Stand-Up Comedy from the 2000s

Stewart Lee: 41st Best Stand-Up Ever!
      2008 | U.K. | Laughs: 1.8 (Chuckle) | imdb: 8.4
      who was involved?

In this show, among other themes, Stewart talks about his mom's admiration for a stand-up comedian she once saw on a cruise ship. I found the set a little slower than the other of Stewart's that I'd seen, but in between the tedious fillers (there are several, such as the time when Steward mimes engraving a headstone) the bits when he actually talks are good. An enjoyable if occasionally dull show. (Last viewed: September 2018)

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Joe Rogan: Talking Monkeys in Space
      2009 | USA | Laughs: 1.0 (Broken Comedies) | imdb: 7.8
      who was involved?

This was the third of Joe's shows that I watched, one a night, and it was a strange experience. On the one hand, I preferred Joe's delivery (less screaming) and found him both smart and likeable. On the other hand, the set made me smile a lot less than the 2016 show Triggered and the 2018 show Strange Times, and that despite the fact that Joe worked really hard at it.

Themes included pot, babies, religion and more.

The second part of the show was Joe answering questions from the public, apparently about a TV show he hosts. Not knowing anything about it, I thought I wouldn't relate (a precondition for comedy) and I didn't watch it.

(Last viewed: December 2019)

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George Carlin: Life Is Worth Losing
      2005 | USA | Laughs: 1.0 | imdb: 8.3
      wikipedia | who was involved?

This is a special show in that its format stands out from George's usual. I want to say that it's more a long poem than a stand-up comedy set, but that would be confusing. At heart, it's a great long rant about America, but in this globalized world most of the things Carlin says could apply to most places. Some of the themes include suicide, murder, torture, consumption, education, parents and disaster. I had planned to watch the 74 minutes in two sittings but stayed hypnotized by George Carlin's amazing skill, the extent of which I had forgotten. No laughs, but an unmissable set for Carlin fans and anyone with a taste for social commentary. (Last viewed: September 2018)

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Doug Stanhope: Go Home
      2007 | USA | Laughs: 1.0 (Just Awful) | imdb: 8.2
      who was involved?

A mix of stand-up comedy and interviews set in Edinburgh and focusing on immigration. Doug, who is usually clear-thinking, is surprizingly narrow-minded on this issue, essentially telling people who cannot compete with the low wages of recent immigrants that they're idiots if they can't make themselves competitive by improving their skills. That's the standard elitist attitude of someone of above-average skills, someone who indeed is able to cut a slice for himself. Wake up, Doug, not everyone has your abilities—and no one chooses to be an idiot, just like no one chooses to be deaf. If someone truly is an idiot, does that mean the rest of the world has the right to step over him, does that mean you can laugh at his plight, that his country should treat him like garbage? A fine philosophy if you want to create a super-race. Oh, wait, that's been tried before. It's good that Doug can empathize with immigrants, but he has an empathy blind spot when it comes to the local underclass. Doug has it right on nationalism, of course, but there's a screaming lack of subtlety in his stance of blaming the victim. (Last viewed: January 2013)

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Dave Attell: Captain Miserable
      2007 | USA | Laughs: 0.6 (Just Awful) | imdb: 7.0
      who was involved?

This is a disgusting little man spewing racist and other ignorant or offensive material for the sake of being non-politically correct. There was a crowd of people laughing. Who are these people? Oh, right, that was Washington D.C., the seat of the US government. I held on as long as I could for a change of tack but had to give up after sixteen minutes. This is the kind of show that makes you appreciate even more the craft and genius of true stand-up comics such as Bill Bailey or Eddie Izzard. (Last viewed: September 2013)

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Ron White: You Can't Fix Stupid
      2006 | USA | Laughs: 0.5 (Just Awful) | imdb: 7.4
      wikipedia | who was involved?

After watching They Call Me Tater Salad, we thought we'd try another of Ron's shows. It wasn't as bad as fingernails on a chalkboard, but it was awful anyhow, and we did have to give up one third into the set. Ron had the demeanor of someone who has had to interrupt his vacation to get to the stage, and who has no shame about how unprepared he is. Much of the routine was dedicated to bodily functions. Ron seemed proud of coming up with the premise that gives the show its title—that the one thing you can't fix about yourself is if you aren't bright. Interesting point, Ron. Now would you please go watch a show by Bill Bailey then let us know again where on that stupid-to-smart spectrum you believe you stand? (Last viewed: September 2013)

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Steven Wright: When the Leaves Blow Away
      2006 | USA | Laughs: 0.5 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.6
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Without a single facial expression, Steven Wright speaks in a barely audible drone. So do I, mind you, but I'm not on stage trying to make people laugh. To me, this show feels more like a poetry reading than stand-up comedy, as Steven strings one long sentence after another. I was house-sitting when I watched this show. The dog had been barking to protest being tethered to the patio, but Steven put him to sleep. I had to stop after ten minutes. The audience seemed to laugh, so maybe the material is just too smart for me and the dog. (Last viewed: August 2010)

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Frankie Boyle: Live
      2008 | U.K. | Laughs: 0.1 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.6
      who was involved?

This show came highly recommended by a friend, so I was tickled. After fifteen minutes, I hadn't laughed. Paused it. Another fifteen-minute section a few days later: still no laughs. I tortured myself with this go-stop-go-stop routine a few more times over the next few months, but finally gave up. This guy is hilarious to a lot of people, but to me his humor is way off-mark.

The things I enjoyed the most were the shots of the gorgeous theatre, Frankie's ginger features and his accent, which was thoroughly understandable although markedly Scottish. These two months in Glasgow a few years back must have helped.

That's it for me with Frankie Boyle. With apologies to my buddy, I don't think I can bring myself to try another of his sets.

(Last viewed: November 2019)

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Rodney's Act
      2004 | USA | Laughs: 0.1 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 8.0
      who was involved?

I've never been a fan of Rodney's in the movies but thought I'd give this highly-rated show of his a try. I want to like the guy—he looks like he would know how to make you laugh—but his brand of humor falls flat on me. It's a string of fast-paced one-liners which seems to draw laughs from the crowd, perhaps because it's mildly offensive for its time, perhaps because they're drunk. (Last viewed: September 2018)

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Joe Rogan: Live from the Belly of the Beast
      2001 | USA | Laughs: 0.0 (Just Awful) | imdb: 7.4
      who was involved?

For the fourth show of Joe's that I watched, I thought I'd go back to the first tape that I could find to see if I could discern a trend, having found his 2009 show Talking Monkeys in Space far inferior to his 2016 set Triggered and the 2018 special Strange Times.

The trend was firmly confirmed. This was shortly before 9/11, there was a president in the White House who hadn't been elected and had already shown his moronic character, but the best Joe could come up with was some gutter humor and Adam Sandler voices.

He was clearly a bright guy even at the time, perhaps sharper than he is now judging by the pace of his delivery, and I bet he is embarrassed with this show now. But he doesn't need to be: no one has to watch it.

(Last viewed: December 2019)

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Daniel Tosh: Completely Serious
      2007 | USA | Laughs: 0.0 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 7.7
      wikipedia | who was involved?

If you're a young professional from Los Angeles, this set might make you laugh. But if you've lived outside that box, you'll want to skip this boring act. (Last viewed: May 2013)

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