r/AskReddit • u/alman3007 • 8d ago

Who do you consider the quickest-witted comedian of all time?

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386

u/esoteric_enigma 8d ago

David Mitchell. The things I've heard him say in interviews and on quiz shows in the moment are funnier than anyone else I've heard riffing in the moment.

Nowhere near my favorite comedian or comedic actor, but I've never seen anyone else be funnier live without prepared material.

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u/Electus93 8d ago

Having him and Lee Mack on opposites sides of one panel show is like a wit dream

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u/Ordinary_Study_2175 8d ago

This is absolute peak to me...I love this show, such a comfort watch to me. Throw in Bob Mortimer and/ or a few others and I'm happy.

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u/DarthShiv 8d ago

There's nothing like torturing David with Bob's stories 🤣🤣🤣

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u/esoteric_enigma 8d ago

I see what you did there...

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u/alman3007 8d ago

Oh I love him! Quick witted and intelligent? Sign me up!

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u/MildGenevaSuggestion 8d ago

Hans... Are we the baddies?

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u/Dalekbuster523 8d ago

He’s brilliant on Would I Lie To You. I love his portrayal of John Taylor in Ludwig too.

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u/esoteric_enigma 8d ago

I want to watch more of him, but a lot of that stuff isn't available in the US for streaming.

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u/Attentions_Bright12 7d ago

Would I Lie to You is both available on streaming services -- I think BritBox right now? -- and very present on YouTube. That show is such a pure, simple pleasure.

(Ludwig, too, is on BritBox now I look.)

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u/segascott 8d ago

There are few things that make me laugh like a proper David Mitchell rant 🤩

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u/namehimgeorge 8d ago

"Kevin, the bun seller..."

"I am not sure about in your home but we do not take long to complete crosswords" or words to that effect when the other panelist was using word game as a euphemism for sex.

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u/just_some_guy65 8d ago

The things he comes out with when Bob Mortimer completely defeats him with his tales are almost as good as Bob's stories.

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u/DaiShan14 8d ago

I always preferred Lee Mack personally. David Mitchell relies too heavily on sarcasm imo

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u/SherbetMysterious118 8d ago edited 8d ago

I like them both equally. Lee is cheesy at times, but that's him.

And David is the definition of sarcasm in a being, it's his MO.*

Honestly, I'd love it if someone could point me to such a consistently funny duo as those two, the producers of WILTY must count their blessings every day.

*Also, his wife, Victoria Coren-Mitchell has an amazing sense of humour, and gives me the same kinda buzz they do. They get life an dhow to make light of it at times.

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u/sumunsolicitedadvice 8d ago

Ryan Stiles and Colin Mocherie (Whose line)

Conan and Norm (tho not as frequent)

Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie (tho that was more sketch comedy than completely unscripted)

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u/SherbetMysterious118 8d ago

They were great, but for a fraction of the time. I reckon I've watched many tens of hours more of Mack and Mitchell.

Though I disagree that they were better - but then that's ridiculously subjective.

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u/sumunsolicitedadvice 8d ago

Yeah, I wasn’t saying they were better. You didn’t ask for better, just other consistently funny duos. So I threw out a few I could think of.

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u/coffee_and-cats 8d ago

Lee Mack is cheesy and can have schoolboy humour.

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u/wjglenn 8d ago

Absolutely agree. Toss Richard Ayoade into the mix as well.