Category Archives: Comedy

The man who had too much of everything

Posted on May 31, 2018 by

Talent being at the top of the list. From my Times review of a weighty new account of the rise and fall of the genius that was Robin Williams: The warning signs were there that moment in the 1970s when … Continue reading →

Posted in Comedy, Film, Reviews, TV, Uncategorized | Tagged , ,

Menopausal madness

Posted on May 4, 2018 by

The grumpy old women are back on the road, and Dillie Keane is back in the line-up. My Times review: The franchise is well into late middle age now — 13 years have passed since Jenny Eclair and friends first … Continue reading →

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Happy New Year

Posted on January 1, 2018 by

Kamran Hafeez, The New Yorker. Via @StefSimanowitz.

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Intimacy

Posted on August 4, 2017 by

Barbara Smaller, The New Yorker.

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Comedy masterclass

Posted on August 6, 2016 by

Quite an evening. My review of Bill Burr’s show in Bristol: Sometimes there is a fine line between being a world-class stand-up and one of those taxi drivers who won’t stop ranting into the rear-view mirror. Part of the joy … Continue reading →

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Notebook

Posted on May 7, 2016 by

It is hard to believe that my parents’ generation would walk into a cinema when it suited them, without paying any attention to what film it was that they were going to see. Indeed they weren’t even concerned whether the … Continue reading →

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A name to watch

Posted on May 6, 2016 by

My review [£] of “Reasonable Doubts”, the new show from stand-up Dane Baptiste: The material is uneven, and he sometimes takes aim at too many targets, but you can tell from the outset that Dane Baptiste has presence. The same … Continue reading →

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Life according to Zac

Posted on May 3, 2016 by

Very, very funny. Craig Brown presents a household tips Q&A with Zac Goldsmith: Hi Zac! I just wanted to know the best way to unblock a kitchen sink. Geoff, Clapham. ZAC SAYS: Great question, Geoffrey. Just give me a moment, … Continue reading →

Posted in Comedy, UK politics | Tagged ,

Looking for laughs

Posted on April 29, 2016 by

Marcus Brigstocke at Soho Theatre. From my review [£] in today’s Times: It isn’t easy to warm to Marcus Brigstocke. There’s the problem, first of all, that he’s one of those overexposed comics who are the first call for TV … Continue reading →

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Before comments sections

Posted on April 11, 2016 by

Stumbled across this yesterday. An HM Bateman cartoon from 1922.

Posted in Comedy, Media | Tagged , ,