What are the worst and best ways of starting a comedy show?

I barely got through 2 minutes of that video before turning it off. I didn’t even get to the part about death. The worst way to start a comedy show is by being a shitty, boring comedian. Who the hell opens with Fidel Castro?

@livelaughlove21 The first guy is not the comedian, he is Alex Jones, an angry conspiracy theorist.

I just found the video an I am kind of blown away, as far as I know Alex Jones has nothing to do with stand up comedy. He just showed up, opened the show for the comedian by insulting the audience, and then while the comedian tries to do his show, Alex Jones goes in to the audience to seeminly start arguments with the patrons.

Weird stuff.

Never use the phrase, “No, but seriously….”

This is the best way to start a show

@Michael_Huntington I love Louis CK. Everything he does is “the best way” to do it. :)

Here is the next part, where he talks about starting a show.

The worst way to start a comedy show at a charity for abused children, is with an apology.

With a stand-up segment. I think that should be retired with Jerry Seinfeld’s show.

@livelaughlove21: “I love Louis CK. Everything he does is “the best way” to do it. :)”

This is the truth.

@glacial Jerry Seinfeld is a sorry excuse for a stand-up comedian. Trite, unoriginal, and stupid. How about that airline food?

They’re much better now. Louis CK, Dave Chapelle, Nick Swardson…so funny.

jimmy carr

@ragingloli Meh. At times. Generally not for me.

@livelaughlove21 That wasn’t my point. I just think stand-up before a show has been done to death, on his show among others. I agree that it’s trite.

@glacial I’m confused. This was a comedy show, wasn’t it? How else would you open it?

@livelaughlove21 I meant Seinfeld, which was a comedy show. Unless people are only permitted to use the term “sitcom” to describe such a show.

@glacial Of course not, but the comedy show referred to in the original question was a stand-up comedy show. It’s not a TV show that happens to be a comedy.

Blah, whatever. It doesn’t matter.

Not that way…

Ellen, Bill Cosby, Jay Jeno, Seinfield… Clean, funny and very rich. Do the math.

@DWW25921 Louis CK, Katt Williams, George Carlin…not at all clean and also very rich. Clean comedy = more fame/money doesn’t really ring true.

It’s the funny part that makes a difference. Luckily, comedy is subjective, so there’s room for the clean and the raunchy.

I prefer raunchy myself. The only comedian you named that I can stand is Ellen. I also like the Blue Collar guys, who tend to stay clean. Otherwise, the dirtier the better – provided they’ve got the funny and can pull it off.

@livelaughlove21 I don’t mind it to be a little raunchy if it’s actually funny although vulgarity is no substitute for wit. The Red Green Show comes to mind as well.

@DWW25921 Never heard of it. I think Robin Williams’ vulgarity severely overpowers the comedic value of his stand-up. I love him in movies, but when it’s him being himself, I don’t think he’s funny at all.

EDIT: Scratch that. I have heard of The Red Green Show. My grandma watches it. I don’t get it.

@livelaughlove21 Your grandma’s awesome. I feel the same way about Robin Williams… I think he needs counseling.