Unfunny comedians

[TheTecknician]

We've covered lousy actors and questionable singers. A further spin-off: who really isn't that funny, past or present? I offer:

Hale and Pace
Freddie Starr
Lenny Henry

Mean-spirited, I know.

On the plus side, I did like Jimmy Tarbuck. I'm probably being unfashionable but his delivery as a stand-up was perfect, even if some of the jokes wouldn't go down well today.

Same 🤣

Ben Elton - I’ve never found anything he said funny. His natural environment should be a soapbox in Hyde Park, not a comedy club.

I agree with so many people's views on here. I loved Sean Lock RIP. I've recently been listening to pod casts on my way to work and some comedians mentioned are hilarious. Jo Brand had me LOLing. I do actually have a soft spot for Harry Hill. I know his jokes are so silly but that's what makes me smile.

Urgh whatever you think of her, remember when Frankie Boyle refused to apologise to Katie Price for making a vile joke about her disabled child. I just don't find that funny and really disgusting.

Peter Kay at the O2 this year was like an act from Butlins
Nish Kumar - white people hate me
Seann Walsh - is he even a comedian?
Jo Brand - men are awful and I like cake

I don’t find,
bill bailey
ricky gervais or
Richard ayoade particularly funny what’s so ever.
my fave comedians
are Mickey Flanagan, Russell Kane, Lee Evan’s, French and saunders and Alan Carr.

Russell Howard. Have not found myself amused by a single thing he's ever said.

The new blonde farmer guy

I find most things funny, but there are some styles of humour I just can not get into.

Harry Hill
Al Murray
Peter Kay
Leigh Francis/Keith Lemon
The Mighty Boosh duo
Most of Little Britain - Walliams and Lucas can get in the bin
James Corden can get in the bin too
The Office humour is boring to me (although I looove Ricky Gervais roasting celebrities)
Amy Schumer
Anyone who sings or plays an instrument as part of their act - Bill Bailey, Tim Minchin

In saying that, I do find some of them funny in interviews and panel shows. It's just their own show styles I don't really like.

I never really got Morecombe and Wise....

Lenny Henry
jimmy Carr - creepy
david walliams - creepy

Rosie Jones, I didn't see her in Call the Midwife, the programme is cheese on toast, but was she playing the role of an expectant mother? She had the same role in Casualty 2 years ago.

Unfunny comedians? The list is endless!! It would be better trying to find out who is funny!
Top of my head of Zoe lyons, jon Richardson,James Acaster, Ben Elton, Rosie Jones .
There are many comedians, past and present that i do find funny, I promise!

Occasionally watchJames Acaster on youtube because he once said something that I thought was amusing:

British government to Greece about the Elgin Marbles: "Sorry, we haven't finished looking at them".

That's it, nothing since then that has even raised a smile. Does anyone know him - is the gormless delivery just an act?

Also, I think the smug persona is part of the act - saw him a few years ago (in Tunbridge Wells of all places) and he was in the foyer flogging DVDs after the show and was genuinely really nice, taking the time to chat to everyone who wanted to, even though you could see he was knackered and probably just wanted to bugger off home!

I had some merch signed after one of his shows. Despite knowing full well that he’s performing a persona, it was almost disconcerting how very polite and unassuming he came across.

And I do love how some critics are so outraged by Stewart Lee’s ‘contempt’ for his audience. I’ve seen him a few times now, and the audience ribbing always goes down well!

Harry Hill
Sue Perkins

Agree Lenny Henry
I found Le ny Henry's 80s stuff too manic
I do like him as a serious actor though.

Frank Carson. We need you.

Seriously, this is fascinating. As I said upthread, a matter of personal taste, but with some common ground. Admittedly, I'm very out of touch with popular culture because I don't recognise most of these comedians' names.

Peter Kay I cannot bear. Nothing personal but his fame got to the point where he was fashionable beyond his actual humour.

The new blonde farmer guy
Who is that?

Oh! Lucy Beaumont! 😖
Unfunniest comedienne (comedian🤔) by a country mile..and that's competiting in the same field as Miranda, Rosie..? and Sarah Millican.

I really enjoyed Rhod Gilbert - very funny.

Who?

They maybe witty, but they are not funny.

Just thought of another, Ellie Taylor, who?
Heard her on something on Radio 4 and she's rubbish, just pointless.

Rosie Jones, Romesh Ranganathan (jokes about his kids being abducted by paedophiles…nice), Nish Kumar and Noel Fielding.

But the worst by an absolute mile was Sophie Hagen. Fucking awful and about as enjoyable as a smear test.

@Hwi @SabreIsMyFave I actually worked in tv production for the best part of a decade, largely on some of the shows I mentioned above, so I am very aware of what and how much is scripted. Hosts follow a fixed script, panelists have a far broader degree of flexibility. They may have certain beats to hit, or jokes they plan in advance hoping to slot in, or take part in a fixed ‘bit’, but there is also a very definite requirement for off the cuff comedy. Except Mock the Week which was scripted to the eyeballs and back again.

Getting the right panel mix is a real art, precisely because you need their individual styles to gel well because they need to play off each other off-script.

Jimmy Carr. I hate that punching down style of comedy.