There is nothing better than a night of comedy. Whether on television, video, or at a live performance, comedians pull the laughter right out of us, bring us to tears, and remind us not to take life too seriously. When it comes to unwinding, rewinding these popular routines definitely hits the spot.

A review of the past 50 years in comedy reveals those comedians who transcended race, gender, and age, to deliver their own brand of entertainment: the laugh-out-loud, help-I-can’t-breath kind of routine that is still being watched today.

George Carlin – Born during the Great Depression and coming of age during the hippie movement, this high school dropout never fit into the mainstream. His style of dress and his routines always defied the norm and he struggled at the onset of his career because of it. His famous Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television and his appearance as the first guest on Saturday Night Live marked him as an unpredictable comedian and began a long line of “firsts” for this man of talent. Awarded the Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize in 2008, one week before his death, he was the first to receive the award posthumously.

Jonathan Winters – This pioneer of television got his start as a variety show guest on early programs with Arthur Godfrey, Jack Paar, Steve Allen and The Tonight Show. His style of comedy found its place in television, movies, books, but mostly in the characters he created from his own imagination. A proven impromptu comedian, he could be given any prop and immediately do several sketches using them. Transcending the generations, his videos remain popular today on YouTube and his new movie, Simply Jonathan, is all about the man and his comedy.

Bill Cosby – Unlike other comedians, this artist spans all types of media, and has always yielded a perspective on humanity unlike any other. Considering he started out life in the projects, it’s no wonder he offers a unique position, through storytelling and comedy, in his cartoons, books, routines, television shows, and movies. He literally broke through the racial issues in his character on I Spy in the 1960s. He was given the Kennedy Center Award in 1998 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2002, the highest civilian award in the United States. His style not only makes everyone laugh, young or old, but it touches that part of everyone which unites us as human beings.

Phyllis Diller – One of those rare women who raised five children, made history in a man’s world, stand-up comedy, she wrote her own routines, and throughout her life she has championed causes for children, cancer, and other philanthropic ventures. A concert pianist, author of four best-selling books, a chef, skincare product inventor, and spokesperson on cancer and plastic surgery, she has spanned the gulf between women and careers that make an impact. Though very little is available for viewing on the internet, her offerings are available for purchase and continue to stand testimony to the role comediennes play in our lives.

Bill Hicks – Born in the 1960s and moved around the country several times, this late comedian grew up writing routines and watching his mentors Woody Allen and Johnny Carson. His (high school diploma) should have had an entry for his time spent with his friends doing stand-up acts at The Comedy Workshop in Houston, for they were a big hit. With help from Jay Leno, he appeared on The David Letterman Show in 1984. His style of comedy caused clashes with some audiences. His seeming negativity on life and his blunt style of criticism in his routines often shocked people, but he believed people were essentially good and that it was outside forces shaping them and the world in which we live. In 1994 he died of cancer, having written and recorded music and continued to work throughout his chemotherapy and illness.

Jeff Allen – One of the few inspirational comedians who is forthright and hilarious in his approach to life and relationships in his routines.. His past battle with drugs and alcoholism almost ended his career and his marriage. After joining Alcoholics Anonymous, he turned his life around with doing what he does best: making people laugh so hard that they cry. His venue runs from schools and Las Vegas nightclubs to corporate seminars and churches. This former atheist must have a (phony diploma) in Christian entertainment, because no matter the audience, he doesn’t have to change a thing in his scripts.

So many comedians over the past half-century have been great in their own unique way it is difficult to creat a list of even the top 100. Many launched into television and film after doing stand-up. Many authored books, composed and produced music, created works in the arts, and championed causes for the underprivileged. There’s no better medicine for what ails us than comedy.


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