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[Humour] Is comedy in crisis?
- Thread starter Pavilionaire
- Start date
Super Steve Earle
Well-known member
Is it any good? - Mrs Earle doesn't enjoy it. I watch one episode a day with my exercises each morning. They are incredibly cleverly done as they only have a few pages of script and the rest is improvised. Some episodes have a laugh in the middle and others wait till the end. But I find them incredibly watchable, albeit sometimes utter filth. Like building a whole episode around Larry getting a pubic hair stuck in his throat
I say lots of things where people reply, ‘Oh you can’t say that anymore’
You can and I do.
On a different tack I thought Count Arthur Strong was some of the best comedy for years ( Amazon prime now) and Ibwill continue championing it but you just felt the BBC were sticking it on too late at night which was a dreadful time because it encapsulated everything anyone over 40 would like but with a nice sprinkling of surrealism. Kids would get it as well ............ I struggle with a lot of comedy though.
You can and I do.
On a different tack I thought Count Arthur Strong was some of the best comedy for years ( Amazon prime now) and Ibwill continue championing it but you just felt the BBC were sticking it on too late at night which was a dreadful time because it encapsulated everything anyone over 40 would like but with a nice sprinkling of surrealism. Kids would get it as well ............ I struggle with a lot of comedy though.
Super Steve Earle
Well-known member
Me too re Count Arthur Strong. I have signed CDs by him and Eggy from the Theatre Royal shows and often say That's Beyond my Level of Expertise from his stint being mistaken as a doctor in hospital and feeling compelled to play along. It also drew my attention to the brilliant Rory Kinnear for the first time.
Sirnormangall
Well-known member
- Sep 21, 2017
- 2,977
My wife says she enjoys and is not offended by my occasional misogynistic jokes - because it helps to remind her how sad I am.
Super Steve Earle
Well-known member
Yes, yes. If I could give two thumbs up for that, I would!
Stato
Well-known member
- Dec 21, 2011
- 6,607
Tyrone Biggums
Well-known member
It's only the Hannah Gadsby types that make you think comedy is in crisis.
Once you move away from unfunny ***** like that and watch something from Chappelle, Burr or even an Andrew Shultz you realise there's still funny stuff out there from people not afraid to have a pop at anyone if there's comedy in it.
I think the problem is too many people that are labelled comedians really aren't comedians or at the least really bad at it but have some kind of profile on social media. It makes comedy look in crisis.
Once you move away from unfunny ***** like that and watch something from Chappelle, Burr or even an Andrew Shultz you realise there's still funny stuff out there from people not afraid to have a pop at anyone if there's comedy in it.
I think the problem is too many people that are labelled comedians really aren't comedians or at the least really bad at it but have some kind of profile on social media. It makes comedy look in crisis.
He finally convinced me that the 2012 London Olympics were faked.
I’d had my supercilious for quite some soddin time I can tell you.
Machiavelli
Well-known member
I find him uber-dull. But, then again, most of the 6.30 R4 slot is dull these days. Not tonight though, as David Sedaris is back, who I will continue championing. Hilarious.
Is it any good? - Mrs Earle doesn't enjoy it. I watch one episode a day with my exercises each morning. They are incredibly cleverly done as they only have a few pages of script and the rest is improvised. Some episodes have a laugh in the middle and others wait till the end. But I find them incredibly watchable, albeit sometimes utter filth. Like building a whole episode around Larry getting a pubic hair stuck in his throat
So you're saying it's pretty (pretty) good.
Ooh, I'll have a look. Never heard him on the radio but I'm big fan of his writing.
edit: Just downloaded a couple of episodes from 2019 to my phone
Machiavelli
Well-known member
I'd be amazed if you're disappointed. Do report back though.
I think comedy is as healthy as it has ever been, given the weallth of platforms / media available to people who want to have a go, plus the fact that if the material is funny and clever thre are very few subjects that are taboo or off limit these days. Gone are the days when the only comedy avaliable was a choice between BBC situation comedies or derivative comics and double-acts doing the club circuit.
Comedy is completely subjective and I think if people look they will always be able to find stuff that makes them laugh and possibly more so today than ever before.
Comedy is completely subjective and I think if people look they will always be able to find stuff that makes them laugh and possibly more so today than ever before.
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rocker959
Well-known member
Exactly
Stato
Well-known member
- Dec 21, 2011
- 6,607
You may as well have said 'Don't drink milkshakes, eat onions.' Michael Mcintyre is an easy target because he has the Monkhousian obvious desire to be liked and the ambition that is needed to move from stand up to light entertainment. However, he is very very good at the style he has chosen. When my kids were younger, he was someone whose specials we could watch and enjoy as a family. Ditto the much maligned Miranda sitcom. I could quite happily enjoy this kind of show in one environment and enjoy more challenging stand up in another. Watching the kids find things funny reminded me of being a kid myself and watching Porridge or Morecambe and Wise with my parents. It might not be challenging or truth being told to power, but it wasn't for that. It provided feelings of empathy and shared experience.
Burr and Rock are both decent stand ups, (although I would point out that Chris Rock has made only one special in the last ten years, so is difficult to cite as an example of modern comedy being alive and well) but they're not an either or to the likes of McIntyre. They are also both fairly traditional stand ups, doing the angry/confused (now middle aged) man 'railing at America's stupidity' bit that was done by Prior and Carlin, Chapelle, Lewis Black and Louis CK. They also both have great respect and admiration for Seinfeld, who was the master of the style that McIntyre and a lot of his peers are doing.
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Full respect to your evident knowledge of stand up, but will gently agree to differ on McIntyre. I think you coined it best actually... “light entertainment”. Which is fine as and in a genre of its own for family laughs with kids, but I wouldn’t classify his like in the same league as any of the names you mentioned, and maybe it shouldn’t be compared.
George Carlin is still the king, Bill Hicks is up there too. Louis CK is an unreal talent but his career has taken a hit due to his off stage antics (though his brutally honest comeback special did make me laugh pretty hard at times). Chris Rock isn’t as active with his specials but they still resonate.
Bill Burr is the current great modern day comic in my opinion. He practically does a one man show in his weekly podcasts which has more great material than many comics have in their entire career. I don’t think he is quite as well known over here as perhaps he should be, but a real talent nonetheless.
Mr Banana
Tedious chump
Kitson did a lockdown and Christmas show
Vintage times, in a way
Vintage times, in a way