What not to say to a comedian
Lori Gibbs shares some of her favourites
01/03/2011 … Disclaimer: the vast majority of people who talk to comedians after a show are kind, polite, warm and lovely.
Latest 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
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Tue 01 March 2011
Mon 28 February 2011
What took so long?
Adam Baker on the slow progress of British Jewish humour on to TV
28/02/2011 … There was an excellent Channel 4 documentary seven years ago called Funny Already: A History of Jewish Comedy, that pretty much argued that if American comedy was…
Fri 25 February 2011
Putting some magic back into comedy
Catia Cronin on the variety revival
25/02/2011 … I am Joe Bloggs.
Wed 23 February 2011
No regrets?
John Fleming on the attitude it takes to be a comedian
23/02/2011 … Yesterday I had lunch with a comedian in her twenties – not inexperienced but not yet fully supporting herself on her comedy performing.
Tue 22 February 2011
Genius? It's all about taking risks
Sally Holloway on what makes a great comic
22/02/2011 … At Christmas, like everyone else, we get out our Christmas crackers and offer them to our guests.
Mon 21 February 2011
Bum notes
Ashley Frieze's guide to bad musical comedy
21/02/2011 … I’ve heard people complain that musical stand-up is cringeworthy, unfunny and unworthy of the conventional applause that most song endings trigger.
Thu 17 February 2011
Under pressure...
Diane Spencer on 'bringing her A-game'
17/02/2011 … ‘Some telly people want to see you, so bring your A game.
Wed 16 February 2011
A tale of two Fringes...
But the only predictable thing about Edinburgh is its unpredictability, writes John Fleming
16/02/2011 … A lot of people have been asking me about performing on the Fringe for the first time this year.