I kind of like comedy done with others:
Mel Brooks (check out his 2000 year old man sketch with Carl Reiner)
John Cleese (every Fawlty Towers is a classic ... great cast)
The Marx Brothers
Bob and Ray (the Kimodo dragon sketch)
Albert Brooks (Lost in America)
Steve Allen (his late night show years before Carson's was superbly goofy)
Beyond the Fringe: Peter Cook and Dudley Moore were part of this group. Here is a sample where a one-legged man, Mr. Spiggott (the handle I should have used on Perb), auditions for the role of Tarzan:
Cook: Well, Mr Spiggott, need I point out to you where your deficiency lies as regards landing the role?
Moore: Yes, I think you ought to.
Cook: Need I say without overmuch emphasis that it is in the leg division that you are deficient.
Moore: The leg division?
Cook: Yes, the leg division Mr Spiggott. You are deficient in it to the tune of one. Your right leg I like. I like your right leg. A lovely leg for the role. That's what I said when I saw you come in. I said, 'A lovely leg for the role.' I've got nothing against your right leg. The trouble is - neither have you. You fall down on your left.
Moore: You mean it's inadequate?
Cook: Yes, it's inadequate, Mr Spiggott. And to my mind the British public is just not ready for the sight of a one-legged ape man swinging through the jungle tendrils.
But:
No-one was funnier at solo improv than Jonathan Winters at his peak. Robin Williams copied his basic shtick shamelessly and has managed to sustain it whereas Winters kind of went off the rails but he was funnier than Williams because he truly let his Id take over (mind you, he was borderline crazy).
Mel Brooks (check out his 2000 year old man sketch with Carl Reiner)
John Cleese (every Fawlty Towers is a classic ... great cast)
The Marx Brothers
Bob and Ray (the Kimodo dragon sketch)
Albert Brooks (Lost in America)
Steve Allen (his late night show years before Carson's was superbly goofy)
Beyond the Fringe: Peter Cook and Dudley Moore were part of this group. Here is a sample where a one-legged man, Mr. Spiggott (the handle I should have used on Perb), auditions for the role of Tarzan:
Cook: Well, Mr Spiggott, need I point out to you where your deficiency lies as regards landing the role?
Moore: Yes, I think you ought to.
Cook: Need I say without overmuch emphasis that it is in the leg division that you are deficient.
Moore: The leg division?
Cook: Yes, the leg division Mr Spiggott. You are deficient in it to the tune of one. Your right leg I like. I like your right leg. A lovely leg for the role. That's what I said when I saw you come in. I said, 'A lovely leg for the role.' I've got nothing against your right leg. The trouble is - neither have you. You fall down on your left.
Moore: You mean it's inadequate?
Cook: Yes, it's inadequate, Mr Spiggott. And to my mind the British public is just not ready for the sight of a one-legged ape man swinging through the jungle tendrils.
But:
No-one was funnier at solo improv than Jonathan Winters at his peak. Robin Williams copied his basic shtick shamelessly and has managed to sustain it whereas Winters kind of went off the rails but he was funnier than Williams because he truly let his Id take over (mind you, he was borderline crazy).
