Every stand-up comedian who’s performed for any length of time has a story about bombing.
Few are as bad – or as funny – as John Oliver’s.
Early in his career Oliver found his set sandwiched between professional farter and gentleman who puked a goldfish on stage. Those two acts killed. The audience didn’t find Oliver entertaining at all.
Oliver rebounded from that show to become one of the world’s top comedians (the farter became surprisingly famous, too), proof that even the best comedians have forgettable nights.
Today’s Stand-Up Spotlight highlights a comedian who’s combining his love of comedy with his love of dogs; Kevin James with his own version of if-you-can’t-beat-them-join-them; and some information about Chicago’s Latina comedy festival, which begins today.
Make funny a way of life.
STAND-UP SPOTLIGHT – October 5, 2023
John Oliver’s Comedy Career Hit Rock Bottom When He Performed in Between A Stunt Farter and A Professional Puker
On its own, bombing is hardly rock-bottom for an up-and-coming comedian — after all, the only way to get good at stand-up is to fail repeatedly. But there’s something especially demoralizing about losing a room when the guy who farted on the microphone before you and the one who puked up a goldfish after you both killed.
Like most comics with careers of his caliber, John Oliver’s path to HBO success and Emmy adoration was often a rocky one. Emerging from the English college comedy circuit as a contemporary of artists like David Mitchell and Richard Ayoade, Oliver was a pasty, dark-haired, bespectacled intellectual comic trying to make a name for himself in a stand-up industry that wasn’t undergoing any pressing shortage of pasty, dark-haired, bespectacled nerds.
Stand-up to have you barking with laughter
A former lab technician who has 25 years’ experience as a dog behaviourist, says he is living the life of his dreams, combining his passion for teaching people how to train dogs with stand-up comedy.
Tony Knight said he learnt much of his skills with canines from his mother, bestselling author of ‘The Dog Whisperer’, and that he had always had “a passion” for making people laugh.
Click here to view original web page at Stand-up to have you barking with laughter
Comedian Kevin James Capitalizes On Viral Meme, Announces “Double Hands In The Pocket” Stand Up Tour
I’d be willing to bet that you’ve been seeing a lot of Kevin James lately on your social media feeds, whether you like it or not.
Every once in a while, a “meme” catches the world by storm and takes off to the moon like a GameStop stock. We are currently right in the middle of the “Kevin James Meme” era, and I hate to break it to you, but it looks like it’s only picking up steam.
Latina Comedy Festival returns to Chicago Oct. 5-7
The team behind Las Locas Comedy, Chicago’s only monthly Latina stand-up comedy show, is back with an expanded second annual Latina Comedy Festival from Oct. 5-7, across multiple venues in Chicago.
The Latina Comedy Festival, produced by Las Locas Comedy, returns to Chicago from Oct. 5-7 with expanded showcases at multiple venues in various neighborhoods across the city including Laugh Factory in Lakeview, Reggies in South Loop, Lincoln Lodge in Logan Square and JoJos Shake BAR in River North. The festival will feature the best Latina standup comedic talent from across the country including Chicago native Gwen La Roka (HBO Max), Los Angeles comedian Christina Galston (Comedy Central), and NYC comedian Shari Diaz (HBO Max). A panel of industry representatives and comedians reviewed comedian applications and selected performers were notified by Sept. 11th if they were accepted into the festival.
Click here to view original web page at Latina Comedy Festival returns to Chicago Oct. 5-7
