The Mount Rushmore of Standup Comedians
How are they so damn funny?
T o be in conversation with the best of the best in anything you have to bring something to the table that no one else brings. Maybe that thing is awards, wins, raw talent, or a different way of thinking. Not just any comedian can be considered the apex of all comedians, but there are four that certainly have. Kevin Hart, Eddie Murphy, Jerry Seinfeld, and Dave Chapelle are at the peak of Mount Rushmore for Comedians because of what they bring to the table that is far different from anyone else. These four have very different styles and deliveries to their jokes. They are so different from anyone else in the industry and that makes each of them so unique, and so damn funny.
Kevin Hart — “Laugh at my pain.”
Some of the funniest jokes usually comes from a dark place. These jokes are usually over topics you would rather not discuss with your parents over dinner. These comedians sometimes dance on the line of going too far, and that is what makes it so funny. Their style is not for the snowflakes of the world. Kevin Hart is a prime example of this.
Hart came from a dark childhood. His father was addicted to drugs and committed petty crimes. Hart used humor as a way of coping with his troubled upbringing. He began his comedic career shortly after he graduated from high school.
He started with small events locally, and eventually began performing in bigger clubs in New York and Los Angeles. He proved to be quite successful as a comedian but wanted more. He went on a series of comedy tours, which helped him establish himself in the entertainment field.
He soon ventured into the acting scene, and gained fame after playing a recurring role in the American sitcom Undeclared. His TV roles eventually led to film offers, and he made his film debut in the crime comedy film Paper Soldiers. Next he landed Scary Movie 3, which was a huge commercial success. Other than his work in films, he has also released three comedy albums. His album ‘Kevin Hart: What Now?’ was nominated for the Grammy Award in the ‘Best Comedy Album’ category. He has received several awards in his career, such as the BET Award, Teen Choice Award, and Peoples Choice Award (“The Famous People”).
Like many famous people, Hart’s marriage fell apart. Instead of wallowing in his misfortune, Hart saw another opportunity to create a new line of jokes. Here is one on his divorce: “She’s happy. She’s moved on. I’m happy. I’ve moved on. (Pause) I’m happier than she is, though” (Copelan). Hart also cracks up audiences with his self-deprecating jokes about being a father, which relates to many people in his audience. He is just so good because he can connect to any group of people.
Eddie Murphy — “the Golden Child”
Eddie Murphy’s upbringing was shaky when his parents divorced when he was three, followed by his fathers passing and his mother becoming very ill when he was just eight. Murphy rarely wanted to be in the house because of the environment.
You could find Murphy at a young age performing stand-up acts in front of his friends. He was known as a creative and ambitious child with an amusing personality. Even at a young age, his dream was to become a comedian and entertain the world with his clever and smart sense of humor.
He received his big breakthrough when he landed the role on SNL (Saturday Night Live) of a comedian in a television show. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands and succeeded in making a name for himself in the entertainment world. It led to his first major motion picture release 48 hours, which was a success and led him to act in many other films.
What makes Murphy so legendary is the fact that he can be funny by just using his voice. His voice has such a unique aroma that is so iconic. He voiced the role of ‘Donkey’ in the animated Shrek movie franchise which became extremely popular with the audience.
Jerry Seinfeld — “the Maestro”
What makes a good joke? Every joke has an equation. There are key details that go into making a strong joke, and they all follow the same formula. Each joke is in itself two stories, with one leading a certain direction, and the second one adjusting the story. That “adjustment” is the humor.
“Example: Story 1: Its all the things we do to convince us our lives dont suck’Story 2: ‘And I know that because everyones life suck. Yours sucks. My life sucks too.’ (Pause) Pehabs mine doesn’t suck quite as much (“Comedy Class”). For the math minds out there, this means the formula is, Story 1 + Story 2 = Punchline.
Truthfully, it is not that simple; there are other important aspects that matter like an appropriate pause. This pause keeps the audience anticipating and waiting for the punchline. It also gives the audience a chance to think and digest the stories. Timing is very important, and Jerry Seinfeld has mastered this old school formula.
Seinfeld started his career and was discovered at a standup debut in 1976. By 1981, he had the lead role in America’s favorite TV show Seinfeld. Something that makes Seinfeld so unique from others is the fact that he could create comedy in so many different ways.
He did not have to be the lead role or even on set. He could be the writer for the comedy. There were many times he co-wrote his own show Seinfeld: “The sitcom reached unprecedented levels of popularity and critical acclaim, and many of its catchphrases and plot elements became part of the cultural lexicon. Seinfeld ran for nine seasons and was the highest-rated show in the United States when its final episode aired in 1998 (“The Famous People”).
Dave Chappelle — “I’m gonna do me.”
Dave Chappelle is an absolute legend because of his style. He does not care who he offends, who is listening, or how you feel about him. He goes all out, no holding back. This side of Chappelle best comes out in his stand up specials on Netflix, and his show Chappelle’s Show. Chappelle’s outlook on life is, “Why should I care what other people think, or their feelings, I’m gonna do me, so, you either with me or against me” (“The Famous People”).
The Chappelle Show only aired for three seasons when Chappelle decided he wanted out. He felt that people were no longer laughing with him but at him. After this point, his comedy just became harsher and harsher.
The man has been dropping hit after hit, from 2000–2019 and hasn't missed once, winning three Grammys so far for his work. He has some of the greatest standup specials on Netflix such as, The Age of Spin, Sticks and Stone, and Equanimity just to name a few.
There were even times where lawyers were involved because of the jokes Chappelle made, “I know more than half the people in this room have been molested in their lives, but it wasn’t no damn Michael Jackson, was it?” (“Sticks and Stones”). A lot of people despised Chappelle for this act. He was actually fined for this and was threatened to face jail time, which is insane. He payed the fine and his own lawyer responded with this statement: “it’s unfortunate that [Chappelle] has chosen to use his platform to shame sexual abuse victims, and spread his ignorance of sexual abuse and the way it is perpetrated upon children” (“Sticks and Stones”).
Whether or not you are offended by the jokes in Sticks and Stones, the Grammy award speaks for itself. Chappelle will forever be known as unpredictable and willing to take a joke to the next level. This makes him one of the greatest to ever do it.
The Curtains Close
You have to find a way to break free from the norm to be the best of the best. It is easy to be funny but hard to be consistent and original. The four aspects that these comedians individually bring are relatability, voice, timing, and unpredictability. The achievements these comedians have earned for their work just proves how good they are. No one else in the industry comes close to the stage they have set. Without question they are the four best; the true question becomes what is the order?
“The Four Levels of Comedy: Make your friends laugh, Make strangers laugh, Get paid to make strangers laugh, and Make people talk like you because it’s so much fun.”
— Jerry Seinfeld
