Whilst I agree with you that there is, indeed, a difference in the stand-up that is sold to either side of the pond, I think I have to vary from your stance with the actual end results and what is deemed funny and unfunny.

Put simply; over here there is still an over reliance (not total) on the observational stand-up comedy style which was popularised in the 90s. Indeed, it appears to be almost the sole style that you’re addressing (forgive me if I’m wrong here). Whilst a lot of UK stand-up will, does and has been based around this, the output has been a hell of a lot more subversive in its presentation for a good number of years.

But it’s more than that, isn’t it? It’s like more alternative means of stand-up just haven’t evolved here. We still see the majority of the ‘circuit’ (such that we might call it) over here relying on (for want of a better phrase) “Don’t you hate it when? …” comedy.

No-one is denying recent US giants of comedy, nor the possibility that observational comedy cannot be the very best on the planet. But it seems to me, that in lieu of a really decent circuit (and I really DON’T mean that as a slight to NYC’s bustling scene) that the innovation and ingenuity of the American stand-up is currently not being tested by the scene that they have over here.

Could it be, perhaps, that those sweaty little boxes above the pubs and below the clubs in London (and the rest of the UK, which – in fairness – IS an unfairly extended circuit of sorts) are more key in shaping a slightly more original new style in an aspiring Noel Fielding? Perhaps without the many put-downs, shouts and general bullshit he’d not have to have dealt with over here, he’d have just been a slightly odd person talking about how hard goths have it, with an occasional conversation about the lives of wood pigeons and squirrels which would mark him out as a maverick.
Obviously that’s slightly disingenuous to Mr. Fielding, but I hope that you see my point.

At some point in the process the circuit makes the man*, maybe not the whole of it, but some of it. How good can you truly be without being a little bit crap first … and made to know it?

Obviously, I’m no stand-up. I’ve watched a *lot*, but that gives me no expertise. You have obviously been doing this for some time, so I respect your views, but I can’t help but feel that the scene over here has grown stale, that’s all. Which, for me, comes down to there not being the impetus to evolve comedically.

Kind Regards
M_M_M

As a quick addendum, I’d like to add; that I’m not sure I’d like to be anywhere where someone who’s an absolute ass can’t be first taught a lesson by the intelligent bloke on stage, rather than the muscled bloke behind it.
Surely as the person in control, on stage, one should have the intelligence to be able to completely turn someone in to the puddle they deserve to be for interrupting the show. Louis CK showing this, rather admirably, in one of his episodes … confronting a simple chatter in his audience.

*as in ‘hu-’