Thursday November 5, 2009
Jon Reep's comedy isn't for me. He makes sure of that on his first stand-up album, Metro Jethro, in which he creates the divide that defines his comedy early and often -- it's small town versus big city; Us versus Them. Where you fall into either one of those two groups is likely going to determine how much you're able to enjoy Metro Jethro.
It's not that comedy can't be funny simply because you're unable to relate to it. It's that Reep doesn't seem all that interested in making it accessible to those who can't relate -- unless you simply want to laugh at the exaggerated "backwards" ways of the small-town South...(Continue reading Metro Jethro review)
More about Jon Reep
More Blue Collar Comedians You Should Know
© Warner Bros. Records
Tuesday November 3, 2009
Two outspoken comedians will be trying their hands at hosting talk shows beginning this weekend.
The very funny Wanda Sykes will host her own late-night talk show on FOX, called simply The Wanda Sykes Show. The show will air in the slot left vacant by MAD TV, Saturday nights at 10 p.m. CT (meaning it's up against Saturday Night Live). Over on TBS, comedian and former sitcom star George Lopez will host Lopez Tonight, a self-described "unconventional" talk show (meaning no desk, no monologue and more spontaneity), every weeknight at 10 p.m. CT.
The notion of a comic hosting a talk show is as old as Larry King. But in an already over-crowded talk show landscape, how will Sykes and Lopez fare? Will they connect with audiences, a la Jimmy Fallon, Craig Ferguson or Jon Stewart? Or will they be added to the scrap heap alongside Chevy Chase and Dennis Miller? I've got my hopes up for both, as Lopez and Sykes are very outspoken and honest comedians who don't appear interested in playing the regular late-night "set up the plugs" game. Neither is in a very high-risk situation, either time slot or network-wise (not like, say, Jay Leno, who is singlehandedly sinking NBC), so hopefully they're given a fair shake.
The Wanda Sykes Show premieres Saturday, November 7 at 10 p.m. CT. Lopez Tonight begins its run at 10 p.m. November 9.
Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images
Monday November 2, 2009
Look at all there is to get excited about this week, I said sarcastically. The second comedy album from Kathy Griffin (though she has a new comedy special at least every month, this is surprisingly only her second album), filled with incredibly topical humor destined to be hopelessly dated six months from now. The Will Ferrell Broadway show parodying George W. Bush hits DVD, but that felt out-of-date when it premiered last January. I can't imagine that 11 more months have been kind to it. At least there's a new Eddie Izzard special, for everyone who likes Eddie Izzard. The holidays are coming soon, so things have to get better.
CD
- Kathy Griffin - Suckin' It for the Holidays
DVD
Photo courtesy of PriceGrabber
Saturday October 31, 2009
Fresh off the release of his album/stand-up special Seriously, Who Farted?, comedian Nick Swardson will now be starring in his own sketch show for Comedy Central, scheduled to begin a six-episode run sometime in 2010.
Want to know more about it? Me too. Comedy Central's press release says that "the fast paced live-action sketch show is a weekly series that centers around Swardon's twisted comedic viewpoint. The series will include irreverent digital shorts, man-on-the-street segments and animation inspired by the internet sensation "Gay Robot," which follows the life of a gay robot and his frat boy friends."
Not to be cynical, but the show sounds pretty much exactly like ever other comedian-based series on Comedy Central beginning with Chappelle's Show (others include Mind of Mencia, Important Things with Demetri Martin and the most recent and egregious The Jeff Dunham Show). I'm all for giving comics a half hour a week to express their comic voices, but it's a little frustrating that the network appears to have a single program model. Plus, with the exception of Chappelle's Show, the formula really hasn't worked; Important Things wasn't terrible, but it became obvious somewhat quickly that Martin didn't have a lot to say.
Maybe the show model is fine; maybe it's more a case of choosing the wrong comics to fill those slots. Swardson stands a better chance than most, having been very funny in a few movies and (especially) on Reno 911! With that show canceled, maybe Swardson will use this opportunity to give roller-skating prostitute Terry a comback.
