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Stand Up Comedy: Comedy Clubs, Stand Up Comedian, Routines And Famous Comedians
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Published: October 25, 2007
Most people would agree with stand-up comedian John Seinfeld when he says, “According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”
Because standing in the spotlight is a horrific thought for most people, stand-up comedy is among the most revered forms of entertainment in this country. Due to the unique live audience that accompanies each routine, only the most talented entertainers can perform stand-up comedy.
The success of stand-up comedy depends on comedians’ ability to read their audience and adjust their act accordingly. Unlike pre-recorded sitcoms, performers of stand-up comedy only receive one chance to tell their one-liners or personal anecdotes to extract laughter from the crowd. Tapping into their inner reservoir of wit and confidence, live comedians have a way of personally connecting to their audience unique to this form of comedy.
Beginning in the late 19th comedy, the earliest stand-up comedy acts included vaudeville acts, which were variety shows composed of multiple, unrelated acts. Vaudeville performances became the inspiration for live radio broadcasts of the popular comedians Jack Benny and Bob Hope. Known as the fathers of stand-up comedy, these famous comedians lead routines that included ad-libs, music and guest appearances. In the 50s and 60s, stand-up comedy experienced many changes; comedians began to utilize more taboo issues such as race, sex and politics. In addition, the first female comedians, such as Phyllis Diller, made the comedic spotlight more accessible to women.
Large cities, especially York City, have provided the anchor for stand-up comedy development due to its multitude of comedy clubs. The Comedy Cellar in Manhattan, for example, is a popular destination for stand-up comedians. In fact, Gilbert Godfried, Jerry Seinfeld and Jon Stewart, and many other famous comedians launched their careers at this location.
Stand-up comedy can utilize just about any topic to make people laugh. Political comedy is particularly popular. Louis Black, known for his sarcastic, bitter routines, typically makes fun of the antics of the Bush Administration. Jon Stewart is another successful political comedy that started out in stand-up comedy. His experiences in New York’s comedy clubs lead him to become the host of the famous Daily Show with Jon Stewart which recently earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Series.
Due to the many risks attached with live performances, stand-up comedians must be confident and perceptive entertainers. Because public speaking is the number one fear, society has a strong appreciation for individuals talented in stand-up comedy.
Sources:
"Biography." 1 May 2002. John Stewart Intelligence Agency. 23 Oct. 2007. http://www.jonstewart.net/bio/index.html.
"John Seinfeld Quotes." ThinkExist. 1999-2006. 23 Oct. 2007. http://thinkexist.com/quotes/jerry_seinfeld/.
"Phyllis Diller." The Comedy Zone. 1999-2006. 23 Oct. 2007. http://www.comedy-zone.net/standup/comedian/d/dill er-phyllis.htm.
"Stand Up Comedy." Wikipedia. 20 Oct. 2007. 23 Oct. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_up_comedy.
The success of stand-up comedy depends on comedians’ ability to read their audience and adjust their act accordingly. Unlike pre-recorded sitcoms, performers of stand-up comedy only receive one chance to tell their one-liners or personal anecdotes to extract laughter from the crowd. Tapping into their inner reservoir of wit and confidence, live comedians have a way of personally connecting to their audience unique to this form of comedy.
Beginning in the late 19th comedy, the earliest stand-up comedy acts included vaudeville acts, which were variety shows composed of multiple, unrelated acts. Vaudeville performances became the inspiration for live radio broadcasts of the popular comedians Jack Benny and Bob Hope. Known as the fathers of stand-up comedy, these famous comedians lead routines that included ad-libs, music and guest appearances. In the 50s and 60s, stand-up comedy experienced many changes; comedians began to utilize more taboo issues such as race, sex and politics. In addition, the first female comedians, such as Phyllis Diller, made the comedic spotlight more accessible to women.
Large cities, especially York City, have provided the anchor for stand-up comedy development due to its multitude of comedy clubs. The Comedy Cellar in Manhattan, for example, is a popular destination for stand-up comedians. In fact, Gilbert Godfried, Jerry Seinfeld and Jon Stewart, and many other famous comedians launched their careers at this location.
Stand-up comedy can utilize just about any topic to make people laugh. Political comedy is particularly popular. Louis Black, known for his sarcastic, bitter routines, typically makes fun of the antics of the Bush Administration. Jon Stewart is another successful political comedy that started out in stand-up comedy. His experiences in New York’s comedy clubs lead him to become the host of the famous Daily Show with Jon Stewart which recently earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Series.
Due to the many risks attached with live performances, stand-up comedians must be confident and perceptive entertainers. Because public speaking is the number one fear, society has a strong appreciation for individuals talented in stand-up comedy.
Sources:
"Biography." 1 May 2002. John Stewart Intelligence Agency. 23 Oct. 2007. http://www.jonstewart.net/bio/index.html.
"John Seinfeld Quotes." ThinkExist. 1999-2006. 23 Oct. 2007. http://thinkexist.com/quotes/jerry_seinfeld/.
"Phyllis Diller." The Comedy Zone. 1999-2006. 23 Oct. 2007. http://www.comedy-zone.net/standup/comedian/d/dill er-phyllis.htm.
"Stand Up Comedy." Wikipedia. 20 Oct. 2007. 23 Oct. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand_up_comedy.
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