Lucille Ball Turns 100; Which Post-Lucy Actress Is The Funniest?

When it comes down to 'the best,' it's hard to agree on just one.

But when it comes to the queen of comedy there is a clear, ubiquitous winner; to quote Mila Kunis, "Lucille Ball is perfection."

Saturday marks what would have been Lucy's 100th birthday, so in honor of the woman who's made 'Vitameatavegamin' a part of the vernacular, we've put together some of the funny ladies who owe their own brand of side-splitting success to the ever-lovable Lucy.

She may still reign supreme, but at least we can put this whole women-aren't-funny-thing to bed.

PHOTOS:

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Melissa McCarthy

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Comments

[MsVella]

08:47 PM on 08/23/2011

Bea Arthur!!

[Dannyisme]

10:32 PM on 08/18/2011

Whoopi Goldberg, Carol Burnett, Jane Lynch. There comedy isn't just about one-liners. It's also very physical, and they truly become the characters.

[ubatuba]

11:42 AM on 08/18/2011

I've yet to hear Wanda Sykes say or do anything remotely entertaining or funny.

[write effort]

02:17 AM on 08/13/2011

Tia Leoni hasn't done much lately, but in the late 90s she had a tv series and her skill at physical comedy reminded me of Lucy. Really great actress.

[interestedinall]

01:46 PM on 08/16/2011

Yeah she completely fell off the radar after she did deep impact

[acastan1]

11:43 AM on 08/08/2011

WOAH WOAH WOAH!!! Gwyneth Paltrow didn't make the list?!

[ayisha]

08:05 AM on 08/08/2011

with a few noteworthy exceptions, this list in an embarrassment to Lucille Ball. like they just decided to put together a list of any woman who's ever been on sitcom. i would include Dawn French in the small list of geniuses who take comedy to that next level of insanity. non- American, i know, but still brilliant.

[SalesmanForLife]

12:20 AM on 08/08/2011

Megan Mullalay is not without huge honors in comedy skitdom. I swear though, Carol Burnet always buts me open in almost everything but Wanda Sykes is a very close tie to Carol.

[suso903]

06:43 PM on 08/07/2011

Oh, it's really no contest. It's Carol Burnett, hands down. My daughter is a Lucille Ball fan, and she was watching the episodes of the Lucy Show that included Carol Burnett as the librarian roommate who breaks loose as a singer, and the respect and awe Lucille Ball felt for this then-young and brilliant comedienne was obvious.

[theredqueen]

05:54 PM on 08/07/2011

Vivian Vance. Laconic, sophisticated, hilarious. May she rest in peace.

[butchcliff]

04:10 PM on 08/07/2011

Lucy was the greatest of a host of great female comics. Carol Burnett would run a close second

[pukipie]

05:49 PM on 08/07/2011

Totally agree with u! Lucy is #1 and carol very very close 2

[pene]

01:42 PM on 08/07/2011

IMO, nobody comes close to Lucy. The only person whohas even a chance in terms of sheer physical comic genius is Whoopi Goldberg.

[Robin Eublind]

12:24 PM on 08/07/2011

Jane Lynch. Funniest,most versatile woman in front of a camera today.

[danivers]

09:34 AM on 08/07/2011

Anyone remember Tea Leoni's show from the 90's? I think it was called "The Naked Truth". At the time, I thought she might be the next Lucy, but then she kinda disappeared.

Am I remembering wrong, or did that lady display some amazing comic chops?

[write effort]

02:23 AM on 08/13/2011

I posted above never thinking anyone else would mention Leoni -- it's been such a long time. I'm so happy to see your post. What a shame there wasn't more opportunity then for someone like TL. I've read she pulled back from her career for family reasons, but my guess is that it was also the lack of roles. So much potential. Quite a looker, too. Hope she has some things lined up now.

[avacat]

10:57 PM on 08/06/2011

Where's Ellen ?

[JayPhilosopher]

10:12 PM on 08/06/2011

Trying to look at this objectively, there just is no one who compares career-wise with Lucy. She was a Hollywood star for 12 years (over 30 movies) and then a television star for 23 more years.
Tina Fey has had about 15 years of television stardom with Saturday Night and 30 Rock and has done 4 or 5 successful movies.
Cameron Diaz 14 years as a movie star, no television
Jennifer Aniston 11 years television, 7 years movie star
Debra Messing: 14 years as a television star, a few movies
Bea Arthur 13 years television, few movies.
Carol Burnette 12 years television, a few movies
Mary Tyler Moore 12 years television, a few movies
Candice Bergen 11 years television, a few movies

Objectively, Tina Fey, Cameron Diaz, Debra Messing, and Jennifer Aniston have a shot at Lucy's crown. They just have to stay on top for 10 or 15 more years.

[pukipie]

05:51 PM on 08/07/2011

Sorry but all those actress u name can never come close to Lucy not even Tina fey

[leskataus]

09:36 PM on 08/07/2011

Candice Bergen was primarily a movie actress before she got the role on "Murphy Brown". "The Wind & The Lion", "The Sand Pebbles" and "Carnal Knowledge" are some of her best known movies.