5 Comedians We’d Like to See in the Classroom
By Julia H. Jackson
I recently heard an interview with Keith Lowell Jensen, the self-described “atheist comedian” who tours with the Coexist Comedy Tour. Their tag line: “A Muslim, a Christian, a Hindu, a Jew, an Atheist and a Buddhist Walk Into a Bar.” Jensen describes their shtick as a volley of religious jokes and plays on identity, suggesting that perhaps “political correctness” is a form of comedy in and of itself. His troupe represents an increasing trend in comedy today—the tendency for comics to label themselves by a singular standout characteristic. Just what is comedy anyway? And what, if any, educational value might it have? Today we’re inviting five of our favorite comedians into the classroom, comics who are more than just funny; in many ways, they are historic. And yes, we’ll give you yet another reason to watch Comedy Central.
5. Bill Cosby
Chances are, if you are between 20-30 years old, the first things you think of when you hear Cosby’s name are jello and the celebrated Cosby Show. But Cosby’s repertoire goes back much further than that; this 1963 interview is a good snapshot of the underlying social issues that inspired his work. Cosby was the first African-American to co-star in a dramatic television series (I Spy), and his comedy albums have collected their fair share of notable awards, including five Grammys. Perhaps what is most revealing about his work is not his identity as a black man, nor his gentle approach to storytelling, but the wonderful way in which he blended the two in such a subtle, sometimes subversive way. Makes you want to eat some jello.
4. Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks (born Melvin Kaminsky) is, without a doubt, the true American renaissance man of the past century. He is perhaps most famous for his films (Blazing Saddles, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Young Frankenstein, and his The Producers, which he made into a smash Broadway hit in 2001), but he is also a renowned comedy writer, director, producer, and, yes, actor. His recording of The 2000-Year-Old Man with Carl Reiner is a classic example of his ability to incorporate elements of his Jewish immigrant voice into the canon of popular comedy. And yet, he had funny things to say about Christianity, too, as you’ll see in this excerpt from his famous History of the World, Part 1.
3. Margaret Cho
Margaret Cho’s personality and comedic style reflects the setting and environment where she grew up: Haight Street, San Francisco, during the 1970s. She won her first comedy competition at 16, which gave her the opportunity to open for Jerry Seinfeld, and she hasn’t really stopped since. Not only has her stand-up and one-woman shows garnered international attention (she was named the Chief of the 2008 Mardi Gras Parade in Sydney, Australia), but her messages about cultural identity have earned her honors from GLAAD, the ACLU of Northern California, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and American Women in Radio and Television. What makes her so smart? Her straight-talking style cuts through taboos on every level: she confronts racism, sexism, heterosexism, and xenophobia with a sense of humor that has, in many ways, set a precedent. Still not sure what we mean? Check out this clip, one of many featuring an impression of her Korean mother:
2. Janeane Garofalo
Janeane Garofalo is a comedian on a mission. She wants laughs, yes, but she also has an argument to make, and she’s going to find a compelling way to make it. Her film credits include The Truth About Cats and Dogs, Steal This Movie, and Reality Bites, as well as TV roles on The West Wing and 24. Garofalo is an outspoken political critic and engaged debater; in 2004 she helped found the progressive radio program Air America Radio, where she hosted the show “The Majority Report.” She was a frequent guest on national news and political talk shows during the Bush administration, thanks to her passion for honest media and her growing career as a peace activist. And yet, she has become the master of the devil’s advocate; check out this clip from her argument that money is not the root of all evil at the 2009 Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Great Debate.
1. Eddie Izzard
Eddie Izzard, long identified as Britain’s top “executive transvestite comedian,” has an established career both in the United Kingdom and in the United States. His stand-up includes Dress to Kill, Glorious, Sexie, and now Stripped; titles meant as pop facades for what his stories really are: eloquently-written, expertly-performed history lessons. Izzard is famous for his explanations of European history (“I’m from Europe, where history’s from…we’ve got castles!”), his in-depth satires of Noah’s Ark and the Anglican Church (“Welcome to the Church of England. Would you like cake or death?”), and his debunking of popular myths surrounding transvestites and sexuality (“Many male transvestites fancy women…we’re kind of like male lesbians”). For a taste of a classic Izzard history lesson, check out this fast summary of religious history in England.
The story of great comedy is still being written. This list represents a fraction of the truly smart comedians out there; we’ve left out so many obvious greats, such as Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, the Marx Brothers, Monty Python, Ellen DeGeneres, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Mike Birbiglia, Maria Bamford, and, who knows—you?
