People I generally like- Pete Firman

I wanted to write a post about why I like Pete Firman, because he's pretty awesome.

Youtube post- Mitch Benn (again)

With the election a week away, I thought I'd post a relevant video.


 

Youtube post- Richard Herring (again!)

Feel lazy, so here's a clip of Richard Herring doing some stand up!

Youtube post- Russell Kane (again!)

Lazy video day. Russell Kane on Melbourne last year.

Things I have noticed about comedy

As a change from posting YouTube videos and recommending things, I just wanted to write a quick post mentioning themes surrounding comedy. The first one is that how newspapers are being attacked is changing. It's not just the traditional targets of the tabloids that comedians are criticising but also the broadsheets. I think this is because a lot of broadsheet's comedy critics forget that they are only one person with the good fortune of writing about their opinions in print and not some know it all whose word is law when it comes to comedy. Subsequently they don't realise that comedy is subjective and their reviews reflect this. I'm not saying that the public are always right about things, but neither are the critics and you need balance. I have seen the criticism at first hand when seeing Jack Whitehall, Robin Ince and Rhod Gilbert to name a few.


A more sweet theme is that more couples are doing stuff on the same night, in a double header. I first saw this when Sarah Millican and her other half Gary Delaney were doing the Hen and Chickens on the same night, although because of the volcano that had to be changed. I then saw that Russell Kane was doing an Edinburgh preview on the same night as someone called Sadie. I know that his wife is called Sadie so did a little research like the curious person I am and found out that the Sadie on the same night was 'his'. Then just today I found out that Stewart Lee and Bridge Christie were doing a double header at the Hen and Chickens. I'm not sure if it's the case that because women are slowly increasing in numbers in comedy so are more likely to date fellow comedians and it makes sense to do stuff together as you can spend time together between your sets. I think it's also likely that the more famous one, which is not always the man, can help boost the others career.


There's my random thoughts on things. 

Rhod Gilbert, ...and the Cat that Looked Like Nicholas Lyndhurst, 24/04/2010, Hammersmith Apollo

Saw Rhod last night so here is my review.

Youtube post- Rhod Gilbert (again)

Seeing Rhod tonight so I'm putting up another YouTube post, this time from Michael McIntyre's Comedy Road show


 

Youtube post- Chris Addison

Feeling rubbish so another video, this time of the fab Chris Addison

Youtube post- Andy Zaltzman

Listening to Answer Me This! has inspired me to put an Andy Zaltzman clip on here (he's on the most recent ep with his sister!).

Jack Whitehall, Edinburgh Work-In-Progress, 20/04/2010, Hen & Chickens

So I saw Jack Whitehall last night and will now attempt to review it.

Youtube post- Mock the Week/ Jack Whitehall

Seeing Jack Whitehall tonight (review tomorrow) and have struggled to find a video that is just him so am using a Mock the Week video that contains him.

Recommendations: Dara O'Briain- Tickling the English

A little post about Dara's book. I really like it because he is a very good writer and encapsulates what makes the English tick and what they are like, as well as comparing them to his native Ireland. How sets it out, like a tour diary makes it more compelling as well as easy to dip in and out of. It is also interesting to see how different shows are around the country. He is also funny. It is definitely something that people should read.

Youtube post- Ben Goldacre

Late post, but my brains not been all there. It's true I usually focus on comedians, but I think Ben is made of a lot of win and he is funny in his science rants that it seemed appropriate to stick a video here. It's audio from the Now Show.

Youtube post- Carl Donnelly

Just a quick post of a video of Carl from last years Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Youtube post- Russell Howard (again!)

Feel a bit bleh and ill so just posting a video of Russell Howard talking about micro pigs.

People I generally like: Rhod Gilbert

As I promised, here is the second post to make up for not posting yesterday. I'm going to write about why Rhod Gilbert kicks ass.

Youtube post- Mock the Week

Didn't blog as I was coping with my first day at a new job, but will try and do two posts today to make up for it. To start I'm posting a clip from Mock the Week.

Youtube post- Tiernan Douieb

Just posting a video today of Tiernan.

Recommendations: Rhod Gilbert podcast

I am ill, so I'm keeping the post simple and just giving a recommendation of something I think you could get into. Rhod Gilbert does a radio show for BBC Radio Wales on Saturdays from 11am to 1pm and it is brilliant. His co-host Chris Cochran is also good and people should try and listen. I've put down the podcast as it is available world wide. It's on iTunes so subscribe. 

Youtube post- Stewart Lee

Not feeling well, so another youtube post of Stewart Lee as he is now the 12th best stand up ever!

Youtube post- John Van Der Put

I've not felt much inspiration and am feeling rather rubbish, so I'm posting another video of John, because his tricks are awesome. This is his interpretation of The Box trick, with Alexis Terry singing all the way through the trick. Enjoy!


 

Youtube post- Dara O'Briain

Later post because I've not felt very well. I'm posting a video of Dara as I've just started reading his Ticking the English book and am enjoying it so far. Here's him on advertising to men.

People I generally like- Piff the Magic Dragon/John Van Der Put

 Listened to an interview yesterday with John and thought I would do a post as to why I like him and his alter ego.

Youtube post- David O'Doherty

Doing my post nice and early as I have a busy day and also I have just watched this video and thought it was awesome. I've seen David live and he was brilliant.

Book post: Quirkology by Richard Wiseman

I do enjoy reading books and would like to use this blog to recommend some of the ones I have read recently or ones I just adore. I'm starting with Quirkology, which looks at the interesting experiements that scienists have performed and what this means for our lives.

Richard Wiseman writes in an engaging way and it is obvious that this is his passion. He explains the studies clearly, so you know what he is on about even if you do not have the knowledge to fully understand the topic. The things he chooses to talk about are fascinating and he looks at various scientific experiements that are on the surface silly and pointless but actually tell you a lot about how humans behave. You can learn a lot from this book, like how to spot when people are lying as well as the worlds funniest joke.

I am a fan generally of Wiseman's work, as I have also read 59 Seconds and loved it. I think I love books that inform as well as entertain and I do love learning random information. I certainly recommend Quirkology, as well as Wiseman's other books and am planning to read the Luck Factor soon.

Youtube post- Mitch Benn

After a busy weekend in terms of seeing magic, I'm making this post chilled and posting videos of Mitch Benn and some of his songs from The Now Show.

Barry and Stuart, Séance Show (preview), Hen and Chickens, 3/4/2010

Review time again. I have already seen this show and reviewed it here so I won't go in too much detail, especially as it is still in preview, but I'll generally talk about it, the audience and the venue.

Pete Firman, Edinburgh Preview, 02/04/2010, Canal Cafe Theatre

I saw Pete Firman last night and will review it.

Youtube post- Pete Firman and Ali Cook

As I'm seeing Pete tonight, I'm posting a video involving him in a trick, alongside Ali Cook. It's from their show The Secret World of Magic and is pretty cool. Should be a review of the gig tomorrow. And I'm seeing Barry and Stuart tomorrow too, yay!

April Fools Day!

I have a headache, so can't be bothered to do a proper post, but I want people to this website: http://aprilfoolsdayontheweb.com/ It's made of win!