A Different Type of Stand Up Comedy..."Thou Shalt Laugh"

On the 8th Day, God Created the Sense of Humor...

The Story:

Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond) hosts a night of stand-up comedy by seven of the funniest comics in all of Christendom.

Proof that at least some Christians are humourous!

First, Patricia Heaton is a nice enough actress, but she's not a stand-up.  Or if she is, she's not very funny.  Sorry, I shouldn't judge, but I'm reviewing here!! : )

As for the line-up, the show hits the ground running:

Thor Ramsey comes out with his musings about life.  And how great is it that there is a Christian named Thor?!  :)

Michael Jr. follows with easily the set of the night.  I was laughing my head off with his wry observations and wordplay.  Cerebral like Steven Wright and George Carlin.  Great stuff.

Jeff Allen finishes off with the first three comics of the night, and really, he's the only one who even remotely works God into his act.

And then, it went off the rails for me.

Teresa Roberts Logan came out next, and I found her completely unfunny.  I think she had the shortest set, but it seemed to drag forever...

Until Joby Saad came out.  Dreadful.  I think I started playing Candy Crush or something during his set.

Gilbert Esquivel came out and started to dig out of the unfunny hole, but it wasn't until Taylor Mason came out with his ventriloquist dummies that the show ended on a high note.  His audience participation was a nice touch on the night.

Uneven, but mostly funny night, and it's good for the whole family.

Not a fan of crowd reaction shots in comedy concerts, I don't care who the comedian is.  I don't need to see people laughing hysterically.

: )

Now available to stream instantly on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C  I'll give a B+ for the first 3 comics... then I lost interest with the next three and finally came back when they brought in the ventriloquist.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Won't buy it, but I'd watch the beginning and the end again for a quick laugh.

Wholesome Entertainment? Not With "George Carlin Again!"

It's not TV... it's HBO!

The Story:

George Carlin was arguably one of the finest comedic minds to ever take the stage.  Funny and philosophical, often at the same time, his was a wit that can transcend generations.

His routines rarely seem dated, and they are often just as funny the 802nd time you hear them, as the first time.

The downside?

The guy's got a real potty mouth...

: )

Want to see a time capsule of a performance?  Start with this one.  From 1978, it opens with an old HBO opening... see how far that network has come in 35 years.

Carlin comes out, still brown haired from youth with just patches of the grey that would fill the head and face of one of the best comic minds in the ensuing decades.

To dissect the performance is pointless, you either know what you're getting from Carlin, or you're about to be pleasantly surprised.

He does riff on "Time", follows with his hilarious take on the  news, and he closes out the special with the infamous update on the "7 Words You Can't Say on Television"

Now streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: His routines are always entertaining.  I won't be purchasing it, but I will be periodically checking out his other performances also currently streaming.