Stand-Up Comedy from the 2010s

Billy Connolly: You Asked For It
      2011 | U.K. | Laughs: 4.8 | imdb: 7.8
      who was involved?

This video spans over thirty years of Billy Connolly's career. The first thing to know for an American audience is that Billy has a Scottish accent, so that his shows may not be that easy to understand. He seems to be really famous in the UK's sphere of influence (such as Australia and New Zealand, a region where I lived for over a decade), so I finally decided to check him out. For me, this DVD was more about chuckling than about laughing. I have to say that the accent somewhat tired me, and that I had to watch the 96-minute tape in several sittings. I can see that the man is loved by his fans of many years, and he is at home on stage with a live audience. I did warm up to him in the later segments (when he is considerably older), and I did laugh a couple of times, but for me it wasn't laugh-out-loud comedy, even after tuning in to the accent. The segments cover topics such as aromatherapy, visiting a proctologist, and memories of a village dance as a young man. Perhaps worth watching once for cultural reasons. (Last viewed: January 2013)

More About Billy Connolly: You Asked For It:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Billy Connolly: You Asked For It

Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed
      2014 | USA | Laughs: 4.6 | imdb: 7.6
      who was involved?

After watching a disappointing show of Jim's from 2009, it was a surprise that this one (from five years later) would be so pleasant and entertaining. He looks quite relaxed as he delivers his seventy-minute set; I didn't see the time pass. The themes include overeating, weddings, food, seafood, alcohol, bars, and having five kids. (Last viewed: September 2018)

More About Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Jim Gaffigan: Obsessed

Maria Bamford: The Special Special Special!
      2012 | USA | Laughs: 4.5 | imdb: 6.9
      who was involved?

I liked this show, less because of the laughs it delivered (I smiled a lot and did laugh once or twice) but because of how original it seemed to me. In some ways this set is more art than stand-up comedy—but if someone would like to object that all comedy is in fact art, I will happily concede as semantics don't entertain me. Between her amazing voices, her facial expressions and her quirky material, Maria is a riot. Her pacing is not always optimal, neither is she always easy to understand, but the set is definitely worth a watch if you think you might enjoy an "alternative performance" and offbeat humor. (Last viewed: September 2013)

More About Maria Bamford: The Special Special Special!:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Maria Bamford: The Special Special Special!

Louis C.K. 2017
      2017 | USA | Laughs: 4.5 | imdb: 7.6
      who was involved?

This unequal set marks a definite dip in the Louis's production. In the first half, he shows himself at the peak of his comedic powers and displays masterful control of timing, voices and facial expression. Sadly, he spends the end of the set digging himself ever deeper in a dunghill. If you're a fan I'd still recommend watching the show, but with disclaimers

(Last viewed: October 2019)

More About Louis C.K. 2017:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Louis C.K. 2017

Sebastian Maniscalco: Why Would You Do That?
      2016 | USA | Laughs: 4.5 (Watch Once) | imdb: 7.4
      who was involved?

This was my first exposure to Sebastian Manicalco. He is extremely animated on stage, probably a tad too much for my taste. I usually enjoy comedians who make good use of movement and facial expressions, but his often miss the mark for me.

That is a good summary of the show: it often misses the mark for me. It did entertain me, but humor depends very much on which themes matter most to a viewer at a particular point in time — I'm sure that many people would relate to the material more easily than I did.

Still worth a watch. (Last viewed: June 2020)

More About Sebastian Maniscalco: Why Would You Do That?:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Sebastian Maniscalco: Why Would You Do That?

Eddie Izzard: Force Majeure Live
      2013 | U.K. | Laughs: 4.5 | imdb: 7.4
      wikipedia | who was involved?

Despite being an Izzard fan and watching with a lot of goodwill, I must admit to sitting through much of the show without laughing. Eddie's pacing, delivery, miming were as finely tuned as in his finest shows, but the material just didn't excite either of us. Have we reached an "Izzard saturation threshold"? Probably not, as older shows still work for us. Maybe we were just tired, or maybe Eddie wasn't as inspired as in the late 1990s. (Last viewed: December 2014)

More About Eddie Izzard: Force Majeure Live:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Eddie Izzard: Force Majeure Live

Brian Regan: Live from Radio City Music Hall
      2015 | USA | Laughs: 4.5 (Laugh and Smile) | imdb: 7.8
      who was involved?

This show was unequal but there were enough good bits that the average worked out. As usual, Brian's high energy, clean humor and physical presence all work to his advantage. The themes ranged from doctor appointments to blending bananas. I liked that Brian ended strong—for me the bit about the hotel customer always being wrong was the funniest. (Last viewed: September 2018)

More About Brian Regan: Live from Radio City Music Hall:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Brian Regan: Live from Radio City Music Hall

Gad Elmaleh: American Dream
      2018 | USA | Laughs: 4.2 | imdb: 7.2
      who was involved?

With a few tweaks, this is essentially the same material as that from Gad Part En Live from a year earlier, but in English. I watched the two shows back-to-back, and in my view the English version goes down a little smoother, not just because Gad ironed out a few kinks, but also because that New York stage felt like it was the right context for that show.

As a "student" of the various brands of humor around the world and in different eras, I find it very special that Gad is able to perform stand-up comedy successfully in various languages (apart from French and English, he has also performed in Arabic and Hebrew). Comedy-wise, this is not an outstanding show, but anyone with an appetite for cross-cultural differences should find something they like.

One missed opportunity, in my view, is that apart from a few isolated words, Gad doesn't show off his Arabic. Given the fears and stereotypes of our times, he could do that to great effect. (Last viewed: August 2018)

More About Gad Elmaleh: American Dream:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Gad Elmaleh: American Dream

Aries Spears: Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling
      2011 | USA | Laughs: 4.0 | imdb: 7.1
      who was involved?

This show was my first time seeing Aries Spears. I found his demeanor likeable and hoped for some high-octane material.

I'm a sucker for accents, so I enjoyed the large segment in the second half when Aries showed off a wild array of voices from English tourist to Italian-American bartender, from Robert De Niro to Chewbacca.

Apart from that the show had funny moments, but for me too much of it hinged on the black—white thing, which at this stage in our evolution strikes me as trite and bores me fast. Granted, maybe there was something in the comparison of corporal punishment across skin shades.

Neither am I a fan of bedroom jokes. Not only did Aries spend a lot of time there, he felt the need to bring midgets into that dusty refuge for uninspired comedy.

This is someone who has already traveled much of the road to Ali G, and my overall impression was that Aries was capable of much smarter material than he used in this set. His public seemed to relish him, but my sense is that if he didn't take the easy road he could reach a far wider audience. (Last viewed: May 2019)

More About Aries Spears: Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Aries Spears: Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling

Dwayne Perkins:Take Note
      2016 | USA | Laughs: 4.0 | imdb: 7.2
      who was involved?

This set was our first encounter with Dwayne. I can't say that I laughed, but we both smiled a lot as we found him funny. If this show is an indication, Dwayne doesn't do humor below the belt, providing a nice break from all the foul language and crude themes that seems to be the bread-and-butter of many of the high-profile contemporary acts. Don't get me wrong, I do love Jim Jefferies, but I'm not always in the mood to get splattered in sewer juice. That being said, you can be funnier than Dwayne was while remaining polite—the show could have packed more punch and spent less time on the black-white theme, which I find about as trite as jokes about what goes on below the belt. Overall, I did like Dwayne a lot and will be excited to watch what he produces next. (Last viewed: June 2017)

More About Dwayne Perkins:Take Note:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Dwayne Perkins:Take Note

Jim Jefferies: This Is Me Now
      2018 | Australia | Laughs: 4.0 (Watch Once) | imdb: 7.4
      who was involved?

Although this is not the peak of Jim's career (the material is stretched thin over the time of the show), if you're a fan of his earlier work you're still likely to enjoy this one, so I'd recommend that you don't miss it. (Last viewed: July 2018)

More About Jim Jefferies: This Is Me Now:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Jim Jefferies: This Is Me Now

Jay Larson: Comedy Central Presents
      2011 | USA | Laughs: 4.0 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 5.8
      who was involved?

During this short set without adult themes, I found Jay pleasant and often on the verge of making me chuckle—without ever quite getting there. Not a big waste of time, and I would give Jay another try to see if his comedy improves with age, which sometimes happens, as with Louis CK for instance. (Last viewed: January 2013)

More About Jay Larson: Comedy Central Presents:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Jay Larson: Comedy Central Presents

Gad Elmaleh: Part En Live
      2017 | France | Laughs: 4.0 | imdb: 7.0
      who was involved?

If you like Gad's work, you'll want to see this show. Otherwise it's a toss-up. On the one hand it's not very funny—the second half feels long, but fortunately ends a little stronger. On the other hand, there are several interesting elements.

First, the show is recorded in Montreal, which gives Gad a chance to play with his Québecois accent (he lived there several years and counts Canada among his collection of countries of citizenships). Second, it's his first recorded set since moving to the United States, which gives him a chance to do a bit of intercultural humor—nothing stellar, but it's special to see someone, all in the same set, poke fun at the French, at US citizens, Canadians and Moroccans, using all five languages.

I'll now go watch the first set Gad recorded in English, about a year later: American Dream. (Last viewed: August 2018)

More About Gad Elmaleh: Part En Live:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Gad Elmaleh: Part En Live

Tom Segura: Disgraceful
      2018 | USA | Laughs: 4.0 (Chuckle) | imdb: 7.5
      who was involved?

I don't know if this show would be funny to someone who sees Tom for the first time, but I like his demeanor, so I enjoyed the show even though it never got past the chuckle point. Looking back, I'm not sure that any particular theme stood out, though the high of the set for me may have been the point when he talks about people with "foreign accent syndrome".

This makes no sense? Just go watch it, I don't think you'll be sad. (Last viewed: August 2018)

More About Tom Segura: Disgraceful:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Tom Segura: Disgraceful

Joe Rogan: Strange Times
      2018 | USA | Laughs: 3.5 (Smirk) | imdb: 7.4
      who was involved?

I'm new to Joe Rogan: I first learned about him by watching a show where he lets the producer of the documentary The Game Changers defend his film — and actually lets him speak. Joe's relative level-headedness impressed me and made me want to check out his stand-up.

I went into the show with low expectations but was pleasantly surprised. Although I didn't enjoy Joe's delivery (what seemed to me like an endless scream) and thought he pandered a little too much to the gross-out crowd, he made some good points and had me smiling throughout the set.

Will probably be looking for some of his earlier material.

(Last viewed: December 2019)

More About Joe Rogan: Strange Times:
=> Read what people say on Amazon
=> Add your own Review or Comments on
      laughDB's full page for Joe Rogan: Strange Times