I have to say, I just hate almost all comedians these days. It happened when I started re-acquainting myself with feminist writing, going on the FWR board, reading Everyday Sexism and starting to realise that 'edgy' and 'controversial' is just plain old sexism and racism dressed up in new clothes. Mock the Week is fucking nasty and sordid and I don't give Dara O'Brian - who should know better - a free pass on that.
All of these mock the week clones are all the same - the same laddish down the pub 'gags' / anti-intellectual posing as 'skeptical'/ the nasty insults against easy targets / is it ironic or isn't it? / 'I'm just saying what you're thinking' arseholes.
Frankie Boyle, John Bishop, Russell Howard, Jason Manford, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, Peter Kay, Hugh Dennis, David Baddiel, Charlie Broker - please fuck off.
I will let both Carr brothers live - only just. I have a certain fondness for their schtick. No-one will ever cure me of my irrational passion for Russell Brand even though he is also a nasty twat - though at least one with a love for language. I like Lee Mack and Sean Lock as well because they respectively created one of the most appalling guilty pleasure sitcoms of all time (Not Going Out) and one of the most under-rated (15 Storeys High)
I am quite pleased to see one person not mentioned yet and that is Russell Kane, who I am fond of. Not sure why.
I personally think Dave has killed both the art of stand up and many of the credibility of stand up comedians - it's just too over-exposed now.