Some 1980’s comedians made jokes about dark
subjects like death, rape, drugs, war, and terrorism.
With the Vietnam War only recently over and many
social and political issues on the minds of Americans,
comedians saw dark comedy as a way for the nation to
face its “demons” and laugh at them. Although late-
night talk-show host Johnny Carson was not known
for dark comedy, even he managed sometimes to
draw on such subjects for a laugh; he got one when he
told an audience that hair and fingernails continue to
grow for three days after death—but phone calls
taper off. Satirists, meanwhile, used news and current
events to make light of issues on people’s minds. Sat-
ire, an age-old technique of writers and performers,
appealed to the more cerebral comedians.
Successful 1980’s Comedians In 2004, television’s
Comedy Central channel compiled its list of the one
hundred greatest stand-up comedians of all time.
Eight of the top twenty comedians from that list per-
formed at their peak in the 1980’s. At the top of the
list was Richard Pryor. An African American, Pryor
told stories illuminating racial issues and customs.
These stories were often laced with vulgarities, racial
epithets, and other potentially controversial lan-
guage. He made recordings, appeared on television,
and by 1983 solidified his success by starring in suc-
cessful motion pictures.
Bill Cosby, another African American, also started
his career performing in comedy clubs. In 1965, he
became the first African American male to star in a
television drama when he was cast inI Spy. In the
1980’s, Cosby produced and starred in one of the de-
cade’s most successful situation comedies (sitcoms),
The Cosby Show. His comedy was warm, witty, observa-
tional, and narrative; it was never indecent or vulgar.
Thus, it ran counter to a dominant trend of the de-
cade, as many comics embraced vulgarity as part of
their act.
Roseanne Barr was one of several highly success-
ful female comedians of the decade. She assumed
the persona of the typical American working-class
housewife, whom she called a “domestic goddess,”
and appeared on many television shows that spot-
lighted her wry comments. She soon made her per-
sona into the basis for a sitcom,Roseanne, in which
she played housewife Roseanne Connor.
Johnny Carson continued as host ofThe Tonight
Showthroughout the 1980’s, having established him-
self as the “king of late night.” Carson himself was a
skilled comic, quick-witted and charming, whose
stand-up monologues addressed contemporary
events and personages. His show was far more im-
portant, however, as a showcase for other comedi-
ans. Carson became the ultimate gatekeeper of na-
tional comedic success in the United States. Any
stand-up performer who did well enough onThe To-
night Showto be invited to sit on the couch and talk to
Carson for a few minutes afterward would find that
his or her career had been made, and any performer
who desired national success had to secure an invita-
tion to perform on the show.Impact As the number of television channels in-
creased, there was more airtime to fill but not a sur-
plus of money to pay for new content. Stand-up com-
edy was extremely cheap, requiring minimal crews, a
single-person cast, and no sets or special effects to
speak of. Despite that, it was extremely popular with
audiences, so it offered broadcasters a great deal of
bang for the buck. Even fully produced half-hour sit-
coms were significantly less expensive than hour-
long dramas. Comedians thus became an ever more
sought-after commodity. Though television variety
shows lost favor, comedians were employed to star in
or host thirty-minute sitcoms, talk shows, specials,
and award shows.Further Reading
Ajaye, Franklin.Comic Insights: The Art of Stand-Up
Comedy.Beverly Hills, Calif.: Silman-James Press,- Interviews of comedians such as Roseanne
Barr and Jay Leno, as well as comedy club owners,
agents, and others, who discuss the business
of comedy, comedians’ inspirations and motiva-
tions, and practical tips for becoming a comedian.
Epstein, Lawrence.The Haunted Smile: The Stor y of
Jewish Comedians in America.New York: Public Af-
fairs Books, 2001. A history of Jewish comedians’
impact on American entertainment, including
such comics as Andy Kaufman, Richard Belzer,
Alan King, and Woody Allen.
Littleton, Darryl J.Black Comedians on Black Comedy:
How African Americans Taught Us to Laugh.New
York: Applause Theater and Cinema Books, 2006.
Covers some history of African American comedy
along with biographical information on such
1980’s comedians as Eddie Murphy, Damon
Wayons, Richard Pryor, and Bill Cosby.
Jane L. Ball
232 Comedians The Eighties in America