h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Best standup: Steven Wright

Runner-up: Emo Philips

Two masters of the surreal!

Favourite Steven Wright gag:

"I've got a microwave fireplace. I can spend an evening at home in front of the fire in eight minutes."

Favourite Emo Philips gag:

"I beat up the school bully today...

...Broke both his arms...

...Otherwise I wouldn't have had the courage."

Sure Emo Philips is infinitely clever, but his delivery and sheer avoidance of making what he says sound joky totally defuses the humour (in my opinion).
Similarly with Bill Hicks: he's too busy making (brilliant) social commentaries, he doesn't put any effort into jokes.
Now Tommy Tiernan on the other hand....

Bill Bailey always makes me laugh. Funny and musically clever as well.

I like Bill Bailey too, I love the way he takes familiar music and turns it into something else. One of my favourite ever lines was one of Emo's - 'I heard my parents arguing over me last night. See, I told you he'd live!'

But my all-time favourite funnyman is Billy Connolly. He just totally cracks me up!

If I was limited to UK comedians, Bill Bailey would definitely be one of the top... I think that at their best, Mel and Sue have the edge, though...

there was a comedy performance at my uni a week or so ago. five amateur stand-up comedians... two men and three women. the men stunk, but the gals were great!

pity i don't know their names.

Did you see Bill Bailey and Rick Wakement doing duets on a pub piano and electric guitar on Never Mind The Buzzcocks? Priceless!

I've also been enjoying the repeat run of Black Books.

I saw Bill Bailey live a couple of months back. Two hours of comedic bliss. He really is very funny indeed. Anyone remember when he had his own series?

Mel & Sue? I won't comment on their live shows coz I haven't seen them. But their TV stuff is pants. Dire. Really, really bad.

I would agree with the Bill Bailey thing. His video, Bewilderness, that was recently shown on channel 4 is a work of genius.

I used to quite enjoy Light Lunch with Mel and Sue.

OK, i popsted this in the other forum too. but i want you all to go and see Boothby Graffoe, Adam Bloom, Rich Hall and Harry Hill. all brilliant. especially the first and the last. oh and that Bill Bailey character is fairly droll too, on the whole...

Yes. Bring back "Is it Bill Bailey?" immediately.

Boothby Graffoe's Radio 4 stuff was wonderful...

I remember a programme on tv a few years ago called "Sin with Bruce Morton" and it was excellent and not to be confused with Richard Morton who i don't find funny at all. I haven't seen him do anything else since though!

Also saw Arj Barker on the stand-up show a while ago and found him very funny.

Harry Hill is much funnier live than on TV - although his stuff on Radio 4 was the best he's ever done.
Still not entirely sure what the badgers are about though?
Bizarre

It's usually the case that comedy is much much funnier live than on telly. Stewart Francis did a storming gig for us last year, then I saw him the following week on Channel Five's the C*medy St*re and he raised barely so much as a titter.

That's quite sad though...
So is it the case that he isn't a naturally funny person?
Could all comedians make you laugh without a set/script, or is that the minority? People like Connelly and Izzard are just as funny when being interviewed or being spontaneous, but are they the exception? You've met far more comedians than me so are better qualified to answer this!
Must get back to work now though so will check answers tommorrow. Nice chatting with you people....

Stewart Francis is a genius who gigs internationally. It just so happens that it doesn't come across that well on the telly. But to be fair, I'd had the real thing on a stage less than 2 metres away from on the tusday and then the following week it was on telly. Always gonna be a bit of a dissapointment. Oh, and the C*medy St*re is soul-less anyway. Could destroy the best act in the world.

It's not just Stewart. I saw Peter Kay at the Buzz club in Manchester (UK) and he was brilliant. Got the video (live at blackpool tower) and it's good, but not nearly as good as at the club.

The difference between live and TV is atmosphere, beer and censorship. Billy Connolly can say so much more on stage than he can on TV. I cried with laughter for 2 hours when I saw him live, but he has nothing like that effect when he's on TV.

TV somehow dilutes the impact. I started stand-up when I saw the BBC new act awards on TV one year. I thought they were all rubbish and that I could do better. 18 months on, I've gigged with one or two of those very people, and I know full well that their talents did not come across well on the goggle-box.

harry hill i magical live

eddie izzard does not improvise much. i know someone who has seen the same show four times

Right, my list :

comedians:
Eddie Izzard
Bill Bailey
Paul Merton
Jack Dee
Spike Milligan
Tony Hancock

Comedy:
Blackadder
Drop the Dead Donkey
Father Ted
Absolutely Fabulous
One Foot in the Grave
Monty Pythons Flying Circus
Fawlty Towers
Have I got News for You
Paul Merton the Series
The Detectives
Black Books


I'll probably think of more, but this will do for now

Researcher PSG