OftenWrong.net

Sorry State of Comedy

The movie Norbit was number one at the box office this weekend. Big Momma’s House 2 and RV each brought in over $70 million last year. Deal or No Deal is a ratings success with an unfunny Howie Mandel, and Dane Cook is arguably the biggest stand up comedian in the world.

Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Robin Williams, Dane Cook, and Howie Mandel have all been funny at one time or another. However, it seems to me that with a few exceptions (Borat, and The Daily Show come to mind) mainstream comedy is in a pretty sorry state right now.

Real comedy may indeed include some fart jokes, and it may involve some pretty faces, and it does not always need to be profane. In my opinion, though, real comedy shouldn’t always be as easily forgettable as a guy in a fat suit and mumu, or as innoffensive as a PG movie.

I propose to you below a few links to what I consider REAL comedy. This is just a short list of some of my favorites. If you disagree with me or have some suggestions, leave a comment.

Comedians:
Louis CK - Mexican Jew with red hair. Nothing more to say.

DJ Hazard - You most likely haven’t heard of DJ, but if life were fair you would have.

Patrice O’Neal - Offensive, yet insightful.

Jim Florentine - Best known for his Crank Yankers voices, but he’s got a LOT more to offer.

Other Stuff:
The Comedians of Comedy and Let America Laugh - Life on the road for some smart and innovative comedians. Both of these films are better than Dane Cook’s Tourgasm.

Crossballs - Short lived show where comedians posed as experts and debated real experts. Matt Besser has created some great comedy… Read more about Crossballs and his many other projects on his site.