comedian

Comic Insights: The Art of Stand-up Comedy
$18.95
I have never been a big fan of books that try to theorize something as ambigous and subjective as a form of art. I am a comedy writer, I write a late show that airs through Latin America and before that I was wirting a cartoon for adults that was censored because it made fun of local politicians. I state this, not to brag, but to prove that I was used to worked with spicy humour, and had a high standard for this book.

The thing is that because of all the censorship issues I was kind of depressed and felt that the comedy I was writing that made it to the final program was completely inane and empty, and a lot of friends told me that my show lacked that edge that late shows from the USA have. So, after I realized that I had too little power to battle the network, I decided to start a stand up show where I would say everything that this guys didn't let me say. The thing was, I've never performed anything on stage. So, logically, all the material I prepared for my firs show ended up in the bigges bombing since Hiroshima, they didn't throw food at me because they didn't serve it at that bar. I was so puzzled, my material was good and I knew it, they were jokes that had worked with friends of mine... But then I realized, by watching the tape, that I was so nervous that I talked to fast and sucked pretty badly. Of course, I had never perform anything on stage, no even on elementary school.

So, as always, I went online looking for tips, and found this book, and this book alone about stand up. As I said before, I don't believe in this kind of books but I was desperate for guidance so I ordered it. All I can say is that, not only is Franklyn Ajaye a genious, he interviews nothing but.

In here you will not find Ajaye's method for stand up, you will find the biggest comedians' method for doing their wide variety of sets. From the I-never-bombed-and-always-improvise style of Simbad, to the extremely organized and hard working style of Jerry Seinfeld. You won't believe how many of this comedians failed when they began, and you will laugh and cry when you here how they found the real funny in them. Like George Wallace, who prefered to work as and advertiser and ensure his future before pursuing his true dream of becoming a comedian.

This are very unique interviews made by a comedian, to comedians and for comedians (wich makes them answer concrete and amazing things), Ajaye also list a very wide range of subjects that when you read them you feel you always knew them but never frased them, and that's the beauty of it, you are never imposed with a method for making your routines, he encourages you to find your own way of getting to it, essentially by paying attention to the holy trinity of comedy: Your material, your timing, and your delivery. It's so simple, yet so rich and so well supported by the testimony of the greatest of them all (Except for Klein, Pryor and Bruce, but they all talk about them), that it will really help you if you're starting out, I can say, my last performance didn't bomb, it wasn't a blast either but at least I'm starting to see the road I must take, and I don't like a loser because, if Paul Reiser, Ellen Degeneres, Richerd Lewis and Garry Shandling, all bombed for a year or two, then I'm doing ok.

This is an unlikely book about comedy, it is something that every person interested in this, the greates subject of them all, should have.

Laughing Out Loud: America's Funniest Comedians
$19.98
Just about everyone who was doing stand-up comedy in the 1980s and 90s appears on the five hours worth of clips in MADACY's LAUGHING OUT LOUD: AMERICA'S FUNNIEST COMEDIANS box set. In alphabetical order, they are:

Jason Alexander, Max Alexander, Tim Allen, Jeff Altman, Louis Anderson, Tom Arnold, Bruce Bannin, Richard Belzer, John Caponera, Drew Carey, Jim Carrey, Carrot Top, Bobby Collins, John Ferrantino, Diane Ford, John Fox, Jeff Foxworthy, Janeane Garofaolo, Brad Garrett, Kelsey Grammer, Daryl Hammond, D.L. Hughley, Jenny Jones, Laura Kightlinger, Carol Leifer, Richard Lewis, Cheech Marin, Norm McDonald, The Legendary Wild Steve McGrew, John Mulrooney, Rosie O'Donnell. Marty Putz, Caroline Rhea, Chris Rock, Paul Rodriguez, Ray Romano, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, Rhonda Shear, Judy Tenuta, Dennis Wolfberg and Bob Zany.

The discs are stored in a unique tin case that has a lift off lid. Each DVD includes "Classic Jokes" and "Lost Stars" segments.


For some truly classic story and joke telling, you can't beat THE BEST OF THE TONIGHT SHOW - STAND UP COMEDIANS with host Johnny Carson.


FEATURED HIGHLIGHTS of the LAUGHING OUT LOUD box set:

DISC ONE--
Countdown
Nature's Boudoir
Best Parrot
Jesus & Ebenezer
Lemon Picker

DISC TWO--
Pig Romance
Cat Scan
86% of Women
Fight Like a Man
Marriage Dues

DISC THREE--
God's Money
IRS Strongman
Lawyer Sandwich
Him 3
Multi-Denominational Hell

DISC FOUR--
Bar Chores
Father and Son Reunion
St. Peter's Decision
Floored Men
Multi-Denominational Happiness

DISC FIVE--
Constant Catch-Up
Speeding Fish
Wife Golf
Political Bigfoot
IRS Line-Up

The Comedians of Comedy / Live at the El Rey (Patton Oswalt / Brian Posehn / Maria Bamford / Zach Galifianakis)
$14.98
This DVD seems to get mixed reviews on here, and I think the biggest problem occurs when viewers don't know what they're getting into. If you are unfamiliar with the comedic style of Brian Posehn and Patton Oswalt, if you are only familiar with their TV characters (Brian Posehn from "Just Shoot Me" and Patton Oswalt from "King of Queens"), I imagine you will be disappointed. If you have never heard of Zach Galifinakis, you might be a little shocked. A quick search on Youtube for snippets of their respective standup routines should clear up any questions you might have about who they are.

If you are a fan of Brian Posehn, Patton Oswalt, and Maria Bamford, I think you'll be impressed with this DVD. Zach only plays a minor role and at his exit you wonder if it's sincere or if it is just part of his game (as Zach is known for staging uprisings during his standup show). Brian Posehn is far and away the highlight of the program, and the only real disappointment is that the program didn't last longer.

Jim Gaffigan - Beyond the Pale
$14.99
Yes. This is the one where he talks about HOT POCKETS. This one is a
classic. He does not let up, while he keeps it funny.

You would think from his tone or appearance that he is giving you
a playfully nice stage act. He's not being nice .. He wants you
to laugh at what we eat, what we accept as a society and then
point out whats funny about himself.