Lewis Black

200px

Lewis Niles Black (born August 30, 1948) is an American stand-up comedian, author, playwright, social critic and actor. He is known for his comedy style, which often includes simulating a mental breakdown, or an increasingly angry rant, ridiculing history, politics, religion, trends and cultural phenomena. He hosted the Comedy Central series Lewis Black's Root of All Evil, and makes regular appearances on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart delivering his “Back in Black” commentary segment. When not on the road performing, he resides in Manhattan. He also maintains a residence in Chapel Hill, N.C. He is currently the spokesman for Aruba Tourism, appearing in television ads that aired in late 2009 and 2010. He was voted 51st of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians of all time by Comedy Central in 2004; and was voted 5th in Comedy Central's Stand`Up Showdown in 2008 and 11th in 2010.Source: Wikipedia

Black was introduced as an "angry agnostic" on Comedy Central's Bar Mitzvah Bash, air date 26-Apr-2004.

"I would love to have the faith to believe that the world was created in seven days but... I have thoughts... and that can really fuck the faith thing up." [1]

From a stand-up comedy routine on the Late Show With David Letterman, broadcast Friday, 8/30/02, in the U.S., excerpt from comedian Lewis Black's performance ...

"... Many Americans reaffirmed their faith this year.

I didn't, because I have no faith.

I was born and raised Jewish and it just didn't take.

You see, when I was a kid, my parents on the first Hanukkah gave me a top to play with. They call it a dreidel, but I know a top when I see one. And as I looked down at what is truly the dumbest toy ever created in the history of civilization, I thought, you know, I'm not gonna be Jewish for long.

Religion is important and patriotism is important, but religion and patriotism without a sense of humor, and you're in trouble.

You know that's, that's why our enemy is so frightening, they have no humor. This is a group of people who wander the desert for thousands and thousands of years, and never ran into a knock-knock joke.

You see, if these people had any humor at all, none of this would have happened because no one could have stood in front of them and said that if they killed themselves in the name of Allah, that they would immediately go to heaven and be met by 72 virgins.

No one could have said that because everybody would have known that that's a punchline to a joke. ..."

Lewis Black On Religion