[setanta]

I actually quite like Stewart Lee. He's witty, has a great turn of phrase and a willingness to really push the boundaries of what is acceptable. Remember his stand up where he had digs at the Scots while performing in Edinburgh or Glasgow? Now that's ballsy. But yeah, I can understand why he wouldn't be a favourite with many.

Oh, and Richard Pryor should win this hands down. Just wanted to mention that genius again!

[Stu]

Originally Posted by setanta

I actually quite like Stewart Lee. He's witty, has a great turn of phrase and a willingness to really push the boundaries of what is acceptable. Remember his stand up where he had digs at the Scots while performing in Edinburgh or Glasgow? Now that's ballsy. But yeah, I can understand why he wouldn't be a favourite with many.

Oh, and Richard Pryor should win this hands down. Just wanted to mention that genius again!

If I am being honest it was a really **** thing he done. He ripped on Scotland relentlessly in front of a paying audience full of Scottish people. I know you go to a comedy show and take your sense of humour with you but christ. It was just ballsy for the sake of it and pissed off everyone in the crowd. Good comedians don't piss off their paying crowd.

[setanta]

Originally Posted by Judas Iscariot

If I am being honest it was a really **** thing he done. He ripped on Scotland relentlessly in front of a paying audience full of Scottish people. I know you go to a comedy show and take your sense of humour with you but christ. It was just ballsy for the sake of it and pissed off everyone in the crowd. Good comedians don't piss off their paying crowd.

Yep, you could look it that way, but I've always been attracted to comics who really like to push the boat out and take huge risks. After all, comedians and jesters of old always lived on the edge, which gave them license to critique society from the outside, like some free spirited and slightly mad little rascal. And I suppose that audience would have been well aware of the kinda show that Lee usually attempts, seeing as it was such a small gathering.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by setanta

Yep, you could look it that way, but I've always been attracted to comics who really like to push the boat out and take huge risks. After all, comedians and jesters of old always lived on the edge, which gave them license to critique society from the outside, like some free spirited and slightly mad little rascal. And I suppose that audience would have been well aware of the kinda show that Lee usually attempts, seeing as it was such a small gathering.

Lee was pretty much unknown then, though. He is still not that well known now. Nothing wrong with crossing the line but there has to be good reasons, not just ******** on everything popular and the very crowd you should be pleasing for the sake of it.

Look at Bill Hicks. He basically got down on his hands and knees, loved through hate, and essentialy begged his audience to help him make the world a better place and think a bit more. And he was funny as fuck doing it.

[setanta]

Originally Posted by Judas Iscariot

Lee was pretty much unknown then, though. He is still not that well known now. Nothing wrong with crossing the line but there has to be good reasons, not just ******** on everything popular and the very crowd you should be pleasing for the sake of it.

Look at Bill Hicks. He basically got down on his hands and knees, loved through hate, and essentialy begged his audience to help him make the world a better place and think a bit more. And he was funny as fuck doing it.

Yep, Hicks was excellent but I think you're being a tad harsh on Lee because there's actually a weight of intellect behind his jokes, even if they're very close at times to being overtly offensive (which is actually half the thrill for me anyway!). Like any great comic or artist, he challenges the audience to think and participate, rather then just sit there and giggle, you know? It may not be to your tastes - at times I myself find it off-putting - but you have to give him credit for doing something different anyway.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by setanta

Yep, Hicks was excellent but I think you're being a tad harsh on Lee because there's actually a weight of intellect behind his jokes, even if they're very close at times to being overtly offensive (which is actually half the thrill for me anyway!). Like any great comic or artist, he challenges the audience to think and participate, rather then just sit there and giggle, you know? It may not be to your tastes - at times I myself find it off-putting - but you have to give him credit for doing something different anyway.

True.

As for Lee Evans, he can blow me. It's not his facial expressions, it's the fact that his entire career is based around the line 'You know my wife? ...'.

[setanta]

Originally Posted by Judas Iscariot

True.

As for Lee Evans, he can blow me. It's not his facial expressions, it's the fact that his entire career is based around the line 'You know my wife? ...'.

I honestly can't sit through any of his performances.