Is the “Is the Sketch Show Dead?” article dead?
11/07/2013 … Back in the early Nineties, every journalist worth his (or her) salt (or pepper) was tossing off some half-thought out article, using very little actual research…
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
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.
Thu 11 July 2013
Is the sketch show dead? No, it’s better off live
Daniel Henry Kaes offers an alternative view
11/07/2013 … David Bussell’s Chortle correspondence piece yesterday contended that the sketch show is in trouble.
Wed 10 July 2013
Leave politics to the politicians
Vik Iyer thinks comics are better out of the establishment
10/07/2013 … Watching Russell Brand joust with Boris Johnson and Melanie Philips on Question Time gave the BBC’s venerated debating institution a certain, shall we say, Wrestlemania…
Tue 09 July 2013
Did Brass Eye go after the wrong targets?
Alan Varley re-views the paedophile special
09/07/2013 … This month marks the anniversary of what may be one of the most significant events in the history of British comedy – although the number of years that has passed…
Fri 05 July 2013
Do comedians have any alternative to selling out?
05/07/2013 … ‘Yeah, I used to love the Stones!’ opined a face-painted festival-goer with her hoarse, partied-out sigh.
Wed 03 July 2013
Why I won't be making money at Edinburgh
03/07/2013 … I have done Edinburgh properly.
Tue 02 July 2013
Wasn't comedy better when it said something?
Alex Blower thinks stand-up's gone backwards
02/07/2013 … Airing on Channel 4 in the Eighties, Friday Night Live brought groundbreaking alternative comedy performance to living rooms across the nation.