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The Love-to-Hate List: 14 Comedians Who Drove Audiences Wild (and Wildly Annoyed) in the 80s
Ah, the 1980s! A glorious era for side-splitting laughter, right?
Well, not exactly everyone was in on the joke. While some comedians became household names for their brilliant wit, others carved out a unique niche: they were the performers audiences loved to hate.
Whether it was their grating delivery, over-the-top antics, or jokes that aged faster than a New Wave haircut, these polarizing figures packed clubs and TV specials while simultaneously sending critics and viewers absolutely up the wall. They were cultural flashpoints, ensuring that even if you didn’t find them funny, you simply couldn’t ignore them.
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and revisit some of these unforgettable, and often infuriating, comedic legends:
1. Louie Anderson
Louie Anderson’s self-deprecating humor about his weight made him incredibly relatable to many. However, critics often found his act a bit too saccharine or overly sentimental. He was either a lovable teddy bear or a bit too emotional for some tastes.
2. Andrew Dice Clay
“The Diceman” himself! Clay’s raunchy nursery rhymes and swaggering persona turned him into a sensation.
Yet, critics hammered him for misogyny and crude shock humor. He was the guy your parents warned you about, and everyone still secretly watched.
3. Sam Kinison
From preacher to screaming stand-up, Sam Kinison’s abrasive delivery and controversial takes on relationships and religion made him truly unforgettable – and deeply polarizing. His primal yell became his signature and, for some, his biggest turn-off.
4. Gallagher
Smashing watermelons with a sledgehammer? Yes, please!
Some audiences were thrilled by Gallagher’s “Sledge-O-Matic” act, while others dismissed him as a one-trick pony, relying on props over actual comedic chops. Fans came prepared with ponchos; haters brought their best eye-rolls.
5. Pauly Shore
While his peak was more late ’80s into the ’90s, Pauly Shore’s “Weasel” character was an acquired taste. His surfer-dude shtick grated on many viewers who found him more annoying than amusing. He was, to put it mildly, the human embodiment of nails on a chalkboard.
6. Bobcat Goldthwait
Bobcat Goldthwait’s screeching, nervous stage persona was certainly unique. But for a significant portion of the population, his voice was unbearable, and his comedy too chaotic to enjoy. You either embraced the madness or silently prayed for it to end.
7. Joan Rivers
Sharp-tongued and utterly unapologetic, Joan Rivers smashed barriers for women in comedy. However, her relentless insults and abrasive style made her a quintessential love-or-hate figure. She never pulled punches, even when the audience secretly wished she would.
8. Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy was a bona fide superstar. But his raw stand-up specials drew considerable criticism for offensive jokes about women and the LGBTQ+ community, sparking backlash even amid his immense fame. He was both comedy royalty and a magnet for controversy.
9. Rodney Dangerfield
Rodney Dangerfield’s “no respect” routine was iconic. Still, detractors argued his self-deprecating one-liners grew stale and repetitive over time. Audiences laughed, but it seems critics gave him no respect either.
10. Richard Lewis
Richard Lewis’s neurotic, self-loathing style resonated deeply with some, while others found his endless whining more exhausting than entertaining. He masterfully turned misery into a punchline, whether you were ready for it or not.
11. Howie Mandel
From rubber gloves on his head to manic energy, Howie Mandel’s unconventional antics delighted kids but often irritated adults who found him overly juvenile. He was an equal mix of clown and chaos.
12. Steven Wright
Deadpan to the extreme, Steven Wright’s monotone delivery was hailed as genius by his fans. Yet, critics often complained it was boring and one-note. His slow-burn style tested patience as much as it earned laughs.
13. Yakov Smirnoff
The Soviet-born comic leaned heavily on “In Russia…” jokes. Some adored them as Cold War kitsch, while others dismissed them as repetitive clichés. His catchphrase became both his ticket to fame and, arguably, his comedic trap.
14. Chevy Chase
On stage and screen, Chevy Chase’s smug persona and well-known reputation for being difficult off-camera made him a lightning rod for dislike, despite his undeniable fame. He was the king of pratfalls and, for many, the prince of arrogance.