The Big Bumper Thread of Stand-up Comedy

I know we have a funny videos thread. But I have decided in my infinite* wisdom that we also need a thread dedicated to the honourable art of stand up comedy.

So, here's the place to put stand-up comedy, interviews with stand-up comedians and programmes about stand-up comedy.

Bring out your Emo and Izzard. Let loose with your Robin Williams (back when he was coked up and funny). Lay waste to teh interwebs, with your Louis CK and Shappi Korsandi. Old and new. Mainstream and niche. It's all good. It's all butter.

I'mma kick off with a little Daniel Kitsune (nsfw)

[YOUTUBE]x3ZH10XbeSA[/YOUTUBE]


And follow up with some Stewart Lee. Went to see him live doing this show (Carpet Remnant World) about a year or so ago. None of this was in it, because he rewrites the current affairs stuff as he goes around the country.


Note to American dwellars: bear with it

(also some nsfw language)
[YOUTUBE]Uj2LcKdRU0o[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]wOb2KQHr7V0[/YOUTUBE]


I was going to post a clip of Roy Chubby Brown talking about Islam, to clear up any confusion over references - but I got a couple of minutes into the clip and threw up a little in my mouth so....no.


Shappi Khorsandi:

[YOUTUBE]ZUzeWoFzfBQ[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]BXX4aydLEoc[/YOUTUBE]












* I borrowed some from a monkey

Great thread idea!

I'd like to say up front that any standup comedy clips could very well be NSFW!

Here's some Wanda Sykes. Hoping I'll find one of my favorite clips by her, but this one's pretty good:

[YOUTUBE]dmmAifGQYpQ[/YOUTUBE]

I can only find these Comedy Central, so can't imbed the video:

http://www.comedycentral.com/video-clips/rhdffe/stand-up-wanda-sykes--feeling-26

http://www.comedycentral.com/video-clips/cbm00u/stand-up-wanda-sykes--city-drinking

Paula Poundstone:

[YOUTUBE]sESeHnz0z2s[/YOUTUBE]

Carol Leifer (also a Seinfeld writer):

[YOUTUBE]3kkcilFQc3A[/YOUTUBE]

Jim Gaffigan on McDonalds

[YOUTUBE]6YDTfEhChgw&list[/YOUTUBE]

Sinbad on McDonalds

[YOUTUBE]oO8oSbfbL-Q[/YOUTUBE]

Mitch Hedberg

Wanda Sykes rocks!

[youtube]0YYcQitVp6E[/youtube]

Hahaha. I didn't see that when you first posted it.

'Even the sound of bacon is like hearing applause' hahahaha. Beautiful.

Having been to see Richard Herring last night, I've been on a herring kick today, which naturally led to a Stewart Lee kick (his former comedy partner and still bezzie mate).

Rather than posting his comedy material though, I'm going to post one of his 'Don't Get me Started' programmes. This one is about blasphemy and free speech. Really interesting, given his personal experience of religious fundamentalist objections to his work (Jerry Springer Opera)


Don't Get me Started: What's so bad about blasphemy?
[YOUTUBE]TVm3-oIK3eo[/YOUTUBE]

And now for some light relief...so to speak - from Richard Herring's "Talking Cock" tour (his answer to the Vagina Monologues) "Where have you put your penis for fun?"

[YOUTUBE]V-ik7qXJ-rk[/YOUTUBE]

A really excellent interview with Marcus Brigstocke, from The Comedian's Comedian

[YOUTUBE]VuGFO33cJ-U[/YOUTUBE]

Mark Thomas and Susan Calman talking at the free LGBT rights comedy gig in Edinburgh, outside the Russian embassy (2013)

[YOUTUBE]Bw55tBzClbs[/YOUTUBE]

Jon Richardson:
[YOUTUBE]2GPdaTrvZrM[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]edS89s7YJ5k[/YOUTUBE]


David O'Docherty :)

[YOUTUBE]-BbZ1J_wgdc[/YOUTUBE]

Time for a dose of utter weirdness - The Mighty Boosh, Live:


Bear with it - takes a little while to find its rhythm, if you're not already clued into their characters from the radio and tv shows. Also, probably nsfw

[YOUTUBE]8Tx6O-JWuTw[/YOUTUBE]

From 2012, Montreal - John Oliver comperes on The decline of the American Empire.

The comedians he introduces from 10 mins in are funny as well.

Part 1 -
[YOUTUBE]dK_u7yWTd3U[/YOUTUBE]


Part 2 -
[YOUTUBE]LITCG1zVFSk[/YOUTUBE]

So I did this thing.



Remember a month ago, when I said that if I were going to attempt a profession other than my own, it would be stand up comedy? Well my life philosophy has always been, if you want it just go fucking do it. So I wrote some material, and last night I went and performed at Open Mic Night at the comedy club here in town.

It was seriously fun. It's hard to gauge when you're performing, but out of 25 performers I was definitely in the top 5 as far as number of laughs. Granted, several people were completely terrified to be on stage and abandoned ship even before their 4 minutes were up, and at least half of them brought a set list on stage with them to remind them what joke came next, so I obviously wasn't among professionals. But still, I was pretty proud of how I did.

There were a few drawbacks. The club has a 2-item minimum, which goes for anyone who sits in a chair, either in the showroom or at the bar. Performers are only exempt if they stand along the side aisle. Still easily able to see the stage, so not completely sequestered, but I was nonetheless standing in heels for 2 and a half hours.

I wish I'd had the courage to ask one of the other performers to record my set on my phone, but no one else did and it felt too weird. But I'm totally going to do it again.

I'd love to see that if you do. You have big courage.

Wow, the one thing people consistently ranked as a higher fear that death. Kudos, should we start writing jokes for you? Maybe someone recorded it and will youtube it. Naw, even if they did how would you ever find it.

Kudos to you! Well done!

Sent by thought transference

xoxoxoBruce wrote:

Wow, the one thing people consistently ranked as a higher fear that death. Kudos, should we start writing jokes for you? Maybe someone recorded it and will youtube it. Naw, even if they did how would you ever find it.

To be fair, public speaking in and of itself has never bothered me. I did lots of theatre and have a strong attention whore streak. Even if no one laughed at all, I had the set memorized backwards and forwards so I knew I could get through it, at least. But I know for sure no one was recording, it was a small audience of basically no one except friends of performers, and you would have been able to see a glowing phone screen in the dark.

Wow. Public speaking I can do. And in group interviews/ training sessions I always get volunteered to present results/ be the spokesperson.

But stand up?
Ohnonononono.

Please to do again and film this time.
(Wear flats and change before going onstage next time)

I'm impressed. Congrats on coming up big against your voice of reason. Awesome that you actually enjoyed it. I can't wait for the video.

I missed this somehow!

Go ComedyClod!

That's really exciting.

Sean Lock.

[YOUTUBE]Syh89qBC6jk[/YOUTUBE]

Moshe Kasher. I've watched many well-known comedians do improvised sets in this particular program, and many do not do nearly as well as you might expect. Moshe blows it away. (NSFW language)

[YOUTUBE]1yzTtG_IMAU[/YOUTUBE]

Another awesome one. Again, not for the employed:

[YOUTUBE]qxo_FxYHAeQ[/YOUTUBE]

Oh they were excellent. I've seen some comedians I love not really coping well with the Set List.

Stephen K Amos - funny guy:

[YOUTUBE]8bRS9zfnajk[/YOUTUBE]

And Reginald D Hunter - brilliant comedian and completely adorable (may have posted this before - but can't be arsed checking the funny vids thread!)

[YOUTUBE]__xSchLFwMU[/YOUTUBE]

This chick is awesome:

[YOUTUBE]wU8sJXFXHCY[/YOUTUBE]

Last one then I stop (or at least pause :p)

Rich Hall

[YOUTUBE]DiHYoZDLGvo[/YOUTUBE]

Working my way through the clips.
Saw Stephen Amos and Reginald D Hunter live.
Even better than they are on panel shows, and RDH is daymn funny on those.
Both very versatile.

Need to check out the chick next as I see the name and think I know it but not sure of the face (un the still image youtube provides)

You mean: Reginald Delicious Hunter? :p

I mean I'd ride cross-country on that hunter

DanaC wrote:

You mean: Reginald Delicious Hunter? :p

Hah! Very nice! :lol:

Ahhh fraid I can't claim that one :p It was one of his - on Would I lie to You if I recall aright

I know, I was laughing at the reference. I have watched all the WILTY episodes on YouTube at least twice.

Clodfobble;901148 wrote:

To be fair, public speaking in and of itself has never bothered me. I did lots of theatre and have a strong attention whore streak. Even if no one laughed at all, I had the set memorized backwards and forwards so I knew I could get through it, at least. But I know for sure no one was recording, it was a small audience of basically no one except friends of performers, and you would have been able to see a glowing phone screen in the dark.

first of all, WOW, awesome, just awesome.

Second of all, did this guy perform the same night?

[YOUTUBE]EENuwY5rRFo[/YOUTUBE]

DEATH STAR CANTEEN
[YOUTUBE]Bq03xebtbeU[/YOUTUBE]

LOUIS CK ON BEING WHITE
[YOUTUBE]TG4f9zR5yzY[/YOUTUBE]

AND THE 'N' WORD
literally.
[YOUTUBE]dF1NUposXVQ[/YOUTUBE]

one more louisck this one has a bit that reminds me of my former married life

[YOUTUBE]sxck_1a917A&start=300[/YOUTUBE]

the rhetorical question that she demands an answer to is verrrrry familiar.

Clodfobble;902873 wrote:

I know, I was laughing at the reference. I have watched all the WILTY episodes on YouTube at least twice.

Ha! Then: well spotted!

BigV wrote:

Second of all, did this guy perform the same night?

No, that was 1st of June, I did it on the 8th. I haven't been able to sign up again yet, because they get about 100 requests for 25 slots every week, and they have to rotate. And Mr. Clod has to do a server upgrade on the evening of the 29th, so I'm not even asking for this weekend. But maybe on the 6th of July.

P.S., I was way funnier than that guy. :)

Look Ali, muffin humor

[youtube]T-1AJlYb1tc&start=2960[/youtube]

The whole video is funny, but the muffin part starts at 49:20

Bill Burr

Oh, I really like him!

He's in my top ten. I love stand up. I could flood this thread very easily. If you have Pandora, you can get a stand up channel going. I have a couple.

John Pinette, who unfortunately died this year. Fucking shame. You don't get better from that.

[youtube]vk0Ok5h7OFM[/youtube]

God said "You here too long! You go now!"

Watched Russell Howard and Greg Davies last night.

Russell Howard relies a bit on the silly voices, but his pace is so frenetic it's entrancing. A bit from the middle, but the whole thing was great:

[YOUTUBE]p2cyhmg6NqY[/YOUTUBE]

Still looking for a good clip of the Greg Davies special...

I really like Greg Davies. He's done a couple of good sitcoms as well. One of them (Man Down) I've only seen bits of and keep intending to catch up on it. Only one series so far I think - his father in the show was played by Rik Mayall.

OMG. Tried watching Dave Foley's new work last night. So, so depressing. Stay far the fuck away from it.

Here's the gist of it: His career is in the toilet. He regrets most of the decisions in his life. He's on antidepressants, can't manage to have orgasms most of the time, and pays $17,700 a month in child support despite having an income nowhere near that anymore. None of this was delivered in a humorous manner, it was just really awkward complaining. And he has a terrible dye job.

We had to turn it off.

I think I almost watched that on Netflix last night. Thanks for the heads up.

I have watched two Jim Norton shows, lately, "Please, Be Offended", and "American Degenerate". I recommend both.

If you don't know Jim Norton, prepare to be offended.

"Looks like someone dumped a bucket of Aids on his head "

Excellent radio interview with Marcus Brigstocke:

[YOUTUBE]bA_zlwDWLWo[/YOUTUBE]

There was an interesting little piece on the Guardian website by an Aussie standup today. She talks about a story she tells in her act - a true story - that she kind of cringes about now. It involves a heckling incident which really freaked her out and which actually scared her quite badly - she then built a section of her act around it and ended up with something very, very funny - but has since begun to think that by doing so she betrayed the seriousness of what happened and how it affected her at the time.

http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/aug/02/sarah-kendall-edinburgh-festival-comedy-worst-heckle-sexual-violence

She does it so well though - it is a shocking story, particularly the responses of the audience at the time, but her telling of it is hilarious.

[YOUTUBE]OOmTl0gQReg#t=555[/YOUTUBE]

I've been playing stand up comdey sets in the kitchen while i work, since you mostly don't need to see them, just listen.

Best one recently was one by Bobcat Goldthwaite, "You don't look the same either" streamed on netflix. He's obviously working from a script or set, but it still feels pretty off the cuff I don't think he does stand-up regularly any more, he mentions directing, so there's a little bit more doing it because he can, I'm sure the paycheck is nice too.

Near the end there is one the greatest, I shouldn't laugh at this but it's funny gags, about a Firetruck.

[YOUTUBE]q3ALAjwuO1M[/YOUTUBE]

…it was kind of fisting this McDonald’s Happy Meal into the bleak, stygian abyss of its gaping maw and there was just this sound and I was not sure if it was the noise of the happy meal being ingested or the sound of my ovaries shriveling as I looked at it…

[YOUTUBE]VcA0TtOR7-I[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]3oH0ReL3Cew[/YOUTUBE]

Okay. Deep breath. Not afraid to show this to people who know me, not afraid to show this to people who know me...

I went up again last night. Not my best set, but several people before me had gone long, and they were clearly getting pushier with the 4-minute limit, and I already knew my bit ran long because they always do because I'm a bad person who can't follow the rules. So I was really rushing it (and still, see that 4:47 running time?) and missed several laughs I know I could have gotten if I'd delivered it the way I wanted to.

Anyway. Enough backpedaling and excuses. Most of it is a story I already shared on here a couple months back, so I'll know if you're really reading my posts or not.

Oh, right, some of you who know my real name may notice this isn't it. I've been using a stage name from the beginning because I don't need the PTA to accidentally google me saying "cunt" a bunch of times. I don't say cunt in this bit though, just a few fucks and one shit.

[YOUTUBE]MavPEUHR41g[/YOUTUBE]

Namaste indeed!

Fucking brava!

I LOLed at 1:59 despite myself.

Oh, and *thank you*.

I got a minute in and had to stop cause I was really laughing and didn't want to miss anything.

Then I listened to the rest.

I do remember readingthat story and it making me smile - but hearing you tell it was soooo much funnier.

Your delivery is awesome. You sounded really confident, like you've been doing standup gigs as a career for years.

Back in the day, me and J used to watch a lot of new stand ups - open mic type stuff. Saw some people die hard. Saw some die but knew they had the funneh somewhere. Saw some and just knew they had no funneh at all - and saw some that just got the audience right on side and held the room. You put me in mind of the latter.

Well now I envy you for one more thing!

Very nicely done.

The line about paying a man more made me laugh so hard.

Clodfobble;918158 wrote:

I've been using a stage name from the beginning because I don't need the PTA to accidentally google me saying "cunt" a bunch of times.

I was gonna say, "Who's Faye?"

Now I'm gonna listen...

Awesome! I really enjoyed the first bit and the joke about paying the guy more.

The other story was good and delivered beautifully, but since it was old material for me it didn't tickle my funny bone as much as when I read it.

I'm super impressed with you for doing that and I hope if you do it again, you'll post it again. I'd like to hear more.

Well done!

Ms. Fobble, that was great!

Kudos Ma'am. You're right, the difference between good and great is not the jokes but the timing.

Ms Noonan, Ms Noonan, Faux News here...
1- Aren't you worried about neglecting your family while doing World Tours, or just flying to this coast or that, for appearances?
2- Does it bother you that millions of men and women are having sexual fantasies while watching you perform?
3- Is it true you frequent a subversive Philly area Jihadist website?
4- Does your chewing gum lose it's flavor on the bedpost overnight?

Thanks you guys! I have so much fun doing it, it's truly therapeutic. Even the one time I completely bombed, I felt like I should feel bad but I didn't, I swear to God it was an even bigger high than when I do well.

xoxoxoBruce;918194 wrote:

1- Aren't you worried about neglecting your family while doing World Tours, or just flying to this coast or that, for appearances?

I know you're joking, but in all seriousness, I'm not worried because this isn't a career for me no matter how much better I may get with experience. Obviously the reality of my life makes it a non-starter, but aside from logistics, I am actively refusing to let my left brain have any piece of this action.

See, here's how it is. I'm naturally about 90% left brain, and that's a balance that works for me. But dealing with my kids (not just emotionally coping, but successfully documenting symptoms and teasing out patterns from the observable data) meant going 100% left brain for a few years, just straightjacketing that fucker who likes to feel things and relate to people and throwing away the key. She got out a few times, but I got better at predicting and avoiding the escape routes. And by the time the job was mostly done and I was finally able to step back and check in on her, she'd turned into Helena from Orphan Black. You can't just release something like that back into the world, you know?

So not only did I choose these open mic nights as a specific way to ease my right brain back out on day trips, I made the conscious rule for myself that I wasn't going to let it become work in any way. Instinctively I want to be the best at everything I do, and this is the one place I won't allow it. I won't network with other comics before the show, I won't search out other places I could perform in town, I won't actively try to write material. It's all fun and no ambition and that's how it has to stay.

Really terrific, Clod. I missed seeing your face, but I understand you need to keep a degree of anonymity. I wished you talked a little slower so I could savor the story and let the tension build, but I realize you were under time constraints. I really look forward to more.

You will be giving Kathleen Madigan a run for her money.

Clodfobble;918158 wrote:

. I don't say cunt in this bit though, just a few fucks and one shit.

Who the fuck gives a shit? ;)

I just realized I was rushing and didn't read the bit about you rushing so to hell with my comment about you rushing.:smack::smack:

Finally got to listen, away from work...

~ Most Excellent Job ~

Clodfobble;918242 wrote:

But dealing with my kids (not just emotionally coping, but successfully documenting symptoms and teasing out patterns from the observable data) meant going 100% left brain for a few years, just straightjacketing that fucker who likes to feel things and relate to people and throwing away the key.

Whoa, that may be what it takes for you, but it sounds like a tough row to hoe for Mr Clod.

Kind of--he's naturally about 95% left brain himself, so it wasn't much of a stretch. He's the type you have to force emotions out of to begin with, so he's more than happy not having to deal with anyone else's. :)

footfootfoot wrote:

Really terrific, Clod. I missed seeing your face, but I understand you need to keep a degree of anonymity.

I wouldn't mind having my face in the video, you can't really google that. But that would mean having someone else sit in the audience to record it, and very close to the stage at that. I asked another comic to record me once from the back area where we all stand, and it came out unusable. I did this one myself just taking the phone up on stage and setting it on the stool beside me (BigV's suggestion, I think it was) and even then the audio is questionable.

Do you need the audience's energy or could you make a demo tape of just you performing to the camera? Then add the laughs at the right places so it doesn't sound weird.

I could do that, but I won't, because it wouldn't be fun.

Of course you could, you're a professional sound fondler, but the danger of a tape like that going viral is too great. You don't need the additional pressure of millions of clamoring fans, the entertainment press, and an envious Kim Jong-un. :apimp:

You're awesome, Faye.

CF's new user title:

Professional Sound Fondler

Clodfobble;918242 wrote:

snip--

See, here's how it is. I'm naturally about 90% left brain, and that's a balance that works for me. But dealing with my kids (not just emotionally coping, but successfully documenting symptoms and teasing out patterns from the observable data) meant going 100% left brain for a few years, just straightjacketing that fucker who likes to feel things and relate to people and throwing away the key. She got out a few times, but I got better at predicting and avoiding the escape routes. And by the time the job was mostly done and I was finally able to step back and check in on her, she'd turned into Helena from Orphan Black. You can't just release something like that back into the world, you know?

--snip

... um...

Dear Doctor Scientist Detective Fobble:

I should tell you that "she" has been sneaking out and hanging out with us for a long time. She's more flexible and agile than you might have thought. She *is* funny and articulate and warm. She is a good friend and good company. She's always made it back safe and sound, no harm done. I feel kinda weird tattling on her like this, but I thought you should know. Please don't put a new lock on this door. We'll take good care of her and get her home before bed check, ok?

TIA.

Her friends, and yours,

teh cellar.

Oh oh, I volunteer for the bed check. :jig:

Here is some good stuff. Tim and I really seem to be on the same sheet of music on lot of stuff.

[YOUTUBE]wmnxF_WTOgg[/YOUTUBE]

My biography, set to music.

**awesome**

Minchin is great.

Not really standup - but the contestants are mostly standups.

It's a spin off from 8 out of 10 Cats. There was a comedy mash up on Channel 4 a few years ago and theymashed up Cats with a long running very staid little afternoon quiz show called Countdown. It then became a semi regular special and then a regular series.

Countdown is a gentle words and numbers game. Nothing happens in Countdown except people make the biggest word they can out of the random letters, or reac the figure using the numbers given - to the famous coount down clock. Other than the odd bad pun it is as staid as chintz. 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown is a more raucous and rude version.

Carr hosts, and the two Cats team captains remain the same. They have the regular countdown features - maths rounds, word rounds, dictionary corner etc. The maths expert and the lexicographer from the daytime countdown show, do the cats version as well.

I should point out for the boys who like girls who like maths - the mathematician is hot.

I should also point out that at some point in every show Joe Wilkinson shows up and does some mad shit.

probably nsfw

[YOUTUBE]Ebm4mCacsCU[/YOUTUBE]

AWESOME. I greatly enjoyed this program, and shall consume more of it.

Though I admit, it was hard to try to think of words when I also wanted to watch Jimmy Carr be funny during the countdowns. And the Joe Wilkinson bit was... very weird. Maybe he'll endear himself and I'll get used to it, but it seemed really out of place.

I think that's kind of the point with Wilkinson.

During the first (iirc) mashup, he was unofficially assisting. Then he showed up in the next set claiming to have been fired from the show. He does something totally different each week, but always with his half brother Fabio in there somewhere.

Glad you like anyway :) i think there have been six series, but not all of them were full series.

This month begins the annual "Funniest Person in Austin" contest. It's a surprisingly big deal, as the finals are attended by representatives from Comedy Central, 3 Arts, Conan/Kimmel/Fallon, and several big festivals, and the winner is not-totally-guaranteed-but-tacitly-assumed to be given a spot in the New Faces portion of the huge Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. Plus, the booker for SXSW Comedy is said to attend every night, even the preliminary rounds.

You can see where I'm going with this.

The preliminary rounds are the most brutal: 16-17 performers each night, of which only three will advance to the semifinals. At the discretion of the judges, a fourth person from each night may go into a "comeback" round, with their sets posted on the website and the one with the most votes getting a wildcard spot straight into the finals. But even someone who advances normally only gets to perform 3 times at most.

My preliminary is May 5th, the very last one before the semifinals start. Looking at the lineups it's clear that they have seeded the brackets deliberately, with the bigger names in town spread out evenly across all the nights. On my night, I would say there is one shoo-in and three others (besides me, of course :)) who are genuine contenders. The rest I've either seen at open mics or found videos of, and I'm not worried--or else they have no internet presence at all, which probably means they aren't a concern but then again many might assume the same about me. (I temporarily took down the previous clip I posted, because it's not my best stuff and if I do happen to end up in the comeback round I don't want it losing me votes.)

Do I have a chance at getting to the finals? I honestly don't know. The thing is, I know the set I've put together is hilarious. I by no means have a special's worth of great stuff, but I know that my best six minutes is objectively fantastic. But my style is also very different from most of the regulars. The scene here is a whole lot of "lean casually against the mic stand and tell self-deprecating one-liners," and I am far more theatrical and energetic. I yell a lot. Maybe that makes me stand out in a good way, or maybe that makes me too weird to be chosen by judges who are comfortably settled into the smirky scene.

Here, for example, is last year's winner:

[YOUTUBE]zzu2bl0P3fo[/YOUTUBE]

This guy, on the other hand, is the most dynamic finalist video I could find out of all of them, and I'm still more frantic than he is by a long shot. (And of course this guy didn't place during his year.)

[YOUTUBE]8OHFD5Y8MNM[/YOUTUBE]

Aaanyway. I want this. Bad. My ego will be satisfied if I at least make it to the semi-finals (I mean honestly, any-fucking-body can sign up for this and that includes the local schizophrenic homeless dude who sings nonsense over a 12-inch toy keyboard, so I should at least move beyond that level,) and most of the big name folks do come to those shows as well. Some very talented people in this city have never made it to the finals, but they got spots at festivals and launched a career just because the right people saw them at the semi-finals. But I'd be lying if I didn't say that part of me thinks I'm good enough to win. Maybe that's delusional, but I've seen a ton of finalist sets at this point, and I think it's at least possible.

We shall see on May 5th, I suppose.

Good luck. :thumb:

~~ This is awesome! ~~

Fantastic!

Just make sure to remind me when to vote.

Awesome like I'm speechless, but here are the words: what a great thing to do and what a great thing to aspire to. I wanted to say about your previous bit, what a fine thing it is, merely to have crafted that very solid and successful four minutes. Now you say it wasn't your best stuff? Kick solid ass.

The intro from the last bit is the intro to this set too, although it's been tweaked a little. But yeah, my final four minutes for this? It's a story that absolutely killed at the small open mic I took it to, and I've improved it a lot since then. I'm super confident about it.

You so totally rock you actually define the word.

Awesome!

Cool thing... during the first preliminary round, 4 of the 17 entrants were female, which tends to be about the typical ratio. But all three of the winners who moved on to the semi-finals that night were chicks, which is a first in the history of the competition. Of course last night only guys moved on, so this is not the year of the woman or anything. But it's been 15 years since a woman won the whole thing, so it would be nice for someone to break that streak.

let it be you!

I've only just read this. How awesome. I mean, natch, I hope ya winz, but whatever the outcome, this looks the most awesome fun.

You sound ready for the next step up.

It's still 2.5 weeks away, which is sooo looong. [/whine] Going last sucks. The distance between my prelim and the finals is less than that. Probably better that way if I'm being honest, rip the bandaid off when it does finally start, but goddammit. Left brain's taken over despite my best intentions, at least temporarily, and I'm tweaking.

John Oliver, around 2008:

[YOUTUBE]9BH6GcYW4so[/YOUTUBE]

I love this man.

Alas, no semifinals for me. There were some mitigating factors outside of my control--there was a nasty storm, so the crowd was about 2/3rds normal, and the whole show was just kind of mediocre and people actually started getting up and leaving with about 5 comics left to go.

And then I had to go dead last. Shit, even I was tired of being there by then, and I had to be in the upper echelon of excitement that night, so I can't blame the audience for being tired. Plus, because the show was stacked even more heavily than normal with the "I'm poor and can't get a girlfriend" casual-loser style of comedian, that meant the audience was mostly full of those peoples' friends, which meant they preferred that kind of comedy.

Long story short, they were not prepared to be screamed at and simply had no idea what to do with me. My set got a far better reaction at the little 15-person open mic I last performed it at than the big crowd last night. There were definitely some laughs, and I had a few folks come up to me afterward and compliment the fact that my stuff was different and deserved better than what it got, but mostly they were just bewildered.

Oh well. Not every joke is for every audience. Maybe next time I'll have two thematically different sets prepared and choose one on the fly based on the feel of the room. All in all, it was still fun, but it's a shame I don't get to do it again in front of the big wigs.

robbery!

Oh well, when you reach the big time you can say you paid your dues.

My latest stand up discovery:

[YOUTUBE]dw_mRaIHb-M[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]meF97E3U2fQ[/YOUTUBE]


This one made me lol:

[youtube]X62OBmcOniQ[/youtube]

And then by the magical youtube path I ended up here:

[YOUTUBE]GPdqlROzgvg[/YOUTUBE]

Russell Howard is coming to Austin and I got tickets! Way too excited.

I missed that post at the time Clod! Was he good?

I came in here to post some Carlin. Because Carlin. From 1996. Dated in some places, but frighteningly still current in others.

[YOUTUBE]w15OS2PdCKo[/YOUTUBE]

[youtube]qDO6HV6xTmI[/youtube]

DanaC;946545 wrote:

I missed that post at the time Clod! Was he good?

Oh yes! Only a very small bit of material I had seen before as well. He actually seemed to be about to lead into another large bit I was familiar with, but an audience member shouted the name of it (in encouragement) and he skipped it. He was more casually comfortable than I would have guessed--even professionals, they get famous young and they rely more on the solidly prepared material, they don't have the confidence to banter as freely, but then again I guess panel shows provide that practice to your guys whereas we have no equivalent...

Also, he was wearing his glasses, which is always a plus in my book. :)

The way comedians banter on panel shows is not massively dissimilar to the way friends banter with each other more generally, I think as well. Obviously it's a bit more on point. But that kind of ongoing contest to make the group laugh, and the slightly jousty nature of it, where everyone's just taking the piss out of each other, or one-upping each other is very familiar, I think. He does a great job of replicating that atmosphere in his stand-up, which is no mean feat.

I know, and it's such a shame that we can't seem to get it right. We had Politically Incorrect, and then... Oh fuck, what was that show with Colin Quinn... But in both cases the comedians kept slipping into obviously prepared bits. In the end PI switched to more serious guests and debate, and Colin Quinn got cancelled. Paul Provenza's Green Room comes closer, but it's more often about industry nostalgia.

Actually, now that I think about it, what we've really done is relegated that kind of genuine interaction to the realm of the podcast. We have shit tons of comedian podcasts that have exactly the feeling we're talking about, but for some reason we can't successfully transition them to the screen.

@ Midnight is a pretty decent attempt. No surprise though that many of the guests are from exactly that comedy podcast/stand-up community.

I think that's one reason that the panel shows work so well over here. We have a lot of stand-up comedy and there is a sense of a comedy scene which plays out through clubs and touring as well as radio and tv (and in some cases podcasts). Individual states in the US might well have such a community, but it doesn't translate to a national level in the same way it does here. A question of scale and distance I suspect.

"Tough Crowd" with Colin Quinn, really enjoyed that back in the day.

What I enjoy, in this category, is comedy podcasts. Some comedy podcasters have other comics on and they will jostle. Also sometimes on these podcasts, comics will wind up in live shows on stage with each other and that can be great.

Yeah, a few of them have started doing the podcasts in front of a small audience, a concept that I think The View paved the way for, even though they're obviously a very different genre. "Baby Talk" is one that I've been enjoying, they did them first as a live show but with the knowledge that they'd eventually release the back episodes on YouTube. But still, fucking YouTube. I mean, Drunk History made the jump to real TV, so it's possible, but it still feels very much like a college kid's pipe dream instead of a legitimate step in the right direction.

Thank you sooo much for Baby Talk! Very entertaining.

As an amateur stand-up I think you'd enjoy The Comedian's Comedian podcast, if you haven't already hear of it. I was thinking about that the last time I listened to it and meant to bob on and post something but then forgot to do it.

http://www.comedianscomedian.com/

There are some really interesting interviews. It's a pretty wide range of comic too, some Brits you may not have encountered and some US comics I had never heard of before listening to his show. The host is a comedy fan as well as a stand-up himself. Very much focused on their process and how they make comedy.

I came in here to post this:



[YOUTUBE]Izp3Oo6rfNQ[/YOUTUBE]

Oh yes, I know Comedian's Comedian. Some really good stuff. I've had a hard time getting into a regular listening pattern with any podcasts, unfortunately, because I just haven't figured out a way to fit them into my routine. Mostly it's just a reluctance to change my habits; I certainly could listen to things instead of watching things while I cook. There's just too much good content out there right now.

Does exposure to so many comedians make it hard to come up with original material?

I know you're asking Clod, but I wouldn't have thought it would have that effect. You might find a starting point, a structural idea, or a stylistic flourish that you then exploreand make your own ...I'd have thought.

The times I can't think of a way to approach a subject are the times when I haven't done much reading of secondary materials. Other historians expressing concepts give me ideas about how to express the concepts I want to express, and a sense of that way of thinking and layering of ideas. Similarly,I find it much easier to think in lyric or poetic terms if I've been exposing myself* to songs and poetry. It puts your brain into that kind of space.



*fnarr fnarr

Yes, I was wondering if comedians feel every idea has been done so they just try to give it a unique delivery?

I personally think the social commentary material is overdone, yeah. Oh, you're an artistic performer in Los Angeles who's against homophobia? Duh. But it doesn't constrict material so much for me, because as a general rule I tell stories. There might be a couple one-liners thrown in there referencing sexism, racism, whathaveyou, but for the most part I do real events made into hyperbole. Which works only with the right audience, granted, but you can't pick who's in front of you. (By way of apology I often warn them "I'm like a cross between Mike Birbiglia and manic depressive. I'm kidding, I'm not actually--medicated for that.")

I've never seen this guy before - he popped up on the youtube links to another standup I was watching. Very funny. Bit of a slow burn, but worth it.

[YOUTUBE]nzgTM6ArASI[/YOUTUBE]

That was terrible

[youtube]dTi6efpPSZ0[/youtube]

lumberjim;948463 wrote:

That was terrible

I thought he was brilliant.

The first 3 or 4 minutes had me laughing, but after that it slowed way down, couldn't finish it.

I could only take the guy from Norwegia for three minutes.

Not even a chuckle. Different tastes, go figger.

I'm pretty sure no one ever listens to my comedy recommendations, but screaming into the void is better than whimpering into it, so...

Bo Burnham's new special, "Make Happy," has already played 4 times in this household. (BTW, glatt, he ranks way higher than Chris Pratt. Way higher.) Watch it watch it watch it watch it.

[YOUTUBE]iE5WwlwJeDQ[/YOUTUBE]

That looks awesome!

I really like Bo Burnham. I'm pretty sure I discovered him though your recommendation some time ago.

Did you ever see Chris Hardwicke's Funcomfortable btw?

Oh! I had been waiting for it to appear on Youtube as a podcast, and you just reminded me to check again--and it's there! Listening now.

"What rhymes with mrreyeeah?"

"Grreyeeah!"

I got twenty minutes into "Make Happy" and said screw it, if I haven't so much as chuckled yet, I'm not likely to.

Does it get better, or is it pretty much more of the same?

ETA: I can see where people might find him funny, I guess he's just not my cup of tea.

It's a unique style, he's definitely not for everybody.

I like his style.

A taste of Henry Rollins
[youtube]f_k5WBwUUjQ[/youtube]

This first one, they've helpfully included subtitles:

[YOUTUBE]Kuqrj8uBZ5U[/YOUTUBE]

and this one is Michael McIntyre ragging on the Scots in a really funny way.

[YOUTUBE]vVPjTL6KOpk[/YOUTUBE]

Bit more Kevin Bridges...

[YOUTUBE]5uT6wmKgMys[/YOUTUBE]

J and I saw Steven Wright on Friday night. He was pretty amazing because the conditions were:

1) 1200 seat theatre really poorly laid out for standup comedy.

2) Sound system slightly under-volume for standup comedy.

3) Redneck casino crowd likely to include people who were just there because it was Friday night and a name they generally recognized.

but what happened was

1) No opener, no middle, no emcee: just the lights go down, and Steven Wright walks on stage

2) And he does 90 straight minutes of Steven Wright. There are no breaks. He does not give the audience 15 seconds of pause. One Steven Wright joke after another. Bam Bam Bam. It's remarkable.

I saw a small bottle of cologne and asked if it was for sale. She said, "It's free with purchase." I asked her if anyone bought anything today.

I replaced the headlights in my car with strobe lights, so it looks like I'm the only one moving.

Maybe 20% of it was older stuff that I recognized - I think I'm pretty familiar with the S.W. canon, but it didn't matter, because the whole thing was so DENSE with jokes. Mr. Wright is a genius and he merely comes on stage, pushes the pedal down, goes at his top speed and never lets up until the time is done. He is the Ramones of comedy, if the Ramones were actually clever in any way other than their presentation.

I recently saw him do eight minutes on Carson from the early eighties. Wonderful.

My favorite Wrightism:

[SIZE="1"]paraphrasing[/SIZE]

I was on the cross town bus and I saw a six foot tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed Chinese girl and she was crying. I asked her what was wrong. She said I can't tell my personal problems to a perfect stranger on the cross town bus. And I said that sometimes it might help to tell your personal problems to a perfect stranger on the cross town bus. And then she "I'm a six foot tall, blonde-haired blue-eyed Chinese girl who only gets turned on by Jewish cowboys."

I said "Hi, I'm Bucky Goldstein."

Maybe the longest, too.

Just watched this on Netflix. Nine out of ten.

:devil:DAVE CHAPPELLE IS A FUCKING GOD.:devil:

yeah he's fucking funny

Halfway through 'Louis CK 2017'. Starts right off with abortion...Right into the deep end.

Dude has his moments.

I love Doug Stanhope. I used to like his segments on Charlie Brooker's News Wipe when he was on. He actually added a new level of cynicism to it - which was a pretty impressive feat

His stand up always feels quite raw.

[YOUTUBE]QsPDT5qHtZ4[/YOUTUBE]

:D that was a very strong 6 min segment. He's getting deeper as he ages.

[YOUTUBE]YHMSHW2Pucc[/YOUTUBE]

Can anyone tell me why I can't see posted you tube videos only black boxes

What are you using here, PC, Phone, tablet, laptop?

New Dell windows 10 laptop

Hmm, that should work. Are you using the Edge browser?

Nope using IE

Is it just in this thread or across the whole site?

Works with Chrome and the edge so I'll kick IE into touch Thanks for getting back to me :D

No problem, you have enough trouble with the English without that shit too. :lol:

It's a few years old but funny

[YOUTUBE]GE4i8qiDogQ[/YOUTUBE]

I have just discovered James Acaster. His four-special block has a really cool depth that this clip doesn't hint at, but the clip is still good.

[YOUTUBE]89E_zW1qIM8[/YOUTUBE]

Oh yeah - he's really good. I was going to post one of his clips a few weeks ago, but just kept clicking next clip and never settled on which one to post :P

I love his delivery.

An oldie but a goodie

[YOUTUBE]B1v5slCZj8A[/YOUTUBE]

Love this guy:

[YOUTUBE]gmv3HT63QME[/YOUTUBE]

And just discovered this guy - like rfn

[YOUTUBE]At6yuGrHrVw[/YOUTUBE]

This is a recurring bit on Seth Meyer's show. Apparently it's been around for awhile, but it's new to me. Much laughs, there are lots more, but these three are a good start.

ps, I realize they're not standing up, but it is pure comedy.


[YOUTUBE]jH384wwrWMI[/YOUTUBE]


[YOUTUBE]7wEa8r0_VHI[/YOUTUBE]


[YOUTUBE]GrmpzCTzKDA[/YOUTUBE]

Seth's wife gave birth to their child yesterday or the day before...

...in the lobby of their apartment bldg.

Audio only - nsfw

[YOUTUBE]A1qhr4IHE_k[/YOUTUBE]

smrt

God, I love Frankie Boyle.

Adam Sandler's new special is fantastic. A really, really solid return to his musical comedy days.

[YOUTUBE]e9N6_Tj9u2U[/YOUTUBE]

Clodfobble;1018186 wrote:

Adam Sandler's new special is fantastic. A really, really solid return to his musical comedy days.

Watched it tonight and this is confirmed.

[YOUTUBE]wSvzizqz1Fs[/YOUTUBE]

Absoluetely not safe for any workplace

This morning I watched my first (and second) Joe Rogan stand-up. The newest one on NetFlix (the title eludes me atm), as well as Triggered, also on NetFlix, afterward.

Quite funny. Funnier than I was expecting.

I could do with less shouting, though.

Been watching John Mulaney's latest on NetFlix, in short bursts, to have something making noise when I'm in the kitchen.

I keep expecting him to turn into Katherine Hepburn. He sounds like her, Idk if it's intentional, or not...

I fucking love John Mulaney.

Some millennials: Comedy is not funny when it is punching down.

Anthony Jeselnik: Fuck you and hold my beer. In fact hold all my beers because I'm going to punch way way down for an hour and you are going to die.

I can only speak for myself, but if someone is "punching down" to a disadvantaged group, and simultaneously wants to literally punch said group, it's not comedy.

Nobody takes Anthony Jeselnik seriously when he says Marlee Matlin should have won a Grammy in the Special Olympics, or that Snoop Dogg stole his wallet. He's an Archie Bunker-- he's satirizing those things.

Some millennials disagree and want to take everything at face value.

That's because they rode the damn bus instead of walking 5 miles uphill both ways. Otherwise they'd think a little.

Wife's code...

[YOUTUBE]ccTYpVUP4kA[/YOUTUBE]

Watched Maria Bamford's latest "Weakness is the Brand" last night. She has her own special type of standup genius and I think it just gets better.