Essential Comedy

Here is my essential comedy guide - the stuff you might have expected to see in essential telly is also here! Don't expect to find anything your mum will like!

Bill Hicks

The undisputed master - the Obi Wan Kenobi of stand up comedy, downright offensive to some (mainly evangelists, the media, pop stars, anyone famous who did adverts - which he compared to having sex with Satan) and a revelation for those of us who got him. Bill Hicks died young and was with us for such a short time that you never got to hear any bad material from him - this is the same reason that Cream (the 60's supergroup, silly!) and Led Zep will always be superb; they knew when to  quit!

I discovered Bill about 1991 (on the Just for Laughs program on Channel 4) and have never looked back - there simply will never be another like him.

Bill's best material is so far and wide that there is just too much to mention. His material about the Gulf War (the first one) was just so close to the knuckle that it shocks twelve years later (it also earned him a kicking off some Vietnam veterans who did not share his vision it would seem!). You should also check out his latest releases that contain a tirade about the letters page in Penthouse, the war on drugs and New Kids on The Block - specifically how he wanted them to die (dating it a little bit - but what the hey!).

You should also check out the work of Denis Leary - so similar to Bill that is effectively a cover version! Your mum is not going to like this bloke!

The Office

As I have worked in A) an office and B) for a bloke not unlike the character above, I can inform you that this is the most realistic comedy that you are ever likely to see. Many of the idiots who tuned in actually took a while to guess that this was not a documentary after all (many made the same mistake with the Cops series). This is basically a comedy that reveals the true despair of working in an office (until the lottery win comes up I am condemned to this life myself) and the hopeless individuals that are supposed to be leading us.

I discovered the Office long after everyone else did (like most people it was a word-of-mouth thing) and it looks highly unlikely that another programme like this will ever come along! This is the best sitcom that has ever been made - even better than Dad's Army and Father Ted!

Ricky recently announced that no 3rd series would be made - provoking a debate on Radio 4! Well - you should quit whilst you are ahead - leave only good memories (the 2nd series was perfection).

Eddie Izzard

Eddie is another stand up comedian that I have a lot of time for. Not as soulful, offensive or honest as Bill Hicks, he is a more surreal version who mainly specialises in history and pontificating about current affairs and items of the mundane (such as Star Trek, eating oranges or doing the washing). He is also a big Bill Hicks fan.

I went to see Eddie when I was at University (it seemed a very student thing to do) and was very impressed.

You should check out one of Eddie's videos - the James Mason impression he does is worth the price of admission. Your mum would have liked this bloke but he does swear a little bit.

Alan Partridge

Ah Ha! I must admit, his early appearances left me a little cold - apart from his World Cup Round Up on the Day Today - which contains the best ever use of the word Tw*t. The second incarnation - I'm Alan Partridge has to be his crowning glory - the sequel was not as good - but it has to be said that Steve Coogan below his best is still better than ITV at their so-called best (just what ITV is for is beyond my comprehension - it could only be Blind Date or Corry). Basicaly this is to motel accommodation what The Office is to working in an Office. Also since Alan drove a Lexus in the 2nd series, the sales have gone down - has also annoyed the population of Norwich as they say his association with them has devalued the town!

I only discovered Alan during his second series.

Check out all of the second series - in one sitting for maximum effect (another trick worth saving for weekend shift).

Chris Morris

This is comedy for Bad People! If you laughed at it then you are a bad person! Confused? Well - that is the way the Daily Mail wants you to think. Chris Morris has done plenty of the most offensive and downright nasty comedy that you are ever likely to see. Not content to simulate sex and injection of hard drugs, his Brass Eye programme (basically Newsnight for bad people) put together a spoof documentary on Paedophiles that caused so many complaints and controversy that Channel 4 were left with no option but to show it again the same week and release it on video (such are the ethics of Channel 4).

I missed out on The Day Today, but caught on to Brass Eye when I worked out it was a good place to see celebs duped into taking part in the programme (Noel Edmonds and Sebastian Coe being not all that amused when the truth was discovered - Phil Collins made some noises about seeing his lawyer), mickytakes of everything I hate (such as Kilroy or the tabloid press) and content that produces loud complaints from just about everyone. This is what we want!

Check out all of it - a sinful pleasure indeed.

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