No, actually I never thought much of them as a "comedy team". They were just two actor/comedians thrown together by RKO Radio Pictures in the hope that they'd make a successful team. I didn't find either particularly interesting separately or together.
I agree with you, I was only joking. If I enjoy a Brown and Carney movie, it's usually because of a co-star and not the actual comedians.
Out of the list you mentioned, I'd consider Wheeler and Woolsey, if not among the best, then let's just say the best of the rest. They had some very good moments, no doubt.
OK, let's get some controversey up in this joint, holmes. OK, the best comedy team of all-time, after giving this much thought is...Laurel and Hardy.................Stan and Ollie..........................................................those guys from Hal Roach...........etc., etc., etc...............................yes I didn't say The Three Stooges...................yes I'm an asshole for making this diificult to read..........................OK I'll stop now...
Anyway, I said Laurel and Hardy. Why?
Successful as both silent and sound comedians? Check
Successful in both shorts and features? Check
A prime that lasted for almost 15 years? Check
Access to the best comedy studio of the era? Check
Somebody on the team in Stan Laurel who was an auteur, a genuine genius in creating film comedy? Check
A comedy team before any other genuinely great screen comedy teams? Check
Incredibly funny? Check
The Three Stooges, Abbott and Costello, the Marx Brothers, they're all great, but they can't claim all of the above. Some of the above, yes, but not all. The answer is Laurel and Hardy.