Do any of you buy the DVDs of

[trt]

any of the many comedians that have been flogging their wares over the past few weeks?
It seems that every chat show etc lately, they seem to have a DVD of their recent stand up shows, ranging from £11.99 to £17.99.
Whats the point in buying, as once seen you are not likely to watch again, as they wont be funny anymore, and usually they will be on TV free in a few weeks anyway.

[andy-hughes]

The mass rush of commedians and their massive tours are a relatively new phenomenon.

Not sure if it's a generational thing, but the majority of them don;t amuse me in the slightest - I certainly wouldn't part with money in terms of tickets or DVD purchases.

There seems to be a 'type' of commedian for every audience - from jethro for the older folks, to Frankie Boyle for people who like to be seen as 'daring' - but to me they are identical - a couple of bokes telling stories with varying degrees of skill, interest and amusement.

So they won't be relying on my money this year - fine, I am very much in the minority.

[sophie_1003]

I have the Bill Bailey 'Part Troll' DVD and have watched it a fair few times, still find it funny even though I know what the jokes are but mostly if I want to watch comedians will watch, as you mention, the ones that are repeated endlessly on Dave or on YouTube. Saying that; if Ross Noble releases a DVD of his latest tour and it is the one where I went to see him (not sure if it was being filmed or not!) will probably buy that.

[flobadob]

They reckon comedy thrives in a recession, and I am a big comedy fan. We went to see Sean Locke recently and thought he was quite good. I've bought stand up DVDs before like Newman and Baddiel, Ricky Gervais, Frankie Boyle, Kevin Mc Aleer, Tommy Tiernan and I find you can watch them over and over. This year I'll probably get Frankie Boyle and Ricky Gervais.

[mickrog]

I guess it is a generation thing.I dont buy them.I do,however, own amongst others collection of Dave Allen. Now he was a real comedian .Nobody today can ever compete with that guy.

[andy-hughes]

Very much of his time mickrog.

Allen's material was considered quite provocative at the time - he was the Frankie Boyle of his day, as hard as that is to believe now - but all topical commedians operate within their timescale - what was shocking then is tame now, and what is shocking now is ... unlikely ever to seem tame!

I do find that Frankie Boyle has not only stepped over the line of acceptable humour - he has destroyed it completely.

That said, I think the furuore he has caused is due entirely to his being given a platform to offend a TV audience.

Interestingly, Chubby Brown, who is and has always been a user of provocative language - although not controversial in terms of content, which remains static - has been steadfastly refused any TV airtime, an unwritten understanding that his material is unsuitable for the medium, and his audiences enjoy his work through his massively successful live shows and DVD's.

Given that Boyle adopts precisely the same approach to his material as Brown - this is what I do, laugh or not, your choice - I fail to see why Channel Four broadcasts Boyle's stage shows, and then wonder what all the fuss is about!

You can't claim to be a 'cutting edge' TV channel and broadcast unacceptable material to the nation, and then wonder why the nation is upset with what it receives.

[trt]

Very well put andy.

[andy-hughes]

Thanks!

[flobadob]

I don't think Channel 4 are in any way upset by public reaction,. as they have not made any apologies.