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
Billy Connolly: Billy And Albert (1987)
8.3/10
Director: Nobby Clark
Starring: Billy Connolly
Unexpurgated Billy Connolly at his best live at London's Royal Albert Hall, July 1987. Over 25 of his best stories are featured, including 'High Fibre... Read more
Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987)
7.6/10
Director: Robert Townsend
Starring: Eddie Murphy
Filmed live at New York's Felt Forum, Eddie Murphy delights, shocks and entertains with dead-on celebrity impersonations, observations on 80s love, se... Read more
Robin Williams: Live at the Met (1986)
Director: Bruce Gowers
Starring: Robin Williams
This HBO Special of Robin Williams live at New York's Metropolitan Opera House is one of the funniest stand up shows ever to be performed and recorded... Read more
An Audience with Kenneth Williams (1983)
8.5/10
Director: Alasdair Macmillan
Starring: Kenneth Williams
"...And may I say what an honour it is for you to have me". Sit back and enjoy as Kenneth Williams takes a witty and enthralling look at his career in... Read more
Eddie Murphy: Delirious (1983)
8.2/10
Starring: Eddie Murphy
The year was 1983 and NOTHING was sacred! Jokes about puberty, dating, Mr T, disciplinarian mothers, and the personality traits of Michael Jackson wer... Read more
The Secret Policeman's Private Parts (1983)
7.2/10
Starring: Rowan Atkinson, Dame Edna Everage, Graham Chapman, Tim Brooke-Taylor, John Clees...
SEE John Cleese as "The Pope", SEE Michael Palin as" The Transvestite Lumberjack" SEE Graham Chapman as " The Bent Copper", SEE Trerry Jones as "The H... Read more
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
7.7/10
Starring: Richard Pryor
Pryor's back and burning! Taking the stage at the Hollywood Palladium, the controversial comic delivers a hysterically funny stand-up routine, talking... Read more
An Evening with Robin Williams (1982)
8/10
Director: Don Mischer
Starring: Robin Williams
Off the wall and unglued like you've never seen him before! The inspired lunacy of Robin Williams is captured live in concert on his home turf - The G... Read more
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982)
7.9/10
Director: Terry Hughes
Starring: Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jone...
More biting humour from the Monty Python boys taken from a 1982 concert that featured the usual spectrum of God, death and life in heaven. The film al... Read more
The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (1982)
6.6/10
Director: Julien Temple
Starring: John Cleese, Rowan Atkinson, Billy Connolly, Sting , Bob Geldof, Phil Collins, J...
More Pythonesque humour from John Cleese and his gang of terrible, tastless and crazy cohorts including; Alexei Sayle, Rowan Atkinson and Barry Humphr... Read more