My advice to open-mic comics: Just quit
30/04/2010 … Attention all open-mic stand-ups: You're probably not funny.
2010 Opinions
Chortle's Opinions section is an arena for fans to share their views on any aspect of comedy.
We invite general comment pieces about particular aspects of the comedy scene (although reviews of individual shows or performers tend not to be suited to this section except in very rare circumstances). Contributions should be at least 500 words in length, in a similar tone to something you might read in a broadsheet newspaper, and emailed to steve@chortle.co.uk
We reserve the right to edit pieces – although we will be careful not to change the meaning of anything – or not to use them at all. By submitting an article you grant Chortle indefinite licence to use it freely; though you retain the copyright on it to use it elsewhere.
Fri 30 April 2010
Wed 28 April 2010
Singing the blue...
Ashley Frieze on why musical comedians can get such a bad press
28/04/2010 … To paraphrase a review from Chortle, ‘he took a well known song and changed the lyrics so they were a bit rude’.
Tue 27 April 2010
Why all new comics should be punched in the face...
That would ensure they were on form, says Norman Cho
27/04/2010 … Learning stand-up is not like doing a university degree.
Fri 23 April 2010
Just ignore them...
Chortle editor Steve Bennett on the story we didn't run (until now)
23/04/2010 … Jim Davidson represents everything I dislike.
Tue 20 April 2010
Don't forget the funnies!
Giacinto Palmieri on comedy in his native Italy
20/04/2010 … I’m currently reading The Pantomime Life of Joseph Grimaldi by Andrew McConnell Stott, a truly compelling biography of the great Regency clown and a fascinating…
Fri 09 April 2010
Snob gags
Dan Sweryt takes issue with comedy's supposed class divide
09/04/2010 … In concluding that the middle-classes use comedy to exert a cultural snobbery, sociologist Sam Friedman appears quite snobbish himself by equating ‘middle-class’…
Sun 04 April 2010
Postcard from Adelaide
Diane Spencer looks back at the Fringe festival
04/04/2010 … This year it was my first time at the Adelaide fringe festival.
Thu 01 April 2010
Dear Lady In The Red Coat
Ashlea Dutton writes to a fellow comedy 'fan'
01/04/2010 … Dear Lady In The Red Coat.