Unfunny comedians

[TheTecknician]

We've covered lousy actors and questionable singers. A further spin-off: who really isn't that funny, past or present? I offer:

Hale and Pace
Freddie Starr
Lenny Henry

Mean-spirited, I know.

On the plus side, I did like Jimmy Tarbuck. I'm probably being unfashionable but his delivery as a stand-up was perfect, even if some of the jokes wouldn't go down well today.

Jimmy Carr made a joke years ago suggesting that because cats have nine lives(allegedly) it makes them eminently suitable for medical research, loathed ever since.

At least we can all agree that Sindhu Vee is properly funny.

🤮I've often thought that if Nazi Germany had gone in for stand-up comedians, Jimmy Carr would have fitted in a treat.

Yes Some of her stuff is very mildly uncomfortable (as she herself acknowledges!) to hear, but it's bloody funny. And actually, despite her persona, pretty comedically edgy, which it's supposed to be - unlike most 'comedians' performing and over-exposed today who are just tedious and/or revolting.

Agreed

I like Romesh and Victoria Wood. She was so funny and sadly missed. Contrast her with Katherine Ryan who is vacuous, vapid, vacant and void of humour.

I saw a Victoria Wood repeat tonight - the All Day Breakfast one - and it was fabulous.

Some I love

Dave Allen
Sean Lock
Dylan Moran (my favourite) his earlier stand up is fantastic.
These 3 are timeless.

Lee Evans, again from his early days
Lee Mack, incredibly quick witted
Mickey Flannagan.

Shout out to many others who were great within their time.
Victoria Wood, seen live, great
Jasper Carrot again seen live in the 70's, he was groundbreaking at the time.
Billy Connolly

Some of the old one's Ken Dodd, seen live, blimey went on for hours, very clever.
Bob Monkhouse quick witted.
Morcombe and Wise, not so bothered but Ant and Dec remind me of them.

The ones I'm not keen on
Eddie Izzard
Ricky Gervais

Same here about VW….it was just the same thing over and over.

That’s years old

What difference does that make, it’s hardly topical!

Awful - Sarah Milican is literally stealing a living claiming to be a comic. Absolutely atrocious.

Same comments apply to Michael McIntyre.

Nish Kumar is also dreadfully beyond words.

There are plenty of decent comics which makes it even more bizarre how some of those named ever get air time.

Yes! The awful mum/middle aged woman parodies by young male 'comedians'. Why do they pop up all over my feeds. Offensive and nasty stuff. And crucially, not funny.

I saw Joe Lycett live and he was bloody brilliant. He got a standing ovation. It was his first big arena show and he actually cried.

See I find that smart and hilarious.

It doesn't mean he actually means that cats should be used for research... 🙄

Saw Daniel Sloss’s stand up show earlier this year (Frankie Boyle’s protege). Only enjoyed about 20% of it.

Boyle used to be great till he adopted wokery and punching up rather than down, at which point he became insufferable. Sloss was never any good nor his Geordie fluffer Kai Himphries.

My problem with Billy Connolly was that I couldn't understand his accent very well. So I spent so much time trying to understand what he was saying that the jokes would go over my head.

I find Michael McIntyre hilarious. I seem to be in the minority though.

I saw Sarah Millican live and thought she was great but she swore too much. A lot of them do. It's just a bit lazy.

I've never heard of Rosie Jones before reading this thread. I'm now curious about her, given she's been almost universally panned on this thread.
Hope she never reads Mumsnet; I'd be a bit devastated if everyone - even a load of internet strangers - told me I was crap at my job!!

I liked rosie first ouple of times i saw her on tv-now its just te same old jokes we're meant to laugh at beause she isabled-anyone else woulnt be on so much

ive seen russell kane twie live very funny but i like that sense of humour also saw frankie boyle an it was hilarious-this was at least 15 years ago

I loved Peter Kay back in the day but saw him live recently and was so disappointed. He was like a poor Peter Kay tribute act. I barely recognised him when he walked on stage. I wish I had kept my money and watched the dvd.

Rosie Jones is a good writer and it seems that a lot of posters like her as an actor; but not as a comedian or Question Time panellist. You could say the same about a lot of people, I suppose - that she or he might be good or great in one or two of those categories but not all of them.

For example, I didn't find Alexei Sayle particularly compelling or entertaining on Question Time, which honestly surprised me, as I loved his acting and stand-up comedy political rants that I thought were funny and heartfelt.

Who?

Jimmy Carr's live act repulsed me.
Used to like John Bishop until I saw him live. Very underwhelming.
Loved Frank Skinner.

Who is ken Bigley?