Perhaps the most overused phase in comedy today is “alternative comedy”. Most comedians, big and small define themselves as alternative comedians. But with all these alternative comedians you can’t help but ask, alternative to what?
This week we try to define alternative comedy. Are comedians really overusing it? Is today’s alternative comedy tomorrow’s mainstream comedy? Are people using the term just to justify why there are not more successful?
(also that girl in the picture is totally not an alternative comedian, I think she’s a VJ for MTV in Sweden or something, but she’s very alternative so that’s why we used her. Why didn’t we choose an actual alternative comedian to put there? Because there wasn’t a good free one on flickr. We are trying to be all legal. Plus it’s a cool picture. Deal with it.)
[podcast]http://www.dustindaddato.com/thecomedynerds/wp-content/podcasts/Episode_17_-_Alternative_Comedy.mp3[/podcast]
Photo from flickr by: marimoon
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The guy in Bait Shop is not Larry the Cable Guy its Bill Engval. Look I really like your podcast and I understand that Blue Collar is not for everybody but Bill Engval is a truely funny “comedian”. I’m not defending his movies. My point is if your going to constantly mention (usually in a negative light) the Blue Collar guys at least take it upon yourselves to know there names and even take a look at some of there stand up outside of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour. I reccomend Bill Engval’s comedy central special 30 degrees off cool. Other then that I really enjoyed the pod cast.
Brad,
I am seriously thinking of doing an episode where we only talk positively about Blue Collar comedy. There are things I like about them. I think beyond his “you might be a redneck” jokes Jeff Foxworthy is actually a pretty strong comic. He’s got a keen I and a simple and often smart way of relating to people. I think the, you might be a redneck thing might have gotten away from him a little and now he has to do it.
I am a big fan of Ron White. I enjoyed, I think it was called “Can’t Fix Stupid” a lot, although it seems like he has a lot of repeat material running on TV now. But I think he is a very smart comic with great timing. The sun glasses bit is hilarious and I like the tater salad thing. Plus his almost Dean Martin like obsession with having his drink in his hand using it as a punchline indicator is just old school enough for me to enjoy it.
Bill Engvall can be funny, but I think he often takes the most obvious route to a punchline. I think if you paused the TV during his set up, that you could probably guess that punchline in three tries. Not, that he is the only comic that is true for. The same could be said for Dane Cook, Jay Leno and many others.
I think, as a comic I am often trying to think of punchlines for jokes whenever I watch a set. So I may now be seeing him the way your average audience does. I admittedly do spend most of my time analyzing when I watch comedy. He may just be a victim of that for me. I have watched 30 degrees of cool and liked parts of it, although at the moment I can’t remember what. But I have to admit I have not been impressed by any recent stand up specials from him or anyone. I love Chris Rock, but shoot the messenger wasn’t that good. I love Brian Regan, but his special was just okay. I think the last one I liked was Doug Stanhope’s special on Showtime. I think it was called No Refunds.
But don’t get me started on Larry The Cable Guy…
Thanks for listening and giving feedback. I really appreciate it. I personally am excited to debate this kind of stuff. As you can tell I feel strongly about it, but most people disagree with me and its fun to find out why.
Thanks,
Dustin
I was bored so I googled myself and it brought me to this page.. I remember leaving this comment, but never got your comment back.. this is long over due, but thank you for the response.
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