That's So Funny! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Joy Behar

This comedienne was born in NY in 1942. She taught high school before she became an author, stand-up comic and TV host. She honed her skills at famous comedy clubs in NY such as Caroline's and Catch a Rising Star. Joy launched her cable TV talk show in 2009.

She has strong views which she expresses freely on both "The View" and her show. Ms. Behar's wit and take on many subjects has caused many controversies.

Answer: Jerry Seinfeld

Seinfeld was born in New York in 1954. He has proven to be a prolific writer and comedian. The "Seinfeld" TV show which ran in 1989 through 1998 was semi autobiographical. Once he graduated college he began doing stand-up comedy. He could be seen in his early years on Johnny Carson's and David Letterman's evening shows. With Larry David he created "Seinfeld". The final episode was one of the most watched finales in TV history.

He returned to stand-up, began to produce movies and TV shows once production ended on "Seinfeld". He not only starred in the "Bee Movie", he also produced it. Like Jay Leno, he has a penchant for cars.

Answer: Henny Youngman

Henny Youngman was born in England in 1906. In the USA, he established himself as the "King of One-liners" for over six decades in the entertainment industry. He also was a prolific violinist. Most of his performances were shorter then other comics because of his rapid fire delivery. Renowned for working almost everyday of his adult life, his comedy relied heavily on jokes concerning his wife Sadie. Good friends with Milton Berle he appeared frequently on a lot of variety shows including "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In".

Answer: Flip Wilson

Flip Wilson was one of the first cross dressers on TV with his iconic character Geraldine. He broke racial barriers as the host of a variety series on TV in 1970-1974. He was a foster child and did not start in comedy until he was discharged from the Air Force. In 1965 he appeared on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.

The stars that appeared on "The Flip Wilson Show" (1970-1974) were legendary performers and stars. Richard Pryor, Sammy Davis Jr. and Muhammad Ali were just a few of the people who would be seen in a skit with Geraldine or Reverend LeRoy or Herbie, some of the characters that Flip Wilson created.

Answer: Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer and D.L. Hughley

The movie "The Original Kings of Comedy" was released in 2000. The director Spike Lee filmed the four black entertainers doing snippets of their stand-up routines with additional material to round out the show. The movie was a success in a number of ways.

The four men were seen everywhere on T.V., be it their own shows or other entertainment venues. The show featured Cedric's, D.L's., Bernie's and Steve's views on the Black experience. They talked about family, church, politics and pop culture.

Answer: Joey Bishop

Joey Bishop had an illustrious career in comedy. Considered to be a comic with deadpan delivery he started out at a young age doing stand-up comedy. Bishop became a guest host on the Tonight Show. First he performed and filled in for Jack Paar and later was a frequent guest host for Johnny Carson. Joey Bishop starred in a situation comedy (1961-1965) and later had his own talk show (1967-1969).

He is probably best known as being a member of the Rat Pack. It is said that he was one of the only people who could make jokes at Frank Sinatra's expense.

A prolific writer and ad libber, he wrote the routines that made the Rat Pack famous. Here is a bit of trivia: Joey Bishop was the emcee at the Kennedy inaugural.

Answer: Moms Mabley

Moms Mabley was born in North Carolina. Although the year of her birth is unknown (either 1894 or 1897), her talent and sheer gumption is legendary. Little is certain about her life prior to the age of fourteen. What is known is that it was not an easy childhood.

At fourteen she left home to begin her career as a comedienne on the black vaudeville circuit. This is when she became Jackie "Moms" Mabley. In 1921 she joined what was called the 'chitlin circuit', and by 1923 she was featured at the Cotton Club in New York.

As the first woman to play at the Apollo club she continued to be a pivotal force in the entertainment industry. Her humor could be down home silly to quite blue in nature. In her housedress and toothless her appearance became as iconic as her shtick. She died in 1975, but not before she broke through the lines of bigotry and inspired many young black females to pursue comedy, movies and Broadway. Whoopi Goldberg is somewhat the modern day "Moms" Mabley.

Answer: Robin Williams

Robin Williams was a brilliant comic and actor. His comedy routines were usually manic in nature. In the 1970s he played Mork the loveable alien on the "Mork and Mindy Show" (1978-1982). Williams, who trained at Julliard to be a dramatic actor, was able to make his mark in a number of genres. An Academy Award was given to him for his role in "Good Will Hunting" (1997).

He brought his own genius to animated characters as well. His comedy was at times bawdy and at times heart-breakingly poignant, but always it was delivered with a cadence that was laser like, fast and on point.

As "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993) or as a man possessed in "Insomnia" (2002) you could count on Williams to be entertaining. He died in 2014.

Answer: Franz

Dana Carvey the Montana born comic is best known for his impressions and comedy skits on Saturday Night Live. Carvey honed his skills in San Francisco where he spent his formative years. His work on "SNL" (1975) was legendary. Characters such as the Church Lady, Hans the bodybuilder and Garth have became iconic images and immortal dialogue snippets. His impressions of famous people are considered some of the best in the business.

His movie career has been less then stellar. "Wayne's World" (1992) and "Wayne's World 2" (1993) were box office hits. He continues to appear on T.V. and his stand-up career is still going strong.

Answer: Phyllis Diller

Phyllis Diller was born in 1917 in Ohio. She did not get into comedy until the age of 37. Prior to her turn at the club she was a housewife bringing up her six children. A classically trained pianist, she started her comedy career in San Francisco at the Purple Onion.

Diller's self deprecating humor was punctuated by her crazy laugh and her even crazier look. She wore colorful mismatched clothes, lots of jewelry and her hair was wild. In her routines she always made reference to her husband whom she called Fang.

She was a fixture on entertainment shows throughout the late 1950s and 1960s.
Diller could also be seen or heard in many movies including "Splendor in the Grass" (1961) and "A Bug's Life" (1998).

Diller paved the way for many future lady comediennes in the then male dominated industry. Joan Rivers was a writer for Diller. This cigarette toting (always a prop in her act), non-smoker has given up stand-up comedy due to health reasons and advanced age (93 in 2010) but says that she is still available for movies.