MovieChat Forums > Funny People (2009) Discussion > Is American stand-up really like this?

Is American stand-up really like this?

posted 14 years ago by jack-hanly
74 replies | jump to latest

Hi, I've never really watched many Americans do stand-up with the exception of Chris Rock who's entire career revolves around imitating Richard Pryor and doing 'black jokes'.

Even though some of the stand-up was OK, do a lot of stand-ups in America talk about their cocks? People in the audience seemed to find it all hilarious. I've also seen Sarah Silverman who's a bit controversial at times but not great.

I'm sorry but I've seen hundreds of comedians in the UK and every one of them blew the stand-up stuff out of the water in this film. I know Rogan and Jonah Hill are not really renowned for stand-up but they could have at least written good jokes for them.

It might be just me, but what is stand-up generally like in America?

Personally my favourites are Lee Evans, Russell Brand, Michael McIntyre, John Bishop, Peter Kay, Rhod Gilbert, Jack Dee, Jason Manford and Tommy Cooper (who's also a magician). So if anybody wants to see some British stand-up I recommend those, bit of a long list I know.

[–] Chuck345 14 years ago

George Carlin, Louis CK, Robert Schimmel

/thread

[–] brandon1930 14 years ago

North America and the UK each have very different senses of humour, but one isn't necessarily better than the other, overall. North America has plenty of low-brow, mediocre comedians (Rob Schneider, Larry the Cable Guy, etc) and I've no doubt the UK has their fair share of mediocrity as well.

Some of my favourite North American stand-up comedians are: Dave Chapelle, Louis CK, Jim Carrey, and George Carlin (nowhere near as funny in his later years but very smart)

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[–] sorrytotellyouthis 14 years ago

Bless Americans.

Of course they aren't as cultured as the English, there civilisation is ony a couple of hundred years old. I'm sure our humour was pretty basic back then as well.

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[–] mikecampaul 14 years ago

:) Canada blows the usa and uk out of the water comdemy wise

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[–] tim-stein 14 years ago

As another Canadian who HAS done stand-up, and currently does humor on internet radio, I have an opinion as well from the "outside".

Initially, the replies of some of the Americans here is rather appalling in the vulgarity of words used (lick my sac, etc...), where the Brits posting give me a modest chuckle despite the seeming arrogant tone of their words (oh they've got a young culture, I'm sure we were crass when we were that unrefined, etc) [NOTE: The parentheses quotes are NOT verbatim].

These responses illustrate PERFECTLY the main difference between American and British humour/comedy. A great example of "Americanized" British comedy would be the show "Frasier". Very high-brow, somewhat subtle, less hitting you over the head with humour, but rather making obvious the less-obvious.

Pure "American" humour is a little cruder. This is NOT denigrating it nor putting it down. It's more "common". I have an appreciation of both types.

The Mr. Bean argument is in its own category. Its more of a slapstick routine.

Let me ask everyone here: What is your opinion of the Austin Powers series? When you answer honestly, say where you are from as well....

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[–] ANewLeaf 14 years ago

It is a tough arguement. The greatest "American" comedians are normally Canadian.

And seriously using Monty Python as an arguement, I agree they are right at the top but they are also decades past their prime. It is like debating who has the best music and using the freaking Beatles and Elvis in the arguement, they are not representative of the current scene at all.

Early Saturday Night Live with the "Not ready for prime time" cast was phenomenal skit comedy that easily matches Flying Circus. So was the lesser known Canadian crew of SCTV who were alot more tounge in cheek and subtle, akin to Flying Circus.

[–] jetcitywoman 13 years ago

Good stand up is not easy to pull off. I personally hate Russell Brand and do not find him entertaining. Ricky Gervais is though.

great American comics: George Carlin, Denis Leary, Dennis Miller, Carlos Mencia, Jeff Foxworthy, Steve Wright, D.L. Hughley, Sinbad, Bill Cosby, Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy, Rosanne Barr, Jim Carrey, Jamie Fox, Dave Chappelle, Daman Wayans, Wanda Sykes, Kevin James, Jerry Seinfeld, etc. Too many to list.

Most comics do jokes based on their lives. So Chris Rock does black jokes, Foxworthy does southern jokes, leary does irish jokes and Seinfeld does jewish jokes. To think we are all the same is ridiculous.

check you tube for the above commics and I know you will laugh.

[–] jack-hanly 13 years ago

Ok it wasn't my intention to insult any Americans by starting this thread, my intention was to get some good comedians listed so I can go away and start watching them and see if any match up to humour I enjoy.

My initial point was that I don't find cock jokes or Chris Rock entertaining, and that I find UK humour (being from the UK) alot funnier because it comes across a bit less direct I guess.

<b>My favourite comedians in the UK are:<b>

Jack Dee, Kevin Briges, Billy Connelly, Lee Evans (yes he does make alot of noises but his base for comedy are stories about things that happen in everyday life), Michael McIntyre, Tommy Cooper, Ricky Gervais, Peter Kay, John Bishop, Rhod Gilbert.

I enjoy the comedy in American films but enjoy stand-up from the US a bit less, of what I know. My favourite TV programs are Arrested Development and 30 Rock from the US.

I'll take everyone's comments on board, and write down some of the comedians names so I can check them out, Thank you.

[–] snarby1 13 years ago

Mitch Hedberg, Dave Chappelle, George Carlin

I am me, you are you. http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=42036194

[–] Abbie_Normal_14 13 years ago

Fair enough.
I'm "American", but I've spent a lot of time overseas, and my wife is European, so I've been involved in a lot of conversations about taste differences between various countries and the inside/outside perspectives thereof.
For instance, I like the American version of "The Office", but I LOVED the original. Many of the "quirky" performances in the American version are forced, and there's too much camera mugging.
I personally don't (usually) find cock jokes funny either, but sometimes, yeah.
Depends on mood, crowd, etc.
I won't go into a list of "non-blue" American comedians because that horse has been beaten. Suffice it to say that our comedians occupy a wide spectrum here, and a lot of it is subjective.
Many people love Dane Cook. He works "clean", but I've never heard him say a single funny thing.
Many people love Dennis Leary. He says the "F" word. Personally, I think he's all attitude and no material and I can't watch him without seeing the constant (ahem) "influence" of Bill Hicks.
Lewis Black is one of my current faves.
UK, Australia, Canada, the US all have lots of great comedians.
But I will say that I think we have the widest variety. A reflection of our melting pot society I suppose.

But to address your original question, I wouldn't make a sweeping conclusion about American comedy based on the number of cock jokes in Judd Apatow movies. Just like I wouldn't assume that all British comedy is silly and slapstick after watching Holy Grail (one of my favorite movies by the way).
That's Apatow's style, but no, it doesn't represent the default "blue" level of American humor. Try The Daily Show (albeit, lotsa Canadians). The Colbert Report. Louis. Curb Your Enthusiasm. Penn & Teller: *beep* The Simpsons.

[–] dalldorfw 11 years ago

Try Maria Bamford, I'm surprised no one has mentioned her yet.

[–] Jimk99 13 years ago

come on, seinfeld does jewish jokes? he may do some. but chris rocks whole show is based around him being a black man. same with foxworthy its all redneck jokes.
CALL 911! NOW!

[–] kickinajessiep 13 years ago

Surprised I haven't seen Steven Wright or David Cross mentioned... two very intelligent comedians.

3========D

[–] eastcoastguyz 13 years ago

No, good stand-up is actually funny.

[–] compact_disc_rack 13 years ago

I'm generally more pro-European than pro-American, but when it comes to pop culture, rock 'n' roll, stand-up comedy or whatever, if you go a bit outside the mainstream, the Americans are better. The idea that the Brits are more "subtle" or "witty" is in my opinion just *beep* and just based on stereotypes. If y'all can't see the wit in Chris Rock, that's your loss. He's a great comedian. It's too big of a subject but, if we look past unfunny clowns like Dane Cook, I find the Brits to be too "polite" and restricted for something like stand-up comedy. It's all about content, but almost nothing about timing and how to deliver the joke, and almost never as weird and quirky as the best American ones.

[–] snakespan 13 years ago

I'm not too sure about that, Ricky Gervais certainly wasn't polite and caused quite a stir amongst the Americans for his stand up effort at his 2nd Golden Globes. Russell Brand, Frankie Boyle and Billy Connelly are far from polite as well.

Don't get me wrong, Chris Rock is funny the first time you see him, but his jokes are very Richard Pryor esque and he doesn't venture too far from his 'black joke' material whereas someone like Jimmy Carr will keep pushing the boundaries of what is and isn't funny. I wouldn't call Chris Rock 'witty', I'd call his style Insult comedy.