For as long as I can remember I’ve loved watching people tell jokes. They have to be good at it though. I’ve been watching a lot lately for some work I’m doing about speech delivery and I realised I really like stage presence and more than the jokes, I appreciate the delivery. Here are some of my favourites.
(one video per post so I’ll provide links)
I grew up watching Caddyshack so I have to say I have always had a soft spot for Rodney Dangerfield.
He’s not for everybody but the way he tells his jokes and his general demeanour is just so great.
If you’re talking about delivery then you have to love Jerry Seinfeld. Growing up watching his show, his face and voice are just so comfortable and familiar. When he tells jokes I feel like I really understand them. This one is hilarious. The intro finishes at about 4:30 if you wanted to skip it. https://youtu.be/bsAl0OxDxOA?t=4m35s
This one is fucking ace because I strongly dislike Top Gear. I remember being in awe when I first watched it, and I didn’t even understand it all. Stewart Lee does some really good stuff and again, his delivery is what gets me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7CnMQ4L9Pc
I have to talk about Dave Chappelle. He has excellent stage presence and can really delivery jokes and stories. This is one of my all time favourites - especially the part where he talks about AIDS/Monkeys, and the “How old is 15 really?” (it’s not how you think). He composes his parts with great logical reason. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZGdC038UTU
Anyone else a fan?
(Thanks based YouTube for the ability to watch this stuff whenever I feel like it)
Yeah I love it, I flew down for the melbourne comedy fest every year,
Some highlights were early Dave Hughs pre radio/TV he was amazing.
Also Stephen K Amos, Danny boy, Akmal, Jim Owen and Carl Baron.
I think the one the two that stand out are K Amos and Carl Baron especially Carl he just tells it like it is with amazing delivery.
Seinfeld
George Carlin
Bill Hicks
Ross Noble
The irish guy that does the funny songs with the casio keyboard
Brendan Black
David Mitchell
Rob Brydon
Jo Brand
Amy Schumar/Amy Poehler/Tina Fey
Sara Milican
Celia Pacquola
I can’t say I am a massive fan of any particular comedian, if they make me laugh - they have got me. BUT I have seen a few in my time.
Jimeoin - he was my childhood comedian when he had his own show. I remember my brother and I hanging out for his show each week and rolling around the floor laughing. Some of the jokes probably went over my head at that age though.
Ross Noble - I have seen him twice now and love every minute of it as you just don’t know what the show will behold. He won’t know either and thats the beauty. I remember him coming out and mentioning that he only has 3 jokes to tell. He told one - the rest of it was just him talking hilarious shit.
Sam Simmons - I was in Melbourne a couple of years ago (when I first met most of you) and I had a night where I had some free time. I went along to see Sam Simmons at the Melbourne Comedy Fesitval. Some people say I look a little like him… and he must of thought so as well as he stopped the show at one point and got me to stand up in front of everyone where he then called me a fucking creep and got me to sit down in my seat again. Through the show he got people out of the crowd to join him in his semi scripted performance… there was one point where he said “Now I need someone from the crowd to help me with this one… long pause … and I know exactly who I want up here with me” My heart sank. So I ended up getting on stage with him and joining in some hiphop interpretive dance, he then decided he wanted to wrestle me, he punched me in the dick, I got him in a head lock and he then picked me up and had me on his shoulders before he decided to stop it before one of us got hurt. One of the most strange experiences I have ever had.
I have seen Dave Hughes when he was decent, Carl Barron, Jimeoin who was hilarious, and Eddie Izzard. Eddie Izzard is God-tier of standup. Very very clever!
Saw Craig Hill at the Fringe a couple of years ago, very funny. Totally brutal with hecklers.
Dylan Moran is pretty much like his character Bernard Black but even more manic.
Arj Barker much better live than on TV, still worth seeing.
Stephen K Amos also much better live than on TV - fkn brutal with the audience as well.
Love me some Bill Burr, Doug Stanhope. Agree that Seinfeld still does it for me after all these years of watching repeats of that show. Billy Connolly has such a great act as well. His delivery is always spot on and one of those guys who genuinely seems to be having a good time while on stage.
Love me some Bill Burr, Doug Stanhope. Agree that Seinfeld still does it for me after all these years of watching repeats of that show. Billy Connolly has such a great act as well. His delivery is always spot on and one of those guys who genuinely seems to be having a good time while on stage.
Edit: One of the older Aziz Ansari specials is great too
I am like a magnet for Sam Simmons, he has found me in the crowd at his MICF shows over past years has pulled me on stage the last 4 times and kissed me twice. I love seeing his shows but now I sit there filled with anxiety. He really hurt my back in his last show with Dr brown.