Those Who Are Funnier Than Their Stand-Up?

[matt72582]

My few examples are from their podcasts, but pick whatever. Interviews, etc..

Tim Dillon
Andrew Schulz

Bill Burr is a great stand-up, but his last few specials weren't as great, and I think I think his podcast is just as funny, except for the sports talk.

[Flicker]

More or less all the british panel show regulars (from QI, WILTY, etc) are funnier in their improvised interactions than in their individual stand-ups. With the exception of Bill Bailey, maybe, as his routines are largely musical, which adds an aspect that his chitchat can't really compete with.

[Yoda]

Joel McHale comes to mind. My wife and I are big fans, we've seen him live twice and he's definitely a solid standup, but I enjoy him a lot more in other contexts.

I think a good general rule is that if someone started in standup and became famous through that their standup is almost always their best work, but a lot of people do standup seemingly because "you're a funny person, you should do some standup." And generally that correlates the other way, where it's not as good as the thing that came before it (even though there are exceptions, and if they're just generally funny enough they can still be good at it). Specifically, I find in those cases the comedy is more in the vibe than in any really strong construction.

[matt72582]

Joel McHale comes to mind. My wife and I are big fans, we've seen him live twice and he's definitely a solid standup, but I enjoy him a lot more in other contexts.

I think a good general rule is that if someone started in standup and became famous through that their standup is almost always their best work, but a lot of people do standup seemingly because "you're a funny person, you should do some standup." And generally that correlates the other way, where it's not as good as the thing that came before it (even though there are exceptions, and if they're just generally funny enough they can still be good at it). Specifically, I find in those cases the comedy is more in the vibe than in any really strong construction.


I'll check him out. But how do you like him best? Interviews? Podcast? I've never heard of him, but I've spent over 20 years to constantly expand stand-up, music, movies.


In the 90s, it seemed like many stand-up comedians were just on stage as if it were a weigh station, trying to get a show out of it. I wonder if they would be as interested if it paid less, because most can't stand the life on the road (Dov Davidoff - Road Dog), especially at first when comics would drive cross-country, but even the 1st class on airplanes is a pain, especially after 9/11 and now with COVID.


Before COVID hit, I wondered if there would be some kind of new form, like "internet stand-up comedians".. Laugh tracks, etc... I don't know if someone new could do this, but someone who is experienced can work without the immediate response, and you can edit, maybe put some music in the background to highlight points or messages, or just for the heck of it.

[Austruck]

Some standup comedians remain solid, and others have kinda lost their luster for me. Although I still love the new material from folks like Brian Regan and Nate Bargatze, for instance, I'm finding that the newer material from Jim Gaffigan isn't up to par with his earlier stuff. I do wonder if that's because the material isn't as funny in itself (he's a lot more cynical than he used to be), or if his shtick is just so expected (the high voice, the fat jokes) that it doesn't feel as fresh. He's also gotten a lot more political. I stopped following him on Twitter, for instance, because of his nasty political jabs. I never saw him as mean or nasty, so reading his tweets began to ruin how I felt about his standup.

[Yoda]

I'll check him out. But how do you like him best? Interviews? Podcast? I've never heard of him, but I've spent over 20 years to constantly expand stand-up, music, movies.
Wow, really? He's best known for Community and Talk Soup. Lately he's hosted a bunch of game shows and stuff.

I guess I think he's best on podcasts, probably. He's just generally amusing, so anything more conversational.

[doubledenim]

My few examples are from their podcasts, but pick whatever. Interviews, etc..

Tim Dillon
Andrew Schulz

Bill Burr is a great stand-up, but his last few specials weren't as great, and I think I think his podcast is just as funny, except for the sports talk.

I think podcasts have really shown a lot of popular “comics” (personalities) can’t write bits, but are great at riffing. Tim Dillon and his quarter million dollar Patreon can attest to that. I avoid his political and conspiracy stuff, but his silly is ….🤩

He made this the most viewed ep. of everybody’s favorite new podcast in less than a week.

https://youtu.be/ZL8bt-D-ZN4

[matt72582]

Wow, really? He's best known for Community and Talk Soup. Lately he's hosted a bunch of game shows and stuff.

I guess I think he's best on podcasts, probably. He's just generally amusing, so anything more conversational.


Never heard of "Community" and only knew of "Talk Soup" when it was joked about in the final episode between Tom Petty and Greg Kinnear, but never saw it or E! but I'll do some recent YouTube searches. Thanks!

I think podcasts have really shown a lot of popular “comics” (personalities) can’t write bits, but are great at riffing. Tim Dillon and his quarter million dollar Patreon can attest to that. I avoid his political and conspiracy stuff, but his silly is ….🤩

He made this the most viewed ep. of everybody’s favorite new podcast in less than a week.

https://youtu.be/ZL8bt-D-ZN4


I just saw that video and added it to my "Watch Later".. I definitely agree with riffing. I actually like the social commentary, because I don't think he aligns himself with a group, which is a "winner" for me.

I also think some people are only funny when the situation presents itself, and so it's nice to have a new dynamic (podcasts) in addition to stand-up.

[Yoda]

Never heard of "Community"
What! Interrobang?!

Anyway, Community's probably one of my top five favorite comedies ever. Really plays with the format, too.

[ScarletLion]

Sean Locke. God Bless him.

[Austruck]

What! Interrobang?!

Anyway, Community's probably one of my top five favorite comedies ever. Really plays with the format, too.

I repped you for your use of the word "interrobang." :D

[matt72582]

What! Interrobang?!

Anyway, Community's probably one of my top five favorite comedies ever. Really plays with the format, too.


There seems to be a thousand shows people watch.. The only ones I've seen (outside of grade school after school) are shows like "The Larry Sanders Show" (is that in your Top 5?), and another one I think you'd like from England - "Peep Show" (first episode is a bit disgusting, but stick with it).


I did give "Fleabag" a chance after your recommendation. I guess my brother likes it too, after talking to him on the phone last month. He told me to check out Maisel (only because of the Mort Sahl mentions) but I definitely didn't like that after three episodes. I still haven't kept up with "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" but the show has a lot of misses. Actually, I've seen "Louie", and liked it, especially the first two seasons. "Chapelle Show" wasn't a sit-com, but I enjoyed it at the time.

[Yoda]

There seems to be a thousand shows people watch.. The only ones I've seen (outside of grade school after school) are shows like "The Larry Sanders Show" (is that in your Top 5?)
It is not, but it is very good. Though possibly more famous for being influential than good in and of itself (in a way that would hold up amidst all the things it influenced).

and another one I think you'd like from England - "Peep Show" (first episode is a bit disgusting, but stick with it).
Yup, huge fan. And I agree it'd be easy to watch just an episode or two and not like it, even though it gets much better.

[ynwtf]

Yeah, Community is great. For me, it started a bit generic and felt like maybe a lower budget version of Scrubs? But at least by season 2, I was REALLY into it. Timing became near perfect with the setups and punchlines, characters opened up, some, but two in particular soon became THE reason to watch the show as they were so properly adorable together, and the self-referential humor just got better and better with each new season. The paintball wars were great.

McHale was great in Talk Soup. I can't watch it without him. I don't care much for his standup unless he's just riffing with the audience. He seems quick-witted and able to react to most anything, which is great fun to me. I still have a hard time watching him "act" but when his personality comes through, I can accept it.

If interested, here is a brief interview segment introducing the NPR gameshow, "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!". There's a bit of history he shares on Talk Soup and Community. Him doing stand-up comedy comes up briefly too with a story of a conflict with an audience.

It's the clip about halfway down the page, titled, "Not My Job..."
https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/1001108964/wait-wait-for-may-29-2021-with-not-my-job-guest-joel-mchale

[matt72582]

It is not, but it is very good. Though possibly more famous for being influential than good in and of itself (in a way that would hold up amidst all the things it influenced).


Yup, huge fan. And I agree it'd be easy to watch just an episode or two and not like it, even though it gets much better.


Do you remember the part where Jeremy hangs out with this priest, and when he goes to the church, and the first thing out of his mouth is, "Good song"... I found it very funny.

[Yoda]

Do you remember the part where Jeremy hangs out with this priest, and when he goes to the church, and the first thing out of his mouth is, "Good song"... I found it very funny.
Yeah, but man, I don't know if that even ranks given how many great moments there are. The two that always come to mind first are:

a) the snake.
b) Mark being mad that he was able to sneak into a college class.

[matt72582]

Yeah, but man, I don't know if that even ranks given how many great moments there are. The two that always come to mind first are:

a) the snake.
b) Mark being mad that he was able to sneak into a college class.


My sense of humor is a bit... different. I'm the one who laughs when no one else seems to "get it", and never laugh when 99% do (slapstick will never be funny for me).

But I can't exactly remember those two instances you listed. But I also haven't seen it since it stopped airing. Something to revisit in the future.

I used to like "Da Ali G Show", but I don't know about now. I don't know if I'm becoming a Puritan, but vulgarity is usually a substitute for being clever.

[StuSmallz]

https://youtu.be/lRXn-g1s4T8