I have a schedule for this blog, going as such: Monday is TV day, Tuesday music, Thursdays are for movies and Fridays are for comics (all other days are freebies to post about whatever). I came up with this "schedule" about 2 months back and from the moment I did, I didn't adhere to it. I burned out. I'm still burnt out. It doesn't mean I don't have anything to say, just that I'm too tired to say it. This blog is supposed to be about consuming, whether it's reviewing things I've just consumed, reevaluating the things I've previously consumed, talking about how I came to be such a big consumer, discussing my hypothetical lack of consumption, or just geeking out about consumables... well, I've not been doing a very good job of sticking to theme, primarily because I haven't been writing a lot at all. The shift from personal blog to topic-focussed means I don't get to blog all the curious and wonderful little thoughts that come to mind each day (most of them in the shower or on the toilet where it's hard to blog anyway, mind you), and yet I like the idea of a focussed blog. I just wish I had the energy to devote to it that I once did. Life certainly has changed... not for the worse, mind, just priorities are far different today than they once were.
Anyway, today is "Comics Friday", but since I spend a lot of time during the week administering Rack Raids (where right now you can read about Starman-writer James Robinson's return to comics on Superman or Grant Morrison's latest, Final Crisis #2 or any of my 300 hundred other comic book reviews from the past two years) I figured I'd talk about the *other* comics, you know the stand-up kind.
Yes, I just did a Last Comic Standing write-up on Monday, but the first semi-final showdown aired last night, and there were, to my surprise, some very, very good performances. Even more surprising was the format of the showcase. Essentially, 16 comics performing about 3 minutes of material each before 1000-seat theatre in Las Vegas before some guy from the Sopranos and Richard ("Detective Munch") Belzer as "celebrity judges".
As I noted on Monday, the purpose of the "Celebrity Judge" is for show, as the real decisions are no doubt made by the producers, and producers, if you've ever read any stories about them (in general), are notoriously out of touch with what's actually quality, much more concerned about money and returns. (from wikipedia: "It was revealed that a panel of four producers were also casting votes in the process, assuring that unless all four celebrity judges cast the exact same ten votes, their voting power could be usurped by the four unanimously agreeing producers.... It was also revealed that some of the finalists who advanced were clients of the producers or directors of the show.") On the casting process of the show: it appears that (and I've been told this about a lot of "reality TV shows" from Next Top Model to the current How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?) that certain contestants are encouraged to try out for the show, with the near guarantee that they'll make it on the show. "Anyone can line up and be seen by producers, but top agents were given a number of spots to give out to clients who got a specific call time."
Anyway, today is "Comics Friday", but since I spend a lot of time during the week administering Rack Raids (where right now you can read about Starman-writer James Robinson's return to comics on Superman or Grant Morrison's latest, Final Crisis #2 or any of my 300 hundred other comic book reviews from the past two years) I figured I'd talk about the *other* comics, you know the stand-up kind.
Yes, I just did a Last Comic Standing write-up on Monday, but the first semi-final showdown aired last night, and there were, to my surprise, some very, very good performances. Even more surprising was the format of the showcase. Essentially, 16 comics performing about 3 minutes of material each before 1000-seat theatre in Las Vegas before some guy from the Sopranos and Richard ("Detective Munch") Belzer as "celebrity judges".
As I noted on Monday, the purpose of the "Celebrity Judge" is for show, as the real decisions are no doubt made by the producers, and producers, if you've ever read any stories about them (in general), are notoriously out of touch with what's actually quality, much more concerned about money and returns. (from wikipedia: "It was revealed that a panel of four producers were also casting votes in the process, assuring that unless all four celebrity judges cast the exact same ten votes, their voting power could be usurped by the four unanimously agreeing producers.... It was also revealed that some of the finalists who advanced were clients of the producers or directors of the show.") On the casting process of the show: it appears that (and I've been told this about a lot of "reality TV shows" from Next Top Model to the current How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?) that certain contestants are encouraged to try out for the show, with the near guarantee that they'll make it on the show. "Anyone can line up and be seen by producers, but top agents were given a number of spots to give out to clients who got a specific call time."
Of the sixteen comedians, about a third of them actually impressed me. First, and foremost, Erin Jackson who was the warmest and most engaging comic out there, and real! She didn't have a schtick to her stand-up, instead telling some very relatable tales about her friends and family peppered with congenial sarcasm that had me howling. A lot of comedians rely on some nuance of character to really punctuate their jokes, Jackson is just damn funny.
The Meehan Brothers... if they didn't make it, the reason is not that they aren't funny, but rather that they're more sketch comedians rather than stand-up comics. From what I've seen of them so far, they've got the funny in them and they know how to let it out. I'll probe around their website and see whether they've only got two good sketches in them or if they're as awesome as I think they could be.
Jeff Dye seems a bit green, and not because of his fluorescent shirt. His material and delivery is good, and his resemblance to The Office's John Krakowski gives him a familiarity amidst other strange faces. His transitions between jokes seemed stiff or aimless, but I think he was nervous. If/when he's more at ease, he'll be quite a solid contender.
Andi Smith is deadly... not quite Sarah Silverman edgy, but she's got a bite that is disarming (sometimes shocking), but funny. Her delivery style is not so much angry as spiteful, and it's often directed at the audience which I love but will put off Joe Sixpack and Jane Dustmop(?).
(nsfw language)
God's Pottery I first heard/saw on a 2-cd/1-DVD compilation called Invite Them Up which I bought in NYC back in 2005 (where I first heard Eugene Mirman, Demitri Martin and Aziz Ansari as well, all favourites of mine). GP live their schtick, which is as a Christian acoustic folk duo, and it's their commitment to character that sells it. As far as folk comedy duos go, however, they're limited, from what I've seen (everything they've performed on LCS I heard on "Invite Them Up"... yes, they're bringing out their best material, but how about something new to prove that you're not just resting on stuff you created three or four years ago. It's probably why Flight of the Conchords have their own HBO show and God's Pottery is on Last Comic Standing.
Drennan Davis has something very unique, a methodical comedian who builds interesting jokes, often vastly divergent from one another. I don't know that he's got it all together yet (like Jeff Dye, he didn't seem to have his flow proper up on the big stage), but he's promising (can't find a website for him)
Two of the five above were chosen to move on (God's Pottery and Jeff Dye), and in my view, the two of these five that were chosen were the weakest. All five (+1) selectees were men. The other three were Adam Hunter (of the fast-and-furious and occasionally very loud Dane Cooke variety, which I get why the producers would think to promote him, just not my flavour of comedy), Ron G (cheerful, but weak, weak, weeeak... I have no idea how he made it this far, never mind to the final ten), and Paul Foot (severely unfunny, but seriously askew Brit... the producers are mistaking odd for funny) Erin Foley, died... died on stage. Winston Spear got assaulted by the Sopranos judge about his delivery (which I agreed with, but I felt bad for Winston).
Next week, 16 more comedians compete for 6 spots. The ones I'm watching out for are the wry identical twins Stone and Stone, and the immortal Sean Cullen (who should only lose if he doesn't care to try).
My biggest fear (fear is too strong a word, since I'm not quite that invested... more like, my annoyance) is that Marcus (impersonations...shudder), Esther Ku (obvious Asian jokes, shudder), Louis Ramey (decent enough, but utterly generic), and Eddie Peppitone (grumpy old man/screamer ala Louis Black) are going to solidify spots.
Link:(a decent LCS recap blog)
A duo that didn't make it, but are great, Sky and Nancy Collins.
The Meehan Brothers... if they didn't make it, the reason is not that they aren't funny, but rather that they're more sketch comedians rather than stand-up comics. From what I've seen of them so far, they've got the funny in them and they know how to let it out. I'll probe around their website and see whether they've only got two good sketches in them or if they're as awesome as I think they could be.
Jeff Dye seems a bit green, and not because of his fluorescent shirt. His material and delivery is good, and his resemblance to The Office's John Krakowski gives him a familiarity amidst other strange faces. His transitions between jokes seemed stiff or aimless, but I think he was nervous. If/when he's more at ease, he'll be quite a solid contender.
Andi Smith is deadly... not quite Sarah Silverman edgy, but she's got a bite that is disarming (sometimes shocking), but funny. Her delivery style is not so much angry as spiteful, and it's often directed at the audience which I love but will put off Joe Sixpack and Jane Dustmop(?).
(nsfw language)
God's Pottery I first heard/saw on a 2-cd/1-DVD compilation called Invite Them Up which I bought in NYC back in 2005 (where I first heard Eugene Mirman, Demitri Martin and Aziz Ansari as well, all favourites of mine). GP live their schtick, which is as a Christian acoustic folk duo, and it's their commitment to character that sells it. As far as folk comedy duos go, however, they're limited, from what I've seen (everything they've performed on LCS I heard on "Invite Them Up"... yes, they're bringing out their best material, but how about something new to prove that you're not just resting on stuff you created three or four years ago. It's probably why Flight of the Conchords have their own HBO show and God's Pottery is on Last Comic Standing.
Drennan Davis has something very unique, a methodical comedian who builds interesting jokes, often vastly divergent from one another. I don't know that he's got it all together yet (like Jeff Dye, he didn't seem to have his flow proper up on the big stage), but he's promising (can't find a website for him)
Two of the five above were chosen to move on (God's Pottery and Jeff Dye), and in my view, the two of these five that were chosen were the weakest. All five (+1) selectees were men. The other three were Adam Hunter (of the fast-and-furious and occasionally very loud Dane Cooke variety, which I get why the producers would think to promote him, just not my flavour of comedy), Ron G (cheerful, but weak, weak, weeeak... I have no idea how he made it this far, never mind to the final ten), and Paul Foot (severely unfunny, but seriously askew Brit... the producers are mistaking odd for funny) Erin Foley, died... died on stage. Winston Spear got assaulted by the Sopranos judge about his delivery (which I agreed with, but I felt bad for Winston).
Next week, 16 more comedians compete for 6 spots. The ones I'm watching out for are the wry identical twins Stone and Stone, and the immortal Sean Cullen (who should only lose if he doesn't care to try).
My biggest fear (fear is too strong a word, since I'm not quite that invested... more like, my annoyance) is that Marcus (impersonations...shudder), Esther Ku (obvious Asian jokes, shudder), Louis Ramey (decent enough, but utterly generic), and Eddie Peppitone (grumpy old man/screamer ala Louis Black) are going to solidify spots.
Link:(a decent LCS recap blog)
A duo that didn't make it, but are great, Sky and Nancy Collins.