Comedy Store (Stand-Up)
Comedy (Stand-Up)
A stand-up comedian is someone that performs in comedy clubs, usually reciting a fast paced succession of amusing stories, short jokes and one-liners, typically called a monologue. Some stand-up comedians use props, music, or magic tricks in their acts.
Stand-up comedy is perhaps the easiest field of entertainment for new talent to enter, because many smaller venues hold "open mic" events where the inexperienced can perform comedy before a live audience. However, perhaps more than any other performer, the stand-up comedian is at the mercy of the audience, which is an integral element of the act. A truly adept stand-up comedian must nimbly play off the mood and tastes of any particular audience, and adjust his or her routine accordingly. The test of a master stand-up comedian is the ability to not only face down a "heckler," but win over and entertain the rest of the crowd with a retort. Many of the all-time greats are featured below.
Right: Steven Wright
Chris Rock: Never Scared (2004)
8.1/10
Starring: Chris Rock
Named the #1 Comic by Entertainment Weekly for 2004, Chris Rock stars in his fourth solo stand-up special for HBO, "Chris Rock: Never Scared". Featuri... Read more
Jeff Green: Back From the Bewilderness (2003)
Director: Mick Thomas
Starring: Jeff Green
Stand-up legend Jeff Green brings his show to London's West End for a sell-out night at the Gielgud Theatre. A routine that has wowed crowds at the Ed... Read more
The Ellen DeGeneres Collection (2003)
Starring: Ellen DeGeneres
Two of Ellen's critically acclaimed stand-up shows are collected here on this 2-disc set. 'The Beginning' recorded in 2000 features Ellen's interpret... Read more
Peter Kay Live: At The Bolton Albert Halls (2003)
8.1/10
Starring: Peter Kay
Inspired master of the mundane, Peter Kay, goes home to Bolton for this stand-up tour-de-force. Looking at the world through distinctly Coronation St... Read more
I Got The Hook-Up! - Comedy Jam (2003)
Director: Leslie Small
Starring: Eddie Griffin, Tommy Chunn, A J Johnson, Master P, Snoop Dogg
One of comedy's most colourful characters, Eddie Griffin, like you've never seen him before. Raw, irreverent and downright explicit! Eddie joins a cas... Read more
Ricky Gervais - Live: Animals (2003)
8.1/10
Director: Dominic Brigstocke
Starring: Ricky Gervais
Co-creator and star of hugely popular sit-com 'The Office', Ricky Gervais has turned his hand to stand-up comedy with hilarious results. Combining hi... Read more
Comedian (2002)
7/10
Director: Christian Charles
Starring: Chris Rock, Garry Shandling, Jerry Seinfeld
Where do you go after starring in the most successful sitcom in history? Find out in this compelling, and hysterical, look at Jerry Seinfeld's return... Read more
Def Comedy Jam Allstars Vol. 1 (2002)
Starring: Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock, Bernie Mac, Chris Tucker
Throughout the 1990's Russell Simmons' 'Def Comedy Jam' on HBO exposed hilarious, predominantly African-American comedians to the public, creating man... Read more
Def Comedy Jam Allstars Vol. 3 (2002)
Starring: Martin Lawrence, Cedric The Entertainer, Joe Torry, J Anthony Brown, Sommore
Throughout the 1990's Russell Simmons' 'Def Comedy Jam' on HBO exposed hilarious, predominantly African-American comedians to the public, creating man... Read more
An Evening with Kevin Smith / An Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder (2002)
Director: JM Kenny
Starring: Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes
Kevin Smith started out making movies in any spare moment he could find, patching together his cult hit 'Clerks' while the store he worked at (and fil... Read more