Monday was Bob Newhart’s 92nd birthday, and someone suggested that he would be one of the four faces on a Mount Rushmore of great comedians.
I can’t disagree with that, but I think it would be a nearly impossible task to pick four comedians without doing a tremendous injustice to at least half a dozen other greats.
Just for fun:
Let’s put four names and faces up there. Let’s say Newhart, Lenny Bruce, George Carlin and Richard Pryor. Reasonable choices all.
But what about Lucille Ball, Groucho Marx, Jonathan Winters and Robin Williams?
Or Rodney Dangerfield, Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby and Carol Burnett?
How about Woody Allen, Joan Rivers, Mort Sahl and Chris Rock?
Or two of the best ever from across the pond, Peter Cook and Eddie Izzard?
You may get the idea. I’ve already named 18 great comedians and I haven’t even mentioned Steven Wright, Bill Hicks, Jerry Seinfeld or Dave Chappelle.
And if you think I’m overrating Izzard, think again. Name me one other comic who can do a hilarious hour in a language other than his own. Izzard gets laughs in English AND French.
The fact is, it’s easier to pick four presidents for Mount Rushmore than it would be to settle on four comedians.
And yes, I know there are some of you who believe Ronald Reagan or Donald Trump should be on the mountain. All I can say about that is — not even close. FDR, Harry Truman or Dwight Eisenhower would all be better picks than Ron and/or Don.
If you disagree with me about Ron, you’re wrong. But I can respect your opinion.
If you disagree about Don, you’re an idiot.
Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison, Jim Gaffigan, Elayne Boosler.
W.C. Fields, Jerry Clower, Kathleen Madigan, Lewis Black.
I’m beginning to think I could keep naming great comedians all day without ever running dry.
I could count the number of great presidents on my fingers and toes and probably not even have to use more than a toe or two.
Sadly, the average successful comedian has probably said or done more to make people’s lives better than the average president.