Went to my only gig of the Edinburgh Festival last night. A bunch of nominees and winners of various Fosters Comedy awards each doing a 10-25 min stint. Wasn't too bad for £14.
Bridget Christie, Sean Walsh, Nick Helm, James Acaster, Mike Wozniak, Matt Okine and Max & Ivan. Hosted by Joe Lycett.
Everyone was good, with some being better than I'd expected. Matt Okine in particular was very slick. I'm sure he'll hit the bigtime in a few years.
Basically, it's a big free comedy festival with loads of performers that's been going on all day. After seeing the previous few comedians be heckled and the crowd being generally a bit ungrateful (maybe the previous guys sucked? I dunno), Bill comes out and decides to ditch his planned set and lay into the city of Philadelphia for 12 straight minutes. The crowd boos him to begin with, but are cheering by the end. Brilliant.
Also, Stanhope's new one, "Beer Hall Putsch", is now on UK and US Netflix. It's predictably great.
Used to go to a lot of comedy gigs from 1992 to 2006, the best comedy gig I ever went to was David Cross in London a few years back, just wish he'd put more stuff out.
Went to see Rob Newman's Theory of Evolution thing tonight, was excellent (other than a complete absence of observational comedy or any "That's you that is"jokes obviously), but he did have a proper showbiz tantrum and walk off straight after coming back on following the interval, accusing the sound guy of deliberately playing 5 seconds of music as he approached the mic.
Followed by lights coming back up, more interval music, suspense members exchanging awkward WTF glances before he came back on stage and carried on. No need.
By the way, in conversation with Jeff Garlin can be very funny, but is more enjoyable from the meandering conversations that seem really natural. The one with Larry David is great, as are the ones with Vince Gilligan, Silverman, Maya Rudolph and Zach Galifianikis.
What do people think the good comedypoddos are, I want to judge you.
Nerdist, occasionally. Judge away. Not strictly comodpcast I know.
Skerret's posting is ok to trip balls to and read just to experience the ambience but don't expect any content. "I'm jealous of sucking major dick!"~ Kernowgaz
Another vote for Jeff Garlin's podcast, the Conan O'Brien interview is great and I found the Will Ferrell one very funny, even though I rarely like his films.
There does tend to be a lot of Jeff telling people how wonderful they are though.
Skerret's posting is ok to trip balls to and read just to experience the ambience but don't expect any content. "I'm jealous of sucking major dick!"~ Kernowgaz
Skerret's posting is ok to trip balls to and read just to experience the ambience but don't expect any content. "I'm jealous of sucking major dick!"~ Kernowgaz
Forgot about the podcasts question. WTF can be very good at times, a bit rambly and self indulgent at others, but Maron's an engaging host and I'm looking forward to the next season of his TV show.
Skerret's posting is ok to trip balls to and read just to experience the ambience but don't expect any content. "I'm jealous of sucking major dick!"~ Kernowgaz
'Courtier of impotent, middle-class rage', says Guardian-man. Thin biscuits.
'The same three hours of giant, inflatable material for the past twenty years!'
I agree with the gist of his recycled piece, but every single, last comedian has a packed parsonage of crap tomes. It's not what we - the mere punters - look for; we don't share Lee's fear of publically endorsing comedians without first reducing them to their weakest forms. When Hicks wasn't bad (routinely, yes), he was very good. He just wasn't given a crack at avoiding rom-coms and improving himself.
Yes, it was good. Chris Morris is good. Fewer jokes than Iannucci, more faux dismantling of Lee. Shitbottle.
Skerret's posting is ok to trip balls to and read just to experience the ambience but don't expect any content. "I'm jealous of sucking major dick!"~ Kernowgaz