Old Dead (or close to) Comedians

I have a love for old comedy. By old I mean oldish, the stuff your parents thought was funny and that the hipsters are bringing back. These guys were witty, clever, fast, unscripted gods in their time.
Here's my list, in no chronological order:

John Belushi

Come on, this guy is gold. Sure, he did drugs...but everyone did in the 80s.  This is the comical-genius frat guy in Animal House, whose inspirational speech was both a call to arms and a jab at the lacking educational system..."was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? No! And it isnt over now!"
He was on the Saturday Night Live cast for a solid time, and hit it big with the Blues Brothers "Soul Man" parody.
Besides that, check out the eyebrows. Those are some business eyebrows.

George Carlin

This guy. Maybe the most popular stand-up comedian in the Time-Before-Dane-Cook. Most of his routines (at least the early ones) were recorded but not telecast due to the crass-ness factor and the language content. But my gods, he's funny. He's ridiculously good at poking fun at popular society, politics, religion, and the english language. Which is refreshingly honest in today's society of smothering spoon-fed idealism. 

Also, he looks like my buddy Charlie a little bit, which is kind of awesome. Mental note to ask if they are related...

Fawlty Towers

This was the brainchild of John Cleese of Monty Python fame.  Its the saga of the family  that runs a hotel (Fawlty Towers) and the waiter/server/handyman who helps out. Its riotous good fun, and the repartee is a hoot. 

Eric Idle

Musician, Stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, musical comedy, cross-dressing on stage. Who needs more?

I'll leave you with this short list, but rest assured more will come. I love too many to fit into one tiny blog post. 

Ah, twisted senses of humor...