DAILY DIRT: Rock makes ’em roll with laughter

What, Seinfeld only No. 6?… Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 984 of The Daily Dirt.

1. Who’s the funniest guy — or gal — among the modern era of comic geniuses?

The watchmojo.com website has its own idea on this subject.

“These are the leaders of comedy’s new era,” writes George Pacheco. 

Pacheco said the rankings are based on who watchmojo.com feels are the funniest, most popular and influential funny people.

Here’s the top 10:

• 1. Chris Rock: “Chris Rock’s sense of humor has transcended generations, growing funnier over the years like some sort of fine comedic wine.”
• 2. Dave Chapelle: “Chappelle just seems to possess ‘it’, that inimitable magic that comes alive whenever he hits the stage.”
• 3. Tina Fey: “There seems to be nothing that Tina Fey can’t do.”
• 4. John Mulaney: “His comedic voice is witty yet subversive, capitalizing on his sharp wardrobe and good looks to deliver material that’s layered, smart and occasionally scathing.”
• 5. Ricky Gervais: “Comedy isn’t always about being nice, and no one exemplifies this sort of confrontational appeal more than Ricky Gervais.”
• 6. Jerry Seinfeld: “To discuss Jerry Seinfeld is to discuss comedy itself, a clear and ever-present voice in a room where everyone seems to be talking at the same time. That’s because Seinfeld’s ‘comedy about nothing’ continues to be relevant and influential to every new generation of comic, much like the iconic voices of Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Lenny Bruce before him.”
• 7. Bill Burr: “Burr’s approachable, yet clever observational comedy hits on an ‘every man’ sort of level, with loud and boisterous bits peppered with real life illumination — making him truly one of a kind.”
• 8. Kevin Hart: “Many comedians make the transition to the silver screen, but Kevin Hart has absolutely DOMINATED in his bid to become one of the most recognizable (and bankable) comic stars. The proof is in the box office receipts for any number of Hart’s big time movie hits, including ‘Ride Along,’ ‘Central Intelligence’ and ‘Jumanji’ — all of which have increased Kevin’s profile big time.”
• 9. Sarah Silverman: “Silverman is a firebrand whose material often courts controversy, utilizing everyone as a potential target for her sarcasm and insults.”
• 10. Louis C.K.: “His FX series, ‘Louie’ was also formative to changing the ways comedians translated their material to the small screen, breaking the mold of what stand-up could be, and where it could go.”

2. Did you know that (Part 41)

• That before Will Ferrell was cast in “Elf,” the original choice was Chris Farley.
• That before Keanu Reeves was cast in “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” the original choices for his role were Pauly Shore and Sean Penn.
• That Def Leppard, Europe, Cinderella, Ratt and Warrant are my choices for the top hair bands of the ’80s.
• That Chuck Norris never asks “who’s you daddy?” because he knows the answer.
• That the top pop songs in June 1965 were: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch” by the Four Tops, “Mr. Tambourine Man” by the Byrds and “Back In My Arms Again” by the Supremes.

3. The best from the last seven days of “Found on Facebook”:

• “Whatever happened to those Entenmann’s cupcakes?” (My exact thoughts …)
• “I’m so old I remember when climate change was called spring, summer, fall and winter.”
• “After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says W(ednesday) T(hursday)  F(riday).”
• “Tomorrow is not promised. Call your siblings and tell them they’re ugly and adopted.”
• “Chuck Norris once went skydiving, but promised to never to do it again. One Grand Canyon is enough.”

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Here are some comedians I would have added to that top 10: Steven Wright, Julia Louis Dreyfus and Trevor Noah; and here are some I would have omitted: Louis C.K., Ricky Gervais and Bill Burr.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Gervais and Burr are way underrated and Noah just … isn’t … funny.