His story about Noah's Arc too. Man's a ledge. A LEDGE.

Yay Stanhope. Watched Burning The Bridge To Nowhere again today. Ridiculous at times. So so so so good.

Gremill wrote:

Went to see Eddie Izzard last night. A very few very funny routines swamped by a morass of random unfunny 'surreal' bits. I won't be going to see him again and he should probably give up stand up at this point. Disappointing.

Looks like he's shifting gears: http://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/eddie-izzard-interview-if-boris-can-do-it-i-feel-i-can-do-it

Quick question:

Watching some Stewart Lee tonight. Seen his later. Which is the best of his other shows? I have them all, pick me one xx

They're all AMAZING there isn't a best one

Stewart Lee is shit. Should spend less time being clever (i.e. patronising) and more time being funny.

CRW bored me to death. I understand how comedy works and I don't need it explained, even ironically. I did try to like him but it just didn't work.

I'm wary of defending his work but I do like it a lot, so...

Lee the man is often characterized as a bit of a cock.  He (the 'stage' Lee) is sneering and patronizing, but ultimately he's railing against his lack of success (until now) and the delusion that mainstream comics are stealing his material.  The cocky exterior hides a bitter comedian who has become esoteric and superior in an increasingly vain attempt to mask his anger at being passed over in favour of dreck like McIntyre.  The breakdown at the end of Milder Comedian illustrates his frustration.  But, he's playing a character.  It's not 'him'.  He (stage Lee) loses, every time.  That's the gag.  You all know this though.  He's acknowledged that his play on being unsuccessful is now at an end because he has achieved success, so the next series of Comedy Vehicle should mark an interesting turning point.

@Kow: I think it's a simplification to say he explains comedy in CRW while he's doing it; I think there's more to it than that.  To my mind he's doing two different shows at the same time.  There's the show he wants to do, then there's the show he actually does where he inadvertently delivers the kind of routine he hates.  He notes that he's doing it part way through CRW, but he still gets trapped by it.

To clarify, I'm not suggesting one is wrong to dislike his work as that would be silly.  Nor am I suggesting that you don't 'get it' and are therefore stupid (a favourite pastime of Lee fans on YT and the like, eurgh).  I did however want to express a few thoughts on it.  He strikes me as a deep thinker who tries to communicate ideas in an interesting, novel, self-deprecating and self-aware fashion.  I like the chap.

Kow wrote:

I understand what he's trying to do and I did make an effort. It's not that I don't get it, it's more that it just doesn't entertain me. I like comedians who are original, clever, insightful, resourceful, etc. But I kind of expect them t make me laugh too and Lee doesn't do that, despite fulfilling some of the other requisites.

Yer, I specifically stated that I was not suggesting that you didn't get it, tbc.  I know you get it.  It's also entirely valid that it's not entertaining for you.  I find his work interesting, rewarding (and funny obv.) and like discussing it, but am at pains to distance myself from the elitist, dismissive attitude that seems to plague his fans, hence my repeated clarification.  The name is sadly synonymous with with the words elitist, snob, and liberal twat so I'd hope to avoid any such thing in here.

I've gradually consumed the majority of his back catalogue and, as a result, enjoy what he does more than previously.  He works better (in my opinion) with the benefit of context.  His long form mantra extends beyond each show, but then that's probably true of any considered performer.

I find it difficult to watch other standup (with some exceptions) now, which is the downside.

I was merely restating that I get what he's doing, not implying that you said I didn't. So there.

Currently I like Louis CK and Tommy Tiernan

Aye, Foley seems the only guy other than The Rock who's come away from prowrestling with his shit together.

Stewart Lee calling out his internet critics.

Oops, didn't see that. My bad.

haha, 21st century thievery.

daviedigi wrote:

hes a right smug cock, and shindig were right about his face.

I believed we've just covered this.