25 Greatest Comedic Duos of all Time

a list compiled by ... ME

Probably a work in progress to be sure. I'm prepared to alter and argue my opinions. My basic outline is:

Only real people, no fictional characters. Just for a cleaner system a person can only have one duo they're part of on the list. Duos don't have to be a frequent or even more than one time collaboration but it certainly helps. Duos have to have something close to or resembling an equal footing. Often there's a clear driving member, a more vocal or conspicuous member, but they're a duo only when you can argue for both of them bringing a substantial ammount to make a true pairing, not a star/side-kick relationship (examples of the latter being Conan O'Brien and Andy Richter, or Jackie Gleason and Art Carney). A strong respect for different kinds of comedy even if it's not something I enjoy listening to the most, BUT NOT an institutional/bandwagon rubber stamp for the old timers or very successful hacks. The ranking is based on the output and legacy of the DUO ALONE, not the individual careers or work of the participants outside of it. The comedy Gods have decreed that honesty shall reign supreme and bull$hit shall be spotlighted and denounced. BTW this isn't movie specific, it's all comedy (stand-up, sketch, movies, tv) from the worlds of performance, producing, and writing. So, while it isn't a perfect match for this subforum, I don't know where to better put it.

And here it is:

25: Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis
24: Jon Favreau & Vince Vaughn
23: Adam Corolla & Jimmy Kimmel
22: Al Franken & Tom Davis
21: Dave Chappelle & Jim Bruer
20: The Jerkey Boys
19: Mike Myers & Dana Carvey
18: Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise
17: Kevin Smith & Jason Mewes
16: Johnny Wayne & Frank Shuster
15: Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer
14: George Burns & Gracie Allen
13: Dan Akroyd & John Belushi
12: Jerry Seinfeld & Larry David
11: Gene Wilder & Richard Pryor
10: Jim Carrey & Jeff Daniels
9: Peter Cook & Dudley Moore
8: Matt Stone & Trey Parker
7: Harold Ramis & Bill Murray
6: Bud Abbott & Lou Costello
5: David Spade & Chris Farley
4: Cheech Marin & Tommy Chong
3: Dick Smothers & Tom Smothers
2: Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy
- - -

and the number 1 greatest comedic duo of all time I declare to be without anyone else even coming close...

1: Bob Odenkirk & David Cross



dunno if this'll be a controversial opinion or not. I'll tell you you better not try to argue otherwise if you haven't watched Mr. Show on DVD lately. Netflix it, best possible rental from that place. An easy 5+ hours of unmatched entertainment on each disk, with the episodes themselves and some of the best commentaries around. Both on their own are in a league of natural funniness that only a few other people on the list of any duo have, and together they've achieved the most respectable, consistant, hilarious output anywhere in comedy.

 

they completely slipped my mind, and I'll definetely be including them in a revised list, pretty highly

No, I'd argue they shouldn't. Jerry Lewis was really pretty awful if you look back at their work, and they only barely make it because of Dean Martin's personality of just being a guy who doesn't care. Jerry Lewis and his greater 50's subgenre was truely one of the darkest periods of the medium. It's not my personal opinion. It's pretty strongly shared by current comedic luminaries. Sammy Davis was never that strongly identified as a member of a duo of any kind above and beyond just being a rat-packer.

 

yes, the great "Squints".

 

I considered them but, atleast half of that duo, Kal Penn was far and away notht the strength of the one movie they've so-far starred in together. John Cho is a superb talent, Penn however has never showed me he's capable of anything greater than mediocrety. I liked "Harold and Kumar", but the writing and direction were it's main strength, followed by John Cho's performance, followed by various supporting and bit player performances, followed by Kal Penn.