DELRAY BEACH – Earlier this week the Rundown brought news of an artificial intelligence mimicry of “Seinfeld” called “Nothing, Forever” being de-platformed because of a computer generated joked deemed transphobic and homophobic.
Well, Jerry Seinfeld has an interesting take as to why AI won’t take over stand-up comedy.
He believes AI is too smart, and to become a stand-up comedian “You gotta be dumb.”
Well, if there’s one thing Seinfeld knows about, it’s nothing.
Read more about Seinfeld’s thoughts on AI by following the link below.
Today’s Stand-Up Spotlight also includes a note about Lavell Crawford’s upcoming Showtime comedy special, a therapeutic comedy special from Josh Johnson and a feature on Juston McKinney.
There’s also a list of the 25 best comedy specials currently on Netflix – for those of you disinterested in Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Get funny this weekend, people.
STAND-UP SPOTLIGHT – Feb. 10, 2023
Jerry Seinfeld Isn’t Worried About AI Comedy Taking His Job: “You Gotta Be Dumb” to Do Proper Standup
An AI-generated extension of Seinfeld was captivating Twitch users earlier this month, another sign of machine learning being used experimentally in the entertainment space. However, the real Jerry Seinfeld isn’t worried about AI taking over his job: He commented on the technology during a recent standup gig, joking that while bots will continue to get smarter, you actually have to be pretty dumb to be a successful comedian.
As seen in fan-captured footage, the comedian asked the audience to fill him in on Nothing, Forever — the Twitch show that generates infinite new Seinfeld scenarios. “Do they make any sense?” he asked, before quickly answering himself: “No, it’s AI crap.”
Showtime Presents “Lavell Crawford: Thee Lavell Crawford” – Grammy Nominated and SAG Award Winning Comedian’s Fourth Stand-Up Comedy Special for Network
LOS ANGELES – February 9, 2023 – Lavell Crawford returns for his fourth SHOWTIME comedy special “Lavell Crawford: Thee Lavell Crawford,” starting Friday, February 24 on streaming and on demand for SHOWTIME subscribers, before making its on-air debut on Sunday, February 26 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. In the stand-up special filmed at the Joy Theater in New Orleans, Crawford delves into the issues of getting older without the shame and with all the sarcasm. From experiencing his first bidet to paying HOA fees, Crawford brings playfulness to life’s precarious situations that arise as we become more domesticated and seasoned.
Why Josh Johnson’s comedy special ‘Up Here Killing Myself’ may be therapeutic
Stand-up comedy is an intensely personal form of performance. You are alone on stage, allowing, even asking, an audience to judge your presentation, your looks, your wit, your ideas, your sensibilities – in short, almost everything about you.
In recent years, confessional comedy has become increasingly prevalent, Josh Johnson doesn’t think stand-up should be therapy but his new special, “Up Here Killing Myself,” which premieres on Peacock, Feb. 17, positions itself at the intersection of the two. He has taken serious topics he discussed in therapy – the lingering impact of growing poor, encountering the police as a Black American, his fears of having children and raising them in New York, and the death of his father – and found ways to build comic riffs around them. Going one step further with the theme, each segment is introduced by a brief interstitial bit of Johnson talking to a therapist.
From one gig to the next, Juston McKinney keeps the locals laughing
NEWMARKET, N.H. — A guy walks up to Juston McKinney and reminds him of one of his old jokes. Twenty-five years ago, when McKinney was an aspiring comedian working the Boston clubs, he tried out a bit about his supermarket’s overuse of plastic grocery bags. After buying 12 items, he came home with 13 bags. The last bag was for the receipt.
The fan still remembered the gag all these years later. McKinney had forgotten about it almost as soon as he performed it.
The 25 Best Stand-Up Comedy Specials On Netflix Right Now (February 2023)
Going out on a limb here: you could probably use a good laugh. Fortunately, a lot of modern stand-up is more than just silly stuff. Comedians today have expanded their vision to become more like camp counselors and philosophers who can also tell a mean fart joke. Fortunately, it’s fairly obvious where to turn for The Funny these days because no streamer has invested in stand-up quite like Netflix. Forget the world and stream some acerbic humor because we’re listing the Top 25.
