I spent part of this afternoon watching a repeat of some horrible Michael McIntyre show on Comedy Central and in order to remove it from my mind I watched a Bill Hicks DVD which thankfully put my faith back in the art of Stand Up Comedy. I've been listening to a bit of Doug Stanhope recently who is quite interesting (don't listen if you have have largely conservative sensibilities).
So, who're your faves and why?
The funniest I saw live was Ross Noble. Over an hour of seemingly unscripted audience interaction...
Charlie Williams ...
Eh pet ?
freddie Starr live in the 1980s.
Daniel Kitson.
Doug Stanhope
The funniest I saw live was Ross Noble. Over an hour of seemingly unscripted audience interaction...
Yeah, I saw him a few years back. Quite an impressive performance but I felt exhausted at the end of it.
Chris Rock
Had Mike Read to one of my stag do's he was epic, came with a couple of strippers.
These days prefer Michael McIntyre with the kids about and pseudo polite company such is the environment at our gaff .
I like richie hall, Richard prior and Craig Campbell.
Stewart Lee.
Dara O'Briain.
This fella......
Dara Ó Briain
Tommy Tiernan....... pure brilliance
I like Stu Francis, good one liners and Mikey Flanagan is making me chuckle lately, not seen either live though 🙁
Big Yin, the eddie murphy stuff is amazing too
Stu Francis
If you're talking about the Canadian quick fire one liner guy - he's good live (although the second time I saw him [i]many [/i]of the jokes were repeated).
But if you're talking about the original grape crusher....I'm right with you!
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If you're talking about the Canadian quick fire one liner guy - he's good live (although the second time I saw him [i]many [/i]of the jokes were repeated).
But if you're talking about the original grape crusher....I'm right with you!
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Stewart Lee.
Stewart Lee is an incredible word-smith and hugely underrated. Not that he would care.
Stewart Lee for pure stand up
(bumped into Stu Francis 2 weeks ago at Bolton Town Hall ....thats all)
^
I said you buy one, you get one free.
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Is Dave Allen allowed?
I saw Ricky Gervais at the Oxford New Theatre for his 'Science' show. 2 hours of my life I will never get back. Stephen Merchant was surprisingly good though.
Chris Rock
Of the ones that aren't dead, I really rate Jim Jeffries... His material's not that reliable but his delivery is superb.
And Ross Noble, when he hits a good vein... He can be absolutely rubbish mind if it doesn't click, but when it does there's nothing else like him that I've seen. I saw him once in a late show in the festival, the other 3 acts that were supposed to play all gave up their slots just so they could watch him in full flow.
Louis CK is top drawer. American so not sure how much he does over here.
Frankie Boyle slays me - he's lost his way a wee bit recently trying to be TV's most extreme comedian, but he'll come good again. Love his delivery.
Have to be a heretic and say Bill Hicks has dated really badly, even by the of-its-time standard of stand-up comedy. I saw him 93ish when he toured here and thought he was phenomenal, so it could be my sense of humour has atrophied.
Have to be a heretic and say Bill Hicks has dated really badly, even by the off-its-time standard of stand-up comedy. I saw him 93ish when he toured here and thought he was phenomenal, so it could be my sense of humour has atrophied.
Yeah, I know what you mean, however I remind myself that the society he was rampaging against back then is all so normal to us now. But that is what makes his material still relevant today I think.
I always enjoy seeing Dave Spikey old school and good fun.
Another for Billy Connoly (his early stuff). I do like Ross Noble too.
TJ. Comedy gold!
It is a joke, isn't it?
And I loved Dave Allen as a kid but does he count (he sat on a stool).
Sean Lock and Mickey Flannagan for me.
Following a tip-off on STW I've been listening to Mitch Hedberg, sadly he's dead now, but very very funny, on spotify...
http://open.spotify.com/user/ffflow/playlist/2RSUsOSC6RnI1KdrqMkdT8
Stewart Lee
NSFW as is just about everything with Chris Rock
Of those I've actually seen live.
Rhod Gilbert for top-bloke-you-would-like-a-beer-with-shouty-rantiness.
Eddie Izzard in his stand-up prime.
Stewart Lee (moments of sheer genius and happy to plough his own furrow).
Chris Addison (too clever by half but funny as **** and best when he touches on more 'serious' stuff).
Also always try to get to see Bill Bailey and Dave Gorman when they gig within driving distance.
slainte 😆 rob
Mitch Hedberg. Nicely obtuse.
Haven't really got a fav at the mo, but I'll tell you who I recently saw on DVD and was far funnier that I expected: Sarah Millican. Pretty rude too - not what I was expecting. Dirtier and more clever than the somewhat more homely type she portrays on most shows.
Saw Eddie Izzard 2-3 years ago doing one of his prep shows. Twas more a yawn fest than anything else. used to like him but feel he's disappeared up his own convoluted arse these days.
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Seriously - best I've ever seen live.
And
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Have enjoyed the following live over the last couple of years;
Rhod Gilbert
Stephen K Amos
Daniel Kitson
Caught Lee Mack on BBC 1 the other night, he was excellent I genuinely laughing. Given the rubbish stand ups of late on TV such as the dismal McIntyre.
Lee mack was very good on the apollo shows.
The best I've seen wax Jason Byrne at a pretty small venue. Ended up 100% impromtu audience interaction
I love the way Rhod Gilbert seems to get more and more Welsh the more excited he gets.
Bill Bailey is funny and a brilliant musician to boot. Chris Addison is pretty funny. Sarah Milican is good too.
Herry Hill is pretty good, he appeals on so many levels. I like the fact he's just plain daft. Not sure I could watch him repeatedly though.
Another for Stewart Lee
Eddie Izzard
^this^joolsburger - Member
Daniel Kitson.
Intelligent, verbose and very funny. You'll either love him...or you're a cloven-hoofed ****-knuckle. He doesn't do telly and the few YouTube clips aren't that great, but there's a superb free podcast on iTunes.
Another thumbs up for Stewart Lee and, of course, Bill Hicks was Jesus.
Eddie Izzard
I love his French sketch about the monkey in the tree and Sandra Bullock.
Still Ben Elton. Sorry 😳
Most recent....... Lee Nelson.
Ben Elton
One of my favorite lines of all time:
[i][b]'British Rail - We're Getting There' [/b]
'Yes, but there are no trains in the stations so you're not getting there very fast are you?'[/i]
Jim Jeffries
Joe Heenan
Sandy Nelson
Limmy
Ron Vaudry
MF I went to see his Tour De Force stand up years ago and I remember a skit on smear tests etc and what it involves. I was young and 😯 😆 and 😯
Milton Jones, Lion Whisperer, the best night out ever and all for just 15 quid....all of us were knackered from laughing so much and I even had jaw ache......just brilliant !!
Stewart Lee
Eddie Izzard
Noel Fielding
Doug Stanhope
Bill Bailey
No love for JC?
Jimmy Carr cracks me up, he's worth it just to hear his own laugh
Kevin Bridges and Lee Mack
Eddie Izzard is our long term favourite.
We also recently saw Greg Davies and, although for some reason we weren't expecting great things, he was actually one of the funniest comedians we'd seen. This was helped by the fact he came across as such an affable guy and the audience really warmed to him and participated. Much of the humour was based on his life as a teacher so don't know what he'll do after he's exhausted that but I'd definitely go and see him again.
We've been watching a couple of comedy DVD's in the house of late and I've noticed that there's a split between the John Bishops/Peter Kay/Jimmy Carr type humour and the Rufus Hound/Stewart Lee vein which seems to be more sort of social commentating rather than the traditional tell a joke, repeat..
Got to say I couldn't stand Stewart Lee until I watched a Youtube clip of him posted on here the other day where he's laying into Top Gear. For the first 10 minutes I thought it was appalling and wondered how people could laugh at it, but watching the whole thing it made sense and I thought it was very clever.
Lee Mack - A fan before he became "famous", I just love the Tommy Steele cockney stuff, cracks me right up it does.
Micky Flannigan - Yes another giggle fest until he spouted out "fingering" on some tv prog the other day, but too rude for me that, but the cockney walk was hilarious..
Jack Dee - Ok, old now, past it some say, but his early years, until he started to dissolve into "grumpy for grumpys sake" Then reinvigorated in Lead Balloon.
Mock the Week - You get some hilarious comedic moments on there and I like the variety, Rich Hall for his droll delivery (he even makes himself laugh sometimes)
You don't seem to get many good women comedians, shame because some, not all, are spot on with observational humour. The Iranian Girl (no idea what her name was/is Shara something or other) she was funny until it look like she ran out of material.
Ronnie Anocona - now she’s very underestimated IMO, apart from being stunning looking she’s a wit that cuts right on through.. maybe she’s not that well noted for her consistent "impressions" she’s always doing, but live.. well most excellent.
Victoria Wood - for many years I avoided her like the plaque, that Acorn Antiques thingy never hit the spot, but live, on her own, really quite funny and unassuming too.. humble.
Like most I grew up with Rik/Ade?Nige/Alexi which for a time giggled me stupid, but thankfully I grew up and watching them now still makes me cringe/giggle all in one belly movement.
Peter Sellers - It's only in the last 10 years I've come to respect his humour, maybe cos' I'm older now.
Ben Elton - Yeah I laughed at him for a while too, though now I think he's far better than ever.
Paul Whitehouse - MrsBouy knows him very well dontchaknow, I think he's hilarious on his own, in the pub, really just a laugh a minute and apparently he was like that before his fame, which is rather nice.
Steve Coogan - One of my all time favourite ever comedians, always has been and hopefully always will be. Genius.
Does Tim Minchin count? Love him.