Tagged: comedyreviews

What with the internet, airplanes and the media, I suppose you're probably familiar with Australian born comedian Mr. Jim Jeffries . But if you live in a hole in the ground in the woods and you eat badgers, then you might not be. Jim Jeffries has been out there for at least the last five years, and like any good old cheeky vintage, he improves with age. I like the fact that he isn't afraid to say anything he wants without reprisal. He tells it straight. He'll talk about his experiences as if they happen like that [...]

Ross Noble . Now how do you begin to explain this bloke to the general public? He's one of comedy's greatest improvisers. At least when you see one of his shows you would think it was improvised. Free form humor. No. Not free from humor, I mean free form. Humor. You never know what's going to happen next. If you were bullied at school and you don't like being picked on and singled out, then never go see Ross Noble live. As he will seek you out. Like a guided missile he will find you and expose your [...]

Did you know that Ricky Gervais started in the entertainment business back in 1983 singing in a pop band called Seona Dancing ? There's even video evidence of this. Look! - Bitter Heart - Seona Dancing video - (YouTube notes from user: "The full video isn't anywhere so I put this together with what I could find online. Sorry for the bad cuts that have had to be done." ) Much later on he reemerged as a type of funny man [...]

Alexei Sayle is a man who was there from the beginning of alternative comedy. Hosting the Comedy Store in Soho, London and creating a few of his own characters on the way. Welcome to the intimidation that is Alexei Sayle. He's not only been one of the finest stand up comedians from our time zone, but he has also had hit records, starred in many movies and he's been an international football hero (well that last one may be a bit of a porky). Here is Alexie singing his heart out on one of his many songs [...]

I like Lee Evans . He's one of those people who will make you laugh no matter what type of mood you're in. He comes from the school of physical comedy. Charging around the stage putting actions to his words. I saw Lee in 1998 at the Apollo in Oxford, and he's one of the funniest acts to see on stage. In his tight suit and his monkey looks. Some people compare Lee to Norman Wisdom, and I can see what they mean, but for my money Mr. Evans is much funnier. I know Norman Wisdom was [...]

Tommy Cooper was one of those people who was born with that magic laughter gene. I mean, Tommy could just stand there on stage, look into the audience and he would have them roaring without even saying a word. Look at this short piece from one of his TV shows as an example: Watch Tommy Cooper "Magic Cloak" video : Tommy Cooper still makes me laugh when I look at him, and I mean that in a good way, not in a freak [...]

I don't know much about George Carlin . I have to admit, I've only just discovered him. I know! Shame on me. What I have learned though, is that this man wasn't afraid to face the demons, and then tell them they were wrong. So George Carlin has been making people laugh since the 60's. Wow. You know, when you think about it, back in those days, there were more states that had the death penalty, they had corporal punishment in schools...but still, these people, comedians, would get up on stage and make fun of religion and [...]

One of my favourite comedy writers is Chris Morris . He's been responsible for some of the cleverest comedy shows on television for over 15 years now. He even helped launch the career of one Steve Coogan ( Alan Partridge ). But I want to show you one of his funniest creations, in my opinion, Nathan Barley . This was a half hour show written by Chris Morris and Charlie Brooker which stars a kid, played by Nicholas Burns , who runs his own website, [...]

There is always room in this world for dead comedians, eh? I think sometimes dead comedians are funnier than live ones...so this one's for Dave Allen . Dave Allen was born July 6, 1936. In 1959 he got a break by appearing on a talent show called New Faces , and he made a name for himself in the 1960's. In 1961 he toured England and France with the then unknown band The Beatles . He was famous for sitting on a stool on stage drinking whisky and smoking. I remember, way back [...]

I think it's time to set the balance. So far all the stand ups that I've reviewed are guys. I know when we talk of stand up comedians we automatically think of blokes. You know, Ben Elton, Bob Hope, Bill Hicks, George Bush etc., but there are some very funny female comics out there. I'm gonna start with Joan Rivers . Probably one of the most controversial comedians to walk the boards of any stage. Joan was born June 8th 1933. She started her career in the late 1950's and in the early 60's, performed [...]