The Inside Joke by theinsidejoke

The Inside Joke where jest is the best

Issue 1 - September 2014

JAMES ACASTER is not who you think he is

Unlocking

Tim Key Don Ward

shaped comedy as we know it + carly smallman + alternative comedy nights + how to become a stand up comedian + the worst jokes ever + how I learnt to love heckling + fashion failures on stage

ÂŁ 3,49

section here

32 | The Inside Joke

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Editor’s Letter

“You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.” - Robin Williams

Josh Stephenson The Annoyer of Agents

Nicole Laffan The Bringer of Mirth

One of my favourite animated films is one lots of people, at least of the people I know, haven’t seen. In Robots, Robin voices Fender, a down on his luck robot. It was a character that used humour to make a difficult situation, i.e. life, better for those around him. This and many others characters he played were ones you instantly fell in love with. Whether he was cross-dressing as the sassy Mrs. Doubtfire, crowing as the grown up Peter Pan, granting wishes as Genie, or inspiring us to be different as John Keating, Robin’s characters made us feel. It would be a lie to say there isn’t a hole in that certain place in my heart. It was a shock to hear of the passing of such a comedic legend. If there is something we can learn from this tragedy, it’s that we need to cherish each other every moment we can. Be there for each other, support each other, because there may come a time when someone will need our strength to battle their demons. Join us as we remember our friend Robin on page 77. Join us as we pay tribute to a man who played a part in reminding us how to never grow up and stop having fun. ‘Oh Captain, my captain.’ May you find the peace you deserve.

- The Inside Joke Team

Amber De Smet The Design Diva

Christopher Tracy The Jokes Master

Words by Chris Tracy. Image by Abbie Cohen. Special thanks to Abbie Cohen, Adam Gale and Yvonne Illsley.

here are some people you can’t imagine the world without, as if they will somehow live for eternity. Robin Williams was one of those. I can’t imagine any part of my childhood where he wasn’t there, let alone my adulthood. And though his parting is tragic, we must remember how treasured we were to have even had him in ours lives, albeit for a short time. My first memory of Robin was the film Hook. How exciting it was to watch him battle the evil Captain Hook to save his kids and remind them, and more importantly himself, that they were important to him. My favourite scene is when he finally finds his imagination and he and the boys have an epic food fight. He was fun. His films represented fun. Then he was Batty in Fern Gully: The Last Rainforest. ‘I’M BLIND, OH, NO! I can see! It’s a miracle!’ Hearing Robin’s voice was a sure sign that I was going to laugh. Genie in Aladdin, Jack in Jack, Leslie in Toys, all roles that brought a smile and a laugh. And then there was Jumanji. It was different. Robin was different. He wasn’t silly now, but even so I loved it. It was brilliant seeing a more serious side of an idolized funnyman.

Contents

12 44

54 77 24

4 | The Inside Joke

Contents

The Inside Joke Issue 1 - September 2014

where jest is the best

Features

Audience

24 The health benefits of laughter 28 Indie Comedy 33 Rape Jokes: No Laughing Matter 37 Amercaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top 10 Comics 40 Unlocking Tim Key 50 How I learnt to Love the Heckler 54 James Acaster is not who you think he is... 60 Logan Murray on how to become a comedian 68 Improv with the Sheffield Shrimps

20 Are women actually funny? 23 Bad jokes 43 Confessions: laughing at horrible moments 44 Fashion Failures on Stage 47 Panel shows: good or bad? 59 Your favourite worst jokes 92 Weirdest... compliments ever received.

Retrospective

Edinburgh Fringe festival

63 Don Ward: Founder of the Comedy Store 77 Tribute to Robin Williams 81 Reviews 74 Alter Egos in Comedy

14. Edinburgh: The Big Picture Spread 18. Awards 2014

Other Things 3 Editorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Letter 6 Letters 8 Hand-picked Comedy News 12 Spotlight: Carly Smallman

In the mood for more? Visit our website, http://theinsidejoke.co.uk The Inside Joke | 5

Letters

LETTERS

TALK TO US ON... facebook.com/theinsidejokemagazine @The_InsideJoke theinsidejokemagazine

YOUR CHANCE TO HAVE A NATTER

I'VE DONE THAT! I read your feature on your website about the

BIRD MAN Alright bruv. So me mates and me go out yeah and try and pick up birds right, cause you know that’s what lads do. So I’m chattin up this one, and she just ain’t diggin it. I heard right, that birds like clever

laughter yoga and to be quite frank it sounded a bit batty. I mentioned it to one of me girlfriends and I couldn’t believe it, but she’d been doing it for months now. She took me round with her the next time and I really loved it. It was a bit odd to be fair, but only in the beginning. Once we got into stretching and just letting our giggles out, there was just a wonderful air of relaxation. I haven’t felt this relaxed in years. Bravo for making people aware of it. I shall be going

dudes, yeah, that

more often now.

make em laugh. What are some funny

- Margarie Steton, 43

bits yeah that’ll make them birds into me, if you know what I mean? - Adam Scott, 19 Whilst your letter may be a little creepy, we here at The Inside Joke would never put off a budding Casanova. So maybe try this line: Q: What do you give a sick bird? A: Tweetment. Failing that maybe some bird seed? I really loved your article on the improv group SHRIMPS. I was in an improv group when I was at Uni and it was one of the best experiences of my life. You can tell from their responses that these guys

STAR LETTER So my boyfriend is a huge comedy fan. I swear sometimes he pays more attention to his comedians than he does to me, but I love him and so I forgive him! So his birthday is coming up right and I really want to surprise him with something comedy related, but I just can’t figure anything out. He’s been to like a thousand shows, has signed stuff, been backstage, I mean like seriously, he has it all. There is honestly nothing I can think of. Can you help?

- Jenni Mathers, 23

Correction, Jenni. He now has everything, as you've gone and won him a 12 month subscription to The Inside Joke! Unless you dump him and keep it for yourself that is...

06 | The Inside Joke

are pretty clever. My favourite line was ‘Silence: The Musical.’ So funny! - Mark Jeffreys, 21 We always appreciate feedback here at The Inside Joke - good or bad! So get your comments in on the addresses above!

OUT OF TOUCH I do say. I’m not quite sure I understand a thing in regards to today’s standard of comedy. It is well and truly not very funny. Is it just myself? Are there any comedians out there the likes of Stanley Baxter, Charlie Drake, and I daresay even the fellows of Monty Python? It would be a pleasure to learn of something amusing again. Many thanks. - Heston Partridge, 68 Oh, Heston. You've missed so much if Monty Python is as recent as you can remember! Whilst you catch up maybe have a look at this month's cover star James Acaster.

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

NEWS ROUND-UP News

Heckler actually has quite compelling argument.

Confused shopers waiting for milk

by Jill Pennygirth

LDHAM, England – In the murky dim of the Oldham Comedy Basement, local comedian Todd Flounder, 23, was dispirited to learn that his audience was more

interested in the heckler abusing him then hearing the rest of his set. Mr. Flounder, who claims his mother finds him funny, was shocked when an inebriated man from the audience began hurling harsh words his way.

Words by Josh Stephenson. Photos: Alexandria Ingham

“I’ve never had to deal with a heckler before and so was quite excited by the challenge of shutting him down, but then I quickly realised he was actually raising some pretty valid points,” said Mr. Flounder. “I had no comeback really. I just had to stand there and take

Comedy Store not actual store

by Josie McInlock

ONDON, England – Local residents near Leicester Square, London have reportedly become frustrated that the local Comedy

it.”

Store doesn’t stock any actual food. Bill Woltenberry, According to audience members the heckler started off by

31, is a resident of the area and is sick of finding

comparing Mr. Flounder’s set to a chronic case of diarrhoea he suffered

himself tricked inside: “Every time on the way back

last year and went on from there. Beryl Simonson, 32, was in the

from work I always try to pick up a pint of milk

audience and had this to say: “At first I thought ‘oh here we go’, but

from the Comedy Store,” says an easily confused Mr.

after a while you realised he was pretty much spot on. Todd was awful,

Woltenberry. “But then they’re always like – ‘the only

clearly did have some mummy issues and, frankly yeah, his B.O. was a

thing we sell here, sir, is comedy’. That’s no use is it?

bit off.”

You can’t put comedy on your Cornflakes.”

The enraptured audience sat there for five minutes as the heckler

It seems this has become a regular occurrence for

made reasoned point after reasoned point as to why Todd’s mere

the famous comedy club. Every day they have to field

existence was a bad thing. Jason Belcock, 27, was so caught up in this

requests from angry customers disappointed that

‘Churchill-ian’ speech that he begun to hate Todd with a passion some

there aren’t any offers on Doritos and Ben & Jerry’s.

may call excessive. “Oh yeah - I hated him. I hated his stupid comedy.

Laurie Pumpkin, 24, is the PR consultant for the club

His stupid face and even his mere right to live,” said a trance-like Mr.

and is surprised that people are continuously making

Belcock. “Come to think of it I’d have done anything that heckler told

the same mistake. “It’s not like we’ve sprung up

me. And I mean anything.”

overnight. For decades we’ve been offering the best in stand-up comedy nationwide and what do we get

Mr. Flounder, admitting defeat, left the stage, but his experience hasn’t put him off comedy: “What quit comedy? No! This wasn’t even

instead? Morons asking where they can get an iceberg lettuce,”

that bad of a gig. I’ve had worse. No one punched me at least!” “Well if the people want food. We’ll give them As for the heckler, he continued his rant in the club’s car park for an

food,” said a frustrated Miss Pumpkin.

hour after the show – touching on sensitive issues such as immigration, police brutality and the welfare state with aplomb. He was last seen

At the time of press The Inside Joke has seen an aisle

losing his audience when trying to convince them he shouldn’t be

of chilled goods added to the store and are told they

forced to pay alimony.

are still awaiting a freezer.

Disabled people reportedly being excluded from stand-up

08 | The Inside Joke

Studies show men more likely to think they’re funnier than women

Turns out roc

News Every month we here at The Inside Joke scour the country looking for the news stories that matter to you: the comedy aficionado. We've gone and sent our top reporters high and wide in the hope they'll bring back some top quality investigative journalism. In hindsight, maybe we expected too much...

DINBURGH – A group of aspiring models have launched a rival ‘Fringe’ festival focusing entirely on the popular hairstyle. This led to

increased tensions with the inhabiting ‘Fringe’ festival where things got a little hairy. Reports of another festival by fans of the TV show ‘Fringe’ are unfounded.

COMMENTARY - Wait. Did I just laugh too hard at that one mother-in-law joke?

by Dave Dumbell

hilst I wouldn’t call it the greatest evening of comedy in the world, on the whole I’ve really enjoyed tonight. I've got to spend some time with the wife, had a few laughs and a bite to eat. Yeah, this

has been pretty good. I don’t think much to this guy on stage though – he’s a little old hat for my liking, I mean just listen to one of these jokes. “Did you know, ladies and gentleman, that an anagram of mother-in-law is woman Hitler? Not that I’m inferring anything. Wink. Wink.”

Mr. Dumbell's mother-in-law's more tolerant side

Haha! Actually that one was quite funny. I shouldn’t be laughing at the holocaust, but then it’s not like they’re going to say anything about it. Wait. Did I just laugh too hard at that mother-in-law joke? Shit I did. Is my wife looking at me? Fuck she is. Ok don’t panic she’s not going to read too much into that. What do you mean she’s not going to read too much into that – you just laughed at a joke comparing her mother to Hitler. That’s not a good thing. Oh God she looks a little pissed off. Just stop smiling. That will work. No it won’t. She’ll think you stopped because she wants you to stop. Start smiling again. Not that much. Christ I’m fucked – there’s no way I’m getting away with this one. Why would you even laugh? You like your mother-in-law. Well, maybe like is a bit strong, but I don’t wish her dead or anything. She’s certainly not Hitler bad. Very few people are – it’s a tough standard to reach. Maybe it’s not too bad? Give her a little smile. Test the waters. No. Too soon. She’s glaring at me now. Oh I just know how this conversation is going to go. ‘You never appreciate anything she does for this family. Who’s looking after your children now so you can come and laugh at someone comparing her to Hitler? Hmm. That’s right, dickhead.’ Maybe I can still salvage this. Maybe I should heckle him. Stand up for all the mothers-in-law. Become some form of mother-inlaw hero. Buy a cape. Yeah I’ll get in the papers. Susie from work will talk to me. Not that I want her to of course. Just platonic conversation. Nothing more. Yeah, I’m gonna heckle him good. Here goes nothing…. I’m not going to heckle him. Am I crazy? He’ll shoot me down, get me to reveal I really do hate my mother-in-law. They can do that you know, comedians. Very tricky fellows. Why should I anyway? I provide for this family, I can laugh at anything I choose to. You know what the next joke I’m going to laugh my head off and bugger the consequences. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. …. Shit.

ck ‘n’ roll is the new rock ‘n’ roll

Doctors amazed Joan Rivers wasn’t already dead

Being funny not as attractive to women as being attractive

The Inside Joke | 09

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Spotlight

Spotlight Â On...

Words Â by Â Josh Â Stephenson Â Photos: Â RBM Â Management

CARLY Â SMALLMAN

Each Â month, Â we Â here Â at Â The Â Inside Â Joke Â shine Â the Â spotlight Â on Â an Â upcoming Â comic Â we Â think Â is Â going Â to Â be Â the Â next Â big Â thing. Â This Â month Â we Â are Â talking Â to Â the Â star Â of Â ITV2 Â show Â Viral Â Tap Â and Â musical Â comedy Â Â&#x153;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Čą Čą ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Â ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â Ç°Čą Â Â&#x2019;Ä´Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;Ç°ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą Â Â&#x2018;Â˘ČąÂ Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Ä´Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x2018;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ÇŻ

The Inside Joke | 11

Spotlight The mermaid anchor was a nice touch.

arly Smallman is determined to have the last laugh. ȱ ě ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ǰȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ¢ȱ ę ȱ ǰȄȱ ¢ ȱ ¢ǯȱȃ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ǯȄ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Viral Tapǰȱ ȱ Řȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȁ ǯȱ ¢Ȃǰȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱȁ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃǰȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱȁ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȂȱ ¢ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȃ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ę ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ǰȄȱ ¢ȱ ¡ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Photos: RBM Management, GQ Magazine, ITV

ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱMade in Pengeǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ¢Ȃ ȱ ¢ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȄȱ ¢ ȱ ¢ǯȱȃ ȱ Ȃ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ǰȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ȱ ȱ Ȭ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ǰȱ ȱ ę ǰȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ǯȱȃ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ǷȄȱ Carly laughs. ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ people leave ¢ȱ ȱ ǷȄȱ Carly may ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ

Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ Ƿȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ěǰȄȱ ¢ ȱ ¢ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĝ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ¢ȱ¢ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄ

"It's been hard enough getting to where I am now"

ȱ ȱ ȱ started on Carly is making a stand against abuse

12 | The Inside Joke

an issue that

¢Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ǳȱ ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ

Spotlight Left: Appearing on Viral Tap alongside such luminaries as Caroline Flack Below: Guitar in hand and ready for action.

ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ě ȱę ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄȱ

¡ȱ Ȃ ȱ ǷȄȱ ȱ ǯ Deciding to move the conversation on from more serious Ĵ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ǯȱȃ ȱ

ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

Ȃ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ¢ȱȬȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ and that to me seems a very fair ¢ ǯȄȱȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ

ȱ ȱ ¢Ƿȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

¢ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ £ ȱ "All I ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ want is that when ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ people leave they feel ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄȱ ȱ great!" ¢ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

Ȭ ȱ ȱŘŖŖşȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ǯȄȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ ȱ ǵȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȃ ȱ Ƿȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ Ȃ ȱ

ȱȬȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȄȱ ¢ ȱ ¢ǯȱȃ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ǷȄȱ ȱ

¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

¡ ǯ

¢ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ

¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ

ǯȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȁ ¢ȱ ǰȂȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ Ǳȱȃ ǰȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ

ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

CAREER HIGHLIGHT?

¢ǰȱ ¢ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ǰȄȱ ¢ ȱ ¢ǯ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

Ȉ ¢ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǲȱ Ȃ ȱ ¢ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ǯȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ Ƿȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ¢ǯȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ ȱViral Tap put

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ

ȱ ěȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǵȱȃ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ǰȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǷȄ

¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱȮȱ ȱ ȱ

See more from Carly at hear website www.carlysmallman.com and

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ǯȈȱ

keep an eye out for her show 'ʹMade In Penge'ʹ with tour details to be announced soon.

The Inside Joke | 13

Edinburgh Fringe

EDINBURGH FRINGE The Big Picture Spread

Were you at Edinburgh Fringe this year, or do you simply wish you’d been there? Don’t worry - we’ve selected 20 pictures that capture the typical Fringe atmosphere. Acts play to the crowds during the first day of the festival. Photograph: David Cheskin/PA Wire

Ivo Graham. Photograph: Xfm

Matthew Crosby, Nish Kumar, James Acaster, John Robins, Henry Paker and Suzi Ruffell Photograph: Xfm

Sara Pascoe talks about Miley Cyrus and pregnancy Photograph: Matt Crossick/Empics

14 | The Inside Joke

Bridget Christie at the Stand. Photograph: Murdo Macleod

Edinburgh Fringe

FESTIVAL 2014

Man dressed as Charlie Chaplin Photograph: The Daily Record

Crowd watches performers Photograph: http://www.destination360.com

Alun Cochrane. Photograph: http://platform-online.net

Owen Whitelaw and Cara Kelly in Unfaithful. Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Guardian

The Inside Joke | 15

Edinburgh Fringe

Al Donegan Photograph: http://scmagaz.blogspot.co.uk

Amy G. Photograph:http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/

John Kearns. Photograph: Independent

Mark Watson. Photograph: Daily Star

16 | The Inside Joke

Phil Ellis. Photograph: TimeOut

Circus Incognitus, with Jamie Adkins. Photograph: A Phillipson/Livepix

Edinburgh Fringe

Dancers. Photo credit: MySnoozeBox.com Liam Williams. Photograph: Mark Dawson

Zoe Lyons and fothers talk about coming out. Photograph: Steve Ullathorne

Nathan Caton presented the BBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pick of best new shows. Photograph: BBC

Alex Edelman. Photograph: http://thecomicscomic.com/.

Still havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had enough? Quickly head over to our website theinsidejoke.co.uk for more comedy news and the latest gig dates. The Inside Joke | 17

Edinburgh John Kearns was this year's big winner.

There were so many brilliant acts, but sadly only one could come away with the prize. Here is a list of the Edinburgh Fringe award winners. Congratulations and well done!! Dave's Funniest Joke of the Fringe Winner: Tim Vine - “I’ve decided to sell my hoover... well, it was just collecting dust.” Nominees: Masai Graham - "I’ve written a joke about a fat badger, but I couldn’t fit it into my set.” Mark Watson - "Always leave them wanting more, my uncle used to say to me. Which is why he lost his job in disaster relief.” Bec Hill - "I was given some Sudoku toilet paper. It didn’t work. You could only fill it in with number 1s and number 2s.” Ria Lina - "I wanted to do a show about feminism. But my husband wouldn’t let me.” Paul F Taylor - "Money can’t buy you happiness? Well, check this out, I bought myself a Happy Meal.” Kevin Day - "I forgot my inflatable Michael Gove, which is a shame ‘cause halfway through he disappears up his own arsehole.” Jason Cook - "I’ve been married for 10 years, I haven’t made a decision for seven.” Felicity Ward - "This show is about perception and perspective. But it depends how you look at it.”

The Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Comedy Show Winner: Shtick - John Kearns Best Newcomer Winner: Alex Edelman: Millennial Panel Prize Winner: Funz And Gamez

The Malcolm Hardee Awards The Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality: Winner: Candy Gigi: I’m Not Lonely The Malcolm Hardee Cunning Stunt Award (for best Edinburgh Fringe publicity stunt): Winner: Christian Talbot: Hello Cruel World The Malcolm Hardee Act Most Likely/Act Least Likely To Make A Million Quid’ Award: Winner: Luisa Omielan (‘What Would Beyoncé Do?!’ & ‘Am I Right Ladies?!’)

18 | The Inside Joke

Words by Chris Tracy

Scott Capurro - "Scotland had oil, but it’s running out thanks to all that deep frying.”

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Audience

SIBLING R Northern siblings Nicole and David Laffan debate all of the issues going on in the comedy-verse so you don’t have to. This week: are men really funnier than women?

Pictures: Ken Wilcox, mo pie, Sam Salt, Drew McLellan Flickr

NICOLE SAYS:

y boyfriend and I had settled down to a nice, pleasant evening of comedy and Tesco cava when he said those three words that made my heart leap. No, not those three words. The three words that carry so much latent sexism in each syllable, it shocks me that they could have emerged from the mouth of someone so intelligent: “Women aren’t funny”. Well, I have news for you. They are. It really grinds my gears to hear such generalisation still banded about by people as though it’s a truth written in flames on a hillside in some distant land. At no point would you accept any other kind of statement at face-value without at least challenging it and pointing out exceptions (with the exception, perhaps, of statements such as: “All Beliebers are annoying”, or: “The Kardashians are talentless and should really just go away”, which could be proven scientifically with the right funding). More to the point, it’s simply not true. Comedians like Sarah Millican wouldn’t pack out arenas if it were. French and Saunders wouldn’t be national treasures either (I defy anyone to sit through their Lord of the Rings parody without creasing themselves). Furthermore, to say all women aren’t funny is like arguing that all men are, which is also categorically not true. I personally cannot stand Ricky Gervais in either his shows or on stage, his humour does nothing for me and it doesn’t connect with me on any level. Yet you do not hear me arguing that men aren’t funny. So why do we allow the same argument to be held about women?

The Inside Joke

I personally think the problem lies in audience expectations – whilst men are seen as the comedians, women are seen as women. They have more to prove and more to lose, as an audience judges them on everything from their weight, their dress-sense, their accent… There’s also still an archaic view that women should remain dignified and chaste. The moment female comedians start discussing things like their vaginas or periods, the audience seems to turn into a Puritanical gathering, where she can’t say that because it’s grossly inappropriate and too much information. But Russell Brand discussing wanking, or the variations of colour in his dad’s penis, is considered comedy goldW. Until audiences start seeing the women as comedians in their own right, I’m afraid that very little will change. But in this case, I think it would be right to argue that women cannot break into the comedy circuit, not because they aren’t funny, but because they have so many more barriers to break through than their male counterparts. Funny ladies Sarah Millican and French and Saunders.

Audience

RIVALRIES Sebastian was starting to regret hiding his sister’s Barbie.

DAVID SAYS: Right then, are you sitting comfortably? Good, then let’s begin. Firstly, I hasten to point out that this is not a declaration that women are not funny (primarily because this is a) patently not true, and b) I would rather not have my testicles chopped off and turned into a hat, as I have grown rather attached to them). Rather, I am arguing that, for the moment at least, men are funnier than women. Got that? I shall first of all address the common idea that women aren’t funny because they often discuss their bodies and issues that are deemed “disturbing” or “inappropriate”. This is a daft male prejudice, but one that is society’s fault as much as ours. For centuries, women in public have had to be prim and proper, with such highlighting of female “stuff” considered inherently abhorrent. The very fact that women were considered hysterical because their wombs jumped about inside them is a perfect example of how the female body was considered to be both a complex mystery and a monstrosity. Give it time guys: one day the vagina shall be hailed as great a comic success as the toilet and the penis. Moving on to the main “thrust” of the argument, women are not as funny as men because of youthful inexperience, combined with a fear of expression. The main genre of comedy in this era is the “panel show” – Mock the Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, etc. and in

this genre women fall down. It requires the confidence to assert oneself, as well as a kind of hyperactivity and “clever stupidity” that has long been the province of men. The very fact that a quota of one female comedian per panel show is needed goes to show how women are not the first choice of TV producers, searching for the childish cheekiness of Dara O’Brien, or the mad staring hilarity of Milton Jones. That women are so poorly represented, and so quietly unassuming, in this most widely regarded of comic genres, will always undermine the growth of aspiring female comedians, and influence the opinion of the general public. I think that, once given free range by both the public and themselves, women have great potential, but as long as they falter in this arena, they shall never surpass the penis-wearers.• Do you agree with either Nicole or David? Let us know @The_Inside Joke. Women are still expected to be prim and proper. Below: panel shows still prefer the zany weirdness of Milton Jones.

The Inside Joke 21

App

The Inside Joke DIGITAL EDITION

GET THE APP!

MORE GIGS

EXCLUSIVE COMPETITIONS

ONLY £2.99

FULL INTERACTIVIT Y EXCLUSIVE VIDEOS AND CONTENT AVAIL ABLE TO DOWNLOAD NOW: 22

The Inside Joke

Audience

BAD JOKES

Bonko Â wished Â heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d Â Â&#x2039;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2122;ČŹÄ&#x161;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â&#x201D;Čą to Â the Â kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â Â&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?Â&#x160;Â˘ÇŻ

Only Â your Â dad Â could Â love Â these...

Did Â you Â hear Â about Â the Â dwarf Â who Â got Â pick-Ââ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2018;pocketed? Â Â How Â could Â anyone Â stoop Â so Â low?! Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;Čą Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Ä´Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x2014;Ç°Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x2018;Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D; What Â do Â you Â call Â a Â three-Ââ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2018;legged Â donkey? Â Â A Â wonkey.

Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x153;ÇąČą Â&#x2018;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Čą Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â˘Ç°Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x160;Ä&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Ç°Čą Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?ÇŻČąČą Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ÇąČą Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Â&#x160;Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;Ç° Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â?Ç°Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x2019;Ç°Čą Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Â˘Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;

Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2122;Ĺ&#x2013;Ç°Čą Â&#x2DC;Ä´Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013; What Â do Â you Â call Â a Â woman Â with Â one Â leg Â shorter Â than Â the Â other? Â Â Eileen.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â red Â and Â smells Â like Â blue Â paint? Â Â Red Â paint. Â&#x2014;Â?Â˘Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x2014;Ç°Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x2018;Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;

Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x160;Čą Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2014;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x2013;Ç°Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014; What Â do Â you Â call Â a Â gorilla Â with Â a Â machine Â gun? Sir. What Â do Â you Â call Â a Â gorilla Â with Â bananas Â in Â his Â ears? Anything, Â he Â canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â hear Â you! What Â do Â you Â call Â a Â gorilla Â with Â a Â machine Â gun Â and Â bananas Â in Â his Â ears? Sir, Â in Â case Â he Â can Â lip-Ââ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2018;read. Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Čą Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â Â&#x17D;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x2122;Ç°Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â the Â fastest Â cake Â in Â the Â world? Â Scone. Â&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Čą Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â?Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x2122;Ç°Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x2018;Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D; Why Â canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â you Â hear Â a Â pterodactyl Â go Â to Â the Â bathroom? Â Â Because Â the Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;pâ&#x20AC;? Â is Â silent. Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â?Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x203A;Ç°Čą Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2018;Ç°Čą Why Â are Â pirates Â called Â pirates? Â Â Because Â they Â arrrr! Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Čą Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Ä´Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x;Ç°Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČŹ

What Â do Â you Â call Â a Â psychic Â midget Â whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â escaped Â from Â prison? Â Â A Â small Â medium Â at Â large! Â&#x2013;Â˘Čą Â&#x2DC;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x2DC;Ç°Čą Â&#x17D;Â Â&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;

Â&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČŹ Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Čą How Â many Â tickles Â does Â it Â take Â to Â make Â an Â octopus Â laugh? Â Â Ten Â tickles!

Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Čą Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x17E;Ç°Čą Â&#x17D;ÂĄÂ&#x160;Â&#x153;Ç°Čą

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Doc, Â I Â canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â stop Â singing Â â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Â Green, Â Green Â Grass Â of Â Home.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;That Â sounds Â like Â Tom Â Jones Â Syndrome.â&#x20AC;? Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is Â it Â common?â&#x20AC;? Â Well, Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â Not Â Unusual.â&#x20AC;? Â&#x160;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Čą Â&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x2122;Ç°Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x201C;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Ç°Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?

What Â do Â you Â call Â a Â sleep-Ââ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2018;walking Â nun? Â Â A Â roaminâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Â Catholic! Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â˘Čą Â&#x17D;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?Â?Ç°ČąĹ&#x2122;Ĺ&#x2DC;Ç°Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Ç°Čą What Â happens Â when Â you Â throw Â a Â green Â rock Â into Â the Â Red Â Sea? Â Â It Â gets Â wet. Â Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Čą Â?Â˘Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x203A;ÇŻÇ°ČąĹ&#x161;Ĺ&#x2013;Ç°Čą Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x160;Ç°Čą

What Â do Â you Â call Â a Â pile Â of Â cats? Â Â A Â meowtain. Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;Čą Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2019;Â?Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x2DC;Ç°Čą Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â?Ç°Čą Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x160; What Â do Â you Â call Â a Â man Â with Â a Â bad Â back? Â Â Neil. Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x2DC;Ç°Čą ÂĄÂ&#x17D;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A; Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â brown Â and Â sticky? Â Â A Â stick. Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x;Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x2014;Ç°Čą Â&#x152;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;

Two Â antennas Â met Â on Â a Â roof, Â fell Â in Â love Â and Â got Â married. Â The Â Ceremony Â wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â much, Â but Â the Â reception Â was Â excellent. Â&#x160;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Čą Â&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x2122;Ç°Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x201C;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Ç°Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â? Â What Â do Â ghosts Â like Â to Â put Â on Â their Â pancakes? Â Â Â Boo Â berries. Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2014;Â&#x160;Čą Â&#x2022;Â&#x17E;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2122;Ĺ&#x2013;Ç°Čą Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2018;Ç°Čą

Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x17E;Â&#x153;ÇľČąČą Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x17E;Â&#x153;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;ČąČ&#x201C; Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Č? Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D; Â&#x2DC;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;ÇŻ The Inside Joke 23

Features section Features here

Have a laugh... They say a smile should be your umbrella, but here at The Inside Joke, we feel a good old giggle is side of life.

and downs. Whether this be going to comedy clubs, watching Mock the Week, or looking at funny videos of

laughter are abundant. “We know anecdotally that laughter can boost your wellbeing,” says Beth Murphy, Head of Information at Mind, the UK’s mental health charity. “Laughter causes our bodies to release certain chemicals such as serotonin, which can improve our moods. “When we laugh, we are usually around others, and social activities are also good for wellbeing.” I was having problems with my boyfriend, hanging out with my Just laugh about it! photo by Chris Huggins / Flickr

friend Lucy and having a laugh got me through,” she says. “We went through a phase of watching a lot of feel-good rom-coms at the cinema – we’ve always had a silly sense of humour.” OK, so watching Renée Zellweger fall over may not be your idea of a good time, but there are lots of ways that you can get that all-important laughter into your life. “Merrie” Maggie Thompson, who runs Laughter Yoga classes at Wordsley Community Centre, The Green, Wordsley, says: “If it makes you smile, giggle, or laugh, do it again!” Laughter Yoga was developed by Dr. Madan Kataria and has since become a popular worldwide practice. It encourages people to interact, combining laughter with heavy breathing without the use of comedy or humour.

section here Features

It’s good for you! in general, even from only participating in one session,” says term conditions – it can be a pain killer because endorphins are released when we laugh (even if the laughter is fake), and it can “It is good to bring laughter into your life every day. The whole concept of Laughter Yoga is within us all – you don’t even need comedy, jokes or humour! Think of how children laugh through everyday playfulness – that is the essence of Laughter Yoga.” “I recommend doing Laughter Yoga on a regular basis, so the generally.” Laughter is also infectious, as Mind’s Beth Murphy explains. “Making others laugh boosts well-being,” she says. “It could be telling jokes, anecdotes, or some observational comedy, or even sending links to amusing videos to your friends, particularly if

you know they are struggling with their mental health. “Laughter is also a great antidote to stress, so make sure you take regular breaks at work and you could use this time to have can be a great way to relieve the tension of a busy working day, or you could even set up your own comedy night as a charity fundraiser whilst raising money for a good cause.” Laughter, while often prescribed as the best medicine for serious mental illness. Lucy Lewis, 23, an ESL teacher from exciting year’s work in Spain. “Comedy didn’t help me much,’ says Lucy. ‘Depression is a complicated condition and you sometimes feel under pressure to something that ran deeper than a silly joke or someone falling over. I don’t think trauma can be cured that way.” Beth Murphy also advises that it isn’t always wise to see the funny side. She says: “Most of the time it’s a good idea to laugh at things, but we know that some people experience situations to see the funny side. For others, it might not be until later with hindsight that they can see a situation as amusing. into funny anecdotes to relay to their family and friends therapeutic, but this is not always the case. It always depends on the severity of the situation and the perception of the person who has experienced it. “For those of us with a diagnosed mental health problem, often it’s a combination of things which help us best manage our symptoms, which might include medication and talking therapy; but also exercise, meditation and laughing can all help.” So whether you’ve experienced a trauma, or simply feel

relationships, ease stress and help you see that life doesn’t always have to be taken so seriously! And, let’s face it, in a postrecession world of war, famine, disease and Justin Bieber, this is

Has laughter helped you out of illness or tricky situations? Tell us about it at @The_InsideJoke or on our Facebook Page.

The 32 Inside | The Inside Joke Joke | 32

The Inside Joke | 33

Features section Features here

Have a laugh... They say a smile should be your umbrella, but here at The Inside Joke, we feel a good old giggle is side of life.

and downs. Whether this be going to comedy clubs, watching Mock the Week, or looking at funny videos of

section here Features

relationships, ease stress and help you see that life doesn’t always have to be taken so seriously! And, let’s face it, in a postrecession world of war, famine, disease and Justin Bieber, this is

Has laughter helped you out of illness or tricky situations? Tell us about it at @The_InsideJoke or on our Facebook Page.

The 32 Inside | The Inside Joke Joke | 32

The Inside Joke | 33

section here

32 | The Inside Joke

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Features

Rise of the new Amber De Smet talks to three comedians-turned-alternative event masters about destroying the industry, wrestling with headliners, and why they all agree that ‘alternative comedy’ is such an awful label.

he eighties boom of alternative comedy may have died away ages ago, but the alt comedy scene is still fully alive. In fact, it finally seems to have started growing once again, as more and more indie comedy events have recently popped up all over the country. Many of such events are organised by young comedians – often still in teir twenties – who want to create a show that suits their taste much more than mainstream comedy nights. So what exactly does ‘indie’ or ‘alternative’ comedy mean according to this new generation? And why did these people decide to set up their own events exactly?

To find out what this new trend in comedy land is all about, I decided to speak to three ambitious yet slightly offbeat comedians. They all went from performing comedian to becoming the organiser on indie event, and told me what motivates them, how bizarre shows can get, and how difficult it can be to run an alternative comedy night in 2014. I can reveal that, no matter what happens, it’s never boring.

What is alternative comedy? Alternative comedy is a movement that started to gain attention in the late 1970s, as the political landscape in Britain changed and punk and other forms of alternative music suddenly gained recognition. Before the late seventies, comedians would often just be men with microphones telling jokes with an obvious punch line, but alternative comics tried to have a completely different approach to making people laugh. They used methods like improvisation, sketches or monologues instead, and tried to encourage the audience to participate in the show. It’s also important to know that alternative comedy tried to avoid racist or misogynist jokes. The UK’s most famous comedy club – The Comedy Store in London – opened in 1979 and played a big part in giving alternative comedians a chance to showcase their talent. It proved to be successful: in the eighties, alternative comedy became very popular, with stars like Tony Allen and Alexei Sayle. Today, many aspects of alternative comedy have found their way into mainstream comedy as we see it now, but it is still often viewed as a bit more bizarre than mainstream comedy.

28 | The Inside Joke

Features Features

alt comedy nights Jack Evans

Quippopotamus, Manchester

Jack became idiot ringmaster – I’m only quoting his Twitter bio here – of Manchester-based indie comedy night Quippopotamus in 2013, after he met a bearded hermit. Or at least, that’s what he tried to make me believe. Quip is a free event (‘free but not shit comedy’ is their catchy motto) that tries to give lesser-known comedy acts a chance to showcase their talent. However, according to Jack, some people would label this as ‘destroying the industry’ and ‘stealing customers’. You can meet Jack and his gang on every forth Sunday of the month at the Fuel Café Bar in Manchester. For more information, take a look at Quip’s Facebook page https://www.facebook. com/quipcomedymanchester

Jack: “I decided to set up Quippo after a bearded hermit with pennies for teeth and a twinkle in his eye whispered the idea into my ear in early 2013. We kissed. Alright, that’s not really how it went. Jon Whitely, with whom I run Quippopotamus, and I felt the comedy night we’d like to go to didn’t really exist, so we made it ourselves. The point of Quip is to add something new. Something for acts between the gong shows and the open mics and the big weekend clubs. A gig which gives newer or more eccentric acts stage time they wouldn’t get elsewhere. Something for audiences where they know they’re going to get quality comedy but without having to tolerate odious Groupon drunkards. As for getting your name out there, the Internet is largely useless. The most powerful tool is word of mouth. Promote your gig by making your gig as good as you can. People will come back, maybe with their mates.” “I’m not a huge fan of the label ‘indie comedy’. What are we independent from? A defining feature of ours seems to be that we’re either free, pay what you want or cheap. This can cause

some tension with established paid nights who accuse us of stealing their customers or, hilariously, destroying ‘the industry’. But we’re not competing with the established paid nights – we’re collaborating. Rather than ‘stealing’ customers, we’re finding new audiences for comedy. Bucket gigs and paid nights have different audiences; perhaps the defining feature of ours is that they’re skint. They can’t afford your ten pound tickets, but they might in the future. Just because we’re different doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.” “Quip’s got a welcoming, laid back and slightly weird atmosphere. You’ll see acts you might not see at other nights because we let newer, stranger acts experiment more than they could in the confines of a five minute gong show slot. You’ll also get to see more established acts play around more than they might at a big weekend gig. After the first five minutes, audiences tend to realise they don’t need to be afraid to sit at the front. We only book acts we’ve seen and loved, so they’re all good. Some of our most recent alumni are up smashing the Edinburgh Fringe: Phil Ellis, Milo McCabe & Gein’s Family Giftshop to name a few.”

The Inside Joke | 29

Features Features

Images by Jack Evans, Sean Morley and The Painted Grin .

Adam: “Before I went on to set up my own comedy club, I did the standard thing: I went and played at other crap clubs for a couple of years before this. Most people follow the same path before moving on to setting up an event, I suppose. I didn’t know much about the alternative scene – or lack of alternative scene – at the time. Most nights consisted of sitting through ten comics that I hated, before going up on stage to do my own thing. ‘Alternative comedy’ is a loaded term. If I have to explain it, I’d say that I like the kind of comedy that’s inherently more imaginative, inventive and colourful, and goes beyond the cliché of a man and a microphone talking about their life, it’s as simple as that. A big misconception is that most people just don’t like alternative comics. These comics are out there, throwing shit in people’s faces, but people actually do like it and find it funny. Alternative comedy doesn’t mean trying to do something fundamentally insane where you want people to hate you or something – it’s simply a different way of making people laugh. Basically, what we are doing isn’t anything revolutionary – we’re just a bit more punk and revolutionary in spirit. “So setting up my own event was not exactly a flash of inspiration either. We had a gang of comedians, which often did gigs together. But most of the established venues wouldn’t book us – I mean, why would they – so we decided to set up our own. It took us about a year and a half to establish ourselves. At first, we played three nights a week and most people would walk out during the break. They hated it and rightly so, because it was really quite dreadful for a long time. We were very self-indulgent for a long time, and didn’t care if people liked it or not. But finally we realised that what we were doing wasn’t working… And it became better and people didn’t walk out as much anymore. “Getting our name out there? There’s no secret to it – it’s just constantly performing. Actually, some would probably argue it’s not even out there yet. But I guess we’ve got out own little cult

Adam Larter

Weirdos Comedy, London London-based Adam Larter runs ‘Weirdos Comedy Club’ – a constantly changing line up of alternative comedians that decided to put on their own show after no established venues wanted to book them. He talks about the revolutionary punk spirit of alternative comedy, and that being a bit bizarre doesn’t instantly mean that everyone automatically hates you. Apart from that he absolutely hates the name ‘Weirdos Comedy’. Interested in experiencing some more really weird stuff, or want to see an underwater Christmas play? Adam’s bunch will perform again in October – keep checking http://www.weirdoscomedy.com/ for more information and gigs.

30 | The Inside Joke

following of Weirdos out there by now. People like John Kearns (who won best newcomer on Edinburgh) for example went on to do really well. I love putting John’s name on the bill even when he’s not coming, just to attract more people – he doesn’t mind. “We don’t really have an official line up though – here at Edinburgh Fest they often announce someone as ‘a member of Weirdos’ and I’m always a bit surprised to hear that, I don’t think I’ve ever called anyone a real member. I suppose some people are Official Weirdos or whatever, but most of the time there’s just between 10 and 30 of us flaking around. I like bringing in new people from different background, they can be either awful or natural comics. They are awful most of the time, but I’m not afraid to take risks. You shouldn’t care about things too much in this business, after all. Comedy is always throwaway: no one needs to hear a joke twice, so you shouldn’t like it too much in the first place. “I’d definitely change the name “Weirdos Comedy” now, I hate it, it’s awful. At the time we thought “Oh, we’re a really rebellious set and so different so we call it weird”, which is actually the worst thing you could do, but at the time it made sense. The name basically spells out what we’re doing: we do comedy and we’re weird. A bit boring, isn’t it? That’s like calling Glastonbury “Hippie Music Fest” or Reading “you’re 18 and you can finally go to a festival for the first time” Fest. “We often do a little play with little songs in between, and a special guest each month. It’s a lot of fun, but very exhausting. This is the problem with an independent company: no one asks you to do it, but you often just do it for the sake of it, because it’s enjoyable. We’re currently not doing anything until October, but the play for that month has the working title ‘Unintentionally Untitled Work of Genius.” Yes, that’s the actual title of it, and we’ll do that for three nights. For Christmas we’ll do our Christmas play, but I can’t give anything away about that yet. It’s basically going to be underwater, that’s all you need to know...”

Features

Sean Morley

AltComCab, Sheffield 24-year-old Sean went straight from uni into comedy business to set up AltComCab – a contraction of Alternative Comedy Cabaret – in Sheffield. However, he soon found out running an indie comedy event wasn’t always a funny affair, and that about one in five shows turn out to be out to be an absolute train wreck. Nevertheless, Sean admits he actually likes a bit of a challenge, especially when it involves human centipede magicians. You can enjoy Sean’s Alternative Comedy Cabaret event every third Thursday of the month at The Riverside, Mowbray Street, Sheffield. For more information and live dates, have a look at http://www.altcomcab. com.

Sean: “I began AltComCab the week I graduated in August 2011, so I haven’t left any lucrative career to pursue comedy, unfortunately. During University I founded the Sheffield University Comedy Revue, where one of my main roles was to produce and advertise the events. By our final year we would often fill the 40-50 capacity function room of the University Arms. Students are an easy demographic to entice to that kind of thing, but I started to feel like it was something I’d like to actually pursue. Actually getting the ball rolling is much easier than you might expect. Put on a nice shirt, ask to see the venue manager and then free associate words like “branding” and “business engagement” until they give you a function room. Eventually, I got my name out there by means of lot of social media, posters, flyers and press advertisements. Still, I feel like the best responses come from word of mouth from people who’ve enjoyed themselves.” “I set up the event because I felt like I had something unique to offer. I wanted to found a comedy franchise that was socially inclusive, friendly and above all, happy to be weird. There are lot of negative stereotypes of what a comedy night (especially a Northern comedy night) might entail. At worst: thinly veiled misogyny and parochial worldviews, wrapped up in neat sweary paragraphs. At best: an ageing man dressed like a Butlins redcoat delivering dad jokes to silence, as his forced fixed smile slowly

ebbs away. “Shows staged by the big comedy companies (Avalon or Off The Kerb), are often just an echo chamber of apolitical middle class tropes. I don’t mind though, they’ve left me a gap in the market. Our comedy shows all have their own tone and flavour. We’ve had shows end with a headliner barricading the exit and people having to wrestle him in order to leave. We’ve had shows where a hybrid human-centipede magician vomited spaghetti sauce onto a pack of cards (and the front row). We’ve had shows where everyone can hold up ripped pages of David Hume’s On Suicide to change the show at any time. Such shows intrigued people. Those are just highlights though, most of the time it’s just someone on stage telling stories or jokes through a microphone.” “It never stops being a struggle, really. Running any live entertainment is a struggle. So many things can go wrong with so little notice and you’re presented with this bunch of annoyed people who were coaxed into leaving the house and come to your venue. If there are cracks in the show, they must be exposed until the show can’t continue any more and everyone has to talk about their feelings. However, I kind of love it when things go terribly wrong: I like it when about 1 in 5 shows are an absolute train wreck. Isn’t there something dull about an event going perfectly after all?”

The Inside Joke | 31

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Feature

No Laughing Matter? There are few issues more divisive in the comedy circuit right now ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ understandable that passions on both sides run high, but the crux of ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ǳȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǵȱ ȱ ȱ ǯ

ape is not funny...are rape jokes? It’s a simple question, but one that has caused much debate over the past few years as the growing prominence of rape jokes has started to concern many.

Words by Josh Stephenson Photo: Robert Bejil

The question itself comes from support organisation Stand Up for Women, as they launched a

new campaign to coincide with the Fringe Festival to raise awareness for the damage that rape jokes can cause. They have gained the support of other women’s support groups and also the backing of some of the country’s top comedians: Jenny Eclair, Jack Whitehall, and Josie Long have all put their names to the campaign.

The Inside Joke | 33

Feature

ne Â of Â those Â support Â groups Â is Â Zero Â Tolerance, Â a Â

be Â challenging Â societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â norms Â rather Â than Â upholding Â them. Â All Â

Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Ä´Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â&#x2018;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â˘ČąÂ Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;Čą

rape Â jokes Â do Â is Â uphold Â problems Â that Â have Â been Â in Â our Â society Â for Â

Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ÇŻČą Â&#x2019;ÂŁČą Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Ä&#x153;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Čą

hundreds Â of Â years Â and Â I Â donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â see Â what Â is Â edgy Â about Â that Â at Â all.â&#x20AC;?

at Â the Â charity Â and Â she Â sets Â out Â the Â reasons Â why Â Zero Â Tolerance Â

These Â feelings Â have Â led Â to Â a Â backlash Â against Â these Â types Â

supports Â the Â campaign. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;We Â support Â the Â petition Â because Â we Â

of Â jokes Â and Â at Â the Â forefront Â of Â it Â is Â the Â growth Â of Â feminism Â in Â

think Â itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â important Â to Â challenge Â rape Â jokes Â in Â comedy Â because Â

modern Â comedy. Â This Â yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â Fringe Â Festival Â has Â seen Â many Â

those Â kind Â of Â jokes Â support Â a Â culture Â that Â allows Â violence Â against Â

female Â comics Â put Â a Â feminist Â slant Â on Â their Â work Â such Â as Â Adrienne Â

women Â to Â continue,â&#x20AC;? Â says Â Liz. Â The Â idea Â of Â rape Â culture Â is Â one Â of Â

Â&#x203A;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Ä´Č&#x2021;Â&#x153;ČąČ Â&#x153;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Čą Â?ÇąČą Čą Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČŹ Â&#x160;Â?Â˘Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â˘Čą

the Â major Â reasons Â activists Â are Â so Â vocal Â in Â their Â opposition Â of Â rape Â

Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Čą Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Â˘ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą Â&#x2019;Ä´Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x2022;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ÇˇČ&#x201A;Ç°Čą Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â Čą Â&#x160;Ä´Â&#x153;Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąČ Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â&#x2013;Čą

jokes. Â And Â Zero Â Tolerance Â is Â no Â exception. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;By Â coming Â together Â in Â

For Â Chapsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Â and Â last Â yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â Best Â Show Â Winner Â Bridget Â Christie Â

a Â comedy Â club Â and Â laughing Â at Â jokes Â about Â rape, Â not Â only Â is Â that Â

Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;ČąČ Â&#x2014;Čą Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;ÇŻČą Â&#x2018;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Čą

traumatic Â for Â women Â in Â the Â audience Â who Â will Â have Â survived, Â but Â

had Â plenty Â to Â say Â on Â the Â issue: Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Â not Â saying Â you Â canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â talk Â

it Â also Â allows Â people Â who Â are Â in Â the Â audience Â to Â accept Â that Â it Â is Â ok Â

about Â rape, Â or Â even Â include Â it Â in Â a Â comedy Â show, Â because Â comedy Â

by Â not Â challenging Â violence Â against Â women,â&#x20AC;? Â explains Â Liz. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;So Â we Â

Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Ä&#x161;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â?Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â?Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Ç°Č&#x201E;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x160;Â˘Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x2018;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;ÇŻČąČ&#x192; Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x2018;Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Ç°ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;Ç°Čą

has Â a Â clever Â routine Â about Â rape, Â but Â itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â when Â men Â "It's Â do Â rape Â gags Â and Â thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â the Â whole Â point Â not Â edgy Â and Â it's Â of Â the Â joke, Â itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â just Â not Â funny. Â Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â nasty Â and Â threatening, Â and Â I Â think Â people Â are Â not Â funny." beginning Â to Â say Â they Â donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â want Â to Â hear Â this Â

see Â it Â as Â part Â of Â a Â wider Â culture Â where Â women Â are Â afraid Â to Â come Â forward Â because Â they Â donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â want Â to Â challenge Â those Â particular Â kinds Â Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Ä´Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ÇŻČ&#x201E; Photos: Â David Â Cheskin, Â Candy Â Palmater

Certainly Â the Â statistics Â around Â rape Â

Â&#x152;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ÇŻČą Â&#x152;Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Čą Ä&#x153;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;Ç°Čą 25% Â of Â women Â in Â the Â UK Â have Â been Â sexually Â assaulted Â and Â

kind Â of Â comedy.â&#x20AC;? That Â is Â a Â point Â that Â Liz Â agrees Â with. Â She Â also Â sees Â the Â public Â

women Â are Â worried Â about Â rape Â more Â than Â any Â other Â crime. Â More Â

Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Ä´Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â˘Â&#x2122;Â&#x2019;Ä&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â˘ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Čą

damning Â still Â is Â that Â a Â study Â carried Â out Â by Â Amnesty Â International Â

campaign. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Over Â the Â last Â few Â years, Â more Â and Â more Â people Â have Â

found Â that Â one Â third Â of Â the Â public Â believe Â that Â itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â a Â womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â

come Â out Â and Â said Â that Â these Â jokes Â are Â a Â problem. Â I Â think Â they Â are Â

Â&#x2DC;Â Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;Ç°ČąÄ&#x161;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Ç°ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą

Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Čą Â Â&#x2019;Ä´Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą

revealing Â clothes. Â With Â so Â many Â worrying Â trends Â developing Â

when Â they Â see Â things Â they Â donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â like,â&#x20AC;? Â says Â Liz. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;So Â things Â are Â

in Â the Â country, Â you Â wonder Â why Â a Â comedian Â would Â want Â to Â

improving Â and Â people Â are Â starting Â to Â realise Â that Â itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â not Â edgy Â and Â

potentially Â contribute Â to Â this Â culture. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Â think Â people Â thought Â that Â

itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â ultimately Â not Â funny.â&#x20AC;?

to Â be Â edgy Â you Â had Â to Â shock Â people Â as Â much Â as Â possible,â&#x20AC;? Â says Â Liz. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whereas Â I Â would Â say Â if Â you Â want Â to Â be Â edgy Â you Â ought Â to Â Statistically Â someone Â in Â this Â audience Â will Â have Â been Â sexually Â assaulted

34 | The Inside Joke

You Â donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â need Â to Â look Â too Â far Â back Â to Â see Â examples Â of Â this Â backlash. Â In Â 2012, Â an Â American Â comic, Â Daniel Â Tosh, Â was Â

Feature Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â?Â&#x17D;Â?Čą Â&#x2018;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;

way Â of Â holding Â people Â to Â account. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Â think Â assholes Â need Â a Â good Â ribbing. Â Gun Â advocates, Â bigots, Â religious Â nuts...Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Â got Â to Â be Â the Â Dalai Â Lama Â not Â to Â meet Â aggression Â with Â aggression. Â So Â for Â Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČŹÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Ç°ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Čą preaches Â violence Â and Â hatred Â is Â all Â they Â got,â&#x20AC;? Â jokes Â Ricky. Â As Â Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;ČŹÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Čą Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Ç°Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;ÇŻČąČ&#x192; ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Č&#x2021;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â˘Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?Čą Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x153;ÇŻČą Â?Č&#x2021;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x2018;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2039;Â&#x201C;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â?ÇŻČą Â&#x160;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;ÇŻČą Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?ÇŻČą Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Čą ČŹÂ Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?ÇŻČą Â&#x2014;Â˘Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2014;Â˘Ç°ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Â?Čą ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Č&#x2021;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą intolerance,â&#x20AC;? Â says Â Ricky. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Â audience Â is Â not Â full Â of Â dummies. Â

caught Â up Â in Â a Â huge Â storm Â when Â he Â responded Â to Â a Â heckler Â who Â

Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x17E;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x17D;Â?Čą Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2019;ČŹ Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;Ç°Čą Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â?Ç°ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Čą

Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â&#x160;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â˘ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x160;Â˘Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Ç°ČąČ Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2014;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Čą

Homophobe. Â Just Â ask Â Mel Â Gibson Â and Â Michael Â Richards.â&#x20AC;? Â Zero Â

Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;ČąÄ&#x2122;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x17E;Â˘Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â ÇľČą Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â ÇľČą

Tolerance Â however, Â doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â believe Â this Â to Â be Â true Â and Â Liz Â believes Â

What Â if Â a Â bunch Â of Â guys Â just Â raped Â her...?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Â Needless Â to Â say Â the Â

that Â boundaries Â are Â an Â important Â part Â of Â comedy: Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Humans Â at Â

internet Â exploded Â as Â people Â criticized Â and Â defended Â Tosh Â in Â equal Â

all Â times Â put Â limits Â on Â the Â things Â that Â they Â say Â and Â what Â they Â do. Â

measure Â over Â his Â remark. Â Lindy Â West, Â famed Â feminist Â blogger Â at Â

We Â donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â live Â in Â a Â world Â where Â we Â are Â free Â to Â do Â or Â say Â absolutely Â

Â&#x17D;ÂŁÂ&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Ç°ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?ČŹÂ&#x152;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2122;ÇąČą

anything Â that Â we Â want Â and Â I Â donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â understand Â as Â a Â comedian Â why Â

Č&#x192; Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?Ç°ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąČ Â&#x17D;Â&#x161;Â&#x17E;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;ČŹČą

you Â would Â want Â to Â put Â somebody Â through Â some Â unnecessary Â

Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â?Â˘ČąÂ&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Ç°Č&#x201A;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;ÂŁÂ&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â˘ÇŻČą Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Čą

trauma Â just Â to Â make Â a Â joke.â&#x20AC;?

Â?Â&#x2019;Â?ČąČ Â&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?Č&#x201A;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ÇľČą Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Čą

Ultimately, Â the Â debate Â surrounding Â rape Â jokes Â will Â not Â be Â

ourselves Â all Â the Â time, Â because Â we Â are Â not Â entitled, Â sociopathic Â

Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;Ä´Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2039;Â˘ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ÇŻČą Â?ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â˘Čą

fucks.â&#x20AC;? Â Jim Â Norton, Â a Â US Â comic, Â disagreed Â with Â that Â perception Â

Â Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â˘ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÄ&#x2122;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Čą

of Â freedom Â of Â expression Â and Â how Â far Â they Â are Â willing Â "A Â to Â go Â for Â a Â laugh. Â It Â will Â be Â decided Â simply Â by Â credit: Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reasonable Â people Â can Â sense Â when Â the Â audience Â and Â if Â they Â want Â to Â hear Â them Â comic's Â youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Â trying Â to Â be Â funny Â and Â when Â youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Â anymore. Â Looking Â through Â the Â comments Â of Â trying Â to Â be Â angry. Â So Â if Â youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Â trying Â to Â responsibility Â people Â who Â have Â signed Â the Â petition, Â there Â Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2014;Â˘Ç°ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x160;Ä´ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â˘ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â?Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2018;Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x201D;Ç°ČąČ Â&#x2019;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x17D;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x201D;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?Čą should Â begin Â and Â end Â is Â certainly Â now Â a Â vocal Â contingent Â who Â donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â believe Â these Â jokes Â have Â any Â place Â in Â it Â is Â okâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.â&#x20AC;? with Â them Â being Â comedy. Â There Â was Â one Â comment Â that Â stuck Â This Â is Â the Â position Â taken Â by Â digital Â out Â ahead Â of Â any Â of Â the Â others Â though Â and Â it Â came Â funny." agency Â Too Â Far, Â who Â are Â dedicated Â to Â showing Â believing Â that Â an Â audience Â needs Â to Â be Â given Â some Â

from Â the Â comedian Â Marcus Â Brigstocke, Â who Â perhaps Â

Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Ä´Â˘Ç°ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČŹÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;ČŹÂ?Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â?Čą Â Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ÇŻČą Â&#x2DC;ČŹÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;Â˘Čą Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x153;Â&#x201D;Â˘Čą

Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â˘ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â?Â Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?ČŹÂ&#x152;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2122;Čą

Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x203A;Â˘ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą

Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x17D;ÂĄÂ&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ÇŻČą Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â?ÇąČąČ&#x192; Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?ČŹÂ&#x152;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2122;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Čą

Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ÇŻČąČ&#x192; ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Č&#x2021;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Č&#x2021;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Č&#x2021;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â?Â˘Čą

most Â important Â aspects Â of Â free Â expression. Â Take Â responsibility, Â get Â

to Â get Â to Â know Â each Â and Â every Â member Â in Â the Â audience. Â Let Â

it Â wrong, Â learn, Â and Â then Â be Â willing Â to Â changeâ&#x20AC;?

Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â˘ČąÂ?Â&#x17E;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą Â Â&#x2019;Ä´Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Ç°Č&#x201E;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x160;Â˘Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;Â˘ÇŻČąČ&#x192; ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;Čą Â&#x160;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Č&#x2021;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â?Â˘ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â˘Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą

Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą Â&#x2122;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ Â&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2018;Ä´Â&#x2122;ÇąČŚČŚÂ Â Â ÇŻČą

to Â be Â funny Â and Â original.â&#x20AC;? Â Ricky Â argues Â that Â something Â this Â

Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2122;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ÇŻÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?ÇŻÂ&#x17E;Â&#x201D;ČŚČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Ä´Â&#x2122;Â&#x153;ÇąČŚČŚČą

campaign Â fails Â to Â take Â into Â account Â is Â that Â certain Â people Â do Â

Â Â Â ÇŻÂ&#x152;Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x17D;ÇŻÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?ČŚ

Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČŹÂ&#x17E;Â&#x2122;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x17D;Â?ÇŻČąČ&#x192; Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČŹÂ&#x17E;Â&#x2122;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â?Čą Â&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â ÇŻČą Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2039;Â&#x153;Ç°ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x2021;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą

Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â˘ČąÂ&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â˘ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Čą

couples Â out Â on Â dates Â or Â groups Â of Â guys Â out Â for Â some Â drinks,â&#x20AC;? Â

Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x2018;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Ä´Â&#x2122;ÇąČŚČŚÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;ÇŻÂ?Â&#x;ČŚČą

explains Â Ricky. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some Â come Â because Â they Â appreciate Â the Â art Â form. Â

Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČŚ

Some Â love Â to Â see Â comics Â get Â up Â on Â their Â soapbox Â and Â speak Â the Â truth. Â Others Â just Â come Â hoping Â to Â be Â shocked. Â They Â come Â for Â the Â same Â reason Â they Â ride Â the Â rollercoasters Â at Â Disneyland. Â They Â come Â for Â the Â thrills.â&#x20AC;? Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČŹÂ&#x17E;Â&#x2122;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â˘ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Ä&#x2122;Â&#x152;Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2013;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x152;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â?Â˘ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Čą

The Inside Joke | 35

6WLOO QRW JRW \RXU FRPHG\ À[" 9LVLW

TheInsideJoke.co.uk Your one stop online shop for all things laughter and comedy!

EXCLUSIVE

“WORLD’S WORST...” WITH THE SHEFFIELD SHRIMPS

SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY’S TOP IMPROV COMEDY TROUPE PARODY EVERYTHING FROM THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES TO A-LEVELS. EXPECT LAUGHS AND PIANO-PLAYING MONKEYS A-PLENTY!

TRAILER

TRIBUTE

SLIDESHOW

OBVIOUS CHILD 5HDG\ IRU D ÀOP DERXW stand-up? Watch the trailer here!

ROBIN WILLIAMS :H SD\ WULEXWH WR WKH King of Comedy with a list of our favourite scenes.

FUNNY FACE A complex and totally legit history of funny faces.

PLUS: FOLLOW US: 36 The Inside Joke

NEWS The Inside Joke

REVIEWS @The_InsideJoke

GIG LISTINGS! theinsidejokemagazine

America’s Features

Top 10

As stand-up from America progressively seeps across the ocean, we at The Inside Joke decided to embrace it. As a gift to you, we have compiled this list of the top 10 American stand-up comedians. You can’t compile any kind of list dealing with American comedy without including Louis CK. For years, he has been the top dog and he shows absolutely no sign of slowing down. In a comedic career that has spanned 20 years, he has not only been on stage, he has also done screenwriting, directing, acting (voice and film), and film editing. In the last few years, he has created his own hilarious, award winning television show Louie. The Mexican-American is constantly touring, putting out his own specials each year for the past three years. It makes you wonder how he has anytime to come up with new material.

2. Kevin Hart

With only a decade of experience under his belt, Aziz has climbed the comedic ranks to become a supernova. And his appeal will only keep on growing. While his first dabble in stand-up was in 2000 while he was attending New York University, it wasn’t until 2005 when Rolling Stone included him in the annual ‘Hot List’ that he began to prove his worth. He first collaborated with other comedians to make some short films. They must have been pretty good as only a year later, MTV greenlit a sketch series for the group. It only lasted two series despite being offered a third, but don’t despair. Aziz, hailed as a ‘Scene Stealer’ by TV Guide, can still be

As popular as he is, it’s good to know his success wasn’t overnight though. In fact, he very nearly gave up in the 80s after his traumatic first attempt at an open-mic night in Boston, Massachusetts. We can all be relieved that he didn’t let that stop him. If he had, we would be the ones missing out. With one marriage chalked up as a learning experience and two kids, his comedy is constantly fresh where everything goes and can many times be deeply personal. But then, as he says, ‘there’s nowhere I won’t go. As long as it’s horribly, horribly true and/or wrong.’ Go there Louis, just go there. And don’t stop. Ever. Most of us know Kevin Hart first and foremost as a comedy actor. He first landed a recurring role on Judd Apatow’s TV series Undeclared. From there he appeared in such funny films as Scary Movie 3 in 2003 and Soul Plane in 2004. But it was in 2008 when he would return to his roots as a stand-up comedian with the release of his first comedy album, I’m a Grown Little Man. From there his career has been explosive. He has appeared in numerous films, many television shows, and has even won a few awards. With as stellar as things are looking at the moment, it’s hard to believe that

1. Louis CK

he struggled in the beginning. Would you believe that he was booed off stage several times? One belligerent audience member even had the gall to throw a piece of chicken at him. But he didn’t give up. He just changed tactics entering comedy competitions instead. His painfully personal routine a la Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, and others, has turned those boos to standing ovations. In 2013, he pulled in the sixth most amount of money of any comedian according to Forbes. Just goes to show, laughing at yourself will help you succeed.

seen as Tom Haverford in NBC’s Parks and Recreation. With his television and film responsibilities, it’s a surprise that he’s been able to make time to have a stand-up career, but he has. In late 2008 and early 2009, he featured in his own comedy tour, the Glow in the Dark Tour. He’s had three tours and put out three specials with his latest being premiered on Netflix last year. Having grown up in an Indian, Tamil Muslim household, his comedy style about the aspects of his personal life give a unique look that most will have never experienced. Well, be assured that Aziz looks to not be slowing down anytime soon.

3. Aziz Ansari

The Inside Joke | 37

Words by Christopher Tracy. Images by Bortsor, Wikimedia Commons, Victoria Will, Ryan Orange and Adam Bielawski.

4. Tig Notaro

Features Hailed as ‘one of the great comics working today’ by Sarah Silverman, Tig Notaro has shown that she is truly exceptional. Tig’s life has been anything but typical. She may now be a rising star in standup, but how she got there was seemingly unconventional. As a teenager, she dropped out of high school and got involved in the music industry after moving to Denver, Colorado. She even started her own business called Tignation Promotions. It was on a promoting trip to Los Angeles that she first tried her hand at stand-up and has not looked back. Despite only being on the scene for less the game Grand Theft Auto IV, and then reprised the character in the 2009 expansion pack The Lost and the Damned. He’s been in over a dozen films and television programs, including The Heat as Melissa McCarthy’s brother, and has appeared a handful of times on AMC’s Breaking Bad. He has a weekly podcast, and has recently put out his fourth special called, I’m Sorry You Feel That Way, which is now available on Netflix. I feel exhausting reading about all he’s done. Kind of makes me wonder what I’ve been doing. Well we can be sure to see plenty more from him in the next few years and we cannot wait.

He’s been called ‘the next Louis C.K.’ and he’s been called a ‘comedian’s comedian’. Bill Burr loves talking about things that piss him off, such as bankers and certain types of women, and, as he puts it, ‘annoying people who are doing things that I feel aren’t that important. I relate to dictators. I don’t agree with what they do. But I get it.’ Pretty much he’s a modern-day social gallithumpian in the guise of a comedian. But that’s what makes him so brilliant. When he’s not telling you how it is on the stage, he’s lending his voice and talent to film, television, and video games. In 2008, his voice was featured in

be honest, Ron Funches is probably one 6. Ron Funches To the most underrated comedians on this list.

He is hilarious. Unlike most comedians who tend to projectile vomit their routines at the audience, Ron has a casual, laid back style. His delivery is slow and smooth, with the punchline being well worth the wait. His comedy is ironic and relatable. At times it can be almost controversial, but then he pulls it back taking a completely different route that you weren’t expecting. Your laugh is fueled as much by the shock as the hilarity of his sets.

Mark Normand has definitely been one to watch out for over the last couple years. What’s so awesome about his comedy is his ability to talk about popular, sensitive issues and not actually be offensive. Not necessarily the most wholesome, but that makes it even funnier, not to mention his clean cut looks as an odd contrast. Just don’t expect to see much of his stuff on cable television. If you’re into crass, raunch, matter-of-factness, and comedy regarding controversial topics, well then can you really be surprised? Despite this, he is a force to be reckoned with. He has

38 | The Inside Joke

than five years, she has garnered much success. She’s worked closely with Sarah Silverman, put out her debut stand-up album, Good One, and survived cancer. In 2012, Tig’s most defining moment to date came with the discovery of breast cancer. Rather than lie down and admit defeat, she took to stage the very same night and delivered a performance praised by many including Louis C.K., who said, ‘In 27 years doing this, I’ve seen a handful of truly great, masterful standup sets. One was Tig Notaro last night at Largo.’ Obviously, nothing can stop her and we definitely don’t want anything to.

5. Bill Burr

Unlike most the names on this list, Ron doesn’t have a massive repertoire to substantiate his talent. He’s working on it though. Currently, he is staring in a show on NBC called Undateable, which he has gotten many positive reviews about. He has been on the comedy panel show @midnight where he currently has the most wins, winning 5 of his 6 appearances. He also has recurring roles on Comedy Central’s Kroll Show and Disney’s Crash and Bernstein. Needless to say, he is an obvious rising star and one we are keeping our eyes on.

appeared on shows like Inside Amy Schumer, Last Comic Standing, John Oliver’s New York Standup Show, and Conan. He also runs two comedy shows, ‘We’re all Friends Here’ and ‘Hot Soup’, and two podcasts, ‘We’re all Friends Here’ and ‘Tuesdays with Stories’. He’s been featured as a New Face at the Montreal Comedy Festival, and was named as one of Comedy Central’s Comics to Watch at the 2011 New York Comedy Festival. He’s been featured on many lists and given much accolade as a comedian to watch out for. We’re not surprised.

7. Mark Normand

8. Maria Bamford

Features It’s easy to say that Maria Bamford has done it all, because, well, she has. That’s because she’s been doing stand-up for almost 25 years. She began in 1989 at the young age of 19 in Minneapolis, Minnesota before joining The Improverts in Edinburgh. Then it would take another 9 years until she landed her first television role. From there she kept on growing. She’s done voices for Hey Arnold!, CatDog, and more recently Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, The Legend of Korra, and Adventure Time. She’s done Louis C.K.’s show Louie, Stuart Little 2, and many other TV shows and films, such as the reboot of Arrested Development.

Chelsea Peretti has been making a name for herself since 2010 when Variety included her on their ’10 Comics to Watch in 2010’ list. One thing that sets her apart from the rest of the comedians on this list is her writing. I don’t mean her sketch writing either, which is undoubtedly good. She has written for many publications such as The Village Voice, Details, Playgirl, Jest, American Theatre Magazine, as well as The Huffington Post. That’s pretty impressive. She is also credited with writing six episodes for Parks and Recreation. Besides all that writing, she also has a pretty successful comedy career. She

10. Nate Bargatze

She has a very unique voice and delivery style. It adds an interesting element to her routines that most other acts don’t have. Her delivery is more along the lines of vignettes, short impressionistic scenes, rather than drawn out sets. She does the California stereotype exceptionally well. Her comedy is fairly self-deprecating, but she does it so brilliantly. Thankfully, she’s done quite a bit of material over the last decade so there is a lot to check out. She has six albums, which include a couple specials, four compilations, and three web series. There appears to be no way to be rid of her, but we don’t mind.

is currently appearing as a regular in a detective comedy on Fox called Brooklyn Nine-Nine alongside Andy Samberg, whom she attended elementary school with. She has also appeared on the Comedy Central series Kroll Show. In 2012, she launched her own podcast, Call Chelsea Peretti, where people can call in. She has also guested on numerous other podcasts, such as The Todd Glass Show, The Lavender Hour, and The Bone Zone, and programs such as Louie, The Sarah Silverman Program, and Tosh.0. She has well earned her place on Variety’s list and continues to prove her place on our list and many others. Nate Bargatze has been quite the busy comedian. The son of a former clown turned magician, going into entertainment seemed to be his destiny. Like his father, he has much to show for himself. Just don’t lump him in with the folks from the Blue Collar Comedy group. Just because he has a southern accent, albeit faint, doesn’t mean that his comedy should be associated with them. His brand of comedy is the kind that steers away from cultural stereotypes, which the BCC play up, and focuses more on observations. He likes to poke fun, most of all at himself. And people seem to like it since his debut album, Yelled at By a Clown, was on the Billboard Top Ten Comedy Charts for two weeks.

9. Chelsea Peretti

He also has an impressive CV. He’s a favourite of Conan and was one of the first to appear on Jimmy Fallon’s talk show. Overall, he has appeared on at least 12 different television programs and multiple times on certain ones. He’s had a Comedy Central Presents special, performed at Bonnaroo and SXSW, won New York’s Comedy Festival, appeared on podcasts, and the list goes on. One of the most impressive things is that he’s performed for troops in Iraq and Kuwait five times. Now that is something to be commended. Hailed in Rolling Stone as ‘a comic who should be big’, and by Jim Gaffigan as a top, up and coming comic, we can only expect more impressive things to come.

Still haven’t had enough? Head over to our website for more exclusive videos from your favourite American comics. Find us at http://theinsidejoke.co.uk. The Inside Joke | 39

Feature

Unlocking Tim Key Words Â by Â Josh Â Stephenson Â Photos: Â KKPR Â Agency

Sometimes Â we Â here Â at Â The Â Inside Â JokeČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2122;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Ä´Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Čą simple Â side. Â Find Â someone Â funny, Â ask Â â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;em Â some Â questions, Â and Â get Â some Â funny Â answers. Â This Â month Â weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Â enlisted Â the Â help Â of Â poetry Â maestro Â and Â Alan Â Partridge: Â Alpha Â PapaČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Čą Čą ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;ČąĹ&#x2014;Ĺ&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â?Čą questions Â youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Â see Â this Â side Â of Â a Â Parkinson Â interview. Â Why Â 11? Â Because Â apparently Â I Â canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â count Â to Â 10. The Â Inside Â Joke: Â Hi, Â Tim! Â Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Â touring Â round Â the Â

Â?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;ÇľČą Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Ä´Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â?Â Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Čą

Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x203A;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Čą Â&#x17D;Â&#x2122;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą Â&#x152;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Â Čą

Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2014;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÄ&#x2122;Â&#x2014;Â?Çľ

Â&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â ČąČ Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x2022;Â&#x17E;Â?Č&#x201A;ÇŻČą Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x17E;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ÇŻ What Â are Â you Â talking Â about? Â Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â nothing Â Tim Â Key: Â Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â wonderful. Â Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â some Â

deliberate Â about Â it. Â Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Â doing Â my Â best Â out Â

poetry Â in Â there, Â some Â waddling Â around Â

here. Â I Â try Â my Â hardest Â to Â make Â them Â all Â

in Â a Â denim Â onesie. Â There Â are Â some Â stories Â

perfect, Â though Â I Â realise Â some Â are Â rough Â

about Â sexual Â failure Â and Â thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â a Â stunt Â

around Â the Â edges. Â On Â average Â they Â take Â

involving Â a Â bed. Â Something Â for Â everyone!

about Â a Â minute.

This Â is Â the Â 4th Â in Â a Â series Â of Â slut Â show Â titles Â

Would Â you Â ever Â want Â to Â move Â away Â from Â

youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Â had. Â Are Â there Â are Â any Â slut Â related Â

poetry Â into Â a Â more Â straightforward Â stand-Ââ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2018;up Â

Â&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â?Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Çľ

show?

There Â are Â tons, Â I Â think, Â but Â I Â donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â know Â how Â much Â appetite Â

No. Â I Â always Â thought Â that Â was Â the Â Holy Â Grail. Â The Â poetry Â

I Â have Â to Â climb Â them. Â My Â mum Â has Â some Â titles Â sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â interested Â in Â

was Â my Â stabilisers. Â Eventually Â Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d Â discard Â it Â and Â be Â left Â with Â just Â

Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Ä´Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?ÇŻČą Â&#x17E;Â?Čą ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?Čą

beautiful Â stand-Ââ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2018;up, Â but Â now Â I Â canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â drop Â it. Â I Â like Â it Â there. Â Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â

my Â career Â must Â grind Â to Â a Â halt.

lower Â down Â in Â the Â mix Â now, Â but Â I Â think Â itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â going Â to Â stay. Â My Â live Â act Â will Â always Â be Â blighted Â by Â poetry.

Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x201A;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â?Â˘ČąČŽČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â?Čą fashion Â choice. Â Is Â there Â any Â reason Â you Â left Â those Â slick Â suits Â

Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x201A;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x160;ČąÄ&#x2122;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â ČąÂ˘Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;ÇŻČą

Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Çľ

Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;Çľ

Yes Â there Â is. Â I Â always Â tend Â to Â do Â previews Â in Â a Â costume Â that Â makes Â

I Â love Â it. Â I Â know Â thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â pathetic, Â but Â it Â is Â kind Â of Â a Â drug. Â Touring Â

me Â feel Â very Â uncomfortable. Â I Â like Â to Â look Â like Â a Â wally Â throughout Â

is Â fun, Â and Â playing Â nice Â theatres, Â but Â itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â pulling Â together Â a Â new Â

the Â writing Â process. Â Then, Â when Â itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â ready, Â I Â like Â to Â slip Â into Â a Â suit Â

hour Â thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â exciting. Â I Â think Â Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Â do Â it Â for Â the Â foreseeable Â future.

and Â suddenly Â feel Â a Â million Â dollars. Â Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â like Â altitude Â training. Â This Â time, Â however, Â for Â whatever Â reason, Â I Â couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â bring Â myself Â to Â

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Â well Â known Â for Â your Â role Â as Â â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sidekick Â Simonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Â in Â Alan Â

dispense Â with Â the Â onesie. Â So Â it Â stayed. Â Awful.

Partridge. Â What Â is Â it Â like Â working Â with Â Steve Â Coogan Â and Â his Â team?

So Â during Â that Â writing Â process, Â how Â long Â does Â it Â take Â you Â

40 | The Inside Joke

Feature Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x17E;Â&#x2122;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÄ&#x2122;ÂĄČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;ÇŻÇŻÇŻ

Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â?Â˘ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;ÇŻČą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â?ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â Â&#x2014;ÇŻČą ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â?Čą

Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â˘ÇŻČą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x201A;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Čą Čą

watching Â it Â when Â I Â was Â a Â teenager Â and Â Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Â acutely Â aware Â that Â

Radio Â 4 Â including Â documentaries Â and Â poetry. Â Do Â you Â enjoy Â this Â

ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â&#x2018;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Čą Č&#x201A;Â&#x2013;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â?ÇŻČą Â&#x17E;Â?Čą ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Čą

work Â and Â are Â there Â any Â more Â in Â the Â pipeline?

think Â that. Â Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â a Â pressure Â for Â all Â of Â them Â to Â make Â sure Â this Â Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2014;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â?ÇŻČą Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÄ&#x161;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą

I Â love Â it. Â Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Â doing Â a Â new Â series Â of Â Tim Â Keyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â Late Â Night Â Poetry Â

Â&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?ÇŻČą Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘Č&#x201A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;ÇŻČą Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â˘Čą

Programme Â Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?ÇŻČą ČąÂ&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x201C;Â&#x2DC;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ÇŻČą Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Čą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;Čą

supportive. Â He Â makes Â me Â feel Â like Â Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Â a Â more Â important Â part Â of Â it Â

a Â bloody Â dream Â to Â work Â with. Â The Â documentaries Â were Â a Â surprise. Â

than Â I Â am.

I Â got Â asked Â to Â do Â one Â a Â few Â years Â ago Â and Â was Â really Â pleased Â with Â how Â it Â came Â out. Â Now Â I Â get Â to Â do Â the Â odd Â one Â every Â year Â or Â so. Â Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â

The Â shooting Â on Â Alpha Â PapaČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2018;ÇŻČą Â&#x2DC;Â ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â?Čą

an Â interesting Â side-Ââ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2018;line.

Â˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x160;Â˘Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Çľ Finally, Â you Â studied Â Russian Â language Â at Â the Â University Â of Â I Â didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Â mind Â it. Â Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â one Â less Â thing Â to Â think Â about. Â No Â gestures, Â

Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Ä&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?ÇŻČą Â&#x2DC;Â ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x17E;Â&#x152;Â&#x2018;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Čą

Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;ÇŻČą Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Čą ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â˘ČąÂ&#x;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2013;Â˘ČąÂ?Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Čą

come Â in Â handy Â during Â your Â life?

Â?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â˘ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x152;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;ÇŻČą Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Ä&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x153;ÇŻČą Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â?Čą lunch.

ALL Â GONE. Â I Â used Â to Â love Â it Â and Â I Â got Â quite Â good Â at Â it Â whilst Â I Â lived Â in Â St Â Petersburg. Â Now Â I Â have Â nothing Â left. Â Maybe Â down Â to Â

I Â read Â that Â you Â once Â tried Â to Â initiate Â a Â threesome Â whilst Â listening Â

about Â ten Â words, Â but Â Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Â still Â pleased Â I Â studied Â it. Â And Â when Â I Â

to Â an Â audio Â tape Â of Â We Â Need Â to Â Talk Â about Â Kevin. Â Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Â not Â true, Â

speak Â it Â my Â mother Â is Â very Â proud

is Â it? Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Čą Â&#x17D;Â˘ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x160;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17E;Ä´Â˘ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x203A;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČąČ Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Čą No, Â that Â is Â not Â true. Â Nice Â idea Â though.

Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x2022;Â&#x17E;Â?Č&#x201A;ÇŻČą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÄ&#x2122;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â?Čą theinsidejoke.co.uk.

The Inside Joke | 41

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Audience

TIME TO CONFESS Every month our readers have the opportunity to get stuff off their chests.

A TOUCH OF SCHADENFREUDE When a little laugh turns into a big problem...

Words: Nicole Laffan Picture: Sharyn Marrow, Flickr

“When I was at school, we had a teacher who was not only incredibly fat, she was also a massive bitch too! One day she tried to confiscate this tennis ball from a boy at school, only when she stuck out her hands to catch it, she rolled backwards onto her arse. She looked like a massive rocking horse! We were all creasing ourselves – looking the other way of course!”

Gavin Newman, 26, student, Surrey “I tend to get nervous during serious situations, meaning I get the giggles and even, on occasion, full-blown hysterics! One such situation was at school, when we were supposed to be observing a minute of silence for a student who had sadly passed away. I suddenly felt a desperate urge to laugh, which only got worse when I caught my friend’s eye! 30 seconds in, I couldn’t contain myself any longer, and started to laugh raucously. Needless to say, I got into a lot of trouble!”

Andrew Griffiths, 27, PHD student, Bristol “It was Christmas Eve and I was on a late shift in theatre recovery. Late afternoon, one of our patients sadly died, and was moved to recovery. His family were in Singapore, so a close friend had to come and see him. When she left, my colleague and I decided to have some coffee, leaving him alone in recovery with the curtains around him. Imagine our surprise when we heard some sisters from the ward singing carols to him from the other side of the curtain! We had to see the funny side – you may not have family near you, but what a send-off from the angels of mercy!”

Alyson Noble, 53, nurse, Fflintshire

Tommy couldn’t understand why his mum and dad were just standing there with a camera

“I was with my friends at college on break when I saw this little bird trapped in the grill of a parked car. For some reason I found this hilarious – I think it was actually the greatest thing I’ve ever seen! Nobody seemed to share this opinion however, and I got a lot of dirty looks. We Brits sure love our animals!”

Olivia Laking, 21, costume designer, Scawby, North Lincolnshire “A guy was playing a trumpet solo during a remembrance assembly at school, but for some reason he kept passing out! He’d wake up just before he fell over, and then continued to play. He managed to keep repeating this pattern for a whole minute, until one of the teachers put him out of his misery (or euphoric state of asphyxiation) with just five seconds to go. My friends and I were pissing ourselves laughing! We didn’t get into trouble though, because the teachers found it hilarious too!”

Jon Lea, 24, student, Cheltenham “I once saw a child skipping along a wall in Disneyland, dressed as Buzz Lightyear. He suddenly fell flat on his face into a rosebush. His mum was not happy when me and my sister, Sian, evidently could not contain our joy at this occurrence!”

Kim Gregory, 22, student, Barnsley

The Inside Joke 43

Audience

Find out what your FASHION Amber De Smet has a look at everything that’s wrong with male stand up comedians’ standard clothing choices. Because remember: being hilarious doesn’t mean you also have to look it.

1. ‘Funny’ t-shirt and jeans combination

s you may be aware, a taste for satire and good sartorial taste don’t always go hand in hand. Most male comedians are not exactly known to be style icons, and don’t really feel the need to become one either. However, since your outfit is the one thing the audience spots before you’ve even cracked a single joke, it’s often just as important as your oneliners and heckling skills.

I know exactly how this started. It seemed like such a good idea at first: you were going to wear something casual for your stand up gig. So you decided, rather like a six-year-old would do at their first day in school, to pick your favourite t-shirt and favourite jeans. Bonus points for doing it extra wrong if the ‘funny’ print on the t-shirt contains dirty words or a sexist joke.

That means that there are a lot of clothing choices that can go horribly wrong. So do you also look like you were dressed by the same people who designed Scotland’s Commonwealth Games uniform? Then this article is tailor-made just for you. Find out what your favourite fashion failure says about you below. This piece is obviously based on a lot of academic research and should be taken very seriously.

What you hope the audience is thinking: “This bloke looks so normal and approachable, yet is actually so funny. It must be my lucky day.”

Your personality type: You spend your days browsing 9Gag and pride yourself on your collection of empty Jack Daniels bottles. You tend to laugh at jokes that you don’t understand and you probably still own a Gameboy Color. Also, you have never learned how to actually tie a tie.

What the audience actually thinks: “Oh god, not another one dressed like he’s about as creative as a pair of shoelaces.”

2. The oversized suit Here’s a riddle for you: What do comics in ill-fitting suits and mother-in-law jokes have in common? That’s right – they were never funny in first place, they need to be banished, and everyone thinks that the person responsible for them deserves eternal damnation. Coincidentally, they often seem to go together as well. So, here’s a piece of news for you, since you’re dressing like you haven’t followed any news for the past 20 years: ‘dead man’s suits’ are neither funny, fabulous, or fashionable anymore. These days they are called ‘fucking awful’.

Image by Mashable

Your personality type: Your fragrance of choice is Old Spice, and your laugh often sounds like an asthmatic horse. You tend to have a lot off dandruff and still think using a pager is still acceptable. Apart from that, your favourite object is a stapler. What you hope the audience is thinking: “This man is hilarious! Look at his hilarious, hilarious suit!” What the audience actually thinks: “You have probably sinned in a past life to be cursed with a taste in clothing this bad.”

44 | The Inside Joke

Everyone, put your hands on your hips if you look ridiculous.

Audience

FAILURE says about you! 3. A pair of shorts You know, there is a reason why we have a comedy handbook called Don’t Wear Shorts on Stage. It has something to do with the white socks and/or hairy legs that often come with it. Believe me, nobody is going to take you seriously if you dress like a ten-year-old on holiday. Well, either that, or everyone will just get distracted by your pale legs turned fluorescent in the stage light. Your personality type: You always see the worst in people and secretly enjoy destroying kids’ sandcastles on the beach during summer. Your never clean your fingernails and you tend to throw tantrums when you don’t get what you want. You rather regret that you have an ex-girlfriend’s name tattooed on your bum. What you hope the audience is thinking: “I can definitely feel the holiday vibe with this bloke!” What the audience actually thinks: “Go back to the playground! Nobody here wants to see your hairy legs.”

5. Unneccesary fancy dress Sometimes there are simple tricks to determine if your outfit is even slightly suitable for the occasion. Ask yourself the following five questions: Can I hear the sound of crackling plastic whenever I move my sweaty arms? Do I look like I’m about to head to a stag party for drunk, oversized teenagers? Will my parents consider disinheriting me if I ever wear this on stage? Am I wearing a colour that can usually only be found on a sweets wrapper? Am I currently sparklier than a 5-year-old girl’s birthday cake and at risk of blinding the front row? If you just answered ‘yes’ to at least one of these questions, you should take off your outfit. NOW.

4. Surrogate gym clothes

And no, I don’t mean any of that in a nice way. Let’s be honest, you simply look like a total idiot wearing that.

Your personality type: You think that only real men can pull off pink. Your favourite flavour is cough syrup and you when you were a kid you wanted to become a unicorn when you grew up. You once considered dying your hair fuchsia because that colour sounds like a naughty word.

Your personality type: Your mother still packs your lunch everyday and you always carry a used tissue in your pocket. Someone once said something about your hairy toes and now you’re very self-conscious about them. You will never admit that you cried when you watched Titanic for the first time.

What you hope the audience is thinking: Yes, what exactly do you hope the audience is thinking? I honestly have no idea.

What you hope the audience is thinking: “He looks so comfortable, both in his clothes and on stage.”

What the audience actually thinks: “This synthetic ensemble would probably cry ‘desperation’ if it had a mouth.”

Ah, the good old tracksuit. It is the lazy man’s best friend, the couch potato’s canvas to spill Chinese takeaway on, the uniform of choice for sad people who have to carry their own toilet paper to camping bathrooms, and the perfect outfit for those whose Instagram feed is full of close-ups of their biceps.

What the audience actually thinks: “When is the actual comedian going to perform?”

The Inside Joke | 45

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Audience

ON THE

SOAPBOX

urn on the TV tonight and there’s a good chance

ȱ ££ ǵȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ę ȱ ȱ

you’ll see something featuring two desks, a host, and

ǰȱ ġ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

a tacked on points system. Yes, the TV panel show is

comedy cellars in favour of Michael McIntyre and his smug

fairly ubiquitous in the modern age and their popularity shows

sense of self-‐‑satisfaction. You see the only comedians who thrive

no signs of fading – Mock the Week is still regularly pulling in

on panel shows are those whose material is safe and middle-‐‑class

around 1.5 million viewers – and with new ones springing up

enough to translate to a wider audience.

left, right, and centre, it seems we’d best get used to them. Which is a shame for me because I’m bloody sick of them.

Rant by Josh Stephenson Photos: Guy Rowland

It’s become the lowest common denominator of British

Unless you’re a woman. Yes this is happening – you’ve read this far you’re stuck now. You see earlier this year, Danny Cohen, full-‐‑time BBC Director

TV comedy. It’s not that they’re not funny – you stick that

and part-‐‑time, fat David Baddiel look-‐‑a-‐‑like, proclaimed that all

many funny people in one place and something will work –

TV panel shows must now contain one female panellist. Now,

the problem is that they’re so safe. So middle-‐‑of-‐‑the-‐‑road. So

despite this reducing female comics to the general principle

homogenised that the talented stand-‐‑ups that perform on them

of a Where’s Wally book (‘ooh there she is! Bless. Look at her

get swallowed up by the sheer mediocrity of it all. Clever and

making jokes like she’s a man!’), it does raise the issue of female

funny performers such as Sara Pascoe, Carl Donnelly, and Josie

representation on panel shows. Women do seem to struggle to

Long struggle to make an impression and when so many of the

make an impact on this form of comedy. This has nothing to do

viewing public will only see you this one time, it can lead to

with them not being funny enough I stress, it’s more that these

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱĚ ȱ ǯ

shows are geared towards loud men who like to shout above

Plus there’s so Goddamned many of them! It leaves us fans

each other. Thus they often become games of one-‐‑upmanship

ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ě ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

a woman falling over (Miranda) and a man dressed as a woman

gets heard is the loudest, most obnoxious of the lot. I think we all

falling over (Mrs. Brown’s Boys). This isn’t just the ranting and

ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯ

raving of a pompous comedy snob either. Actual comedians

Maybe instead of panel shows we need to get back to the

agree with me! Billy Connolly believes comedians spend too

good old-‐‑fashioned variety show. They still exist in the form

much time ‘gurning on panel shows.’ Ade Edmondson has said

of Live at the Apollo and The Alternative Comedy Experience, but

they are ‘starving creativity’ and Charlie Higson says TV execs

the more opportunities we get to see comedians on stage with

favour them because they are ‘cheap to make’.

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ Ĵ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ

ȱ ǯȱ Ȃ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ǯȱ ¢Ȃ ȱ ȱ Ĵ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ out of touch with the modern comic landscape and whilst that’s

¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ re-‐‑runs, you should seek out your local comedy club and see

true to an extent, to

some live comics. At

me it raises a far more

least that way you

interesting question

don’t run the risk of

of would those kind

seeing Andy Parsons

of comics even be

groan and stumble

seen in today’s comic

his way through

world? The likes of

political humour with

Billy Connolly don’t

all the incision of Jack

ę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

Sparrow armed with a

format. Could you

toy sword.

imagine the anarchy of the late, great Rik

Disagree? Tell us on

Mayall transferring

ȱ Ĵ ȱ Ƿȱȓ ȏȱ

to this medium? Bill

InsideJoke

Hicks? Richard Pryor? Would I lie to you?

The Inside Joke | 47

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Features

“GET OFF, YER RUBBISH!” Picture: Jennifer Moo, Flickr.com

Or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the heckler

Gerry had found a fun new way to keep his audience quiet.

It’s a twisted love-hate relationship that can cause a comedian to crash and burn, or rise to comic victory…Yes, since the beginnings of stand up, a heckler commences a battle of wits, a war of words that usurps the authority of the comedian, and places entire rooms on edge. But what is this elusive beast known as the heckler? Nicole Laffan investigates.

“O

ne of the most brutal heckles I ever heard was delivered at 1am, at the Fringe Club in Edinburgh,” says comedian Steve Punt. “Some friends of mine were doing a sketch on stage when a voice shouted: ‘Get off! You’re crap and you know it!’ Not, on the face of it, very sophisticated, but there was something about the ‘and you know it’ that was a killer. It plays heavily on the insecurity most performers feel. The only heckle that ever really hurts is the one you suspect might be true.” The concept of heckling has existed since Elizabethan times, when shouting out at actors was common and added to the lively and boisterous nature of the performances. In modern times, hecklers are more likely to frequent the comedy hall, most commonly in the form of members of the public who have had a few too many, who interrupt a comedian during a show to correct them, egg them on, or to simply be a nuisance. “The number one thing about hecklers is, 100% of them are douchebags,” says US comedian Joe Rogan. Perhaps a tad harsh, but there’s no denying that most comedians find hecklers an unnecessary disturbance, both for them, and for the audience who have paid to see them. Comedian Ava Vidal, who has graced the likes of Live at the Apollo and Mock the Week, says: “The Heckler is evil. It is the person that you are warned about when you first start doing stand-up. The person that you dread will be in your gig interrupting the show with slurred insults usually yelled out just at the precise moment that ruins the punchline you’ve been

building up to. The Heckler is the person that is so powerful that they can ruin the whole night for every single comedian on the bill.” Whether this comes in the form of incoherent noise, or vicious, personal insults, the heckler is something that a comedian has to be trained and prepared to deal with. Dean Burnett, doctor of neuroscience, lecturer and tutor at Cardiff University, and a stand-up comedian, says: “I have had a couple of experiences of heckling. Most memorably was at a local open mic gig I did regularly. My set was going fine, and I was just nearing the end when some guy shouted: ‘No, you’re not funny, that’s enough now’. He then explained how my timing was rubbish and that I was devoid of good material. “It had been going fine - people were laughing – so as a scientist I just referred to the counterevidence, finished my set, then walked off to bigger than warranted applause, purely for not getting thrown by him. “He had made a right pain of himself for several other acts too, and kept shouting out that things weren’t funny. In the end, the rest of the audience was yelling at him to shut up too!” Some comedians even relish a heckler, because they enjoy the opportunity to fire back witty insults and comments. In fact, some shows, such as those performed by Al Murray, the Pub Landlord, rely on audience participation and comment for most of their material. Harland Williams, a Canadian-American actor and comedian, who has appeared in films such as Dumb and Dumber, and

“100% of hecklers are douche-bags.”

The Inside Joke 49

Features Fieldnotes Your super quick guide to the 8 kinds of heckler, according to Splitsider: 1. The Instigator: a troublemaker, this person will deliberately choose a comedian who is known to, well, go a bit ape-shit, (Bill Hicks, anyone?). 2. The Non-Participant: a grouchy old sod, this person does not participate in an act that requires an audience to help it along. Look out for crossed arms and frowny face. 3. The Corrector: “I’m going to interrupt the flow of the joke because penguins are found on the South Pole, not the North Pole.” 4. The Uptight Fan: because constructive criticism can’t wait until the show has finished. 5. The WTF: sometimes a drunken gurgle says more than words ever could.

Comedian Ava Vidal believes that drunk women are the worst hecklers.

makes regular appearances on Late Night With David Letterman, says: “I just like the challenge of a heckler. I like it when people yell out, because basically it’s like they’re shooting a bullet at you – a verbal bullet. You’re in the middle of something, and all of a sudden *pssheeww*, and you can either do like a Matrix or you can just catch it and go: ‘Let’s go buddy! Party time!’”. Whether a comedian reacts well or not, it is often questioned why people would choose to actively ruin a show that they have paid to see. For some, the role of the heckler is forced upon them because the act is not living up to expectations. Two such hecklers are Gabe and Asher, who were interviewed for the documentary, Heckler, directed by Michael Addis, in 2007: “There’s nothing worse than a comic who thinks they’re funny but they’re absolutely not,” they say. “It’s pretty much the most embarrassing thing anyone can ever do to themselves when they’re on stage.” Dean Burnett, as both a comedian and psychologist, can perhaps give a more detailed explanation. He says: “There are many reasons why people may heckle in standup comedy shows. “There is something of a social contract in stand-up comedy. People have paid their money and expect to be made to laugh, and if they don’t laugh or are offended instead, then they have effectively been cheated and will likely feel justified in openly complaining/insulting the comic who has technically ripped them off. This is far more likely in comedy where the material is unknown in advance, and humour is so subjective. You go see a band, you’re paying to hear music. Whether you like it or not, you know what to expect in advance and will definitely hear music. Comedy is different. People can and clearly do complain about this, in front of others. “There is also the fact that some hecklers do think heckling is an integral part of stand-up comedy. After a few beers, they probably believe this even more. I’ve lost count of the number of reports of annoying hecklers who just won’t shut up, claiming that they were ‘helping’. Whether this assumption is based on

6. The Bringer of Awkwardness: when an ill-timed, ill-judged heckle causes a comedian to lose his/her temper - fast. The most famous case of this was when US comedian Kenny Moore ended his show after hitting a member of the audience with his guitar. 7. The Drunk: an embarrassment to all but themselves, these guys seriously don’t know when to stop drinking or talking. 8. The Fake: an imposter planted by the comedian to help the show along! genuine misinformation, or they’re just kidding themselves to justify their attention seeking, many seem to genuinely believe it. Cognitive dissonance will usually mean they find other things to blame when it doesn’t get appreciated, rather than admit they were wrong.” Dean also believes that the very act of being a member of an audience affects our behaviour. “You have to appreciate that being part of a large group has some very potent effects on human thinking and behaviour,” he says. “Being part of a group is something humans evolved to ‘want’, so we respond to other people very strongly. This is why you tend to laugh more when around others who are laughing, than if you were alone. “In this scenario, the comedian is essentially the ‘group-leader’. They’re the ones who are effectively controlling the room, exerting dominance, showing their mastery. Heckling them could be an individual’s way of trying to challenge this dominance and end up as the superior one.” Others have been called hecklers because they were inadvertently being disruptive, such as Amy Lo, 22, a student from Newcastle, who was singled out by the comedian because of her laugh. “I was at a show with Jimmy Carr, and I got picked on because my laugh was so ridiculous and loud,” she says. “I remember he said, ‘Oh my God, your laugh! And I thought mine was ridiculous!’”. Whatever the reason, heckling can be both a funny, if unplanned, part of the routine, or an irritating and unnecessary disturbance. More surprisingly, it is the female members of the audience who tend to be the worst culprits. Ava Vidal says: ““Heckles from women tend to be a lot cattier. I think that it

“Heckles from women tend to be a lot cattier. They simply won’t stop.”

The Inside Joke

Features is universally agreed amongst comedians that drunk women, especially those in large groups, are the worst kind of hecklers that you can get. They simply won’t stop. “One was determined to ruin my set. She kept yelling over punchlines, telling me she thought I should go to the gym and how unfunny she found me. I told her to go to the box office and do what men do when they sleep with her – ask for their money back. She ran out in floods of tears and complained about me to the promoter.” Bobby Slayton, an American stand-up comedian, agrees: “When women get drunk, it’s like putting a gremlin in water – they’re unstoppable. It’s like they’re impervious to anything!” Whether male or female, alcohol plays a fundamental part in the making of a heckler. Dean Burnett says: “Alcohol lowers inhibitions, making it great for comedy clubs as people are more relaxed and willing to laugh out loud without fearing judgement of the others in the room. “But, on the flip side, it means they’ll be less inhibited to shout out when they think they have something funny to say or if they don’t like the comedian, or they’ve been offended by something said. Alcohol clouds the thinking too, meaning they don’t process external signals as well or think things through as logically. Ergo, whereas they may normally keep quiet when the comedian is not to their liking but everyone else is laughing, they won’t think to do so when drunk. They may also not be thinking straight enough to keep up with the comic or process what they’re saying, which can be unintentionally upsetting, resulting in more heckling. “And some people, like it or not, are just attention-seeking

dicks.” Whatever form a heckler comes in, whether it’s a drunk member of a hen party or a disgruntled student who’s been sat silently for too long, a heckler can be both a help, and a hindrance, to a comedy show. So what can a comedian do? According to Steve Punt, the answer is simple – just make ‘em laugh. “There are precautions that a comedian can take to ward off the threat of heckling,” he says. “Careful timing of the interval stops the audience heading to the loo, and a theatre bar should never be open during the performance. Other than that, you just have to be funny.” Dean Burnett says: “I did once engage with a heckler, who ended up liking me as a result. He’d harassed all the other acts before me, who were quite avant-garde acts from London. But we were in a pub in Abergavenny, so they weren’t really resonating with the local audience. I pre-empted it and went on asking who’s seen the Mona Lisa. The persistent heckler yelled that it was shit, which was actually the point of my bit and why I brought it up, so it looked like a discussion we were having, making it more ‘spontaneous’. He did help that night, but not how he thought, I imagine!” But for comedians like Ava Vidal, her answer to hecklers is simply – sit down and shut up: “The best advice that I can give would-be hecklers? Just don’t. You have paid to see a show so sit back, relax and enjoy it.”•

Pictures: Yole Quintero, Chris Boland, Bryan Ledgard, Gustavo Medde, Flickr

“Some people, like it or not, are attentionseeking dicks.”

The Hecklers who made history Not all heckles are meaningless insults. Some are genuinely funny! Don’t believe us? Read on… To Jo Brand: “Don’t show us your tits!” To David Baddiel: “Everybody hates you – surely you remember that from school?” To Frank Skinner, from a blind man: “Get off, you bastard!” and then, “Has he gone yet?” During a particularly awful show, Eric Douglas, Kirk Douglas’s son, shouts: “You can’t do this to me – I’m Kirk Douglas’s son,” to which members of the audience replied: “”No, I’m Kirk Douglas’s son!”

Left: Frank Skinner; Right: David Baddiel. Below: Bill Hicks

Jim Tavare: “I’m a schizophrenic.” Heckler: “Why don’t you both fuck off?”

The put down wall of fame Some comedians will always prove why they are the ones holding the mike: John Cooper Clarke: “Your bus leaves in 10 minutes…Be under it.” Ricky Gervais: “This is a big venue, I can’t really get into one-to-ones. In a smaller room I’d still ignore you – shut up!” Heckler: “I don’t come here to think.” Bill Hicks: “Well, tell me where you do go and I’ll meet you there.” Arthur Smith: “Sorry, I can’t understand what you’re saying…I’m wearing a moron filter.” Rufus Hound (to bar staff): “Can we get some crayons and a menu for this guy to colour in please?” Jo Brand: “Where’s your girlfriend? Outside grazing, I presume…” Heckler: “I met you at medical school.” Frank Skinner: “Ah yes…you were the one in the jar.” T.J. Miller: “Is this the part where you think this is just a conversation between the two of us?”

The Inside Joke 51

section here

32 | The Inside Joke

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Words by Josh Stephenson Photos: KKPR Agency

Feature

32 | The Inside Joke

Feature

Do You Want To Know A Secret? Turns out one of the brightest comedic talents in the UK today may not be quite who we think he is and he’s going on tour to set the record straight. We talk to JAMES ACASTER about his new show, wanting to go to a Maize Maze, and why it’s time to reveal his true identity.

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

¢ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ¢ȱ

Ȭ Ȭ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ǵȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ǯȱ ȱ

¢ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ

¢ǰȄȱ ȱ ¢ ǯȱȃ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱȁ Ȃǯȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱę ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

¢ ȱ ȱ ę ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ¢ȱ ¢ǰȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ¢ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ǰȄȱ ¢ ȱ

¢Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ǯȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ

¢ȱ ȱ ǵ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȃ ǯȱ ȱ ǯȄȱ

ȱ ȱ Ǳȱȃ ¢Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ǵȱȃ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȄȱ ¢ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȄȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱȃ ¢Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ

"There's so much drugs..."

ǯȱ ¢Ȃ ȱ ȱ ¢ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ¢Ȃ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ¢Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ

ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǵȱȃ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȁ Ȃȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

¢ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ǰȱ ȱ

ȱ¢ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȄȱ ¢ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ǯ

ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ¢ȱ Ȃ ȱ

¢ ¢ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ Ĵ¢ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ǯȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ

ǯȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄȱ Ȃ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȄȱ

¡ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ¢ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

Ȃ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ǯȱ ¢ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ǯȄȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ ¢ȱ ¢ǰȱ ȱǯǯǯȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭȱ

¢ǰȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ¢Ȃ ȱę ǯȱ ¢ȱ ȱ

¢ȱ ¢ȱ ¡ ¢ǵȱȃ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ ǰȱ ǰȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ¢Ȃ ȱ ¢ȱ ǰȱ ȱ

¢ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

¢ȱ Ȃ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ

¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱę ȱ¢ ǯȄ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ǯȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

The Inside Joke | 55

Feature ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ǰȄȱ ¢ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ

James deep undercover

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢Ȃ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ǯȄ ¢ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ¢ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ǵȱ ȃ ȱ ¢ǯȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ¡ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ

Photos: KPPR Agency, James Acaster, Drew McLellan

ȱ ȱ

Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ

"I'm inhabiting these cool areas against all odds." ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

¡ ȱ ǯȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȁ Ȃȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ǰȱ ȱ Ĝ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ ěȱ Ǳȱȃ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ £ ȱ £ ǵȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ

¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ £ ȱ £ ǯȄȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

Ȃ ȱ ¢ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

£ ȱ £ ǰȱ ǵȱȃ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱȮȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȄȱ

ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ǰȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ £ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ Ȃ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ £ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ǯȄ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ǳȱȃ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ¢ ǯȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ Ȃ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄ ȃ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

Backed into a corner.

ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

56 | The Inside Joke

Feature ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ǯȄ

Engineered Scrapes?

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ¢ ȱ ǯȱ ȃ ȱ ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ Starsky & Hutch ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȁ ȱ Ȃȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǵȱȃ ȱ ¢ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ƿȱ ǯȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ǰȱ ¢ȱ ǯȄȱ ¢ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǵȱȃ Ȭ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ Ȭ¢ Ȭ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ¢ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ¢ ȱ ǯȄ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ǰȄȱ ¢ ȱ

ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ¡Ȭ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȃ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ǰȱ Ȃ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ £ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȮȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱǭȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȮȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ǵȱȃ ȱę ȱ ȱ¢ Ȃ ȱ Ĵ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȄȱ ¢ ȱ ǯȱȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ĵ¢ȱ ǯȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄ The Wow! Scenario ȱ ȱŘŖŖŝǰȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȁ ȱ Ƿȱ ǰȂȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȁ ¡ ȱ ££Ȭ Ȃȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȁ ȱ ȱ

ȱ ȱ

ȱ £ Ȃ ȱ Ȃǰȱȁ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ǯȱ Ȃǰȱ ȱȁ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃǯȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȭ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ěȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¡ ȱ Ǳȱȃ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ę ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ěǯȄȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǵȱȃ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȮȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȄ ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ¢ȱ¢ ǰȱ Ȃ ȱ

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯ James Acaster might have been lying about being an undercover cop, ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ ȱ Ȃ Ƿȱ ȱ ȱę ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱȁ Ȃȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ǯ ǯ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ tickets and venues.

¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

The Inside Joke | 57

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Audience

Your Favourite Jokes We asked you to share your favourite jokes with us - so here we’ll share the best ones with you. Warning: some jokes are so bad they’ve gone all the back to good again.

Q: What’s the best time to go to the dentist? A: Tooth hurty. -James Price, Provo, UT

Q: What do you call a cow with no legs? A: Ground beef. - Allie Bond, Provo, UT

Q: Why did the car mechanic make a fabulous wardrobe consultant? A: Because he knew how to change attire. -Tony Leonhardt, Tacoma, WA To err is human but to arr is... pirate! -Vicki Crowe, London

What did the cheese say when it saw itself in the mirror? Halloumi! -Amy Lo, Sheffield

Q: Why was the groom not happy at his wedding? A: Because he was not the best man! -Ethan Aleman, Tehachapi, CA The Inside Joke | 59

Compiled by Christopher Tracy and Amber De Smet. Image via Open Clip Art

Q: What do you call a boy with three arms and green skin? A: His name. -Brianna Cluck, Provo, UT

Feature

Words by Josh Stephenson Photos: M.A.D. photography,

Unlock Your Inner Funny!

So you’ve decided to become a stand-‐‑up. Good for you! I take it you’ve ȱ ȱ ȱ ǵȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ǵȱ ȱ Ĵ ȱ nervous you say. Well you should be! They’re all going to laugh at you. Or worse yet – they won’t. Don’t fear though, because we here at The Inside Joke have gone and enlisted the help of one of the country’s leading stand-‐‑up teachers, LOGAN MURRAY, to give you the top tips to go from open mic to Hammersmith Apollo.

veryone is funny,” says Logan Murray with

tapping into that innate humour everyone has. “You unlock

authoritative steel in his voice. I take his point at face

¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ ȱ Ȃ ȱ

ǰȱ ȱ Ĵ ¢ȱ Ȃ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ

ȱ Ĵ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ǰȱ ȱ¢ ȱ ȱ

accountant. “I mean you make your mates laugh down the pub and they make you laugh. People have been doing that for

practicing at it, somebody will pay you.” Logan Murray has been teaching stand-‐‑up now for 15

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ¢ ǯȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ

years. What started out as a bit of a lark for ‘beer and fag

ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ ǰȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ ȱ

¢Ȃǰȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ¢ȱ ȱ Ȭ

each other.” For Logan, everyone in the world has the ability

up courses in the country. Logan himself has been performing

ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱȮȱ Ȃ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ ȱ

stand-‐‑up since 1984 and has seen success appearing in Peep

60 | The Inside Joke

Feature Show, Â Packet Â of Â Three, Â and Â as Â one Â half Â of Â the Â infamously Â sardonic Â double Â act Â Bib Â and Â Bob Â â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Â an Â act Â so Â cruel Â the Â police Â were Â called Â on Â Â?Â Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x152;Â&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;ÇŻČą Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;Čą ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â Â&#x153;ÇŻ It Â was Â after Â the Â completion Â of Â his Â MA Â that Â Logan Â started Â to Â form Â the Â idea Â for Â his Â comedy Â course. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Â sort Â of Â had Â a Â vague Â Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Čą ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?Čą a Â lot Â of Â people Â were Â missing Â a Â trick Â or Â two,â&#x20AC;? Â explains Â Logan. Â Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x160;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â Â&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Ç°Čą Logan Â realised Â that Â many Â people Â who Â were Â doing Â the Â course Â had Â no Â interest Â in Â pursuing Â a Â career Â in Â comedy. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Â lot Â of Â people Â Â Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘Č&#x201A;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2018;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â?Ç°ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?Čą people Â have Â been Â told Â is Â a Â really Â good Â way Â to Â develop Â your Â creativity,â&#x20AC;? Â says Â Logan. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;So Â I Â think Â that Â it Â is Â a Â self-Ââ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2018;development Â course Â masquerading Â as Â a Â comedy Â course Â though Â it Â has Â of Â course Â developed Â many Â good Â comics.â&#x20AC;? Â?ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ÇŻČą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2018;Čą Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;ÇŻČą Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â?Čą Gilbert, Â Greg Â Davies, Â Josh Â Widdicombe, Â Andi Â Osho Â â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Â the Â list Â is Â Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;ÇŻČą Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2018;Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Ç°Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2022;Â˘Čą Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Čą taken Â the Â course. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybody Â has Â done Â my Â course Â is Â the Â answer Â to Â Â˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x161;Â&#x17E;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąČŽČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x201A;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x201A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ÇˇČ&#x201E;ČąÂ&#x161;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2122;Â&#x153;Čą Logan. So Â what Â are Â the Â vital Â ingredients Â to Â good Â stand-Ââ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2018;up Â then? Â Č&#x192; Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x201A;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÄ&#x161;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2019;Â?Ç°ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â˘Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;ÇŻČą Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â?ČąČŽČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x201A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â˘ČąÂ&#x153;Â˘Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ÇŻČą Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Ç°Čą Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x201A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Čą come Â up Â with Â the Â funny Â things,â&#x20AC;? Â says Â Logan. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;So Â Â˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x201A;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ÇŻČą Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą Â?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x17E;Â?Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â?Â˘Čą Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;ÇŻČą Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x153;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Ä´Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Čą

NAKED Â COMEDY Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?Čą Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Čą amused Â him Â for Â all Â the Â right Â and, Â sometimes, Â the Â wrong Â Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;ÇŻČą Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Ä´Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2018;ÇŻČąČ&#x192; Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Čą this Â guy Â a Â couple Â of Â years Â ago Â called Â Andy Â and Â he Â was Â a Â very Â good Â comic Â writer Â and Â could Â deliver Â material Â well. Â He Â said Â to Â Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ÇąČąČ Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x2122;Â&#x153;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Čą Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x153;Čą Č&#x201A;Â&#x2013;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Čą Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Ä´Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Ä&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?Ç°Č&#x201A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Čą ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;ÇŻČą Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x201D;ČŹÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x160;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąČ Â&#x2018;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2018;Č&#x201A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Čą got Â a Â big Â laugh Â and Â when Â it Â died Â down Â he Â said Â â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Usually Â this Â Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;ČąÂ Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x17E;Â&#x2122;ÇŻČ&#x201A;Čą Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2014;Â˘ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą is Â that Â he Â forgot Â to Â take Â his Â dressing Â gown Â on Â stage Â -Ââ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2018; Â as Â he Â Â Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â˘Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x17E;Â&#x2122;ČąČŹČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ČąÄ&#x2122;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x160;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â?ÇˇČą Â?ČąÂ Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â?Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Čą Â&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;ČąČ Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x2014;Â?Â˘ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Čąand Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÄ&#x2122;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Č&#x201A;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x152;Â?ÇŻ negative Â emotion Â and Â something Â that Â needs Â to Â be Â controlled. Â Well Â Â˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â˘Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x201A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2014;Â&#x160;Čą Â&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x2122;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â˘Â Â&#x160;Â˘Ç°ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x201A;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â˘Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ÇŻČ&#x201E; Speaking Â to Â Logan, Â you Â can Â hear Â the Â passion Â for Â what Â he Â does Â in Â his Â voice Â and Â when Â I Â ask Â him Â what Â the Â most Â rewarding Â part Â Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â˘Â&#x2122;Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?ČŹÂ&#x17D;Ä&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ÇŻČąČ&#x192; Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â˘ČŹČą dippy, Â but Â every Â time Â â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Â sometimes Â I Â go Â into Â businesses Â -Ââ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2018; Â and Â you Â see Â people Â literally Â light Â up Â from Â the Â inside,â&#x20AC;? Â replies Â Logan. Č&#x192; Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Ç°ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘Č&#x201A;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x160;Â˘Ç°ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘Č&#x201A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą

"Comedians aren't delivering an artefact."

Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â˘Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;ČąČŽČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Č&#x201A;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ÇŻČ&#x201E; Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Â?Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČŹÂ&#x17E;Â&#x2122;ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Čą Â Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x201C;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Â?Čą Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x160;Â˘Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Čą pragmatic Â about Â it. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Have Â a Â thick Â skin, Â especially Â at Â the Â beginning Â of Â your Â career. Â If Â somebody Â gives Â you Â an Â encore Â one Â night Â with Â Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Ä&#x203A;ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ÂĄÂ?ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Čą Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?ÇľČą Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x2018;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?ČąČŽČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘Č&#x201A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?Čą for Â that Â evening, Â but Â it Â makes Â you Â more Â philosophical Â about Â the Â Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x17E;Ä&#x203A;ÇŻČ&#x201E;Čą Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â?Čą Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Čą Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x2018;ČąÂ Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;ÇľČą Is Â it Â alcohol? Â I Â bet Â its Â alcohol. Â â&#x20AC;&#x153;Never Â drink Â before Â a Â show Â â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Â it Â will Â only Â slow Â you Â down. Â What Â we Â feel Â in Â this Â situation Â is Â often Â adrenaline Â and Â as Â newbies, Â or Â even Â professional Â comics Â that Â I Â Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x201D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ˘Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Ç°ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘Č&#x201A;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Čą for Â fear Â because Â the Â last Â time Â they Â experienced Â it Â was Â when Â they Â Â Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Ä´Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x152;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?Ç°Č&#x201E;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ÇŻČąČ&#x192; Â&#x2DC;Čą they Â mistake Â the Â sensation Â that Â an Â athlete Â feels Â before Â a Â race Â as Â a Â

Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2018;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â&#x;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;Ç°ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â?Ç°ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â˘Č&#x201A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â?Čą about Â everything, Â and Â you Â play Â a Â few Â simple Â things Â with Â them Â and Â you Â see Â it Â all Â unfold Â and Â Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ÇŻČ&#x201E;Čą Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2DC;Â ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÄ&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČŹÂ&#x17E;Â&#x2122;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â˘ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Čą

are Â still Â burning, Â then Â Logan Â say Â the Â most Â important Â piece Â of Â Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x;Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x153;ÇąČąČ&#x192; ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2013;Â˘Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2039;Čą Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â?ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x17E;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Č&#x201A;Â?Čą think Â you Â need Â a Â course Â to Â do Â it. Â I Â remember Â Greg Â Davies Â said Â Â?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Č&#x201A;Â?ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x17E;Â&#x2122;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x17E;Ä&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?Čą he Â would Â have Â died Â on Â his Â arse Â and Â he Â wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;t Â have Â done Â it Â again Â and Â he Â would Â still Â be Â a Â teacher Â hating Â himself,â&#x20AC;? Â says Â Logan. Â Č&#x192; Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?Ç°Čą ČąÂ Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x160;Â˘ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â˘Ç°ČąÂ&#x201C;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x17E;Ä&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ˘Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Ç°ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?Ç°ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â?Ç°ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â?ČąÂ&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â˘ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â?Ç°Čą and Â if Â it Â does Â fail, Â which Â it Â will, Â then Â come Â on Â my Â course, Â but Â at Â Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â?Čą Č&#x201A;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x17E;Â˘ÇˇČ&#x201E; â&#x20AC;&#x153;So Â basically, Â have Â fun, Â develop Â a Â thick Â skin, Â never Â punch Â a Â promoter, Â and Â develop Â a Â taste Â for Â motorway Â food Â in Â the Â early Â Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ÇŻČą Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ÇŻČ&#x201E; Â&#x2DC;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Čą Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â˘Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â?Â˘ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;ČąÂ Â&#x17D;Â&#x2039;Â&#x153;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x17D;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2018;Ä´Â&#x2122;ÇąČŚČŚČą loganmurray.com, Â and Â his Â book Â â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Be Â a Â Great Â Stand-Ââ&#x20AC;?â&#x20AC;&#x2018;Upâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Â is Â available Â now.

The Inside Joke | 61

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Don Ward:

“It’s one of those things where you have to say, ‘you had to be there’. And I’m happy to say I was there – and I created it.” DON WARD, owner of The Comedy Store, hardly needs an introduction. But even though we know about his achievements, how exactly does it feel to watch a comedy club become the best-known comedy venue in the whole of the UK? Amber De Smet speaks to the club founder about his experiences.

magine a dark, dark era without YouTube cat videos, smartphones, or even worse: a proper UK comedy scene. It may sound rather unbelievable, but comedy clubs as we know them now did not really exist in the Britain of 1979. That is, until a new comedy club opened in the heart of England’s capital in May of that year. After a trip to America, comedian turned businessman Don Ward decided to open a comedy club. He decided to name it after a comedy club in Los Angeles that had particularly impressed him: ‘The Comedy Store’. At first, the venue proved to be an excellent starting point for young alternative comedians, who ended up dominating the scene in the late seventies and eighties. The Comedy Store eventually grew into the UK’s bestknown comedy venue over the next decades. Right now, The Comedy Store is based in both Manchester and London, and keeps attracting comedy fans from all over the UK. During our chat, Don Ward tells me all about how he went about turning from comedian into businessman, what the magical atmosphere in The Comedy Store of the early days was like, and why comedy is actually a really serious business. So read on to find out how one man managed to found a comedy club that would liven up the comedy scene like nothing else had ever done before, and change the comedy landscape forever.

Becoming a businessman

Images via Youtube and Wikimedia Commons.

The performing years “Over the years, I won some, I lost some, but that is just the nature of life. I have been in this business for 35 years, and I have supplied comedy all over the world by now. When I started out, I performed as a comedian for ten years, and did road shows with people like Cliff Richard and Marty Wilde and his band. It may not seem like it, but it’s actually a very serious business, comedy. That’s why one of my club by-lines is ‘a serious night out”. It has always been a serious business for me personally – as a comedian, you tell jokes for a living; you’re only as good as your last gig. Before you get on stage, you really hope that the audience loves you, but only after you get off stage you become the person you really are. On the other hand, you can make people laugh, and that’s an amazing feeling. It can’t get better than that, can it? I think it’s an art form that’s underestimated. Laughter makes you feel great, and it gives you a feeling totally different from anything else. Being a comedian is an extraordinary job – it’s like a drug. You can be addicted to drugs, or cigarettes, but you can also be addicted to comedy. And that’s a lovely addiction of course. There is just you, a light, and a microphone. And what comes out of your mouth makes people laugh. I’m so glad I was born to do comedy and not ballet – I haven’t got the frame for ballet anyway.

64 | The Inside Joke

“However, after ten years of performing, I got fed up with being a comedian. It was nice, but what I actually love most is producing: for me, creating things is the real pleasure. My interest in that started when I was working as a host in a place called the Windmill Theatre. It was a variety club with nude tableaux vivants, but also a place where comedians often appeared. After that, I started working as a host in a strip club, and I thought by myself ‘I fancy this, this is good’. I got hold of a choreographer and I created my own striptease club, which was called the Sunset Strip. Eventually, I kept that club for about fifteen years. Around the time I started out as a businessman, I also bought a nightclub in Soho’s Dean Street, which was called The Gargoyle. I ran that club for about ten years, with myself as the host – anything to save money, at that time. At some point, I ran the Sunset Strip along with The Gargoyle, and both were quite a success. That was my first taste in business, and I started to realise that I enjoyed business as well as comedy. And then along came The Comedy Store in 1979. When I saw what they were doing in America in 1978, I thought ‘right, this is it’. You know, generally in life, you either have good luck, or bad luck. And I had good luck at that time. I suppose it’s mainly because I already had a nightclub in Soho, and Soho at

“Being a comedian is an extraordinairy job it’s like a drug”

weekends just used to die a quiet death, since there was no one around. It was striptease clubs all around in London’s red light district area – so at weekends it would be awfully quiet because nobody went there during weekends. However, I realised that it would be a perfect business opportunity for me to try and do a comedy club on Saturday and Sundays.

The Comedy Store started out with alternative comedy, and for two years it was nothing else. Amongst the performers was once also the dearly departed Robin Williams, who was an absolutely extraordinary talent. He was one of the funniest men I ever met. They were the good ones, but most of the people that turned up were really bad. However, we only found that out while they were performing, since I made the audition the show. The atmosphere in there was electric, magnificent. It was unlike anything else I’d ever experienced before. It would be impossible to ever be able to convey it to you by just explaining it. Honestly, it is one of those things where you have to say, “you had to be there”. And I am happy to say I was there, and I created that.”

“No“So, once I saw in what was happening body knew with comedy in America, I decided to try the same over here and started a what they were comedy club above a strip club in May 1979. However, what I didn’t know doing on stage, really. was whether there were actually any comedians out here. So I put an advert Out of 150 acts, only 5 Electric atmosphere

Do you also want to experience acts were actually some real comedy at The Comedy Store good.” after reading this? That can be arranged:

in various publications, and 150 people answered it. That’s probably because I promised them the following: ‘bring your talent to me, and I will make you a star’. It was a bit bit like an early day X-Factor. But nobody knew what they were doing on stage, really – out of 150 acts, only 5 acts were actually good. there were people like Alexei Sayle, Rik Mayall, Peter Richardson, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Tony Allen, and Rick Allen. They were In their early twenties or younger, so they used to invite all their friends to come and see them. At times it was almost like Oxford and Cambridge combined – with a sprinkling of Leeds and Manchester – in there.

The Comedy Store is open at least six – and often seven – days a week. The London Comedy Store is located at 1a Oxendon Street, London, SW1Y 4EE. The Manchester Comedy Store can be found at Arches 3 and 4, Deansgate Locks, Whitworth Street West, Manchester, M1 5LH. Make sure you visit http://thecomedystore.co.uk/ for a weekly programme and more information.

The Inside Joke | 65

section here

32 | The Inside Joke

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Interviews

Scenes we’d like to see...

Words: Nicole Laffan Pictures: Sheffield SHRIMPS

Since the golden age of Whose Line is it Anyway?, it could be argued that improv has been put on the backburner, making way for its big-stage cousin – mainstream standup. But one Sheffield-based University society is out to prove that improv is alive and kicking!

The SHRIMPS get silly at an improv comedy practice session.

The Inside Joke

On first appearances, the SHRIMPS as a title is quite confusing. Could it be a university society dedicated to people who love eating seafood? Or is it a support group for incredibly short, skinny people? The answer is neither. SHRIMPS is in fact a clever mish-mash of the title Sheffield Improv Society (see what they did there!), a group of students dedicated to practising and performing improv comedy! The Inside Joke talks to four members about their work at the SHRIMPS, and why they chose improv comedy over other, more mainstream forms such as stand-up. Meet: Hugh Clark, who is studying a Masters in Engineering; Daman Singh Bamrah, a student of economics; Alex Keen, a graduate working for the government; and Chad Heathcliff Bentley, who studies English Literature. Here the guys talk about everything from improv comedy, their workshops with SHRIMPS, their performances at the Edinburgh Fringe, to Chad’s puppy Stanley.

Interviews

THE

Sheffield SHRIMPS AND IMPROV COMEDY!

Why did you all decide to join SHRIMPS? Hugh: Before I went to the University of Sheffield I took a gap year. When I started, I asked all of my friends who had completed their first year which societies they recommended. A friend of mine from The Shambles, a York-based improv comedy troupe, got me hooked, and the rest is history! Daman: I’ve always enjoyed watching comedy, but the performer in me came out on my year abroad to Las Vegas, because I lost my sense of shame in its entirety! When I started uni, I decided to go out on a limb and try some SHRIMPS workshops. You could participate in the workshops casually, or with a view towards performing in the live comedy, which is what I wanted to do. Alex: I was brought to a workshop by a friend who wanted someone to go with him. We have the same twisted sense of humour, so it worked out well! Chad: I come from a theatre background so I’ve always liked to perform, but I wanted to try something different. I’d been going to the Fringe for a few years and had seen a lot of improv groups who, by either being brilliant or awful, inspired me to do it. When I saw the SHRIMPS advert, I decided to give it a go. I was also hugely shy and introverted, so it seemed a good step to make. If nothing else, being part of SHRIMPS certainly helped my confidence! What attracted you to improv in particular?

adrenaline that comes with not knowing what the next words out of your mouth will be. You’re working on gut instinct, and it’s really exhilarating! Alex: I’ve flirted with stand-up, which I think is almost the opposite of improv. It’s incredibly planned and practised, and also very raw and individual, because you’re alone and baring yourself on stage. I’ve also done some theatre stuff, which is sort of how I started in improv. As Daman said, there’s something very liberating in being able to take a scene wherever you want. At the same time, it’s exciting to be part of a team who are all working in sync and bouncing off each other to make this side-splitting scene. It’s a feeling like no other! Chad: When I do other performances, I like to lose myself in the character and story – which I know sounds very actor-ly! But in improv you are more focused on invention, so you have to be constantly aware of the performance and the audience. I’m going to disagree with Hugh slightly (sorry!) and say that plays tend to be very solo experiences – everything else could be bad, but if you’re good, that’s what people will notice. In improv, everyone works together to such a degree that you practically know what they are thinking. You might become friends with your fellow actors, but your fellow improvisers become your family.

“You might become friends with actors, but improvisers become your family.”

Hugh: I don’t like learning lines! Daman: Whilst taking my cousin on a tour around Central London, we came across an Improv Night at The Comedy Store in Soho. We went to it, and it was amazing, so I was inspired to give it a go! Alex: I suck at forcing myself to learn, so I thought improv would suit me best because, like Hugh, I hate learning lines. I stuck with it because it turns out improv is more addictive than smoking! How does improv compare to other styles of comedy? Hugh: The highs are higher and the lows are still pretty high! I’ve done different types of stage work before and I’ve found that when the writing’s bad, you tend to bear the brunt of the silent audience. In other words, you have no control over the content, and when it’s bad, it’s the performer who suffers. On the other hand, if the material is good and you make the audience laugh, you share the credit with the writer and the director! If I’m going to share any credit, it’s going to be with the people on stage with me who made that audience crack up. Improv allows you to both have control over your content, and makes sure the credit goes where it’s due. Daman: I’ve recently been experimenting with performing some semi-scripted comedy for my YouTube channel, and I’ve since come to believe that improv is a very different, but equally satisfying style of performance. Improv is much more impulsive and liberating. You also have a big sense of nervousness and

How do you prepare for a performance? Hugh: As a group, our warm-ups are

both vocal and physical. It’s important that we keep our minds sharp, so we do a lot of quick thinking word games. Personally, I like to smile and stand up straight for the preceding hour, because eventually I feel as confident as I look. Daman: I call my sister and try to make her laugh. If I manage it, I know it’ll be a good show! Alex: I tend to have a pint and dance around the room – it relieves tension! I think everyone gets nervous before any kind of public display, but luckily for me I only start getting nervous when the speakers start booming: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage…’, by which point I don’t have time to freak out! Chad: I like to listen to some really loud and heavy punk or metal and mosh out in my own little world - I look like a complete turd, but it works! Just before the performance, I like to take the earphones out and banter with the other performers so that a connection and flow is already there when we charge onto the stage. What do you do in your workshops? Hugh: In our Wednesday workshops, which are free for all to attend at 7.30pm during term time, the emphasis is on having fun, which we feel helps to spark the creativity and exuberance needed for improv. We start with high energy warm-ups and then get straight on to playing as many games as possible. There’s also a

The Inside Joke 69

Interviews

Chad’s impression of a Scunthorpe resident was going down a treat.

bit of theory – we look at what makes good improv as we go. For those looking at stage-work, we have performance workshops where the cast work a little harder at keeping their skills sharp. We also discuss what makes a funny scene so that we can give the best show possible. But there’s a fun side too – we break new ground and learn new games, and make each other laugh as much as possible! Can you tell us about a performance that went really well… Hugh: We once performed a themed show to accompany a viewing of the film Anchorman. The whole show was an improvised news broadcast. A few weeks later, I was running an Open Mic night but some people had dropped out at the last minute, leaving us with a 20 minute slot to fill. I called up two SHRIMPS who I knew might be free and we had the best time on stage! The impromptu nature of the gig made it feel much more exciting! Daman: My first ever performance as a “shrimpette” (i.e. before I officially got accepted into the performing troupe) stands out the most. It was the most adrenaline-filled performance, probably because it was my first, but I got a lot of laughs! Alex: A few months ago we did a show with the Sheffield Comedy Revue, another university society, and that was really fun! I think improv works best in a small but full room where everyone feels part of this really intimate thing that’s “just for us”. Chad: A few weeks ago four of us were at the Peace in the Park Festival in Sheffield, waiting outside the Comedy Tent. There was a free slot at the beginning of the show and we knew the guy who was running it, so we asked if we could have the slot and he said yes. I hadn’t done improv for a few weeks so I was, quite frankly, bricking it. But once we all ran onto the stage and started the madness began, and I was completely in the zone! I think it was especially awesome because a lot of people were only in the Comedy Tent to avoid the rain, and by the end they were laughing and

The Inside Joke

enjoying the show as much as everyone else! I felt victorious! …and one that went disastrously wrong? Hugh: We were once asked to do a show in an amphitheatre during the Fresher’s Fair. Even with microphones we were barely audible over the crowd – we must have looked like nut jobs from the back row. Daman: I was performing one of our guessing/miming games – Chain Murder – which involved “killing” the previous performer on stage with whichever method of death the audience had chosen. On this occasion, the Shrimp who was about to kill me had to plunge my head down a toilet. He grabbed the back of my head and pushed it down. The act required me to wear a turban, which came off on stage as he pushed my head! I looked ridiculous! We laughed about it afterwards…and then I killed him (and I ain’t talking about the miming game!). Alex: We did a show for a society ball once…without a stage, microphones, or an introduction. Nobody knew what to make of us, and what’s worse, it was late in the day and everyone had had a few. Chatty, bored, and tired of sitting quietly, the audience completely ignored us for 40 excruciating minutes. It was really disheartening. Chad: I’m lucky enough to have avoided being in any shows that have gone awfully, even when I performed to an audience of three! However, I did perform one scene in a workshop once, where I had to mime the tesseract (the magic space cube from The Avengers) for people to guess. It took a while and soon stopped being funny. Luckily though, I think only fellow Shrimps are ever that evil – real audiences are much nicer! Who inspires you? Hugh: My girlfriend. She’s convinced I’m not funny and I’m just

Interviews trying to prove her wrong! Alex: My fellow SHRIMPS! Improv is a team game so when they’re funny it makes me funnier! Chad: I’m going to copy Alex and say the other SHRIMPS. I also really like actors like Matt Smith. He has an amazing physicality and is able to make you laugh with a flick of the wrist. What was it like playing at the Edinburgh Fringe? Hugh: From an organisational point of view, everything can and will go wrong! The venue will be a construction site, the flyers won’t be delivered on time, and someone will over-sleep. Your diet will go to hell. You will function on less sleep than you ever thought possible. You. Will. Cry. But despite all of this, you would do it every day for the rest of your life if you could because nothing compares to getting up on the stage every day to make people laugh. Daman: It was incredible! Each show had a different audience, meaning that no two performances were ever the same. It tested us as comedians and performers, and gave us first-hand experience of the ups and downs involved in the lives of full-time performers. Overall it was an experience I genuinely treasured! Alex: The best thing about the Edinburgh Fringe is that you’re surrounded by other performers and shows that help to inspire you. You get to do what you love, and see others do what they love too. I wish I could afford to go every year. Chad: It’s like the world’s best fancy dress party and everyone’s invited. Even the grumpy locals who wish it wasn’t there get won over by the magic of the festival. I’ve performed there for four years in a row, and not going down this year almost broke my heart. I ended up spending silly amounts on accommodation, and went as a spectator for the first time!

but I’ve performed to some rowdy audiences. You have to engage with them directly to grab their attention! Alex: Honestly, we don’t get many heckles, but people do give offensive suggestions for us to perform –they think they’re being clever! I like to disarm them by making a pun out of it and doing something innocuous. In the end, people just want to enjoy what you are doing. Sometimes you need to keep surprising them for long enough that they give you a chance. Audiences are like puppies. They’ll piss on the carpet if you let them, but they’ll respect you for whacking them on the nose with a rolled up newspaper, and they’ll love you for taking them for a walk! And you can tickle their bellies…what were we talking about? Chad: My puppy is called Stanley and he likes to chew my beard…sorry! It’s fellow Shrimps who can be the worst audiences – they’ll give you a suggestion with an evil glint in their eye!

“At Edinburgh, everything can and will go wrong. You. Will. Cry.”

How do you deal with heckling when it becomes a nuisance? Hugh: The thing about improv is that audience participation is encouraged, but we like to limit it to certain periods. Audiences know that they’ll get their chance to trip us up when it comes to giving suggestions, so they tend not to heckle in a confrontational or disruptive way. Daman: Fortunately I haven’t had to deal with heckling per se.

What advice would you give to anyone wanting to start out in improv? Hugh: You have to let everything go and jump

in! Don’t always worry about being funny either – some of the best improvisers don’t make jokes. They build a scene, tell a tale, and give their teammates something to build on. Daman: Just do it! You will find yourself surrounded by like-minded people with similar performance experience to you (which may well be none). Improv helps to build your confidence massively, so take the plunge! You have everything to gain! Alex: Improv is a team game. When it feels like everyone is in it together, you’re doing it right. Chad: Do it, don’t think about it! Go in and welcome what these weird and wonderful people, your audience, give you. Go with it and then add your own whimsy to the mix. Also remember that being “funny” isn’t a talent that can’t be learned. Anyone can establish their own wit, and improv helps to bring that out. For more information on The SHRIMPS and their workshops, check out their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter @theshrimps. You can see more of The SHIMPS’ talents at www.theinsidejoke.co.uk, as they give us their “World’s Worst” scenarios!

The Inside Joke 71

SUBSCRIBE TO: JUST £2.50 FOR 3 ISSUES

NEVER MISS A JOKE!

Scan this QR code to be redirected to our website

WHERE JEST IS THE BEST CAN’T WAIT FOR YOUR DELIVERY? DOWNLOAD THE DIGITAL ISSUE FOR ONLY £2.99 Available from Apple Newstand, Google Play, Nook, Kindle and Zinio.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Offer valid for UK subscriptions only. You will pay £2.50 for your first 3 issues by Direct Debit, followed by £8 every 6 issues therefter. PLUS a FREE DVD when you take up your subscription (Bill Bailey, Qualmpeddler). Automatic subscription to our VIP mailing list will start fourteen days after subscription, providing you with the opportunity to purchase tickets for stand-up gigs before anyone else. Discount codes available only for people who have had a subscription for over six months. Any covermount gifts offered with the magazine are not included in subscription copies and are for newsstand promotions only. All orders will be acknowledged and you will be advised of commencement issue within 14 days. Subscriptions may be cancelled at any time during your trial period - after your trial periodyour subscription will run on six-month minimum subscription term. Free gift available while stocks last. Unfortunately we cannot offer substitutions. For UK subscription enquiries please call 0844 987652. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other subscription offer and closes 12th October. Please allow 28 days for gift delivery. The normal cost of twelve issues is £40.80 based on a basic cover price of £3.40. All savings are based on the cover price of £3.40. Overseas subscription rates are £61.50 to airmail to Europe and Eire, and £63.50 to airmail to the rest of the world. For overseas subscription enquiries please telephone +44 1858 438797 or visit Qualitymagazines.co.uk. All information is correct at time of going to press.

The Inside Joke

THE INSIDE JOKE IS CELEBRATING ITS FIRST ISSUE WITH AN EXCLUSIVE SUBSCRIPTION OFFER! Scan the code or visit subscription.co.uk/theinsidejoke and quote discount code LAUGH625 to claim your first issues for £2.50.

Subscribe today ONLY £2.50 for your first 3 issues. FREE stand-up DVD. VIP access and discounts to the latest gigs. FREE delivery direct to your door.

FREE STAND-UP VIP ACCESS TO THE

DVD

LATEST TOURS.

The Inside Joke 73

FAçADE

BEHIND THE

Words by Christopher Tracy.

Retrospective

74 | The Inside Joke

Some of our most beloved funnymen/women are in fact hiding behind a ‘mask’. Now, there are some who have appeared many times in film and television that are all too obviously not who they say they are. Such examples include Madea (Tyler Perry), Mrs. Brown (Brendan O’Carroll), and Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan) to name just a few. For stand-up comedians whose primary focus is the stage, an alter ego is a perfect way to satirise. Below are just a few examples of stand-up comics who used an alter ego and had successful careers.

lter egos are something of a norm for John Barry Humphries. Born in Kew, Melbourne, Australia February 17, 1934, Humphries had a somewhat uneventful, albeit happy childhood. He had many different types of clothing and due to the

lack of time spent with his father, spent many hours playing dress-up in his back garden. This of course was only the beginning. As he got older, he rebelled against societal norms and found a love of the arts, which his parents were averse to despite their own affluence towards it. After his mother got rid of all his books when he was nine, Humphries delved even further into the arts and as a result created his first sustained character, ‘Dr. Aaron Azimuth’, an agent provocateur, dandy, and Dadaist. His University years saw him leading the Dadaist movement, pulling pranks and performing in ways that challenged the status quo. He wrote and performed songs and sketches and after university joined a newly formed group, the Melbourne Theatre Company. It was with this company that his best-known character came to exist, Edna Everage. He first performed as Edna in a sketch titled “Olympic Hostess” at the Melbourne University’s Union Theatre on December 12, 1955. It was meant to be a one-off performance, but he revived her once after joining the Philip Street Revue Theatre in Sydney in 1957 and she refused to leave. It was as if she knew she would become more than a superstar. But Edna is only one of Humphries three main characters. Throughout his 50+ years, he has created many characters, but his most common other than Edna was Les Patterson, an unkempt, vulgar, lascivious, and crude character - the polar opposite of Edna - and Sandy Stone, a nice gentleman inspired by a neighbour. But Edna was always to be the favourite.

Retrospective

or most people, the name Daniel Lawrence Whitney means absolutely nothing. But say the name Larry the Cable Guy, and you can be sure that most people would know whom you were talking about (that is if you are asking an American). Whitney was born February 17, 1963 in Pawnee City, Nebraska. He was raised on a pig

farm and had a conservative, traditional, and churchgoing upbringing. He was ever fascinated with the ‘redneck’ life and would often comment on it, much to the humour of his friends. It wasn’t until he was at university though that he acted on a dare to try stand-up. That was in 1986. Two years later, he dropped out of university to attempt a career in comedy. Because of Whitney’s fascination with anything ‘redneck’, Larry is about as redneck as anyone can get. He wears sleeveless, flannel or jean button-up shirts, jeans, a camouflage trucker hat, construction boots, and sports a goatee. His thick southern drawl is attributed to university roommates from Texas and Georgia. His approachable and relaxed style proved to be a huge hit with audiences in the South. All of this brought together ignited the flame of his stardom. Now a huge success, Larry has employed his art in all manor of venues. He also had some appearances on the television programs Evening at the Improv and Comic Strip Live, but received the most exposure on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom Show, all of which increased his fan base beyond rural America. He has since released seven comedy albums, two of which are certified gold and one is certified platinum, and has appeared many times in film and on television.

ne of America’s most widely recognized comedic performers is a woman by the name of Minnie Pearl.

At least that’s how most people knew her. Minnie Pearl was born Sarah Ophelia Colley on October 25, 1912. As a young woman, she majored in theater arts at Ward-Belmont College (now Belmont University), the most prestigious school for young ladies in Nashville at the time, and even taught dance for a few years after graduation. It wasn’t until she took a job as a dramatic coach with an Atlanta based touring theater company, Wayne P. Sewell Company, that Minnie Pearl began to take shape. The idea for Minnie Pearl came about after she met a mountain woman while she was promoting the group’s shows. She used her style and speech as the basis for Minnie and then amplified various traits that she observed in the people she met. Sarah performed as Minnie for the first time in Aiken, South Carolina in 1939, but it wouldn’t be until 1940 that Sarah would move to the shadows and Minnie would become who everyone knew. She was seen performing at a banker’s convention where it was suggested to her to audition for the Grand Ole Opry, a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee. She did, and her first performance on that stage was on November 30, 1940 and a huge success. Minnie went on to perform with the Grand Ole Opry for just over 50 years before ending her career in 1991 due to a stroke. She died a short 5 years later.

The Inside Joke | 75

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

section here

GENIUS

THIEF? The Inside Joke | 33

Retrospective The death of Robin Williams was one of those shocking moments where time seems to stand still and an audible gasp is heard around the world. After that shock though comes the postmortem and though much has been written about Williams’ film career – his stand-up hasn’t merited much mention. We here at The Inside Joke won’t stand for that and thus we are going to look at one of the more controversial areas surrounding Robin Williams stand-up career. Was he a thief?

Robin yupping it up

ometimes a comedian comes along who changes everything. Richard Pryor. Billy Connolly. Bill Hicks. Comedians who brought stand-up comedy to new

heights, inspired others to follow in their footsteps, and whose influence will be replicated in every new comic you see in the future. Robin Williams was no such comic simply because there could never be another Robin Williams. No other comic can perform the way he did. The fast, manic energy, the speed of which he could improvise, dropping from character to character without skipping a beat. The tortured mind and the childlike Words by Josh Stephenson. Photos: Mike Coppola

heart. He was truly a one of a kind stand-up comedian. Yet one thing hung over the stand-up career of Robin Williams, an accusation that followed him around the nation’s comedy clubs, through numerous interviews, and affected his reputation amongst his fellow comedians. That accusation was simple: Robin Williams was a joke thief. Now, in the world of stand-up comedy, no accusation carries

unhappy results would invariably be a stolen joke, but this is

more weight than that one. The reputations of comedians, such

something Williams would always defend himself from. In a

as Denis Leary and Dane Cook, have burned to the ground under

podcast with fellow comedian Marc Maron in 2010, he said: “I

the pressure of being regarded as a joke thief. So with Williams’

think if you hang out in comedy clubs like I did almost 24/7 and

death a few weeks past, maybe now is the time to evaluate these

you hear things and if you’re improvising, all of the sudden you

rumours and see if there was any truth to them. Before all that though, we need to understand what kind of comic Williams was. Put simply, he was a hurricane on stage. Just look at his first major recorded show for

repeat it and you go, ‘oh shit’.” Nonetheless though, his

"Some guys would refuse to go on stage"

HBO back in 1978, Off the Wall. The sheer levels of energy and excitement are difficult to keep up with. One joke flies past after the other. You could watch it ten times and still miss some. The

reputation started to sour and prominent promoters would worry about having him in the building. “When Robin would come back to the clubs after he became really famous, some guys would refuse to go on stage till he left the room,” said Steven Pearl, who was a

comic Williams reportedly stole from. Williams came up with a novel way of trying to keep fellow

key to enjoying a Robin Williams set is to realise that there is no

comics off his back – if you believe he’d stole a joke from you,

real structure to it. The entire thing is controlled only by Robin’s

he’d pay you. “I said, ‘I apologize. I'll pay you for this.', but I

flights of fancy and you as the audience are there to steer him in

wasn't going out of my way to go fucking grave robbing. 'Cause if

the right direction.

you're on top, they're gonna look for your ass,’” Williams said in

These tangents and flights of fancy though are where Robin

an interview with Rolling Stone in 1991. Steven Pearl was one of

developed his joke stealing reputation. According to old friend

the comedians who benefitted from this treatment: “I confronted

Robert Klein: “things would float into [Robin's] head that

him and gave him shit and he cut me a cheque right there for a

he heard onstage—sometimes with unhappy results.” These

thousand bucks. There were a few more cheques for substantial

78 | The Inside Joke

Retrospective amounts of money that kept my rent paid for a while.” Williams would go on cutting comedians cheques until eventually he tired of playing the scapegoat. “I started getting tired of just paying, just being the chump," he continues. "I said, 'Hey, wait a minute. It's not true.' People were accusing me of stealing stuff that basically was from my own life. And then I went, 'Wait, this is fucking nuts. I didn't take that. That's about my mother.'” Eventually, Williams decided to cut the rumours off at the source and left behind the comedy club scene all together. “I had to go through a period where I couldn’t hang out at comedy clubs anymore as I was worried about it happening,” said Williams. He would hide in the back away from the stage, stay outside until his time to perform, and would leave immediately afterwards. The trick seemed to work as the joke allegations stopped, or more likely, his prominent movie career meant stand-up took a back seat. Still, when Williams returned to the stage after a short hiatus, he was more invigorated than ever. His later year shows, ‘Live On Broadway’ (2002) and ‘Weapons of Self-Destruction’ (2009), showed a more political bent. Williams was funnier than ever and developed a diversity in his act many thought he was

ESSENTIAL WILLIAMS Most of Williams best stand-up work is waiting for you on YouTube and if you’re in need of a little inspiration as where to start we’ve listed our favourite five for you below: 5) Live On Broadway – This was the show that rebirthed Robin Williams as a stand-up performer and starting his love affair with putting down George W. Bush at every opportunity. 4) Off the Wall HBO Special – The set that made him huge. This has all the elements of an essential Robin Williams set but still that little bit raw. William’s was still figuring things out at this point and it’s exciting to see the answers come into his mind. 3) An Evening with Robin Williams – This 1982 stand-up special acts as a greatest hit montage of all of Robin’s classic bits. Well worth a watch if you want a quick primer on what Williams was all about.

lacking, while maintaining that manic energy that elevates his performances. Now the allegations of joke stealing are more contained to that mid-80’s period of his career and Williams made a return to being accepted by the stand-up community. He has always had his supporters. Whoopi Goldberg once said in his defence: “They made it sound as if Robin were taking their livelihood away. Comics do this all the time.” Jamie Masada, owner of the Laugh Factory in L.A., said: “Robin is not a thief. Robin is addicted to laughter. His brain is a sponge and he wants to make people laugh no matter what.”

2) Weapons of Self-Destruction – His most reserved and moderate performance but possibly his funniest. Williams had plenty to say about the Bush administration and devoted an entire stand-up set to talking about them. He touches on other areas but it’s the political material that has the real bite.

It's tough to shut

1) Live at the Met – The definitive Williams performance

that mouth up!

builds on the early promise of his HBP special and lifts off from there. From his energy, his improvisation and his audience interaction. Everything seems to click here and is rightly regarded as one of the best stand-up performances ever committed to video. So was Robin Williams a joke thief? Probably. Though I’d argue the bigger question is: Does it matter? Williams produced hours upon hours of original, hilarious material. His talent is undoubted regardless of whether he stole the odd line here or there. What you can’t steal though is that essence; the raw emotion he managed to generate on stage that will live on in the hearts of his fans for years to come. To say Williams was a joke thief was to miss the point of what he was doing, which was quite simple – connecting with people. A Robin Williams set was less about the joke and more about the experience. An experience so unique it will likely never be replicated. That was the magic of Robin Williams

The Inside Joke | 79

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Reviews

QUICK REVIEWS F

or those who remember Bob Saget as the wholesome family man on Full House and the host of America’s Funniest Home Videos, be prepared to

discover a whole new side of him. In his debut book, Bob opens up about how

FACTFILE

he started out as a self-censored stand-up until he couldn’t take it anymore. ‘One day in my early twenties, I snapped,’ he recounts. ‘I didn’t want to disappoint my

Title: Dirty Daddy:

mom, but I couldn’t take the censorship of it all.’ And true to form, in this book all

The Chronicles of a

censorship goes out the window. Like all his references to penises.

Family Man Turned

Words by Christopher Tracy. Photos: Amazon, Harper Collins, Nick Hern

Filthy Comedian In the book, Bob gives us a look at how he started out and the events and people that shaped his

Author: Bob Saget

life and career. Some of it is very poignant and some of it is outrageous, but all of it is real and raw.

Pages: 336

‘Joking has also been a means for me to avoid pain.’ All of it told in his unique, often vulgar and crass,

Publisher:

but heartfelt way, Dirty Daddy reveals Bob Saget as he truly is – a man who loves to make others

HarperCollins

laugh.

ew York Times bestselling author and comedian Paul Reiser delivers another outstanding piece of literature. In this humorous and insightful novella, Paul recounts his encounters with such legendary

Hollywood greats as Bill Cosby, Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, Carol Burnett, and Peter

FACTFILE

Falk. Their advice, both comedic and touching, has proved invaluable as they taught him about friendship, and whose examples showed him how to be a better

Title: How to get to

comedian and person.

Carnegie Hall Author: Paul Reiser

How to get to Carnegie Hall is Paul’s attempt to remind the reader of the eternal

Pages: 20

value of hard work and practice. He once tried to relate this message to his son, but like the result of

Publsiher: Kindle

a mistimed joke, he didn’t get it. He recounts missed opportunities and how he wishes he had said

eBook

something different. So in a sense of duty, in this book he seeks to impart to us the reader the advice he wasn’t able to adequately articulate to his son and the world in general. This time, he delivers it expertly with wisdom, humour, and his obvious zeal for life. So. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? ‘Practice.’

he creation of Monty Python, through the pages of a daily diary, is a nagging reminder of the unglamorous process rather then the glamorous result. In his eye-opening book, Michael Palin gives us a look at exactly what it took to bring to

life the iconic comedy shows. It was a tumultuous ride that at times seemed more than bearable, but that has now proved its worth. The book starts at where all good works start, at the beginning, i.e. the 8th of July 1969. It was the first day of filming of the very first episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

From there we receive sometimes daily and sometimes weekly accounts of the struggles, triumphs, and timeless moments up until the opening of their final feature film in 1983, The Meaning of Life. In intimate detail, he records how the comedy of Monty Python evolved over the years, the moments of creative brilliance, and the self-doubt. You will laugh as you remember scenes in films and shows as

FACTFILE Title: Monty Python at Work Author: Michael Palin Pages: 256 Publisher: Nick Hern Books

he writes of their creation. Thanks to Palin’s as-it-happens accounts, you will develop a deeper sense of appreciation and respect for the creators of such legendary material. It won’t only bring a smile, it will also provide inspiration and instruction to those future directors/actors/creators.

The Inside Joke | 81

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

section here

32 | The Inside Joke

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

section here

32 | The Inside Joke

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

section here

32 | The Inside Joke

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

Next Month

The Inside Joke OUT OCTOBER 3RD

Get online at

www.theinsidejoke.co.uk

for more funny stuff.

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GET POLITICAL

Russell Brand is seriously funny in an exclusive interview.

NEVER MISS A JOKE! 90

The Inside Joke

Turn to page 68 and find out how to subscribe.

PLUS:

Next Month

GET THE APP!

CROSSING THE NATIONAL PUNCHLINE Is there a North/South divide in comedy?

JOAN RIVERS: THE PIONEER OF FEMALE COMEDY

We pay tribute to the Queen of Comedy, and the woman who dared to break all the rules.

GRUMPY OLD MEN

Comedy veterans give their view on the younger talent

JIMMY TARBUCK Plus:

RORY BREMNER

PHIL JUPITUS

Gigs Confessions

LENNY HENRY

Reviews The Inside Joke 91

The Last Laugh

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S THE WEIRDEST...

Words: Â Christopher Â Tracy. Â Pictures: Â Gwendal Â Uguen

The Â Inside Â Joke Â was Â proving Â too Â much Â for Â Batman.

This Â month Â weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re Â looking Â at Â the Â weirdest Â compliments Â youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Â been Â given. Â Maybe Â they Â said Â you Â looked Â like Â an Â actor, Â but Â you Â thought Â they Â meant Â someone Â else, Â or Â someone Â liked Â your Â toes. Â Below Â are Â some Â of Â the Â weirdest Â compliments Â people Â have Â received. Č&#x192; ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;ČŹÂ Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x201D;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?Čą ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;ČąČ&#x192;Â&#x;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2122;Â?Â&#x17E;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Ä´ÇŻČ&#x201E; Â&#x160;Ä´Čą Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;ÄľÂ&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x;Ç°Čą Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2018;Ç°Čą Č&#x192; ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2018;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2122;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÄ&#x2122;Â&#x203A;Â&#x153;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x17D;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Ç°ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x152;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Čą a Â guy Â I Â know Â and Â he Â tells Â me Â aloud Â and Â unexpectedly, Â Helaman, Â your Â skin Â looks Â like Â mocha Â and Â before Â you Â had Â a Â caramel Â colour...I Â turned Â red Â with Â embarrassment Â and Â became Â best Â friend Â with Â one Â of Â the Â girls Â who Â to Â this Â day Â calls Â me Â Â&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;ÇŻČ&#x201E;

Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Čą Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2014;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x17D;ÂŁČą Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x153;Ç°Čą Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Ç°Čą â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Â look Â like Â Peewee Â Herman... Â I Â have Â heard Â this Â from Â tons Â of Â Â&#x2122;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ÇŻČ&#x201E; Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Čą Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2013;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2122;Ĺ&#x2DC;Ç°Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Ç°Čą â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hey Â good Â looking. Â Â Is Â heaven Â missing Â an Â angel?â&#x20AC;?

Č&#x192; ČąÂ&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Ä´Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2022;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x2018;Â?Čą ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Čą Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â&#x160;Â&#x2014;ÇŻČą Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x161;Â&#x17E;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Ç°ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Ç°Čą Č&#x201A; Čą Čą Čą ÇŻČ&#x201E;

â&#x20AC;&#x153;When Â I Â was Â cashier Â at Â Mayceys Â many Â years Â ago Â a Â girl Â told Â me Â I Â Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2039;Â&#x17E;Ä´ÇŻČą ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąĹ&#x2014;Ĺ?ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x2DC;Čą ČąÂ?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2022;Â˘ČąÂ&#x160;Â Â&#x201D;Â Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â?ÇŻČ&#x201E;

Â&#x2013;Â˘Čą Â&#x2DC;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x2DC;Ç°Čą Â&#x17D;Â Â&#x152;Â&#x160;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;

R.J. Â Edmonds, Â 29, Â Utah, Â USA

Č&#x192; ČąÂ Â&#x160;Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?Čą ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;ČąÄ&#x2122;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x153;ČąÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2014;ČąÂ&#x201D;Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2022;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x153;ÇŻČ&#x201E;

â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Â airport Â security Â guy Â at Â the Â Vegas Â airport Â telling Â me Â i Â had Â a Â Â?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17E;Â?Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x17D;Č&#x201A;Â&#x153;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;ČąÂ&#x;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â&#x153;ÇŻČ&#x201E; Â&#x2018;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â&#x153;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2122;Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Â&#x203A;Čą Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â˘Ç°ČąĹ&#x2122;Ĺ&#x2DC;Ç°Čą Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;Ä&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?

Â&#x160;Â&#x17D;Čą Â&#x203A;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2DC;Ĺ&#x;Ç°Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2014;Â&#x2019;Â&#x160;Ç°Čą Č&#x192; Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2013;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2014;Â&#x152;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x160;Â&#x2019;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ÇąČąČ Â&#x2DC;Â&#x17E;ČąÂ&#x160;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x153;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Â?ČŹÂ&#x160;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â?Čą Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x17E;Â&#x2022;Â?Č&#x201A;ÇŻČ&#x201E; Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x2022;Â&#x17D;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2122;Ĺ&#x2013;Ç°Čą Â&#x2DC;Ä´Â&#x2019;Â&#x2014;Â?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x2013;

Č&#x192; Â˘ČąĹ&#x2014;Ĺ&#x2DC;ČŹÂ˘Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â&#x203A;ČąÂ&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x153;Â?Â&#x17E;Â?Â&#x17D;Â&#x2014;Â?ČąÂ?Â&#x2DC;Â&#x2022;Â?ČąÂ&#x2013;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ?Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?Čą ČąÂ&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â&#x;Â&#x17D;ČąÂ&#x160;ČąÂ?Â&#x203A;Â&#x17D;Â&#x160;Â?ČąÂ&#x2122;Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x201D;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x17D;ÇŻČ&#x201E; Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x160;Â&#x17D;Â&#x2022;Čą Â&#x160;Â&#x152;Â&#x2018;Â&#x160;Â?Â&#x2DC;Ç°ČąĹ&#x2122;Ĺ&#x2013;Ç°Čą Â&#x17E;Â&#x203A;Â&#x2019;Â?Â&#x2019;Â&#x2039;Â&#x160;Ç°Čą Â&#x203A;Â&#x160;ÂŁÂ&#x2019;Â&#x2022;

92 The Inside Joke

NEXT Â MONTH: Â The Â weirdest Â gifts Â you Â have Â ever Â received. Â Â Let Â us Â know Â via Â Facebook Â or Â @The_InsideJoke. Â Â You Â can Â even Â Instagram Â us Â a Â pic Â (if Â you Â kept Â them!).

section here

The Inside Joke | 33

section here

The Inside Joke | 33