Today's Bill Cosby?

Bullgrit · Feb 8, 2014

I watched a Louis CK video the other day because I've seen funny quotes by him around the Internet. Sadly, overall, I didn't find him very funny. Too much of his humor is either based on unreal premises, (for something to be funny, it has to be based on fact/truth -- even Monty Python's humor is based on fact/truth). Plus, his schtick goes a bit too far, (for sharing with my kids).

I'd love to find a good contemporary comedian to share with my kids. Going back to my youth: someone like Bill Cosby or Sinbad, not George Carlon or Redd Foxx. Who's the current master(s) of "clean" comedy?

Bullgrit

Kramodlog · Feb 8, 2014

Bullgrit said:
I watched a Louis CK video the other day because I've seen funny quotes by him around the Internet. Sadly, overall, I didn't find him very funny. Too much of his humor is either based on unreal premises, (for something to be funny, it has to be based on fact/truth -- even Monty Python's humor is based on fact/truth). Plus, his schtick goes a bit too far, (for sharing with my kids).

I'd love to find a good contemporary comedian to share with my kids. Going back to my youth: someone like Bill Cosby or Sinbad, not George Carlon or Redd Foxx. Who's the current master(s) of "clean" comedy?

Bullgrit

Wut?

Ed_Laprade · Feb 8, 2014

George Carlin may not be 'clean', but nobody does insightful better. How old are your kids? A little taste of the real world might be what they need.

I don't know modern comedians at all, but what's wrong with the originals? Bill Cosby's old stuff is timeless, for the most part.

Morrus · Feb 8, 2014

Michael McIntyre is stupidly popular, though very mainstream. I think he's what you're after. He plays massive arenas and stuff these days.

I'm more a Stewart Lee fan, but he's not kid friendly.

WayneLigon · Feb 9, 2014

Bullgrit said:
Too much of his humor is either based on unreal premises, (for something to be funny, it has to be based on fact/truth -- even Monty Python's humor is based on fact/truth).

Example?

Joker · Feb 9, 2014

Bill Cosby still does stand-up.

Bedrockgames · Feb 10, 2014

Jerry Seinfeld is still around and famously clean.

Zombie_Babies · Feb 10, 2014

First of all, Louis CK is amazingly insightful and fantastically funny. True story.

Second, if you want clean he's totally not your guy. Try Bob Sagat - you know, the guy from Full House. He does a lot of stand up and he's pretty ok. Ok, he's mediocre but he can be funny every now and then.

Third, I think I have the perfect comic for you - and no, it's not Bob Sagat. For the love of god, don't check out anything he's done in the stand up world with your kids in the room - it was a joke! Anyhoo, a really clean guy that's also pretty funny is Brian Regan. Really, check him out. I think you'll like his stuff. And ... really, really stay away from Sagat.

WayneLigon · Feb 10, 2014

To go back a few years for clean comedians: Jerry Clower. He has some amazingly funny stories taken from his days growing up in Depression-era Mississippi.

Altamont Ravenard · Feb 11, 2014

Zombie_Babies said:
First of all, Louis CK is amazingly insightful and fantastically funny. True story.

Agreed Infinity%

I saw a Bill Cosby special recently, and it was funny, but partly, IMO because we know his "character". Also, his age shows in his current comedy ("old-timey" humor)

He is not clean, but Chris Rock is also incredibly gifted, a modern-day philosopher.

Jerry Seinfeld is still funny and 100% clean. I haven't watched it in a while, but his "comedians in cars getting coffee" web series was good.

If you haven't seen it, I greatly recommend a special with Ricky Gervais, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Louis CK. It's a 40-minute conversation about stand-up and it's hilarious.

In a totally different vein, I saw a coupe of Tig Notaro sketches recently and it was funny, if a little weird.

George Carlin and Richard Pryor are dirty classics but still very relevant.

Dmitri Martin is clean and funny.

AR