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May 4, 2010
Eight Funniest Senior Citizens
In honor of Betty White’s SNL appearance, we bring you the best comedians over eighty.
By Josh Kurp and Chris Mathias
8. Elaine Stritch, 84
While she may have made her most lasting impression on Broadway — perhaps most memorably bringing a hilariously over-it cynicism to Sondheim's Company — Elaine Stritch still managed to make time for guest roles on TV shows like 3rd Rock From the Sun and The Big Gay Sketch Show. But it's her performance as the bracing, maybe evil Colleen Donaghy on 30 Rock that has most recently allowed her to show off those comedy chops.
7. Ernest Borgnine, 93
For a guy who was born during the first World War, Borgnine is impressively active - he’s been in at least four films already this year. In recent memory, he was the Mermaid Man on Spongebob Squarepants and acted in From Here to Eternity, The Dirty Dozen, McHale's Navy, and BASEketball. If you somehow missed all of those, he was also in “Boy Scoutz ‘n the Hood,” perhaps the funniest Simpsons episode of all time. For that alone, we'd probably give him a spot on the list.
6. Carl Reiner, 88
Carl Reiner made your parents laugh in the ‘60s as a writer and actor for The Dick Van Dyke Show. About forty years later, you got a kick out of him as Saul in the Ocean's trilogy. Even more recently, he was Marty Pepper on Two and a Half Men. Still not impressed? He also has the distinction of being the only man to appear on all five incarnations of The Tonight Show.
5. Adam West, 81
To many, he's simply Mayor Adam West from Family Guy, but dig further back and you'll realize he's been funny since the mid-'60s, when he appeared in Robinson Crusoe on Mars and The Outlaws Is Coming, the Three Stooges' final film. And, of course, in 1966, he played Batman, perhaps as well as he’s ever been played, and brought the world some epic Bat-gadgets. (Shark repellant, anyone?)
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Commentarium (24 Comments)
I want to argue, but really Mel Brooks deserves the #1 spot. Nice list.
What about Bob Newhart and Bill Cosby?
The point is not people who were comedians and are presently eighty. The point is 80yos who are currently comedians. Bill Cosby doesn't count.
i think it's not that bill cosby isn't active, it's that he's only 72.
That scene in Blazing Saddles: perfect.
More funny Betty White SNL promos are here:
http://bit.ly/cv99fT
You forgot Cloris Leachman!!!! :-(
Cloris Leachman! I cannot believe you forgot her! Way funnier than some of the schmucks who made this list....
In my mind Cloris Leachman is #9, because everyone on this list deserves their respective spots. Although it is questionable whether Mel Brooks should be #1 after the bloated flop musical Young Frankenstein and the fact that he hasn't made a good movie since the early 80's. But he's still a funny guy.
Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong should seriously be on this list. Not only are they still funny, but they are still relevant, too.
And let's not forget Phyllis Diller!
Why does everyone forget Betty White's character Sue Ann Nivens on the Mary Tyler Moore Show?
WHERE IS SHELLEY BERMAN!?!?!?
Where's the white women at?
Go back and get a shitload of dimes.
Aristophanes is ridiculous!
Lincoln loved mayonnaise!
Love that Betty White for her role in Odd Couple
I don't know how the heck Borgnine made this list - for one line that was gutter humor and a faux pas!
My favorite was always Sue Ann Niven on MTM! And I agree - Cloris Leachman should have been on this list instead of Ernest Borginestnine
No to Ernest Borgnine and and yes to Bob Newhart and Cloris Leachman.
I think the point of the list is not that they are just old, but also that they are still relevant in the entertainment world. For instance, Phyllis Diller, while hysterically funny, has retired.
Mel Brooks-I wish he would stop doing the Hitler mustache/salute thing.
Elaine Stritch-What a great dame!
Cloris Leachman-I saw her on Two and Half Men and she played a lecherous, neighbour who puts the moves on Allan.
Angela Lansbury-Don't forget her. She's still wowing them on Broadway.
Ernest Borgnine-He was great in The Wild Brunch but I'm sorry I heard what he said about how he stays young-yuck.
Phyllis Diller-she's a great lady and still very funny.
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انا خالد من سطيف ابحت عن بنت او مدام من الجزائر تحب الزب الخشين وتحب النيك الممتع تتصل بى على رقم 0550439239 الى تحب انيكها نشبعهاالزب تتصل
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Now you say something