The 15 Worst Stand-Up Comedians
By Complex Magazine | Dec 6, 2011 | 11:52 am | Permalink
Who doesn't love good stand-up comedy? Over the decades, some of the most intelligent and prolific entertainers have started their careers off by telling jokes on the stage. Like modern-day philosophers, great comics can be insightful and illuminating, all while providing audiences with memorable one-liners and brilliant observations.
Prolific entertainers such as Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Pryor, and Woody Allen have all been staples of the stage, and some say that's where they did their best work. But it’s not an easy profession. In addition to being funny, a comedian needs unique stage presence and the vision to introduce common subjects to audiences in creative ways.
Truth be told, there are more terrible comedians in the world than good ones. For evidence, look no further than the attempted comeback of one of the worst comics of all time, Carlos Mencia. His new stand-up DVD, Carlos Mencia: New Territory, goes on sale today and showcases the comic trying to win back fans he alienated with years of bland comedy and alleged plagiarism. All he's won around here, though, is placement on our list of The 15 Worst Stand-Up Comedians.
Follow ComplexPopCult
Anastasia Beaverhausen December 6th, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Good list, with one exception. Sinbad is a great story teller and his latest show made me laugh out loud. This--> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJCZVcCQR3E is funny. And so is this --> http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xccv7f_sinbad-where-u-been-men-are-easy_fun haha "...he has no air. He ain't snorin', he's dyin'"
Complex is run by Jews. December 6th, 2011 at 02:32 PM
Lisa Lampanelli is hilarious, everyone else on the list is on point.
hadfwe December 7th, 2011 at 11:13 PM
All she does is recycle old stereotypes--not funny.
Jesse December 6th, 2011 at 06:55 PM
Dice? Thats horseshit. Dice was awesome, made funny movies, and saying that the publics taste in comedy has changed? What do you think The Chappelle Show was about? Anyway, I lost a lot of respect for this site. I also see that Lisa Lampanelli is on the list. Funny cuz she packs every fucking show she does, and she talks about nothing but faggots, niggers, spicks, and anything else you described as beiing played out back in the days. Mencia? Yes, GARBAGE! But all he was doing was trying to be the Mexican Dave.
John December 20th, 2011 at 02:14 PM
Fuck yeah he was. This writer is a joke. See what I did there?
Jesse Again December 6th, 2011 at 07:02 PM
In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated Larry The Cable Guys earnings for the year at $20 million. He must really suck. Why don't you get somebody to do your articles that knows what the hell they are talking about.
bunny December 20th, 2011 at 05:24 PM
Well you just proved that even rednecks have genetic throwbacks. I thought that rednecks couldn't type because of their lack of opposable thumbs... Good for you that you were a throwback to the chimpanzees you evolved from. I am sure it helps that yer granpappy settled down with a simian of some sort.
RoShine December 6th, 2011 at 07:12 PM
Lisa Lampanelli is hilarious. Sinbad had his day. Dane Cook is the worst comic ever!
Brandon Prescott December 6th, 2011 at 08:50 PM
no dennis miller on this list hes unfunnier than cook
Rohit December 6th, 2011 at 10:29 PM
I understand that any "Worst of" or "best of" list is going to be inherently flawed because there will never be a consensus. However, this list is horse shit. Some of the names on here makes sense but what the hell were you guys thinking. It seems you all know very little about comedy because Dice was one of the funniest dudes - he sold the garden by the way. Dane, Lisa, and Sinbad. Sheesh. Why do I even click on these lists. No Dennis Miller or Dennis Leary? Smh @ Complex!
Jen Seaman December 7th, 2011 at 05:30 PM
Totally agree
peter December 7th, 2011 at 07:58 PM
Comedy is subjective. What gives someone the authority to say who is great and who sucks? i'm making a list called 15 worst online writers of all time. JASON SERAFINO is #1-15.
Tristan Cutler December 20th, 2011 at 05:30 PM
YES, thank you! What a hater, he'd die in front of the mic.
Mike December 7th, 2011 at 12:57 AM
This list is just horrible. Whoever wrote this list must not know much about comedy. There are waaaayy worse comedians than most of the ones on here. What about Gilbert Godfrey? Dennis Miller? Louie Anderson? Whoopi Goldberg? Richard Lewis? Jimmy Fallon? Dave Coulier? JJ Walker? Gallagher? Jeff Foxworthy? Jay Leno? Sandra Bernhard? What about all those no namer's HBO gave comedy specials too in the eighties and ninties during the comic boom? Getouttaherewiththislist!
John December 7th, 2011 at 04:52 PM
...and I agree if you're going to have a "worst" comic list...or even "most annoying comics" list Gallagher has to be mentioned.
Ronnie December 9th, 2011 at 04:54 PM
Mike, you clearly know nothing about stand-up comedy. Regardless of how you feel about politics, Dennis Miller has always been regarded as one of the best writers and wordsmiths in stand-up comedy - especially by comedians themselves. Richard Lewis had great jokes when he was doing it consistently; and there's a reason he has many HBO specials. Jay Leno used to be a cutting edge comic with some of the best-written jokes of his time before he became The Tonight Show host, and even Bill Hicks was a big fan before he got the dream gig. You're entitled to your opinion, but to put these 3 comics on the worst comics' list of all time is completely ridiculous.
Eric December 7th, 2011 at 10:43 AM
This has to be the worst list ever created. Some of these comedians are GREAT!! If people can take being insulted tell them to go live in a BUBBLE!!
Eric Heavrin December 7th, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Took a list of some of the most popular comedians and claim they suck? What idiot made this list? Go back to living in your bubble!!