Comedy - when is it unfunny

[malumbu]

I've been going to small comedy shows since a late teen. I was a regular at the East Dulwich Cabaret and other venues into the 80s and 90s. I saw many of the established acts in their early days, and saw some fall by the way side and others blossom. I've seen bawdy, blunt, rude and more subtle comedy.

On Friday I went to Kings Place for a comedy benefit gig. Probably the worst comedy night I've had (with maybe the exception of Sydenham Twilights nightclub, and seeing Jim Bowen at a funeral directors conference). Stuart Lee was originally billed as headlining, but didn't attend. Sarah Pascoe's set featured a highly unamusing story about her inability to give hand jobs. Nick Helm (BBC 3 comedy Uncle) overan by what seemed like half an hour shouting chuffing and bunting at the audience. The headliner gave a totally unoriginal sketch about Brexit in a Jackanory/Ladybird books style.

The Grauniad reading audience guffawed throughout. Was it Emporer's new clothes or just as I think total shite.

So dear audience, theres is a fine line between comedy and just ranting profanities. I have no interest in the 'Live at the Apollo' where 3000 people laugh at every word. But was it just a bad night or is 'alternative' comedy no longer funny?

I should have stayed in, just donated the entrance fee, and enjoyed Adam Hills on Channel 4.

[DulwichFox]

Comedy that's not funny..

Jim Davidson of Circus Tavern fame.. He is still touring..

Jeeez

DulwichFox

[Jah Lush]

I tend to agree with you Malumbu. I think 'comedy' has reached a saturation point where people with no sense of humour attend comedy gigs to laugh at unfunny 'comedians' and so-called comedy writers and performers can only get on TV if they went Oxford or Cambridge. Let's face it, you meet funnier people down the pub and I don't mean the ones performing on stage.

[steveo]

These shows are good value

http://www.ptoocomedy.com/

[Jah Lush]

steveo Wrote:

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> These shows are good value

>

> http://www.ptoocomedy.com/

Well, Martin's always good for a laugh. Lovely man with funny bones.

[Robert Poste's Child]

Alcohol is a factor too. Once people have had a few drinks, especially if they're with a group, they'll laugh at anything, whenever the timing tells them to.

[teddyboy23]

Two crabs on the seabed having general chitchat. When one starts scratching he's nuts really hard ,the other crab saids ,what's the matter with you.the other crab saids I think I've got humans. Sorry.

[Jah Lush]

You will be.

[malumbu]

I should have said I would have had a better night listening to the Archers (I wont spoil the plot but a Ken and Deidrie moment) then going to the comedy at the Ivy (as suggested above) and watching the Last Leg on Channel 4 +1.

Think there are two points - the 'stadium' comedy gigs - not to say they aren't talented but just not my scene and this stuff I saw on Friday night which is anything but safe but I thought was dreadful. I suppose it it like seeing art painted in excretia. Trying to shock but not entertaining. Stewart Lee can do it (ie be rude and insulting) and in the past I'd see people like the Sea Monster (I'm being clever here) and Mark Thomas, both rude but a bit more subtle in their insults.

Loooking at the Edinburgh reviews of Nick Helm it seemed like pseuds corner. But as for Sarah Pascoe who is most desirable on the TV and radio circuit? Daniel Kitson comparing was the only redeeming thing.

[rendelharris]

malumbu Wrote:

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... in the past I'd see people like

> the Sea Monster (I'm being clever here) and Mark

> Thomas, both rude but a bit more subtle in their

> insults.

I remember the Sea Monster, used to see her regularly thirty years (God help me) back at clubs like the Screaming Blue Murder at the Rose & Crown in Hampton Wick. Whatever happened to her I wonder... ;-)

As for audiences, I really don't know what's wrong with them these days. When alternative comedy started, audiences could be rough as hell and only people with really good material survived...now when I listen to some of the godawful rot Radio 4 put into the 6.30PM slot with audiences apparently expiring with laughter...my personal theory is that as prices have gone up and up people feel obliged to find it hilarious or else admit they've blued a lot of money on rubbish. A friend who frequents fancy restaurants to entertain business clients says it seems to work the same way there, if people are paying a fortune they convince themselves that what they're getting is good. Just an idea.

[Jah Lush]

rendelharris Wrote:

>

> As for audiences, I really don't know what's wrong

> with them these days. When alternative comedy

> started, audiences could be rough as hell and only

> people with really good material survived...now

> when I listen to some of the godawful rot Radio 4

> put into the 6.30PM slot with audiences apparently

> expiring with laughter...my personal theory is

> that as prices have gone up and up people feel

> obliged to find it hilarious or else admit they've

> blued a lot of money on rubbish. A friend who

> frequents fancy restaurants to entertain business

> clients says it seems to work the same way there,

> if people are paying a fortune they convince

> themselves that what they're getting is good.

> Just an idea.

I pretty much agree with all of that and think you may have hit the nail on the head there.

[LadyNorwood]

rendelharris Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> malumbu Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> ... in the past I'd see people like

> > the Sea Monster (I'm being clever here) and

> Mark

> > Thomas, both rude but a bit more subtle in

> their

> > insults.

>

> I remember the Sea Monster, used to see her

> regularly thirty years (God help me) back at clubs

> like the Screaming Blue Murder at the Rose & Crown

> in Hampton Wick. Whatever happened to her I

> wonder... ;-)

>

> As for audiences, I really don't know what's wrong

> with them these days. When alternative comedy

> started, audiences could be rough as hell and only

> people with really good material survived...now

> when I listen to some of the godawful rot Radio 4

> put into the 6.30PM slot with audiences apparently

> expiring with laughter...my personal theory is

> that as prices have gone up and up people feel

> obliged to find it hilarious or else admit they've

> blued a lot of money on rubbish. A friend who

> frequents fancy restaurants to entertain business

> clients says it seems to work the same way there,

> if people are paying a fortune they convince

> themselves that what they're getting is good.

> Just an idea.

Friend's hen night, Jongleurs Battersea, early 1988 - on the bill Paul Merton, The Two Marks (one being Mark Heap), Sea Monster, compere Arthur Smith, the latter told a very funny joke about entering a Marathon, sadly it wouldn't work these days as entering a Snickers just doesn't work....

[????]

Upstairs at the East Dulwich Tavern I saw many who went on to become massive in the 90s - Norton, Izzard, Brand, Jupitus, etc I saw a few who I thought were great but never quite made it (the bloke who was the computer in Red Dwarf)...but there was some utter dross too. I'm not sure if all the Alternative Comedy of the 80s passes the test of time too - Ben Elton looks dated and shouty; Alexis Sale ditto.

[Elphinstone's Army]

what's brown and sticky ?

[Jah Lush]

A stick.

[malumbu]

Both computers in red dwarf - Norman Lovett and Harry Hayridge were/are comedians. Great to hear all of the above but am I an old git to say it was better then? And yes, watch some of the editions of the Young Ones, some haven't stood the teat so well.

[maxxi]

rendelharris Wrote:

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>

> As for audiences, I really don't know what's wrong

> with them these days. When alternative comedy

> started, audiences could be rough as hell and only

> people with really good material survived...

In 88-89 the audience at the (sadly no more) Tunnel Club (The Mitre) were banned from heckling as it had got out of hand. Shame as I remember one 'political' comedian being brought to a halt with the heckle "Just give us a pamphlet and fuck off!" and another Welsh "Poet" being gently escorted offstage by a 6'4" built-like-a-shlthouse-type of guy who put a gentle arm around him amidst the shower of peanut packets, beer-mats and plastic glasses and said kindly "Come on mate, you've had enough".

After the ban on heckling the fearful Tunnel Hum came into being. Any Sunday night act that didn't cut it was subjected to first one or two people just humming... then a few more... and more... until the whole venue resounded to a deafening hum and the deflated retreat of the sad act.

One of the best acts I saw there was The Ice Man who had a big block of ice that he spent the whole time trying to melt in various ways. Stupid and hilarious.

[red devil]

[Seabag]

I used to frequent the Hob about 5 years ago and up until its demise, regularly on a Monday 'New Talent' nite. It was often dreadful/ok/mindbendinglyfunny , but that's the nature of that kind of place isn't it.

They also had the joy of having an unleashed Micky Flanagan as compere, even when the place was half full he still gave it his all. I loved those days, even the crap stuff. And it cost about ?5 I think.

I think the worst ever gig I attended (and walked out of) was Frank Skinner. Mind you, I was somewhat 'electrified' on some kind of stimulant I seem to recall, so Frank banging on in his dreary tones wasn't doing it for me that night (or any other)

The best? Rik Myall and Alexis Sayle in Brighton circa 1980. I had to go to the bog to get away from my laughing paralysis , only to find they piped the gig into there so you didn't miss anything.

:))

[Sue]

Elphinstone's Army Wrote:

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> what's brown and sticky ?

That's my favourite joke of all time.

I remember Eddie Izzard at the EDT. He was absolutely brilliant.

Also saw the Sea Monster in the eighties at the Red Rose (? I think) in Seven Sisters or somewhere round there. She was brilliant at dealing with hecklers.

I don't go to comedy any more. I just don't find much of it funny. But it's a very personal thing, isn't it? What cracks one person up will leave another person cold..

[JohnL]

If comedy was bad you used to be able to laugh at the heckling.

Do we have none of that now ?

[Sue]

The Sea Monster used to say to hecklers "I'll come and sit on your face. And I've got my period."

Well, I thought it was funny :))

ETA: I think she may have been larger in those days .....

[JohnL]

A few years back I remember there was a girl doing comedy in The Plough.

She was making a terrible joke about a washing machine and even the bar staff were booing

- you just had to laugh. I think she was making it so bad it was good :)

[Otta]

I remember seeing Sean Lock somewhere in Brixton maybe 12ish years ago. He was very funny. I still like him on telly, he always gives me at least one real laugh.

Saw Izzard at the EDT when I was 6th form, so 94 - 96 some time. That was pretty funny. But yeah, also saw some total shite at the EDT, and later The Mag.

Speaking of which, the old Hob comedy club (which basically was the original EDT club, is now based in Plumstead where Ron & Emma live.

What I've always found is that certain comics get this weird following, usually because they've said some political stuff which the "alternative" crew approve of. Then they can get away with being funny once every 10 tries, and the masses will laugh away like they've said something terribly profound.

[Jah Lush]

Seabag Wrote:

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> I used to frequent the Hob about 5 years ago and

> up until its demise, regularly on a Monday 'New

> Talent' nite. It was often

> dreadful/ok/mindbendinglyfunny , but that's the

> nature of that kind of place isn't it.

>

> They also had the joy of having an unleashed Micky

> Flanagan as compere, even when the place was half

> full he still gave it his all. I loved those days,

> even the crap stuff. And it cost about ?5 I

> think.

It was three quid. Absolute bargain. I went to many of those nights. Can you remember the name of the gay, bespectacled, bearded comedian who was on a couple of times when Micky Flanagan was comparing? He's local as well I think. He was hilarious.