[bittermang]

Anecdotally, if I've learned anything from watching comedians like John Stewart: self deprecation is the keystone of their entire act.

Every comedian seems to have some level of it, because not taking yourself too seriously is like a vital component of turning comedy in to a job. But Jewish comedians go to that well a lot more than, for example, Black comedians like Katt Williams.

[woodpanel]

I can partly echo what you've said about Black comedians, although there has been a great progress if you compare Katt Williams or Chris Tucker with Kevin Hart, JB Smoove or Chris Rock. Maybe progress is also the wrong word, since Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy were brilliant stand ups of their time.

One quality of good comedians I might add is observational skills: To see the weird in everyday situations.

[CPLX]

Richard Pryor was an all time master of self deprecation.

[dangerbird2]

Case in point:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjD4PHojNBU

[bittermang]

Pryor was an all time master. Period.