If you didn't pay much attention to the headline, could you guess which comedian sold the most records in 2010?
According to the Billboard charts, which credit the year from end of November to end of November, the three best-selling comedy records in the past year were from musical acts — and you can make that six of the top eight. Sorry, stand-up comedians. You cannot compete with musical parody when it comes to moving merch, it seems. Not this year.
The Lonely Island, aka the Saturday Night Live writing/performing crew of Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer, had the #1 comedy album of 2010 with "Incredibad." If you're thinking, didn't that come out in February 2009? Well, you're right. It was also the top-selling comedy album in 2009, too! How do you like that, comedy?
Flight of the Conchords ranked second with their second studio-length album, "I Told You I Was Freaky," followed by Weird Al Yankovic's compilation. Other music acts in the top 10 included Infant Sorrow — which, don't feel bad for not knowing immediately, because it's Russell Brand's fake band behind the soundtrack to Get Him To The Greek — mock metal band Steel Panther, and Bo Burnham. Burnham is the only person to place twice on the top of the charts, with his debut up at #8 and his newest release at #15. Burnham does mix it up with his own take on stand-up, too. More traditional stand-ups who sold best in the past year: Dane Cook, Robin Williams, Aziz Ansari, Lewis Black, Jim Gaffigan, Nick Swardson, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy.
Here's the official Billboard year-end chart for Comedy Albums in 2010:
- "Incredibad," The Lonely Island (Universal)
- "I Told You I Was Freaky," Flight of the Conchords (HBO/Sub Pop)
- "The Essential Weird Al Yankovic," Weird Al Yankovic (Way Moby/Volcano)
- "Isolated Incident," Dane Cook (Comedy Central)
- "Get Him To The Greek," Infant Sorrow (Universal)
- "Weapons of Self Destruction," Robin Williams (Columbia/Sony)
- "Feel The Steel," Steel Panther (Universal)
- "Bo Burnham," Bo Burnham (Comedy Central)
- "Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening," Aziz Ansari (Comedy Central)
- "Stark Raving Black," Lewis Black (Comedy Central)
- "King Baby," Jim Gaffigan (Comedy Central)
- "Seriously, Who Farted?" Nick Swardson (Comedy Central)
- "Aged and Confused," Bill Engvall (Jack/Warner Bros.)
- "Tailgate Party," Larry the Cable Guy (Jack/Warner Bros.)
- "Words Words Words," Bo Burnham (Comedy Central)
Nothing new. Weird Al has sold more comedy albums than any comedian in history. True story. Start writing funny songs guys.