Some other bards of Thalia that I have admired, and hopefully been influenced by.
NOTE: This is not by any means a complete list. I'll keep thinking of more people and adding to it, but it will *never* be a complete list. We are all influenced by far more people than we consciously recognize. There are far more positive, inspirational people in our lives than we usually stop to count. Also, my memory is long -- and worn, and has a lot of holes in it.
Literary:
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
Lewis Carroll (Rev. C. L. Dodgson)
James Thurber
Erma Bombeck
Performance:
Gracie Allen
Lucille Ball
Imogene Coca
Carol Burnett
Groucho Marx
Red Skelton
Jonathan Winters