, but he didn’t have to use curse words to make people laugh at the same time Eddie Murphy, the Wayans and the Def Jam comics were top comedians. Sinbad was born David Atkins in 1956 in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Comedy wasn’t his first love, basketball was. He even was rewarded a scholarship at the University of Denver. He was so in love with the game, his comedy career didn’t start until 1983, he was almost 30. Never too late though. He got his name to fame as a finalist on Star Search. By 1986, he was on the Poverty Tour, a top tour that year. Also that year, he joined the cast of the short lived Red Foxx Show. The next years, he was starring as Coach Walter Oaks on A Different World and hosting It‘s Showtime at the Apollo. During those years, he became known as a top stand up comic and performed on many shows. He was on Robert Townsend’s second HBO special, Take No Prisoners and Comic Strip Live on Fox. In 1991, he had his first special on ABC, Sinbad and Friends All the Way Live ... Almost. The special s kept comin’ later that year HBO called his name. Brain Damaged was one of the great stand-ups (they used to run it on Comedy Central a lot.) He was back to years later with Sinbad Live from the Paramount--Afros and Bellbottoms. That same year, appeared on the short lived Comic Justice. 1993 was a good year, FOX gave him a series, The Sinbad Show, a great show that lasted one season. After taking a break to do his thing in movies, he hosted his first installment of HBO’s Sinbad's Summer Jam: '70s Soul Music Festival in 1995. Seems like this dude ran HBO in the 90s’ on of a Preachers man premiered in 1996. Three more Summer Jam’s showed the following three seasons. In the 2000s’, Sinbad kind of fell out the spotlight, though he did return as host of Showtime at the Apollo.


12. Mr. Paul Mooney

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

Genius. This guy wrote for and discovered many of the comics on list, that should tell you something about this man. He was born in Louisiana in 1941. He grew up later in age in Oakland, California, where he ran away to join the circus. He became the first black ring master. He started performing stand up comedy while still in high school. He met his best friend and stand up comic, Richard Pryor sometime in the 1960s. BY the early 70s’ he was acting in movies, TV and was getting’ know as a writer in Hollywood. Some of these included the three greatest black TV shows in the 70s. Good Times, Sanford and Son and the Jeffersons. The famous “word association” sketch by Pryor, that was Mooney. In 1977, Richard called for Mooney to go find some talent and bring them in for his new series. He went out and found Robin Williams, Sandra Bernhard, John Witherspoon, Marsha Warfield and Tim Reid, some cast. In the 198’s was pat of another assemble, the ‘Black Pack’ led by Eddie Murphy and included the older Wayans, Arsenio and Robert Townsend. Speaking of Wayans, he was a writer of In Living Colr and created the characters, Homey the Clown and the Brothers Brothers. His stand up has been featured on Def Comedy Jam, where he’s mentor the new breed of comics, and had three specials, Analyzing White America Know Your History: Jesus Is Black; So Was Cleopatra and this year, It’s The End of the World. Her is a list of major artist he’s written for or discovered, or both. Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, Johh Witherspoon, Robin Williams, Sandra Bernhard, Tom Reid, Marsha Warfield, Shirley Hemphill, Sam Kinison, Eddie Murphy, Robert Townsend, Arsenio Hall, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Tommy Davidson, Eddie Griffin and Dave Chappell …Little known fact, h has twin sons, who are stand up comics who go by the name, The Mooney Twins. (Dwayne and Daryl)


11. D.L. Hughley

http://www.youtube.com/wa...aLrZuC5T4Q

The last member of the Kings of Comedy, and the last comic outside the top 10. Born in 1963 in Los Angles, he was kicked out of school and latter joined the Bloods street gang. He was a member, until his cousin got shoot, than he changed up for the better. He got his GED, and became a worker for the LA Times in the day, and went to local comedy clubs at night. D.L. got on at the Comedy Act Theater after the passing of Robin Harris. That led him to a shot lived local talk show and an appearance on MTV’s Half Hour Comedy. After appearing in Def Comedy Jam in, he received his first HBO One Night Stand he next year in 1992. That same year, BET created a similar shoe to Def Jam, Comic View, and h was the first host of the series from 92-93. After leaving on bad terms, he was back on HBO doin’ Def Jam again (but not before guest starring on Fresh Prince as what else a comic) and another HBO Comedy Half Hour in 1994. He joined the Kings of Comedy Tour months after it started. The tour featured the top comics like Steve Harvey, Guy Torry, Cedric the Entertainer and Tommy Davidson (not all at once though.) A show came out of his stand up power, the Hughley’s on ABC and later UPN. In 1999, his high rated comedy Goin’ Home premiered in HBO. In 2003-2004, he hosted Premium Blend on Comedy Central and Weekend at the D.L. also on the network (a short lived series) and another HBO special premiered, Unapologetic. HE had another short lived series on CNN, D.L. Hughley Breaks the News. Late last year, he hosted Shaq’s 2nd All-Star Comedy Jam.
[Edited 2/18/10 22:47pm]
[Edited 2/20/10 17:39pm]

Paul Mooney is #12 and DL Fugly is BEFORE him? What kinda scandalous ass list is this?

For my money, Chris Rock is The Greatest.

Harlepolis said:

I KNOW!!!

Ace said:

For my money, you LOSE

Harlepolis said:

What's wrong with DL. I know a lot of folks don't like him, I think he's an excellent comics one of the greatest from this current generation.

For being a former Blood gang member and GED recipient, his comedy is very smart and witty. It could go either way with Paul and DL at 11/12.

ScarletScandal said:

I thought the exact same thing.

I would have rated Bernie Mac much higher too.

Now, it’s the big time. The TOP TEN comics, let’s get it …


10. Dick Gregory

http://www.youtube.com/wa...j5FwzhUDcM

Yes peoples, now we are here, the almighty top ten. This first brotha I’m gonna bring up is the only comic here to run for the president of the United State. He’s not just a comedian. A social/civil rights activist, political figure, author and nutritionist. Dick was born in 1932 in St Louis, Missouri. As a young’s, he earned a scholarship to Southern Illinois University as a track and field runner. He was drafted in the Army, so that interrupted his running. After briefly returning to school he left again to become a comic in 1956. His comedy was different from the other comics at that time. He was talking political and racial tensions in the world, who was doin’ that at that time, Dick Gregory that’s who. Dick was telling it like it is/was waterier, he doesn’t hold his tongue. He was working both the white and the black establishments, but it was the black owned clubs that didn’t care for his social satire. In 1959, he bought a club, called ‘The Apex’. In the white clubs he face hecklers, but he didn’t shrug them off, he actually attacked back. Not a big deal in 2010, but this was in 1950 America. His break came in 1961, when he replaced Professor Irwin Corey at the Playboy Club. He was so god, Hugh Hefner highbred him for two more weeks. Jack Paar than invited him to his show, After a “No” answer, Paar said he could sit on the couch. In 1961, no black man had ever sat on the couch, on television. He also released to comedy albums that year, In Living Black and White and East and West. Now his other sides, 1964, he released the book Nigger to wide and rave reviews. It’s a ten million seller. Civil Rights, he was very vocal in the movements of the 1960s’ marching many time with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Political side, in 1968, he was a write-in for the President of the United States. Him, (along with Black Panther Eldridge Cleaver) became the first blacks with their names on the ballot. Nutritionist, Dick became a vegetarian in the 1960s. . He developed the drink Bahamian Diet Nutritional Drink and went on many televisi0n shows promoting the drink. He performed his stand up on The Ed Sullivan Show, The David Frost Show, Merv Griffin and even recently on 1st Amendment Stand Up.
[Edited 2/19/10 21:26pm]

a young redd foxx



John Elroy Sanford (December 9, 1922 October 11, 1991),
Foxx gained notoriety with his nightclub act (considered by the standards of the time to be raunchy). His stand-up performances were later released as "party" albums and became very popular.
He was also one of the first black comics to play to white audiences on the Las Vegas Strip. Foxx used his starring role on Sanford and Son to help get jobs for his friends such as LaWanda Page, Slappy White, Gregory Sierra, and Noriyuki "Pat" Morita.


an older redd foxx. i couldn't resist posting this:



[Edited 2/19/10 23:50pm]

9. Damon Wayans

http://www.youtube.com/wa...forhpJIuQ0

The final Wayans member to make the list. This Wayans brother started out hos comedy career in 1982. He actually followed his big brother to Hollywood in 1981 during pilot season (Keenen started out in 1978.) In two short years, he was in an Eddie Murphy film and took his ‘Black Pack’ buddies spot as the token black guy on Saturday Night Live in 1985. But by 86, he was fired from the show … but it didn’t mater, he was already making a name for himself in the comedy world. His stand up was showcased on the final episode of his season on SNL (they invited him back for the finale after he as fired) and Robert Townsend’s HBO’s specials. He was now doin’ movies like Colors and Earth Girls Are Easy (where he met future friend …) is friend Eddie Murphy gave him major props, sayin’ he was one of the main reasons he stopped doin’ stand up. “When You see a cat like Damon Wayans at the club, it make you wanna give up“ ”HBO gave him a One Night Stand in 1989. by 1990, was on the hottest TV show in town. His brother (along with Damon‘s help) created the series In Living Color, which featured many comics from this list as one time or another. Many of his character he created in his stand up were used for the show. Anton “the Bum” Handi-Man, the Head Detective, Ed Cash, Homeboys Shopping Network were all character from his mind. That same year, his first HBO Comedy Hour Special, The Last Stand premiered to rave reviews, and it was supposedly his last stand as he said he’s concentrate more on TV and movies. After the Last Boy Scout, he left In Living Color after the 3rd season (though he’d make many appearances in the 4th season.) But once all the Wayans left ILC, he went back to his roots, stand up comedy in 1993. He was back on HBO with another top special, Still Standing. In 2001, he starred in and created the long running ABC series, My Wife and Kids. After it’s cancellation, he returned back to his root, sketch comedy for the Showtime series ‘The Underground’ which featured Aries Spears and Damon Jr. Two years later, He did a comedy special for the first time in over ten year, the great Way Out. It aired on Comedy Central. I mentioned his son, Damon Jr. he is also a stand up comic and is pretty funny in his own right.

8. Flip Wilson

http://www.youtube.com/wa...R8OpOlga-Y

“The Devil Mae Me Do It!” the famous words from Flip Wilson. Before Wanda, Sheneneh, The Cafeteria Lady, Juwanna Man and hell, Madea, there was Geraldine. Born Clerow Wilson in 1933 in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was one of 23 kids and was actually a trouble maker. He got the name ‘Flip’ after he enlisted in the Armed Forces and would entertain the others. Flip was so good, that other bases would ask for him to entertain them also. Upon returning home, in 1959 he was offered a regular as a comic. Flip than went on to play the chitlin’ circuit around that time, playing the Apollo Theater among others. On the chitlin circuit he met Redd Foxx, in which Redd told Johnny Carson about Flip. He appeared on his show over 25 times. Flip would make his first TV appearance on The Tonight Show in 1965. Other TV shows he appeared on at that time included The Ed Sullivan Show, The Hollywood Palace, The Joey Bishop Show, Hollywood Squares among others. He was a regular on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh In in 1968 and appeared on the show after numerous times. Around that time, he’s also cut many comedy albums. Some of those records included “Cowboys and Colored People” and “You Devil You.” He might have been the hottest black comic in that time, and NBC gave him a series, the Flip Wilson Show in 1970. It was an hour long variety series featuring sketches, stand up and musical guest. It was different not only cause he was black, but he was the star of the show. There were no regular or featured cast members, just the guest for that said episode. The show lasted until 1974, but not before featuring some of the top stars of that time like Dean Martin, The Jackson , Redd Foxx, James Brown, David Frost, Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Lily Tomlin, Richard Pryor among others. After the series, he did acting gigs here and there like The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, and the game shows. In 1985, Charlie & Co. was his latest TV show staring him and Gladys Knight. It lasted one season. He passed away in 1998.
[Edited 2/21/10 12:21pm]

7. Martin Lawrence

http://www.youtube.com/wa...os8Ch-AyLY

“WZUP” Martin was the original host of Def Comedy Jam. Martin was born in Frankfurt, Germany but gre up in Washington, DC. As a youngster, he was friends with Tommy Davidson (they actually lived in the same building.) He started performing at a young age, moved to Hollywood to look for work. After coming in second place on Star Search, he got on as Maurice on What’s Happening Now!!! In 1987. After the series was over in 1988 he did Evening at the Improv on A&E and HBO gave him One Night Stand the next year. That same year, he was a star in Do The Right Thing. Little known fact, Martin auditioned with Tommy Davidson (and Wesley Snipes) for Keenen Ivory Wayans brand new show on Fox, In Living Color in 1989. He didn’t make the original cast, but Keenen liked him so much, he put him on his series Hammer, Slammer, & Slade but the pilot was never bought. other series, But the 90s’ is where it’s at. He starred with Kid N’ Play in both House Party and House Party 2. HE also starred as a stand p comic on the film Talkin’ Dirty after Dark which feared other stand ups on the list like John Witherspoon. On House Party, Martin or ‘Bilal’ starred with another comic, Robin Harris. Robin was originally given the hosting duties for this new upstart show to debut on HBO. After his passing, they went to one of Robins, pupils, Martin got the gig in 1991 and hosted for 3 seasons. During this times, Fox and HBO partnered for his long running series, Martin! After he gave up his Def Jam duties to Joe Torry, he premiered You So Crazy, a stand up comedy concert to theaters. Saturday Night Live soon followed, he was banned for life after his monologue. After the concert, started doing films more like Bad Boys and A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. After the series ended, he returned back to moves (Blue Streak.) After a near death experience, Runteldat debuted in theater in August of 2002. Recently, he partnered with the STARZ network to premier the series, 1st Amendment Stand Up. He bought back many of his Def Jam friends.

6. Dave Chappelle

http://www.youtube.com/wa...gyIv4U1ok4


“I’m Rick James Bitch!” Dave Chappelle was the comic of the decade in the 2000s’. Dave was born in Washington, DC in 1973. He started his comedy career early (age 14) after moving to New York City. He got a shot to perform at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem. And was booed off the stage. He said that was the moment that made him want to do comedy professionally. He honed his skills in the parks of NYC, like The Village, being mentored by the great Charlie Barnett. BY the early 19906s he found himself. He appeared on shows like Evening at the Improv on A&E and MTV Comedy Half Hour. By 1992, he was appearing on the hottest show on cable television, Def Comedy Jam, and he was a “Def Jam Comic” to the fullest. After these appearances, the movies started coming in, Robin Hood and The Nutty Professor being a few. His stand up continued on HBO with Comic Relief and the Young Comedians Special. He appeared on a spin-off of Home Improvement (or something like that.) The series Buddies premiered on ABC in 1996 and was eventually canned quickly. 1998, was a good year, he did an HBO Comedy Half Hour, and appeared in You’ve Got Mail and his own cult classic, Half-Baked. Finally, his brother got a whole hour too let off some steam and Killin’ Them Softly was born. It premiered on HBO in 2000 and after got co-starring rolled with comics Martin Lawrence and Eddie Griffin. In 2003, Comedy Central was looking’ for something different, so they gave Dave a shot. This wasn’t Dave’s first attempt at a show, it was about his 8th. Chappelle’s Show was born in early 2003 and Dave was a household name. This made him the hottest comic in the world and led to his record setting special, For What It’s Worth in 2005. Also that year he put his comic mind together with music talents to come up with Block Party. This set the stage for his much anticipated 3rd season … and it fizzled out … and Dave basically left show business (though he still does stand up as evidence from his record breaking 7 hour show back in 2007 in San Francisco.)

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[Edited 2/23/10 21:52pm]

lafleurdove said:

Wanda is #39.

LittleBLUECorvette said:



sorry, that's what i get for orging at work.
[Edited 2/23/10 21:53pm]

I love this man.
He makes me cry, laughing.

Acrylic said:

Number 67.

5. Eddie Murphy

http://www.youtube.com/wa..._n5JWzj6yU

The most famous stand-up comedian ever, made stand-up what it is today. Mr. SNL, this guy was so big, he hosted SNL as a cast member. Eddie Murphy was born in 1961 on Brooklyn, New York. Eddie was always watching TV and tryin’ to be whoever was n the tide, meanwhile older brother Charlie was the complete opposite. Eddie started performing comedy at the age of 16. After getting his name know across town, he started to perform more and more, improving his skills. At this time he befriended many who’d he go on to form an association with, these included Arsenio Hall, Keenen Wayans and Robert Townsend. Another comic Charlie Barnett couldn’t read well, so they passed over him. Robert auditioned for the new season of Saturday Night Live and got the spot, until walk-in Eddie won he executives over. He was a featured player in the 1980 season but by the next, it was all Eddie., and I mean all Eddie. Eddie was all over the show, Gumby, Mr. Rodgers, JAMES BROWN, Buckwheat … you name it. By 1982, he was starring in films now like 48 Hours. 1983, was just another year for Eddie, more TV (hosting SNL!), more films which all led up to his premier stand up special on HBO. The year before, he dropped his first comedy album Eddie Murphy Live, now you could visualize it. Delirious was a monster hit. The next year would be his last on SNL and Beverly Hills Cops was released. Around this time, he would get with the hottest young black comics in the game at that time, and form a pack, ‘The Black Pack’, Robert Townsend, Paul Mooney, Keenen and Damon Wayans (Damon would slide in as the token black guy once Eddie left the series) ‘Little Money’ Arsenio Hall and ‘Eddie Money’. These brothers would work together on various project and run Hollywood. In 1987, him and various ’Black Pack’ buddies worked on films. He was with Arsenio for Coming to America, and Keenen and Robert were big parts on the biggest concert comedy ever, RAW! Also that same year, he’d produce an HBO comedy special Uptown Comedy Express. It featured Arsenio, Robert and a little know fella named Chris Rock (who Eddie had discovered a few years back and would hang with the ‘Black Pack’.) Eddie was now the man in Hollywood. In 1989, his first and only directing job Harlem Night. It featured many a comic. Eddie, bro Charlie, Robin Harris, Reynaldo Rey, Arsenio, Redd and Rich. That year, he retired from comedy. His reasons, controversy and Damon Wayans. He told Arsenio on his show “When I see cats like Damon, it make you wanna stop.” Since, he starred in many films (good and bad), recorded music and did animated series The PJs.
[Edited 2/24/10 21:03pm]

4. Bill Cosby

http://www.youtube.com/wa...cIQ0pl4N90

The greatest story teller ever. Bill was born as William Henry Cosby in Philadelphia in 1937. We met any of his friends early in his like Fat Albert, Mush Mouth and of course his brother Russell. As a youngin’, he was a standout in sports playing football, basketball, baseball and track. He was also very funny and was considered a class clown. After joining the Navy, he went to Temple University and was a standout in track and field and football. He was a bartender at the club, but didn’t make his tips from his drink serving but from entertaining the guest. Around 1962, he ventured onto the stage an the rest is history. He was performing at multiple clubs in the Philly area. By the next year, he was appearing on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. That same year he released his first album, Bill Cosby Is a Very Funny Fellow … Right, his first of over 20. After an appearance on the Dick Van Dyke Show, he was offered the series I Spy in 1965. He was the first leading black man on a series. Later in the decade, he hosted and stared in many comedy specials, The First Bill Cosby Special, The Second Bill Cosby Special among others. His second series, The Bill Cosby Show ran for two seasons. After specials with Motown’s Diana Ross & The Jackson 5, his series Fat Albert & The Cosby Kids premiered in 1972. The Show ran for 13 years, and just as it was ending, another of his was premiering (… more on that series later.) Another series of his, the long running Electric Company was a 70s’ hit and he also started to at in films. Man and Boy, Uptown Saturday Night and Let’s Do It Again, among others. His 1983 video, Bill Cosby Himself was a success and the topic for the series The Cosby Show. The show ran for 8 seasons was in the top five for 7 of them. Two more stand up videos were released in the 80s’ an Evening with Bill Cosby and 49. A few more series premiered in the 90s, The Cosby Mysteries and Cosby. Also, one of my favorite movies, GHOST DAD.