Comedians and Entertainers

The website jakeandHIM.com says, "BFF's. No we're not"

Amir

This comedian's show won in 2015 for the parody song "Girl You Don't Need Make-Up"--turns out she does

Amy Schumer

At 30 paces, she could split a playing card held edge on and hit dimes tossed into the air

Annie Oakley

He went from "Parks & Recreation" to headlining a standup show at Madison Square Garden

Aziz Ansari

His "Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World" show was big but he lost his fortune through mismanagement

Bill Cody

His books include "New Rules" & "The New New Rules"

Bill Maher

Games of this comic "on the Street" included "Would Drew Barrymore Like That?" & "It's Spock! Do You Care?"

Billy Eichner

I gotta tell ya, this comic got 5 special Academy Awards for his humanitarian services & services to the film biz

Bob Hope

This stammering comedian with "new" in his name won the 1960 Best New Artist Grammy

Bob Newhart

Many Jewish comedians got their start performing in the Catskills region with this soupy 2-word nickname

Borscht Belt

This redheaded prop comedian has a long-term gig at the Luxor in Las Vegas

Carrot Top

In 2014 this pair launched a brand new "Up in Smoke" tour

Cheech & Chong

Her "Uganda Be Kidding Me Live" show came to Australia, New Zealand & Netflix

Chelsea Handler

The original choice as the voice for Shrek, this "SNL" funny man had already done some recording sessions when he died in 1997

Chris Farley

In 2008 Mario Barth, perhaps Germany's finest comedian, broke this "Bring the Pain" man's record by playing to 68,000

Chris Rock

"Mystere" & "The Beatles Love" are among the many Las Vegas shows presented by this Montreal-based group

Cirque du Soleil

You can buy a Mindfreak Platinum magic kit from his website

Criss Angel

Hello, possums! For 6 decades, Barry Humphries was a total drag as this dame

Dame Edna

In a 1956 classic this redheaded comic rattled off, "The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle"

Danny Kaye

In his fourth TV special, this illusionist "vanished a jet airplane"

David Copperfield

This magician's feats include walking through the Great Wall of China

David Copperfield

He made 'em laugh & won for his "Colgate Comedy Hour" work

Donald O'Connor

This mustached Canadian was credited with reviving the public's interest in magic in the 1970s & '80s

Doug Henning

This "Price is Right" host: "Hate your job? There's a support group for that--it's called everybody. They meet at a bar"

Drew Carey

On Carson in 1982 he said, "I'm from a predominantly black family, & I have yet to run into a relative named Buckwheat"

Eddie Murphy

Cassandra Peterson dated Elvis & was in the Groundlings before creating this "Mistress of the Dark"

Elvira

In 2014 this former stand-up comic released his 21st novel, "A Wanted Woman"

Eric Jerome Dickey

In 2014 he performed in Las Vegas as part of his "Last Smash" farewell tour

Gallagher

SNL's first African-American cast member, he became a regular on "2 Broke Girls"

Garrett Morris

His book "Gracie: A Love Story" was a No. 1 nonfiction bestseller

George Burns

This comic known for his "7 Dirty Words" routine hosted the first episode of "Saturday Night Live"

George Carlin

Though she came around, Barbara Walters said she initially hated this funny lady's "Baba Wawa" impression

Gilda Radner

As Prof. Wagstaff in the movie "Horse Feathers", he said, "I'd horsewhip you if I had a horse"

Groucho Marx

In a 1930 film he said, "One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas I don't know"

Groucho Marx

He called the milk can escape "the best escape that I have ever invented"

Harry Houdini

A doctor (with hair) on "St. Elsewhere", he later offered "Deal or No Deal"

Howie Mandel

One of Penn Gillette's greatest influences was this "Amazing" magician & author of "Flim-Flam!" who's devoted himself to exposing fakery & the so-called paranormal

James Randi

Oct. 19, 2014: Jimmy Fallon roasts & honors this predecessor who's getting the Mark Twain Prize for Humor

Jay Leno

Old-time comic George Jessel was the "toastmaster general"; today he is the snarkier "roastmaster general"

Jeff Ross

These days, he can be seen at Crackle.com hosting the web series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee"

Jerry Seinfeld

Memorializing this comedian in 2014, the Times quoted her line "A Peeping Tom looked in my window & pulled down the shade"

Joan Rivers

On Sept. 19, 2014 E! dedicated a day of programming, including a "Fashion Police" marathon, to this late funny lady

Joan Rivers

On this comedian's "Experience" podcast, he interviews comics & does recaps of Ultimate Fighting events

Joe Rogan

Addressing web commenters directly to write the govt. about net neutrality, this Brit began, "Good evening, monsters"

John Oliver

As of 2013, she holds the Guinness world record for most stand-up specials by a comedian

Kathy Griffin

In standup specials this "D List" comic "Does the Bible Belt" & was "50 and not Pregnant"

Kathy Griffin

She co-hosts CNN's New Year's Eve coverage with Anderson Cooper, making both him & viewers giggle

Kathy Griffin

Players in this duo's "East/West Collegiate Bowl" included Bismo Funyuns, D'Pez Poopsie & Quackadilly Blip

Key & Peele

Luther was President Obama's "anger translator" on this Comedy Central show

Key and Peele

Steve Martin gave us all a wacky history lesson about Egypt in this song

King Tut

Until 2010, you could see him do his magic at the theater named for him at the Monte Carlo

Lance Burton

Dan Whitney developed this blue-collar installer recently seen jet-skiing for Prilosec

Larry the Cable Guy

In 1965 he published "How to Talk Dirty and Influence People"; he died the following year

Lenny Bruce

"Behind the Candelabra" was an HBO biography of this flamboyant performer

Liberace

His show was the first on basic cable to receive an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series

Louis C.K.

"WTF" is this comedian's podcast

Marc Maron

Sivert Glarum wrote "Mad Marc", "Marc's Dad" & "Marc on Talking Dead" for this comic's IFC show

Marc Maron

This comedy team made their feature film debut in 1929's "The Cocoanuts", which was based on their stage play

Marx Brothers

The irreplaceable Robin Williams said, "To a 3-year old" this guy "is a 6-foot rat"

Mickey Mouse

Her 2011 book "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" was a bestselling project

Mindy Kaling

This troupe introduced us to the Ministry of Silly Walks

Monty Python

Graham Chapman had a 2-way conversation as both the voice of God & King Arthur in this classic 1975 comedy

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

From Series 2, Episode 2 of "Monty Python's Flying Circus": this 5-word phrase about a surprise to all

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition

A 1994 biography of this 19th century showman was titled "Prince of Humbugs"

P.T. Barnum

"My Weakness is Strong" is a standup special from this funny guy, the voice of Remy the Rat in "Ratatouille"

Patton Oswalt

Real name of Pee Wee Herman

Paul Reubens

This a cappella group from Arlington, Texas formed in 2011 and came to prominence the same year by winning the third season of The Sing-Off on NBC

Pentatonix

Karl Pilkington debated the phrase "a stitch in time saves nine" to the amusement of Stephen Merchant & this British comic

Ricky Gervais

I studied comedy at this famed Chicago improv theater, where Tina Fey was one of my teachers

Second City

In 1952 this comedian won the "Best Actor" Emmy; in 2014 his "hour" came as he passed away at 91

Sid Caesar

In 1969 Steve Martin & Bob Einstein (aka Super Dave Osborne) won an Emmy for writing these rhyming siblings' "Comedy Hour"

Smothers Brothers

This satirist's "Nation" doesn't mind staying up for "The Late Show"

Stephen Colbert

He and Ricky Gervais created "The Office"

Stephen Merchant

He wrote the comedic "Pure Drivel" as well as the novella "Shopgirl"

Steve Martin

This magician must have spoken when he taught Latin at a New Jersey high school

Teller

Rodney Dangerfield credited this 1972 Best Picture Oscar winner for inspiring his most famous line

The Godfather

In 1994 this comedian starred in a No. 1 sitcom, the No. 1 Christmas movie & had a No. 1 non-fiction bestseller

Tim Allen

He said Jon Stewart was "our political dad" who left "& now it feels like the family has a new stepdad, & he's black"

Trevor Noah

At a "Star Wars" event, this Robert Smigel-voiced dog asked a man, "How do you explain this to your imaginary girlfriend?"

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog

This African-American funny lady has done HBO specials & had her own late-night talk show, & in 2014, she was a mentor on "Last Comic Standing"

Wanda Sykes

This funny family includes Damon, Marlon, Shawn & Keenen

Wayans

With a new release & 8 viral videos to go with it, he had the first comedy album in 50 years to top the Billboard 200

Weird Al Yankovic

She came to prominence as a standup comic before earning an Oscar nomination for "The Color Purple"

Whoopi Goldberg

"Cowboy Philosopher" & "Prince of Wit & Wisdom" were nicknames of this 1930s humorist

Will Rogers

A 1920s mayor of Beverly Hills, he said "Congress--every time they make a joke, it's a law, & every time they make a law it's a joke"

Will Rogers

A line credited to this humorist is "I don't make jokes--I just watch the government and report the facts"

Will Rogers

He's the good-humor man seen here in 1925 doing one of his famous rope tricks

Will Rogers

This cowboy humorist & Wiley Post were killed on August 15, 1935 when Post's plane crashed in Alaska

Will Rogers

On "Between Two Ferns", this actor asked Ben Stiller. "Do you wish you had ever followed your parents into comedy?"

Zach Galifianakis

7-letter style of comedy mastered by the straight-faced Buster Keaton & the monotone Steven Wright

deadpan

Named for a structure used in executions, this type of humor treats serious subjects in a light way

gallows humor

A jongleur was a medieval type of this musician/entertainer; Gilbert & Sullivan wrote of "A Wandering" one

minstrel

The dexterous capuchin monkey is traditionally used to collect money for this type of street musician

organ grinder

Mitch Hedberg: "I like" this grain. It "is great when you're hungry & you want 2,000 of something"

rice

For a comedian, it's instrumental that one of these heard here follows a punchline

rimshot

A style of comedy named for a paddle once wielded by clowns

slapstick

With the help of today's headlines, make your jokes this word, like ointment

topical

Somersaulting circus performers

tumblers

Someone trying to talk without moving his lips is probably practicing this

ventriloquism

From Henny Youngman: "Take my ____, please! "

wife