I have never understood Robin Williams' appeal. I find him to be just about the most annoying performer in the history of American popular entertainment. He is as funny as a migraine and as an actor he is so cloying diabetics drop dead at the sight of him.
The old Eddie Murphy stuff is great. One of the things I find funniest about "Delerious" was when he cracks on Bill Cosby because Cosby called him up and told him his stuff wasn't fit for children and Eddie just rips into him.
fast foward 20 years
and now Eddie is doing movies like "The Haunted Mansion" and "Daddy Day Care" to be safe and wont release the rights to "Delerious" because he doesn't want to expose his children to his old stuff.
I think a lot of great comedy (stand up or whatever) doesn't go mainstream for us to hear it. Iv'e heard great stuff here and there but from no namers. Don't forget about Bill Cosby - shear genious. Also I'm currently impressed with Bernie Mack. I agree with my buddy Q ball. There's just too many to list. I really admire them all. Past and present.