Category Archives: Comedy

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 →

Posted in Comedy, Reviews, US politics | Tagged , , , , , ,

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 →

Posted in Comedy, Film, Uncategorized | Tagged ,

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.

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Deconstructing the protest song

Posted on April 8, 2016 by

Having fun with right-on slogans. My review [£] of comedy duo Jonny & the Baptists: Jonny Donahue and Paddy Gervers are an eccentric double act. One is short and stout, the other tall and slim, much like a bargain-basement, Labour-leaning … Continue reading →

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Ronnie Corbett RIP

Posted on March 31, 2016 by

“One’s a trade union leader, the other’s a member of the Cabinet…” I thought Ronnie Barker wrote the script, but I was getting it mixed up with another classic, “Four Candles”  The Mastermind spoof is actually the work of David … Continue reading →

Posted in Comedy, TV | Tagged , , , ,

Have you heard the one about the Muslim comedian?

Posted on March 25, 2016 by

Not a night to remember. My review [£] of Shazia Mirza’s show at Soho Theatre: She seems to want to have it both ways. When Shazia Mirza complains about being treated as a token brown face in an industry dominated by … Continue reading →

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