Comedy isn’t silly enough.
At least that what comedian Phil Wang believes.
Emerging from the recent dour years, Wang says comedians became a little too straight – and he lumps himself into that group. Now he’s working to make his act a little sillier, thereby expecting fans to experience a little more fun.
These days, anything that brings more joy to the world is certainly welcome.
The Stand-Up Spotlight ends the week with a couple reviews of Bill Burr’s directorial debut, Netflix’s “Old Dads.” Fans of Burr won’t be pleased. And there’s the summation of a Reddit thread that counts comedians who’ve truly been canceled. The list is shorter than expected.
For those saving up the funny for the weekend, it’s time to let loose.
STAND-UP SPOTLIGHT – October 20, 2023
Bring back the silly: Phil Wang reckons comedy has got too serious
As he prepares to visit Australia for the Just for Laughs festival, Phil Wang is ready to embrace the silly streak that runs through his mostly thoughtful comedy.
“We’re coming out of a period of great seriousness, and also seriousness in stand-up, comedy and satire,” he says over a Zoom call as he tucks into a bowl of breakfast porridge. “I think people, including myself, are kind of yearning for silliness again.”
‘Old Dads’ Review: You’ll Want Bill Burr’s Netflix Movie to Get Off Your Lawn
Bill Burr is one of the most talented and funniest comedians working today. He’s the kind of guy who never plays it safe and speaks his mind, but also isn’t afraid to be self-deprecating. He may be an acquired taste for some, just look at the response to his hilarious SNL monologue back in 2020, but the man has some serious skill when it comes to stand-up comedy. Hell, even his transition into acting has been much better than other stand-up comedians, having given strong performances in projects like The King of Staten Island, The Front Runner, Breaking Bad, and The Mandalorian.
‘Old Dads’ review: Cranky, bitter Bill Burr comedy misdirects its anger at Millennials
Comedian Bill Burr poorly attempts to translate his stand-up act to a feature film in “Old Dads,” the cringe-y equivalent of the “Old Man Yells at Cloud” “Simpsons” gag-turned-meme.
An alternate title could have been “What’s With These Millennials and Their Feelings?” Burr, who also directed and co-wrote the comedy, stars as Jack, an ornery 51-year-old father of a young son. He lives in L.A. and just doesn’t understand the world these days, and he’s got a couple buddies, Connor (Bobby Cannavale) and Mike (Bokeem Woodbine), in the same boat. Things have changed since they were younger (gasp), so that must mean everyone is wrong and doggone it they’re right!
Reddit Tries To Name A Comedian Who Was Canceled Over A Joke
“Cancel culture” is easily the most oft-discussed topic of the modern online comedy community, but how many comedians can count themselves as actual victims of the supposed “You can’t joke about anything nowadays” rule? According to Reddit, maybe like four of them.
Typically, when a comedian experiences a temporary fall from grace, it’s due to their offstage actions as opposed to their actual act, like the Bill Cosbys or Chris D’Elia’s of the #MeToo movement. Controversies stemming from the actual content of an artist’s comedy, such as Dave Chappelle’s ongoing tussle with the transgender community, usually result in a net commercial gain for the offending comic – in Chappelle’s case, about $60 million worth of it. If the invisible woke mob and hypersensitive keyboard warriors of the online left are actually on a campaign to end all comedy the way the manosphere says they are, then, frankly, they’re doing a shit job at it.
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