DELRAY BEACH – Not long ago the South Florida comedy scene boomed.
Ironically, the dragging nature of the COVID pandemic and its restrictions nationally prompted comics from traditional entertainments meccas like Los Angeles and New York to flee to mostly open South Florida for stage time.
But the Sunshine State wasn’t the only place comics went. Many also fled to Austin, Texas. That’s one of the reasons that prompted NewsTalk 1290 in Wichita Falls, Texas to proclaim the Lone Star State’s capitol city the “hottest stand-up comedy scene in the world.”
Sure, they’re homers, but they have a point. Many major comics, including Joe Rogan, now make Austin home. Dope City comedians Matt Bellak and Tim Hanlon recently relocated from South Florida to Austin. When they returned to perform at Palm Beach Improv earlier this month the duo both praised the scene. So it’s probably worth a stop for comedy travelers.
Today’s Stand-Up spotlight features articles on a broad range of topics. One, about a woman who finds it impossible to laugh, will make stand-up comedians cringe. Another, presumably written by an Indiana college student challenging the premise of dark comedy, appears to be cut by the author in order to go yell at kids to get off her lawn.
Then there’s an obituary for a comedy writer who wrote speeches for President Gerald Ford (the jokes write themselves). On an upbeat note, Yahoo, in honor of Black History Month, asked five black comedians how they broke into the business. Hopefully local comics can find this helpful.
Now, get out there and be funny.
STAND-UP SPOTLIGHT – Feb. 14, 2023
The Hottest Stand-up Comedy Scene in the World is Happening Right Now is in Austin, TX
Like most forms of entertainment, the popularity of stand-up comedy has its ups and downs. We are currently in one of the most significant upswings the art form has ever seen. Some have even gone as far as calling it a renaissance.
Throughout most of the history of stand-up, the hotspots for comedy have either been New York City, or Los Angeles, both cities’ scenes anchored by one club with multiple shows every night. In L.A., it’s the Comedy Store, and In NYC, the Comedy Cellar. Now, thanks to several top names in comedy relocating to Austin during the pandemic, the capitol of Texas has quickly become one of the best places in the world to see comedy.
I have a serious problem – I am unable to laugh
The tale was told with spirit and everyone at the dinner party roared with delight at the punchline. Everyone, that is, except me. As the laughter subsided and our storyteller was complimented, I felt an all too familiar pressure to react, to involve myself in proceedings somehow. But the best I could proffer was a bemused smile. “I’m sorry,” I said. “But why is that funny?” At which point, bizarrely, they all burst into laughter again.
Click here to view original web page at I have a serious problem – I am unable to laugh
5 of our favorite Black comedians discuss how they broke into the entertainment business
For the second year in a row, in honor of Black History Month, In The Know by Yahoo hosted a panel of talented individuals who discussed how they carved out space for themselves in a very competitive industry.
On Feb. 9, In The Know highlighted five comedians at Negril Village, an authentic Caribbean restaurant in Greenwich Village, for a sold-out event. The event’s theme was celebrating Black joy, feeling seen and envisioning what the future of comedy could look like.
COLUMN: Are comedians even funny anymore? A look into the grip of dark comedy
People have been engaging in offensive humor or “shock comedy” for years, from Amy Schumer to Tracy Morgan to Bo Burnham.
What even is dark humor? Also known as black humor, dark humor is just morbid or ironic comedy. Looking it up on YouTube provides video upon video of people dunking on marginalized people as a way of being funny. That’s not what dark humor is at all, so why do people think it is?
Bob Orben, comedy writer who crafted Gerald Ford’s speeches, dies at 95
Did you hear the one about the president, the joke writer and the country in crisis?
The president was Gerald Ford. The crisis was Watergate and the wreckage of the Nixon administration. And the joke writer was Bob Orben, whose arsenal of one-liners were deployed by TV comedy star Red Skelton, comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory and conservative Republican senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona.
Click here to view original web page at Bob Orben, comedy writer who crafted Gerald Ford’s speeches, dies at 95
