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Joined: October 21 2007
Location: n/a
Status: Offline
Points: 8052
Posted: August 12 2010 at 06:38
Trouserpress wrote:
I've just finished reading "How I Escaped My Certain Fate" by Stewart Lee, a fantastic book of memoirs/annotated transcripts/musings on comedy in general which my friend and part-time double act partner got me for my birthday, and it's completely re-energised my love of stand-up as a form. So, all this is really just a w**ky way of setting up the following question:
Who are you favourite stand-up comedians? Youtube clips welcome, but not essential.
To get things started, here's Mr Lee in action, taking a wonderfully fresh approach to the stand-up favourite of political correctness:
Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 10970
Posted: August 25 2013 at 00:36
Lewis Black, Doug Stanhope, David Cross, George Carlin, Chris Rock. Pretty much The Golden Five for me. Love their stuff. Always putting truly hilarious twists on the reality. Stanhope and Cross' styles are really controversial, but in my view they really do have the gift for making intelligent observations without leaving their audiences cold. I really love their individual styles.
Can't get much into Richard Pryor, what with all the recordings of crappy quality. As for Bill Hicks, I'm getting into him, though I don't always find him as funny as his live audience on the albums does. Mitch Hedberg and Steven Wright ... sorry, I'm not a fan of absurd one-/two-liners, though there are rare times when they could get me to chuckle.
Joined: May 27 2005
Location: NE Indiana
Status: Offline
Points: 28057
Posted: August 25 2013 at 01:14
I've always been very fond of Carlin, David Cross, Louis CK, and Patton Oswalt. I gravitate toward people who can tell stories well, get away with saying terrible things, being clever without having a "thing" like relying on music, props, one-liners, and an overly niche style. Although I do love me some Jimmy Carr when I'm in the mood for one-liners or Mitch Hedberg when I want deadpan. And I really admire Bill Hicks and love his comedy, but even as I love politics he got a bit preachy with it.
(Not) interestingly enough, this past Monday I did my very first open mic stand-up night. We recorded it but I haven't listened back. It was definitely rough around the edges but I'll probably be doing it again.
Oh and I like how we're divided nicely along English/American lines so far. I love QI and various other comedy/quiz show things, but I have to admit half the time when you put up someone from the UK and let them rant a bit, I can get lost in the slang (re: Frankie Boyle). Though Dara O'Brien and Bill Bailey are pretty good.
Gotta say I still like American stand ups the best, if there is any real distinction.
Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 10970
Posted: August 25 2013 at 01:36
Textbook wrote:
Watched the second Sean Lock clip- gosh but isn't he Michael Caine as a stand-up comedian?
Also saw Pablo Francisco- great clip but more as incredible voice work than comedy.
Hmmmm ... there are times when he just doesn't really pull it off, but there is this one time when he will do it exceptionally well. There is more that one YouTube video when he ruins the "Movie Previews" bit, but the one below was done very well.
Joined: May 25 2011
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Status: Offline
Points: 10970
Posted: August 25 2013 at 01:40
stonebeard wrote:
(Not) interestingly enough, this past Monday I did my very first open mic stand-up night. We recorded it but I haven't listened back. It was definitely rough around the edges but I'll probably be doing it again.
Oh, I'd die to hear it. I'm thinking about recording my first full-fledged performance, but I have to get my material together and polish it.
stonebeard wrote:
Oh and I like how we're divided nicely along English/American lines so far. I love QI and various other comedy/quiz show things, but I have to admit half the time when you put up someone from the UK and let them rant a bit, I can get lost in the slang (re: Frankie Boyle). Though Dara O'Brien and Bill Bailey are pretty good.
Gotta say I still like American stand ups the best, if there is any real distinction.
Honestly, I don't know jack about any stand-up outside the U.S. other than Billy Connoly and Eddie Izzard. I've yet to get into them, though every bit of the "Deathstar Canteen" routine is hilarious.
Joined: April 01 2009
Location: Atlanta
Status: Offline
Points: 26138
Posted: August 25 2013 at 12:14
I've always followed stand up comedy, I buy a lot of comedy albums and listen to them often. I grew up listening to Steve Martin, George Carlin, and Richard Pryor. The 90s were fairly devoid of new talent, at least in terms of standup comedy albums released, with the exception of people like Bill Hicks, who really did a lot to push the Carlin-esque politically incorrect philosophy forward, as well as the Lenny Bruce "doomed lone wolf" iconography. Another guy most people don't consider as a comedian (but he really kinda is, in the Hicks/Bruce sort of way) is Henry Rollins, who's best known as a punk rock singer. He's been doing "talking shows" since the mid 80s and he's incredibly funny but very serious at the same time.
I'd say the most impressive current-day comedian I've heard (and I've listened to lots of em) is undoubtedly Doug Stanhope. He's like Bill Hicks squared. Self-destructive and uninhibited to the point where I start to worry about him, but incredibly smart and right-on with his observations. You feel like you're talking to a drunk (but lucid) friend at a wild party when he's on stage, emptying cathartic shovelfuls of bile about any topic that ticks him off, without sounding self-righteous, just sounding like an honest friend.
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It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased.
Joined: March 29 2013
Location: WA
Status: Offline
Points: 4596
Posted: August 26 2013 at 00:34
Saw Renaissance at the Paramount Theater in Oakland 1977 and they were opening for some guy named "Steve Martin". Yes, wild and crazy guy Steve Martin just before he became famous. Yet another brilliant Bill Graham pairing
As far as standup goes, I love Sarah Silverman but my all time fave is Henry Rollins...though I don't know if he's technically considered standup or spoken word. I've seen Henry 4 times and he never fails to put on a great show.
Joined: February 01 2011
Location: Michigan
Status: Offline
Points: 13159
Posted: August 26 2013 at 00:56
George Carlin ("Hand me that piano.") Bill Cosby (he can make you laugh without a single obscenity) Dennis Leary (tracheotomy man) Richard Pryor ("When you're on fire, people get out of your way.") Robin Williams (back when he was stoked on coke)
...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...
Joined: April 12 2008
Location: Denmark
Status: Offline
Points: 5898
Posted: August 26 2013 at 02:48
HolyMoly wrote:
I'd say the most impressive current-day comedian I've heard (and I've listened to lots of em) is undoubtedly Doug Stanhope. He's like Bill Hicks squared. Self-destructive and uninhibited to the point where I start to worry about him, but incredibly smart and right-on with his observations. You feel like you're talking to a drunk (but lucid) friend at a wild party when he's on stage, emptying cathartic shovelfuls of bile about any topic that ticks him off, without sounding self-righteous, just sounding like an honest friend.
Good call on Stanhope. I actually prefer him to Carlin and Hicks, maybe because as a paradoxical result of their influence those two guys don't sound as extreme today as they used to.
Saw Renaissance at the Paramount Theater in Oakland 1977 and they were opening for some guy named "Steve Martin". Yes, wild and crazy guy Steve Martin just before he became famous. Yet another brilliant Bill Graham pairing
As far as standup goes, I love Sarah Silverman but my all time fave is Henry Rollins...though I don't know if he's technically considered standup or spoken word. I've seen Henry 4 times and he never fails to put on a great show.
I never understood the appeal of Steve Martin I've seen countless of flicks featuring him in a supposedly funny character, yet he always fails to make me laugh. I kinda liked the Father Of The Bride movie(Yeah, well shoot me), but he wasn't remotely funny in that either....
“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
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Trouserpress wrote:
I've seen countless of flicks featuring him in a supposedly funny character, yet he always fails to make me laugh. I kinda liked the Father Of The Bride movie(Yeah, well shoot me), but he wasn't remotely funny in that either....