The Stand-Up Comedy Thread

Dead Man Wade · Post by **Dead Man Wade** » Fri May 08, 2015 12:47 pm

I'm a huge fan of stand-up comedy, both seeing it live and listening to albums of it. I don't know that there's been a thread to talk about such things, so I'm curious to know: Who do you like? Who have you seen live? What makes you laugh like an idiot?

As far as live comedy, I've seen Louis C.K. (twice), Lewis Black, Jim Gaffigan, Todd Barry, David Cross, Dave Attell, and Bob Saget. The Dave Attell show had Keenan Thompson from SNL (and All That, for those who remember) who was unfortunately not very good.

When it comes to recorded stuff, I tend to listen to that more than music these days. Recently, I've become obsessed with Kyle Kinane, who, if you've never heard of him, I highly suggest you check him out. He's one of the funniest comedians I've happened across in the last few years, and I really can't wait to see him live if he ever happens through Kansas City.

Otherwise, I tend to listen to Patton Oswalt (as I've got all his albums in some form or another), Pete Holmes, Dave Attell, Arj Barker (one of the few stoner comedians I like), what have you. There's a ton of others, but I've not had my coffee yet, and I can't think of who else. I am constantly trying to check out new stuff, whenever it's added to Netflix or HBO Go/Now. There used to be a comedy station in town, but it changed formats relatively quickly, so unless one has satellite radio there's not a lot of options there.

Unicron · Post by **Unicron** » Fri May 08, 2015 2:49 pm

Went to a George Carlin thing some years ago, good time.
Aside from Carlin, the only person who'd make me get off my ass to see on-stage is Lewis Black. Every couple of months lately when I remember to, I check to see if he'll be performing somewhere reasonably close at a convenient day/time. Haven't had any luck yet.

Post by **inflatable dalek** » Fri May 08, 2015 3:51 pm

I'm a big Richard Herring fan and generally like more random stream of consciousness comedians than "Have you ever noticed this thing everyone has actually noticed and by me mentioning it I get the laughter of recognition" style comedians.

I also like it when their delivery style makes their carefully honed material sound off the cuff. I loved a bit in the Bill Bailey show I saw that seemed a completely ad libbed response to a bit of scenery which then turned out to be a set up for a pre-recorded video at the end. Absolutely perfect delivery.

Post by **Denyer** » Fri May 08, 2015 6:22 pm

Not many these days, though there are those that are always good craic on panel shows. Have enjoyed separate routines by Katherine Ryan, Andy Parsons, Hugh Dennis, Aisling Bea, etc. There's a definitely skewing towards Mock The Week attendees.

I enjoy a bit of Eddie Izzard, and Bill Hicks without the glossy production remains a favourite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o0uO1ir83U

electro girl · Post by **electro girl** » Fri May 08, 2015 6:24 pm

I don't get out to see as much comedy as I'd like. I catch the occasional local show but mostly as a supporting act, not as many famous stand-ups swing by Hull as they do York or Leeds. Josie Long was here recently but I ended up missing her show due to work but I did see Noel Fielding not too long ago. I really like him but I have a feeling I wouldn't be all that fussed by him had I not spent my teens exclusively watching the Mighty Boosh.

I like to watch Hannibal Buress because I really enjoy his tone. I also like Louis C K, Bill Bailey, Dylan Moran, Kevin Bridges. Sarah Pascoe is another fave but she does not get nearly enough media exposure. I like Frankie Boyle's stand up well enough but I've found I like his autobiography and his opinion pieces much better.

Dead Man Wade · Post by **Dead Man Wade** » Sat May 09, 2015 2:45 pm

Unicron wrote:Aside from Carlin, the only person who'd make me get off my ass to see on-stage is Lewis Black. Every couple of months lately when I remember to, I check to see if he'll be performing somewhere reasonably close at a convenient day/time. Haven't had any luck yet.

I got to see Lewis Black back when my wife and I first started dating. Every other time he's come through town, he's performed at larger venues; on this one occasion, he was appearing in an intimate comedy club that holds maybe 75 people. We were sat at a table right in front of the stage, and I got my picture taken with him afterward.

He was the first comedian I ever saw live, and that experience was one of the major causes of my love for stand-up.

inflatable dalek wrote:I also like it when their delivery style makes their carefully honed material sound off the cuff.

That's one of the things I like about Kyle Kinane. On those occasions that he gets off-track, whether because of audience interaction or what have you, he regains the flow of the set in such a way that it's not the bog-standard "So, like I was saying..."

And listening to his albums, there's definite improvement in that regard. His first album has a very set flow, wherein he's telling the types of jokes you were talking about. On his later albums, his delivery is much more natural, and he's able to drift in and out of his material to go off on tangents about pho, terrible oral sex, and the like. It gives his comedy a much more conversational tone that I really dig.

Notabot · Post by **Notabot** » Sun May 10, 2015 12:09 am

In high school, I got to see George Carlin and Victor Borge live. (At separate shows. I don't think they've ever toured together.)

Steven Wright is one of my absolute favorites, as is Jim Gaffigan. Mike Birbiglia's Netflix special "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend" is fantastic. And, despite all the current controversy, Bill Cosby is a genius. And Bob Newhart is brilliant if you're in the right mood.

I used to like the Cartoon Network show "Dr. Katz" where all the comedians would do little bits as his patients. I keep wanting to pick it up on DVD, but I wonder if I'm better off with the memories of it than the actual thing.

Dead Man Wade · Post by **Dead Man Wade** » Wed May 27, 2015 3:34 pm

Denyer wrote:Not many these days, though there are those that are always good craic on panel shows. Have enjoyed separate routines by Katherine Ryan, Andy Parsons, Hugh Dennis, Aisling Bea, etc. There's a definitely skewing towards Mock The Week attendees.

I enjoy a bit of Eddie Izzard, and Bill Hicks without the glossy production remains a favourite.

Eddie Izzard and Bill Hicks are two I've liked for a very long time. One of the first stand-up DVDs I bought was Dressed to Kill.

Some of the others you've mentioned, I'm not familiar with offhand, but one of the reasons I started this thread was to discover new comedians. You can be sure I'll be checking them out quite soon.

electro girl wrote:I don't get out to see as much comedy as I'd like. I catch the occasional local show but mostly as a supporting act, not as many famous stand-ups swing by Hull as they do York or Leeds.

Which is, unfortunately, one of the issues I run into living in Kansas City. We're big enough to attract a fair number of acts, but we don't get nearly the sort of scene that even St. Louis gets.

Josie Long was here recently but I ended up missing her show due to work but I did see Noel Fielding not too long ago. I really like him but I have a feeling I wouldn't be all that fussed by him had I not spent my teens exclusively watching the Mighty Boosh.

Pity, as I do enjoy Noel Fielding in the things I've seen him in. Alas, that's a risk, as with Keenan Thompson, but I don't think it necessarily detracts from their other work in the final analysis. Someone can be a very good comedy writer or comedic actor, but terrible as stand-up or vice versa. I'm not sure why there seems to be an expectation on the part of funny people that one should translate to the other, but there are a number of people I've seen do stand up that I've found myself wishing they'd stuck to sitcoms or movies (looking at you, Broken Lizard).

Funny on Twitter is, I think, the ultimate expression of this. Someone being able to construct a 144-character bon mot and rack up followers does not mean that person should be given a sitcom.

Notabot wrote:In high school, I got to see George Carlin and Victor Borge live. (At separate shows. I don't think they've ever toured together.)[/i]

Jealous.

Carlin is one of those that I wish I'd had a chance to see live before they died (Richard Jeni, Mitch Hedburg and Greg Giraldo as well), but there was never a time where opportunity and funds lined up. Truthfully one of my biggest regrets, as he's one of those that anyone with an appreciation for comedic history should at least respect, even if his material is not to their liking.

Steven Wright is one of my absolute favorites, as is Jim Gaffigan. Mike Birbiglia's Netflix special "My Girlfriend's Boyfriend" is fantastic. And, despite all the current controversy, Bill Cosby is a genius. And Bob Newhart is brilliant if you're in the right mood.

Steven Wright is amazing, as is Cosby (I will say that I think "controversy" is the nicest way I've heard that put), and I'm personally of the opinion that Newhart is amazing regardless of mood. Admittedly, that's also taking his television and movie work into account, so...

Berbiglia took me a little while to get into, but I watched My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, and it sold me.

I used to like the Cartoon Network show "Dr. Katz" where all the comedians would do little bits as his patients. I keep wanting to pick it up on DVD, but I wonder if I'm better off with the memories of it than the actual thing.

It held up really well the last time I watched it, though that's been a long time ago now. The bits with Katz, Ben and the other recurring characters were all ace, even if the comedians' material hasn't aged as well (not the case in all instances, but in some). Also, it was my first exposure to Jon Benjamin and Laura Silverman, and that scores it definite points.

One other comedian I'd love to add to the list of comedians I enjoy is Emo Phillips. His delivery is kind of weird, but he's a master of reversal. One of my favorite bits of his is: "When I was a kid, my parents used to tell me, 'Emo, don't go near the cellar door!' One day, when they were away, I went up to the cellar door. I pushed it and walked through and saw strange, wonderful things, things I had never seen before, like trees... grass...flowers...the sun. That was nice...the sun."

EDIT:
Another one of Phillips' bits I happened across that I love is:

Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, "Don't do it!"
He said, "Nobody loves me."
I said, "God loves you. Do you believe in God?"
He said yes.
I said, "Are you Christian or a Jew?"
He said, "A Christian."
I said, "Me too! Protestant or Catholic?"
He said, "Protestant."
I said, "Me too! What franchise?"
He said, "Baptist."
I said, "Me too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?"
He said, "Northern Baptist."
I said, "Me too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?"
He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist."
I said, "Me too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?"
He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region."
I said, "Me too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?"
He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912."
I said, "Die, heretic!"
And I pushed him over.

Tantrum · Post by **Tantrum** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:46 am

When I was younger, my parents took me to see George Carlin and Bobcat Goldthwait (separate shows, but around the same time). Carlin pretty much did his standard act at the time; Bobcat spent a bit of time riffing about NH. I saw Lewis Black in college on December 3, 2000. I know the date because I still have the promotional poster I grabbed right after the show.

I go out to see comics every so often. The casino in Newport has a free show every Satrday. Usually it's a tribute band, but every couple of months it's a few stand-ups. One started his act with:
"What do get when you cross a bull-dog with a shitzu?"
The audience replied, "Bullshit".
The comic said, "Still born puppies" and went on about the logistics of dog breeding.
I laughed, then realized I was maybe the only one laughing, which made me laugh harder.

There's a small bar that occasionally hosts a stand-up show in the evening before the music. There's hardly ever anyone there. One night, it wasn't so much a night of comedy as it was a night of watching people bomb in various ways. There were so few people that there was never enough applause for an actual applause break, so the comics got through their sets more quickly. They had enough time left over that one of the comic's SO, who's also a comic, did an unplanned set.

Selkadoom · Post by **Selkadoom** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 4:31 am

I myself have unfortunaterly never gone to a coemdy show duee to being on the younger and usually poorer side but I have watched numerous stand up specials, Jim Norton is possibly my favoritie with Louis C.K. and the late Carlin being a close follow up, though I will admit I enjoy Gaffigan and black as well.

Post by **Denyer** » Sat Jun 06, 2015 7:48 am

Via Dalek found this -- Richard Herring talking to various comedians and entertainers;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeTR1v5lmXE

Post by **inflatable dalek** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 7:58 pm

Definately a good (if long, they do two shows in one go now, it was just Adam Buxton when I went and that was about two hours) evening out if you're in London whilst they're being recorded. The new one with Bob Mortimer should be up this week, I'm expecting something mental.

Auntie Slag · Post by **Auntie Slag** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 8:29 pm

Notabot wrote:I used to like the Cartoon Network show "Dr. Katz" where all the comedians would do little bits as his patients. I keep wanting to pick it up on DVD, but I wonder if I'm better off with the memories of it than the actual thing.

Oh yes! I used to LOVE that programme! Thought perhaps no-one remembered it ever existed until I saw a Family Guy cutaway about it. And you of course

Agree with Wade too about Emo Phillips.

And who is the American guy with the totally deadpan voice who tells jokes like "I put Spot remover on my dog.... I haven't seen him since".

Or something like that. Really terrible jokes that I usually hate, but his delivery is so good!

Notabot · Post by **Notabot** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 9:27 pm

Auntie Slag wrote: And who is the American guy with the totally deadpan voice who tells jokes like "I put Spot remover on my dog.... I haven't seen him since".

Steven Wright. You know that feeling you get when you're leaning back in a chair and it starts to tip over but you catch yourself at the very last second? I feel like that all the time.

I'd like to get a tattoo of myself over my entire body, except make it just a little bit taller.

I have the largest collection of seashells known to man. You've probably seen part of it. I store it on beaches throughout the world.

I think my favorite Emo Phillips line is, "I was driving down the highway and went to change the radio. Just as I got the old one out..."

Auntie Slag · Post by **Auntie Slag** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 9:34 pm

Ha, I can hear him saying those words now!

Also really like Reginald D. Hunter, and whilst not a comedian per se, I would have loved to have seen Clement Freud on stage. Really funny, acerbic relative of Sigmund Freud (or Lucien, I forget which).

@Notabot, I'll never forget Emo's other one: "I was walking through the park one evening and these three asthmatics jumped me. I know, I should've heard them coming".

Dead Man Wade · Post by **Dead Man Wade** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 9:54 pm

Another good Emo Phillips line: "I was walking down Fifth Avenue today, and I found a wallet. I was going to keep it, rather than return it, but I though: 'Well, if I lost a hundred and fifty dollars, how would I feel?' And I realized that I would want to be taught a lesson."

Ryan F · Post by **Ryan F** » Tue Jun 09, 2015 9:28 pm

I'm actually off to see Tim Vine in Southend on Saturday.

I'm a big fan of wordplay, puns, one-liners and slapstick stuff, rather than long stories or observational comedy. I love Lee Mack, Milton Jones, that sort of thing.

Sample jokes:

I'm a caucasian - my dad's from Ireland and my Mum's Japanese.

French chef commits suicide - he lost the huile d'olive.

This girl came up to me and said she recognised me from vegetarian club. I was confused, I'd never met herbivore.

The temptation to sing 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' is just a whim away.

I don't do jokes about a wooden step in the corner of a field that doesn't belong to me - that's not my style.

How do you make a duck sing? Put it in a microwave until its bill withers.