Hack Comedy Things That Really Peeve You Off Grrrr

Right, so as some of you know I try my hand at stand up comedy on the London Open Mic scene. I see some really good comedians and a lot of hack (I was very much in that latter group until recently but certainly not in the former). Watching a lot of comedy can desensitize you to the good but I personally (on especially bad nights) can come away really hating comedy in general.

So I was wandering - what in comedy do you hate?

Personally for me, the same generic formula used in someones set/tv show.

OK...GO!

Maybe it's since I said goodbye to my twenties, but I just can't work myself up into a state of hatred over something as benign as comedy anymore. There's stuff I don't get on with obviously, but it's easy to tune it out given the phenomenal amount of good material that exists in the world. My bigger concern right now is finding time to watch all that good stuff - so if anything, I'm actually a little relieved when I watch something and find it's not to my taste!

Step 1) Thumb through a book of proverbs and choose one at random

Step 2) Think of a ridiculous situation to set-up your proverb as the punchline

Step 3) Post "I didn't let Norman, Roger and Captain help me when I was working in the kitchen of an inner city homeless shelter because two many cooks spoil the broth" on Twitter

Step 4) Make it onto the Huffington Post's 'Jokes of the Week' section.

Step 5) Repeat.

Ed - don't forget you hate "hashtag blah blah blah"

Jinky - ha! With you. I've actually seen something like that that written down in a book on how to write jokes.

For me - swearing. It's not big and it's not clever. Why not write a joke if you can instead?

https://www.comedy.co.uk/forums/thread/25444/

I already expressed my hatred in this thread. But as well as guitars, I forgot to add poems, puppets and the dreaded 'audience participation'.

Comedians who think 'youth + good looks + a t-shirt + a haircut' is all they need.

I probably hate them because they are right.

Quote: Jinky @ November 9 2012, 5:07 PM GMT

Comedians who think 'youth + good looks + a t-shirt + a haircut' is all they need.

I probably hate them because they are right.

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Like the advice I gave young Zephyr -

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ November 5 2012, 10:54 PM GMT

Okay, so you're 26, so you're still young and that means you have a good chance in today's comedy landscape.

Here's what you do -

1. Get a super gay haircut - think Jack Whitehall, Russell Kane, Nick Grimshaw
2. Buy some incredibly tight jeans so all the girls can see your bits
3. Become incredibly attractive
4. Write some lukewarm to shit stand up
5. Make sure lots of girls go to your gigs
6. Go to Edinburgh
7. Snort coke and flirt with the BBC bints who come to your Edinburgh Show
8. If that fails, go bisexual and shag a BBC comedy producer
9. Use your extensive Oxbridge contacts to get your own show
10. Write a shit sketch show that's full of swearing and is aimed at 'young people'
11. Appear on every panel show going and swear a lot
12. Back your truck up to the bank and pour the cash into the vault

You're welcome.

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Quote: Big Jack @ November 9 2012, 4:51 PM GMT

Ed - don't forget you hate "hashtag blah blah blah"

Jinky - ha! With you. I've actually seen something like that that written down in a book on how to write jokes.

For me - swearing. It's not big and it's not clever. Why not write a joke if you can instead?

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Oh there are many things I hate - using swearwords instead of a punchline - swearwords are powerful funny words that are great when used sparingly

Right...so a 26 year old would have been born in 1986....so his t-shirt should probably reflect some children's TV he saw when he was 5....in 1991.

So...all of Renegade Carpark's advice plus a Five Children and It t-shirt.

I know for a fact that the lady who runs the Amused Moose competition - who brought Jack Whitehall to our TVs looks specifically for that makeup of individual. Jack Whitehall won the comp because his parents were the judges #rigged

Maybe that makes me sound racist but I hate:

-Gay stand-up comedians whose gig (or entire career) consists only of jokes about being gay, embarrassing fellow gays and homophobics

-muslim stand-up comedians whose gig (or entire career) consists only of jokes about being a muslim, embarrassing fellow muslims and racists.

-female stand-up comedians whose gig (or entire career) consists only of jokes about being a woman, embarrassing fellow women and sexists.

Quote: Renegade Carpark @ November 9 2012, 4:56 PM GMT

I already expressed my hatred in this thread... puppets and the dreaded 'audience participation'.

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Do yourself a favour and never come to one of my shows.

Quote: Gordon Bennett @ November 9 2012, 7:01 PM GMT

Maybe that makes me sound racist but I hate:

-Gay stand-up comedians whose gig (or entire career) consists only of jokes about being gay, embarrassing fellow gays and homophobics

-muslim stand-up comedians whose gig (or entire career) consists only of jokes about being a muslim, embarrassing fellow muslims and racists.

-female stand-up comedians whose gig (or entire career) consists only of jokes about being a woman, embarrassing fellow women and sexists.

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Yes yes yes

Quote: David Bussell @ November 9 2012, 7:12 PM GMT

Do yourself a favour and never come to one of my shows.

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Is that going on the poster?

Comedy that is just sweary and provocative without any real thought behind it. Lazy sitcoms, sitcoms built around crap actors, I mean you Bob the Builder. Comedy that tries to be trendy, comedy that thinks its abstract and surreal but is just shite. Comedy where there is no comedy because it has got lost up its own arse. Comedy troupes who aren't funny individually so find some other unfunny people to hide behind. Comedy that is commissioned because it ticks some weird checklist that commissioning editors like. Comedy with canned laughter, comedians who want to be other comedians... I think I'll go and lie down.