The Most Infamous Comedy Feuds Of All Time (PHOTOS)

NBC's late night debacle has led to a splintering of supporters for Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno. And the dividing of fans into Team Conan and Team Jay brings to mind previous clashes amongst comics. What happens when two funny and fiery people fight? Find out below!

Jay Leno Vs. David Letterman

When Jay Leno was selected to replace Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show, his feud with David Letterman got so heated they made a movie about it. Not only has Letterman always felt like the rightful "heir" to Johnny Carson's seat, but he and Leno's shows fought for ratings until Conan O'Brien took over The Tonight Show this year. A fairly recent New York Magazine Blog says the feud is still going on, since Letterman failed to respond to a letter sent to him by Leno during his open heart surgery. Not to mention the fact that Dave has talked about the "10p slot" every day since Jay got it.

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Comments

[MyronAllen]

07:40 PM on 01/17/2010

I sided with and cheered on David Cross until he took the gig as the archnemesis in "Alvin and the Chipmunks". He negated everything he stood for. Now he IS "David, the sellout guy!"

[rzan1]

11:45 PM on 01/16/2010

As much as I dislike Joan Rivers and liked Johnny Carson, Johnny could be extremely unforgiving.

[ricmarc]

04:44 PM on 01/16/2010

larry the cable guy can read and write? good for you david cross.

the dennis leary thing amazes me. i could have sworn he has always been like he is today, a major jerk who is very funny. who in their right mind whould want to claim leary stole their schtick? if leary stole it he was evidently better at it as i have never heard of the guy.

i didn't know joe rogan was a comedian. as for his complaints against carlos (who i think is very funny) they said the same thing about milton berle. this leads me to believe that carlos must have the biggest piece of equipment in the room (milton was legendary).

[droppedasachild]

05:06 PM on 01/16/2010

Leary has all but admitted to stealing Hick's act. Bill Hicks is considered by comics to be one of the greatest to ever stand on stage.You should really check out his clips on Youtube. The reason you have never heard of him is that he passed away from cancer right as he was breaking out of the underground.
You should also check out Rogan's stand-up. He puts Mencia to shame, and yes Mencia is known on circuit as someone who steals jokes. There are videos of side by side comparisons of him straight out lifting an entire bit of George Lopez's almost word for word. Mencia is a great performer of other comics material.

[ricmarc]

05:08 PM on 01/16/2010

but george lopez isn't funny. it is just a myth perpetuated by abc.

[sf girl]

11:30 PM on 01/18/2010

Perhaps you would have heard of Bill Hicks if a) Leary hadn't stolen his act and b) he hadn't died an untimely death at the age of 32.

[smallberries]

04:25 PM on 01/16/2010

Where's Andy Kaufman and Jerry Lawler (if you can consider a professional wrestler a comedian).

[droppedasachild]

05:07 PM on 01/16/2010

The Kaufman/Lawler "feud" was one of Kaufman's practical jokes.. They were actually very good friends.

[Jaimetown]

02:34 AM on 01/16/2010

One remark Bill Hicks made I remember, when asked why he quit smoking...

"I just wanted to see if Dennis Leary would do it too."

[Sonkwa Sonkwa]

02:36 AM on 01/15/2010

So the jury is unanimous when it come to Ned-stealia?

[Hannah Jacobs]

11:58 AM on 01/14/2010

David Cross trashes the disabled in his routine. He needs to take a long hard look in the mirror.

[TrueBud]

12:27 PM on 01/14/2010

If you think David Cross does this, you have either purposefully taken what Cross said out of context, or are too stupid to figure out the joke. Tell me the specific joke, and the context it was said. Was it sarcastic, ironic, was it sandwiched into a rant? Was it a comment in service of a larger point (common with Cross)? I certainly hope your criticism isn't a feeble attempt to justify Dan Whitney's putrid "character" Larry the Cable Guy, a character he LIVES AS and REFUSES TO DROP IN PUBLIC. That is so unhealthy, it's pathetic. But hey, it's garnered him millions. I guess if Robin Williams figured out a way to make millions living as Mrs. Doubtfire, he'd always wear a fat suit, dress and never drop the british lady accent!

[LastAngryWoman]

05:22 PM on 01/14/2010

I just finished listening to David Cross' letter to Larry.

Would that I could have his babies. Seriously, a very seriously sexy man.

[YesWeCouldHave]

06:04 AM on 01/16/2010

Why, what disability does Cross have?

[joefoss]

10:59 AM on 01/14/2010

=Gee, Joan Rivers put money ahead of loyalty and friendship?
How did that late-night gig of hers work out, anyway?
=Well, at least she's not reduced to hawking crappy jewelry on HSN. That would be
embarrassing!

[Theatrixnyc]

11:58 AM on 01/14/2010

Oh please.....like you didn't do the same thing when McDonalds offered you more than Burger King.

[AejB]

12:38 PM on 01/16/2010

While I'm sure they had a true friendship Carson should have been happy for her and been more professional. Comedy is a business. Is she not allowed to have a job with more security than being someones backup?

And her hawking her wares on HSN gets more money than Im sure you made all your life!

[liveinhope23]

10:58 AM on 01/14/2010

David Cross and Jim Belushi also have an ongoing feud.

[amdezurik]

03:23 PM on 01/14/2010

the difference is David has talent, and Jim happened to be related to someone with talent

[sf girl]

11:31 PM on 01/18/2010

Oh snap!

[DollyLama1964]

09:30 AM on 01/14/2010

McDonald-Kattan feud? Do more than a couple of thousand people even know who they are? Or care?

[mrstu]

12:22 AM on 01/16/2010

No idea who McDonald is, but Kattan was on SNL for ~8 years, that's got to count for something.

[AejB]

12:35 PM on 01/16/2010

McDonald was on SNL for 5 years.

[ricmarc]

04:47 PM on 01/16/2010

i like norm. kattan aint funny.

[Vicendithas]

03:09 AM on 01/14/2010

I remember this article from 4 months ago

[brettv]

09:39 PM on 01/15/2010

Yea, they break it out whenever there is a comedy feud.

[kelly odell]

02:23 AM on 01/14/2010

Andrew dice clay vs Sam kinison.

also there's a great story about Norm Macdonald vs Chris Kattan (@2:35): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q2VhQ8r5Nc&feature=PlayList&p=4C5D4DEA7C40A58A&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=21

[SCVADem]

10:45 PM on 01/14/2010

D@mn, I miss Sam.

[kassandrasduplex]

12:20 AM on 01/14/2010

I thought Dean Martin split with Jerry 'cuz he absolutely hated Lewis who increasingly treated Martin abusively. Funny they re-write history here....

[MC71]

04:31 AM on 01/14/2010

There are all sorts of stories. Martin hated to rehearse and Lewis wanted to keep perfecting take after take. Lewis got a big head and thought he was the one everyone wanted to see. Martin didn;t like just being a straight man for a buffoon. Of course, the followup is more interesting. Dean Martin went on to a hugely successful career as an actor, singer/comic, variety host and the only member of Sinatra's Rat Pack who could stand up to The Chairman as an equal. Jerry Lewis had a few mildly successful solo movies, started an ill-fated chain of movie theaters, became an embittered touring comic and an increasingly bitter host of the MDA Telethon.

[rzan1]

11:36 PM on 01/16/2010

Wasn't highly regarded by the French though? (Just sayin).

[LeftLeanWing]

11:13 PM on 01/13/2010

I can't wait until the feud between Peter Griffin and Homer Simpson leaks to the public.

Homer called Peter 'Fat' and Peter said "Hey Homer, what's that you married to; is that a dirty Q-tip on her head ?"

[YesWeCouldHave]

06:05 AM on 01/16/2010

Can you please not lure comedy into your windowless van with candy afterschool anymore?

[AejB]

12:40 PM on 01/16/2010

lol!

[oregon bird]

10:50 PM on 01/13/2010

The research for this was awsome! Wait, no-- it was nonexistant. But then again, there wasn't any history before 1970, because that's when the dinosaurs were around, and we came out of the sea.

So why all the books about stuff that happened before Denis Leary? Must be fantasy. Like there was comedy when the volcanos were still erupting.