Do You Have To Be There?

[andy-hughes]

Comedian (!) Michael McIntyre has now joined the ranks of people who can irritate me to the point of violence just by a glimpse of their image - he doesn't even have to move or speak! A picture will set me off!

The other person who has that effect - for the record - is Miranda Hart.

So, I thought, he is the most popular comedian in the country, I must be missing something, so I have just tortured myself with one extended 'joke / funny story' on this week's show.

I gritted my teeth and entered a Zen state to avoid destroying my computer when the combination of his floppy hair, fruity voice, robotic movement, tight suit, and psychotic levels of pointless enthusiasm combined to make me need to make it stop for ever ...

and I could no more smile than fly, much less laugh out loud!

The cutaways to the audience showed people in serious medical danger of ruptures or oxygen deprivation, such was the depth of their hilarity at Mr McIntyre's pointless rambling about the lights in his hotel room (I know, hardly a subject for comedy gold is it?)

So is it funnier if you are there in the theatre? Am I missing something here? Or, as I often suspect - do we need to be shown what the filmed audience were actually watching and hearing, because I can't believe it was this guff!!!

Fans are haters - points of view awaited ...

[cupid04]

I went to see Reginald D Hunter. Love him on the telly. He was *** out of his brain seeing him live though and I was very disappointed...

[Bazile]

I don't find the 'modern' crop of stand up 'comedians' funny at all .

The stand up comedian that makes me laugh is Ken Dodd ( and i'm still a young man )

[albaqwerty]

Ken Dodd - oh yes !! wish they'd repeat An Audience with him, i missed half of it cos I was crying laughing most of the time (and I've seen it a few times lol)

[douglas9401]

You dislike the man but watch his programme. I'm confused.
And yet I'm not.

[andy-hughes]

douglas - //You dislike the man but watch his programme. I'm confused.
And yet I'm not. //

I didn't watch his programme, I watched a small section of it - his first anecdote, and then I turned off.

[sandyRoe]

I suppose if you've got a free ticket you feel obliged to act as though the show is hilarious.

[douglas9401]

Fair enough. I know what you mean, having waded through some of your performances on here.
As somebody once sang 'I just had to look, having read the book'.

[Bazile]

Are you saying that there aren't people positioned around the audience with boards saying ' laugh now ' ?

[Cloverjo]

I think he's funny, and I would assume that the audience do too, or they probably wouldn't be there. They would have to fake laughter.

[Cloverjo]

I meant "wouldn't have to fake..."

[thesecondlaw]

I can't abide the bloke either (or M.Hart). Like you, I don't find them remotely funny. Tha same goes for Peter Kay and Lee Evans. They all have huge followings, though, so perhaps it's me.

[andy-hughes]

Thanks all -

as usual with this type of thread, it shows the diversity of the appeal of entertainment, and entertainers.

Some have said that they love Michael McIntyre and Miranda Hart, and as advised, I find them devoid of any humour or talent.

Similarly, people have expressed a dislike for Pete Kay, whom I could watch and listen to all day.

I remain unconvinced that I will ever be converted to Mr M's style of humour, and I am happy to remain in a (small!) minority.

[Old_Geezer]

Strange how different folk find different things funny. All those mentioned so far I don't mind, although most are going to raise a smile rather than a guffaw. I guess one either sees humour in things, or one misses it.

[Peter Pedant]

.

do you have to be there ?
well I wouldnt or else you might do the fella ( Michael McIntyre ) an injury

and yes Live performance is different to seeing it on the small screen
opera at covent garden is differnt to listening on radio 3

[jennyjoan]

I like Michael too Andy - he does make me laugh. Agree with you MH - the most unfunniest lady.

Another lad I like is Russell thingmabob

[ummmm]

I used to hate him but he's grown on me a little bit.

I love Peter Kay but I also love Frankie Boyle.

I went to the comedy store in London where Jimmy Carr was appearing, before he was famous, he had me in hysterics. Proper tears running down our faces.

[andy-hughes]

jennyjoan - I assume you mean Russell Brand?

Another 'marmite' figure - I find his 'Dickensian villain / music hall compere on steroids' delivery utterly irksome, but his writing is sublime - I enjoyed both his autobiographies.

[pixie374]

I love Michael McIntyre and most of the modern comedians. Couldn't see the point of Tommy Cooper or Ken Dodd when we accidentally watched them

[Peter Pedant]

// The stand up comedian that makes me laugh is Ken Dodd ( and i'm still a young man )//

did a show in Liverpool and so many encores that people were cheerfully missing their trains home ( but they were scousers )

[jennyjoan]

no Andy not Russell Brand - I will google the lad in a mo