Comediens we loath and love, starting with Ricky Gervais

[malumbu]

Is it emperor's new clothes or do I just not get Gervais. The Office and Extras were truly great, and he knew when to pull the plug on both. Perhaps it is the assoication with Jonathan Ross, but he says something that is pandering to the audience but is so unfunny. "What is the point of Iceland, let's pave it over". Audience in raptures. No, not funny, not clever, just said in a deadpan way.

And on my list of hates, Jimmy Carr, again so deadpan I just want to punch him. I viewed Jack Dee that way, but have to acknowledge the bloke is talented, but in the past not my cup of tea.

So to be positive (and I wont go on about all the greats I have seen, in particularly during their formative years), Adam Hills and chums in the Last Leg (maybe a one series wonder, but let's see).

[Salsaboy]

Gervais. W4nker.

[KidKruger]

I think he's just one other branch of UK humour. For me, UK humour overall is great. Deadpan and sarcasm are some of its main ingredients surely - going back to Les Dawson and probably before that.

[Marmora Man]

Jeremy Hardy invariably annoys me - smug comic who appears to be incapable of looking at, or making a joke about, any subject except through a left wing prism. He came of age with the "alternative comedy" circus in the 80s and has yet to develop further.

As for good comics - Billy Connollly in his day was brilliant - the period between leaving the folk music bands and emerging ASAP stand up while he was still playing & singing solo were amazing gigs.

[Jeremy]

I really liked The Office and Extras, but his stand-up is just not funny. At all.

Peter Kay... I just don't get it. Is talking in a Northern accent funny?

[*Bob*]

Can there be any act more pointless then telling someone bent over double with laughter that the person they're watching 'isn't funny'?

Hard to resist though. To pluck one out of the air: Ross Noble.. does nothing for me.

And Stewart Lee's live show will be the highlight of this year, same as it was the last - no doubt.

[maxxi]

Marcus Brigstocke - smuggest fuck in the barrel.

Phil Jupitus - shouting loudest doesn't mean funniest.

[RosieH]

Rufus Hound.

Must die.

Hard.

[Otta]

I like The Office a lot. Extras make me laugh a bit, but just thought he was playing the same character. I agree with KK that deadpan and sarcasm are great in comedy (Les Dawson was a God!), but RG just doesn't do it well.

Loved Jack Dee in the mid to late 90s. That's how you do deadpan, and that stuff still makes me laugh. Like hearing him host "I'm sorry, I haven't a clue" these days.

Eddie Izzard peaked with Dress to Kill in 98 or 99. A perfect stand up show IMO, better than anything he's done since.

Sean Lock cracks me up. Got a DVD of his a couple of years ago, which I found disappointing. However, "Lockipedia" was a great show.

Like Chris Rock too.

[jacks09]

Micky Flanagan is simply brilliant. And a Dulwich resident!

[Worker]

Speaking of, I saw Richard Ayoade yesterday on Upland Road. Reminded me of how much funnier he was than the other guests on Jimmy Carr's quiz of the year show. Though I think he lives in Peckham.

[Ridgley]

I tend to like the comedians of old my following favourites are

1. Les Dawson

2. Dave Allen

3. Ronnie Barker

4. Morecombe & Wise

5. Dick Emery

6. The young ones especially liked the TV serious as it was banned when I lived at home

[MrBen]

Comedians who aren't funny anymore, whether due to the passage of time,fashion or general enlightenment is possibly a better take?

Step forward Lenny Henry, Steve Martin and Jim Davidson.

[womanofdulwich]

I have yet to meet someone who finds Rufus Hound funny.

[Otta]

Lenny Henry was great in his prime, and "Live and Unleashed" still makes me laugh because it was him at his best, and it takes me back.

To be fair to him, I don't think he even tries being a comedian anymore. But yeah, I don't think I'd rush to see him iof he announced a stand up tour tomorrow.

 

[RosieH]

I know it's tantamount to blasphemy to say this in these environs, but I find Micky Flanagan a terrible one trick pony - hilarious on first outing, but now out of material (other than that East Dulwich sells olives and he likes to wear a vest, and putting on borderline-racist funny accents).

Same goes for Peter Kay (and yes, Jeremy, northern accents ARE inherently funny - I went to school in Bolton, so I'm allowed to say that). "Garlic? on bread?" - never not funny. His cheese in a cake reprise, never remotely funny.

[jacks09]

Micky Flanagan toured his first show for 2 and a half years.......thats why a lot of the material sounds tired. I saw him trying out his second show and its really good stuff.....definitely worth giving him another go!

[Otta]

Agree with Rosie. MF has had me really laughing, and he's had me saying "yeah yeah". Agree about PK too, I quite enjoyed the show with the garlic bread bit (was it blackpool?), but other than that it's boring.

Has anyone seen Jon Richardson do stand up? I like him on 8 out of 10 cats, but not seen his stand up stuff.

[Cassius]

Hate hate hate RG (even though I loved The Office)

Like Bill Bailey.

[*Bob*]

I blame tv comedy panel shows - for nearly everthing.

Doesn't anybody ever tire of seeing the same two dozen faces dole-out their 'edgy' matey comedic backslapping mediocrity-fests week after week after week? Six hours of recorded material edited to within an inch of its life accompanied by an audience of 300 syncophants bathed in pink lighting who shit themselves with unadulterated laughter 0.1s after each and every tired line is delivered?

It seems not.

[the-e-dealer]

Just one show - HIGNFY would be fine. But now there's Bigcocks, 8 out of 10 craps and many more clones.

[giggirl]

I'm so over the F word. It's not nearly so funny as comedians think it is. Is it their default for when their material isn't that funny? Daniel Kitson was the last (in a long line) of comedians who have worn it out. I'm not saying don't use it, but not in every sentence PLEASE.

[RosieH]

Oh my golly gosh GiGi, are you suggesting that Daniel Kitson's not as funny as he thinks he is?

Lawks!

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I don't get Harry Hill.

Norman Wisdom's stand up worked for me.

[giggirl]

Sorry Rosie.

Not laughing when everyone else is falling about is like getting to a party when everyone is already drunk isn't it?

Basically, I'm afraid I find most comedians unfunny. Sometimes I do find them funny and then I hear new material and it isn't funny at all. I've found Ricky Gervais really funny in the past, but not now. Eddie Izzard is never not funny.