Lenny named top stand-up ever

Lenny Bruce has been named the best stand-up ever.

The controversial comic topped a list compiled by America-based Ask Men website, beating Bill Cosby into second place.

Richard Pryor was third, with George Carlin fourth.

The site said: "Lenny Bruce is to stand-up comedy what Babe Ruth is to baseball.

"The fact that most controversial comics who followed in his footsteps cite him as their influence is what makes Lenny Bruce the best stand-up comedians ever."

List compiler matthew Simpson, the site's entertainment corresponden, wrote: "Although comedy is subjective, there are certain things about a great stand-up act that separate the amateurs from the pros. These include (but are not limited to) political incorrectness, vulgarity, timelessness, and the uncontrollable urge to repeat the comedian's jokes to your friends."

Earlier this month, Entertainment Weekly magazine named Chris Rock as America's funniest comic, but he could only reach number 8 in this new line-up.

The full list is

1. Lenny Bruce
2. Bill Cosby
3. Richard Pryor
4. George Carlin
5. Jerry Seinfeld
6. Eddie Murphy
7. Andrew Dice Clay
8. Chris Rock
9. Robert Schimmel
10. Jeff Foxworthy
    

The Ask Men survey

Published: 27 Mar 2004