Renewed Sad 10 - Comedians Gone Too Soon

Life is cruel. Sometimes it can be more cruel than you expected. And in this case, Comedy and Tragedy go hand in hand in a much more sumber way.

Whether it be poor health, natural causes, an unfortunate accident, drug usage, or depression...... some comedians are like watching a wonderful, beautiful sunset... at Noon(stole that line from ERB... but it fits.)

Here are some of my favorite funny peoples that didn't see their potential reached because Tragedy struck.

Top 10 Comedians That Were Gone Too Soon

Here we go.

Special Mention: Robin Williams: So... Robin Williams deserves a Special Mention. Why only that? Yes... it is a Tragedy. And yes, he shouldn't have left us. But to say he had a full career is an understatement. And this list is dedicated to those that I feel... didn't get that opportunity. So... don't get this wrong. I love and miss Robin. He was my hero after all. I acknowledge he had more he COULD'VE done, but he gave us so much.

Honorable Mention 1: The Amazing Jonathon: The Amazing Jonathon took the idea of Carrot Top/Gallagher's prop comedy and mixed it with a bit of Penn & Teller's magic. And we got... a crazy comedy magician with a loud assistant/partner. One comedy hour special with Comedy Central, and it is Legendary. We lost him this year due to his long battle with Heart Disease.

Honorable Mention 2: Richard Jeni: So... you've seen Richard Jeni. I know you have. Where? He was Stanley's putz friend/co-worker in The Mask. Yeah, that Mask. He had a WONDERFUL stand up special. And his delivery was on Point. He took his own life in 2007. 

Honorable Mention 3: Andy Kaufman: Andy was weird... Andy was annoying... Andy was a genius. Such untapped potential, and thankfully Jim Carrey helped us relive some of that magic with the movie Man On The Moon. Lung Cancer took Andy Kaufman at age 35. I wonder how HUGE of a sitcom star he could've been.

Bonus! 11. Greg Giraldo: One of the SMARTEST stand up comics I got the chance to see/hear. Must have been the fact he passed THE BAR and had a Law Degree. Most famous for his participation in the Comedy Central roasts. And mainly went first or near the beginning. Which sucked for EVERYONE that had to follow him. Sadly, we lost Greg to accidental overdose... after years of battling and BEATING alcoholism.

10. John Pinette: John Pinette... the eaters comic. Sad to say it that way, but he was. Joking about being big... and trying to get into shape... food... and his disdain for waiting in line. Pulmonary Embolism took John from us. But... if you have a copy of Thomas Jane's The Punisher, Bumpo lives on.

9. Sam Kinison: The Man Who Gave Us Rage Comedy. Yelling his punchlines... yelling just to yell. But it made him stand out, even since then, no one has matched that rage comedy at that level. If you know, you know. We lost Sam at the PEAK of his career in 1992 to a 17 year old drunk driver. Poetic... because that would be a Sam Kinison way to go out.

8. Gilda Radner: One of the original 7 "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" thar started Saturday Night Live. Roseanne Roseannadanna, Baba Wawa, and parodies of Lucille Ball and Patti Smith earned her an Emmy in 1978. One of the greatest performers in SNL history. We lost her to Ovarian Cancer in 1989... but her impact is still felt on SNL today.

7. John Ritter: So, in my special mention, I noted that I didn't put Robin on the list due to him having given us so much. A similar thing can be said about John Ritter. Stand out star if the Sitcom Three's Company... Dad in the Problem Child franchise... Adult Ben in the origina IT miniseries. So... why does John make the list and Robin doesn't? 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter. It was a SECOND prime for John. Losing John Ritter to that heart attack WHILE 8 Simple Rules was still killing it(sorry)... would've been like Robin dying before his stand up Resurgence.

6. John Candy: A member of the Toronto branch of The Second City Troupe and member of the SCTV cast, John Candy went on to have a SUCCESSFUL movie career. Uncle Buck, Cool Runnings, improv cameo in Home Alone, The Great Outdoors, Spaceballs, and the only TRUE Thanksgiving movie ever made... Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Dying of a Heart Attack at Age 43... you wonder just how much bigger his career would've gotten.

5. Phil Hartman: One of the greatest voices in comedy. SNL legend. Simpsons legend. You may also know him as the voice of Henry Mitchell and Mr. Wilson in the 90s Dennis the Menace Cartoon. We lost him when he was shot by his wife at age 49.

4. Chris Farley: Chris Farley had this energy. On SNL. In his movies. He just had something. He was able to make being a fat white ninja work... he was able to lift up David Spade(and vice versa). And the Lunch Lady song skit is one of the greatest SNL skits off all time...... and so was the Chippendales skit with Patrick Swayze... and Living in a "Van Down By The River". He was on a different level. He was his generation's John Belushi. Sadly... that other level was Cocaine. Which he died of an overdose of(and morphine) at the age of 33. A Speedball.

3. John Belushi: Speaking of John Belushi, another of the original SNL cast, one of the Seven "Not Ready For Prime Time Players". Samurai Futaba, Henry Kissinger, Beethoven, James T. Kirk, Joe Cocker... and of course, one half of the Blues Brothers. Bluto in Animal House... and then... we lost him. He was fired from his drug usage... and then overdose of cocaine and heroin, Speedball. At the time of his death, he had SEVERAL film projects he was in the talks for. Sadly... he never got to.

2. Patrice O'Neal: Patrice O'Neal had been doing stand up since 1992, but didn't get his one hour on Comedy Central until 2010. Sometimes, it is difficult to get your big break. But Patrice had finally got it(along with an HBO half hour in 2005). Elephant in the Room was an amazing special. He had this gentle-giant appeal to him. And his comedy was smart. His only Comedy Central roast appearance... Charlie Sheen roast in 2011. Patrice went on last. And... they HAD to. No one could've followed that. And 2 months after it aired, he passed due to Stroke. One Comedy Hour special... yet... it is one of the best.

(Here is where the celebratory lead in for number 1 would go.)

1. Mitch Hedberg: Mitch Hedberg was special. And... we knew it. Always looked down during his sets, like he was timid/shy. But his observational humor showed just how smart he was. "An escalator cannot break. It can only become stairs." Which is... right. But his delivery made it sound like it was the greatest joke ever. George Carlin's comedy was based around words...... and if you ever sat down and listened to the "Bits" section, the one liners(or read them in his books)... it is almost like they combined to manifest Mitch Hedberg. And yeah... coming from me... that is HIGH praise. And... for the 3rd time in the top 4 entries... we have another death from a Speedball.

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Is there anyone I missed? I admit... this one mad me pretty sad typing these out. Almost cried typing Gilda Radner's out. And that was pretty early in the post.

What did you think? Could I have done these amazing comedians any more justice?

Comment and share.

Until next time...

Don't forget...

Or at least try to after this tearjerker.

Renewed Top 10 - Comedians As Talk Show Hosts

Talk Shows. A staple of Talk Shows is the funny host that comes out and delivers that monologue, and offers levity in the interviews.

I'm going to preface this with... I don't know how many of these Talk Show Hosts have had separate Stand-Up Careers... at least before I started researching these hosts. So... this list is FULLY based on how I like these Comedians as Hosts.

So... let's get into it.

Top 10 Comedians As Talk Show Hosts

Here we go...

Special Mention: Johnny Carson: Johnny Carson is THE legend. But honestly, I didn't get much exposure to him until much later with reruns, and commericals of his run on the Tonight Show. I know he is legendary. I just didn't live in that era.

Honorable Mention 1: Jay Leno: The Squeaky Voiced Jay Leno. I admit... I have issues with how he got the Tonight Show over Letterman... and with how he screw Conan out of the Tonight Show. But... Headlines was one of my favorite bits. Glad... only on Monday.

Honorable Mention 2: Jimmy Kimmel: So... Jimmy Kimmel has always been... "funny". Co-Host of the Man Show, he was the better of the 2(the other being Adam Carolla). And then co-hosting Win Ben Stein's Money... I didn't know how Kimmel would work out on his own. And he has proven that he CAN do it. Too bad he has 2 BETTER shows to contend with in that time slot.

10. Jimmy Fallon: Speaking of Time Slot. Jimmy Fallon. A stand out from SNL, he got the job AFTER Conan/Jay. And eventually got the Tonight Show. And... while I loved him for so long, his show has gotten... bland. The games are still great, but the interviews are not. The monologue is lacking. But... status quo is still pretty good.

9. Craig Ferguson: Over 2000 Episodes of the Late Late Show... and he got away with plenty of innuendo. If there was ever a Late Night host that could command a crowd without effort. And... that Scottish accent just made everything else funny.

8. Dennis Miller: SNL Alum that has Weekend Update. What if he turned that into a show? That is what HBO did for him in the 90s, and dammit, if it wasn't good. I don't always agree with his politics, but you could tell he was smart with his opening monologue. Dammit... he was so good.

7. John Oliver: One of "Stewart's Kids". The Brit who is now a US Citizen. And he went from being a part of the Daily Show to hosting his own show on HBO called "Last Week Tonight". Instead of a nightly show, he covers the previous week on Sunday. And... of all the talk shows HBO has ever come up with, this is the best. John Oliver has an even brighter future ahead of him.

6. George Lopez: TBS featured this Latin sensation on his own Talk Show. And... airing after Midnight... he was able to break so many late night TV tropes. Everything I said about Craig Ferguson applies here, except for the Scottish Accent. Lopez is a phenomenal stand up... and it showed through.

5. Conan O'Brien: Conan. So funny... funny enough to graduate from Late Night to the Tonight Show. Funny enough to make Jay Leno jealous. Funny enough for TBS. And he caught fire a SECOND time. Team CoCo!!!

4. Graham Norton: Graham Norton had a decently successful Talk Show in the states, but back home, on the BBC, changed the game. Instead of what feels like interviews, all the guests sit on the same couch, and it feels like a conversation. And... it is pretty damn cool. Must be a Brit thing, because James Corden brough that over when it took over the Late Late Show.

3. Stephen Colbert: Another of "Stewart's Kids". Originally a member of the Second City Troupe, he had bits every now and then on SNL(did you know Colbert and Carell voiced Ace & Gary in the Ambiguously Gay Duo cartoons?). He joined the Daily Show as a correspondent... eventually getting his own show called "The Colbert Report", where he played satirical fake Conservative doing the news. And... it was SO GOOD enough that when David Letterman retired, Colbert got the job. And... he deserved it. And he changed the tired game/format. For so long... 1 main guest, 1 secondary guest, 1 famous music act. Colbert... sometimes he will only have 1 guest and then music. Sometimes, 2 guests and no music. Sometimes, only music. And... it doesn't have to be mainstream music. The night he had the Legend of Zelda Orchestra as the music guests, I knew we had something different brewing. And... Fallon might have a Grammy winning band... but Colbert has a Oscar winning band leader. Take that, Fallon!

2. David Letterman: Speaking of David Letterman, here is the reason that I only watched Leno on Monday. David Letterman was my Late Night host growing up. Solid monologue, the Top Ten Lists(meta here), and not afraid of messing with his guests, not afraid of tackling them head on. The Crispin Freeman incident, Lawyer slapping Kaufman, Drew Barrymore flashing Dave on TV, the infamous Joaquin Phoenix interview, and making the post prison Paris Hilton about Prison when she apparently she was told it wouldn't be that way. Funnier than Leno. Presentation better than Leno. And... a Native Hoosier!

And the Number 1 Talk Show Host Comedian is...

1. Jon Stewart: I mentioned "Stewart's Kids" a couple of times. Well, here is why. Jon Stewart and The Daily Show was the closest to news I ever wanted to get to. And... Jon Stewart was the ever present professional. Yes, it was a comedy show. But when he needed to be funny, he was. When he needed to be serious, he was. When he needed to be sincere, he was. And even though, I know he is liberal, he didn't hold back against either side. He burned both sides when it deserved. Now... what about Stewart's Kids? Steven Colbert, Steve Carell, Samantha Bee, John Oliver, Wyatt Cenac, Rob Riggle, Ed Helms, Rob Corddry, Al Madrigal, Mo Rocca, Jason Jones, even current Daily Show host Trevor Noah. All... students of Jon Stewart. No matter what they did before The Daily Show, I fully believe their time with Jon Stewart made them better. Some went on to host their own shows, Ed Helms became a big movie star. Steve Carell... well... you know who Steve Carell. Mo Rocca is even the host of CBS Sunday Morning. Jon Stewart wasn't just an era's "Funny News Guy"... he fostered an era of humor.

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What do you think? Anyone I missed? What do you think of Talk Shows hosted by comedians?

Did I miss any?

Comment below. Share this thing.

Until next time...

Don't forget...

Renewed Top 10 - Stand Up Comedians With Sitcoms

There is this tradition of "Hey, your stand up is great, want a sitcom based on it?" And most of the time, it is a terrible idea. But every now and then, you get gold.

And that is what this list is going to touch on. Sitcoms that stem from a Stand Up Comedian's set, or just starring them in some way.

So... let's get into it.

Top 10 Sitcoms For Stand Up Comedians

Here we go...

Honorable Mention 1: The Bob Newhart Show: I didn't see much of Bob Newhart's stand up. But I know anything that I have ever seen him in as been nothing short of comedy genius. Just something about his delivery. And this show was legendary.

Honorable Mention 2: It's Garry Shandling's Show/The Larry Sanders Show: Here we have two shows starring Gary Shandling. Why both of them? They have very similar premises. Garry Shandling Show was... well... him. But Larry Sanders was Garry playing a character in a late night show. But the feel of both shows was the same. 

Honorable Mention 3: Louie: Louis C.K. has been the center of controversy that he has now gotten past. And... he is one of the most successful stand up comedians in the modern era, winning MULTIPLE Grammys in the process. Makes sense to give him a show where he basically plays himself.

10. Mork & Mindy: Robin Williams cameos in Happy Days as alien Mork from Ork. Popular enough to give him his own spinoff... and... to say that Mork & Mindy was a very "Robin Williams" show is explanation enough.

9. The Steve Harvey Show: Did you know Steve Harvey had his own sitcom? I did... but after he got his talk show and the hosting gig for the Family Feud, I torally forgot. And it's sad because it was a great family sitcom.

8. Parks & Recreation: Amy Poehler starring series post SNL. But it isn't only HER show. Aziz Ansari & Nick Offerman are both huge parts of this show... leaning into their stand up prowess... and Chris Pratt becoming a huge actor comedy star. It bleeds Pop Culture.

7. Roseanne: A sitcom about what a real middle American lower class family would really be. Changed the sitcom forever, and the current follow up "The Conners" is still doing it right.

6. The George Lopez Show: I mean... self explanatory. George Lopez... Mexican American Family Sitcom based on Lopez's experiences. Pretty simple.

5. Seinfeld: Jerry Seinfeld is synonymous with Nothing Comedy. And that isn't a burn. It led to a Sitcom about Nothing. One of the MOST successful Sitcoms of all time. And... literally about him playing a Stand Up Comic... make a joke... and an episode of his "personal life" inspiration for the joke. Also... did you spot the Superman?

4. F Is For Family: Netflix Animated Sitcom created by Vince Vaughn starring the voice of Bill Burr. An amalgamation of King of the Hill and Married with Children. Definitely not for kids. So good. So... good.

3. The Drew Carey Show: Funny to think about Drew Carey being a Stand Up, given that he is now the host of The Price is Right. But it led to his own sitcom, and dammit... was it great. And it gave us Ryan Stiles... made Diedrich Bader even more famous... and CRAIG FERGUSON. I loved this show.

2. Home Improvement: Tim Allen's stand up was filled with self-deprecating misogyny. And weirdly enough, it made for a WONDERFUL Sitcom about a man who hosts a local Home Improvement show called "Tool Time", where Tim gets injured... constantly... due to his overconfidence and quest for "More Power". And... it gave us the very special Richard Karn, an American TV Treasure!

And the Number 1 Sitcom Vehicles for Stand Ups is...

1. Full House: Who doesn't know about Full House!?! 3 Men raising 3 young girls. And how that family grows. Of course, it was a vehicle for Bob Saget, one of the dirtiest Stand Up Comedians... ever. And ABC's bitch with America's Funniest Home Videos. But... people sometimes seem to forget... Dave Coulier was a stand up/impressionist who PLAYED Stand Up/Impressionist Joey Gladstone in the show... and had his own ABC home video show, America's Funniest People. This Sitcom defined the late 80s and early 90s. Led to many a viewers' crushes(yeah... I acknowledge John Stamos for the ladies... while also acknowledging that one of my first crushes was Jodie Sweetin... I am that age lol... I mean... have you seen her now!?!?!?!). Full House defined an era. And... even Fuller House defined how "Sitcom Sequels" should be done.

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So there is the list. Any Stand Up fed Sitcoms that I missed? Share them with me... I want to watch them.

Tell me what you think. Comment. Share.

Stay tuned for more HAHAs!!

Until next time...