Live At The Apollo......

[ToraToraTora]

Been watching the latest series, I like to see what stand up is coming through etc. One thing that I notice is that must the comedians with a particular trait only do jokes about that trait? the blind bloke does blind jokes, the lesbians only do gay jokes, the black bloke only does black jokes etc I'm looking for them to stand out and they just do the predictable old stuff.

[Buenchico]

Haven't comedians always told jokes about their own 'group' of people, whether that be by race, religion, or whatever else?

Countless Irish comedians have told loads of Irish jokes (e.g. Dave Allen), lots of Jewish comedians have told Jewish jokes (e.g. Jackie Mason), Henning Wehn tells German jokes, Billy Connolly focussed much of his comedy on his Glaswegian roots, the team behind Goodness Gracious Me concentrated on Asian-based comedy and even Lenny Henry began his career by telling joke about the Black community (many of which he now deeply regrets telling though).

[Stickybottle]

douglas9401
Lost Voice Guy's been a bit quiet of late.

This guy managed ok

[emmie]

i watched a trailer and wondered quite where the comedians were, a most unfunny bunch.

[barry1010]

I find Greg Davies quite funny but most of his jokes relate to being a middle-aged man (having sex at my age is like trying to stuff a marshmallow up a cat's a***).

[Ken4155]

Humour is subjective. Watched about 2 mins of Sticky's link and found myself asking how much alcohol would i have had to have drunk to find it remotely amusing? My answer was that i would have probably passed out long before a smile creased my face.

[andy-hughes]

The point about the 'success' of novelty acts - and that is what they are - like Lost Voice Guy is simply down to circumstances.

If you are beamed into the homes of millions at peak time on a Saturday night, even if you are banging your head with a tray singing Mule Train, you are going to achieve an audience, and some media coverage, which some will interpret as 'success'.

But when the show is not on any more, how many of those people who sat and thought you were vaguely different on their televisions, are going to stump out twenty or thirty pounds and drive to a theatre and park the car on a cold winter night, in order to watch you do what you do in a live setting?

The answer is - a fraction of your original audience, and that is when your 'success' evaporates.

By definition, novelty is fleeting and forgettable, and that is what the majority of TV 'talent' shows actually show us.

[Arksided]

You’re a cheery voice of hope aren’t you Andy-Hughes

[douglas9401]

It may be caused by the constant whooshing, Arksided.

[andy-hughes]

Arksided - // You’re a cheery voice of hope aren’t you Andy-Hughes //

I am.

But 'hope' has nothing to do my view on the reality of success in entertainment - it's a simple analysis of facts and evidence.

[naomi24]

If comedians only tell jokes relating to themselves or to people like them, they can't be accused of 'isms' and 'ists'. Guarding language is a sad sign of the times.

[andy-hughes]

Stickybottle's link absolutely illustrates my point.

Watching from the comfort of my office, for free, with no effort, I found it interesting that anyone above the age of twelve would find that funny at all.

Would I travel and pay money to see it?

What do you think ...