Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with comedian

help me find a comedian

rockhopper — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:33:01 -0800

looking for the male comedian that talked about trying an asian food that the deli promised would do the old male-enhancement.

Who does the "It's for Space?" comedy bit?

AgentRocket — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 08:44:18 -0800

Who is the comedian, and what is his bit, about how expensive the space program is? When I had XM, I really liked the comedy channel. I remember hearing a bit from a male comedian sometime between January and June of 2008 that I thought was clever.

As I remember it, the comedian brought up a Mars rover or something that launched and then got lost by NASA, and how it cost [$a ridiculous amount]. He was saying how he couldn't believe nobody was fired up about this, but then he realized that we all think space is cool so we'll just give over enormous piles of money to gather rocks from Mars even though people are generally anti-taxes and otherwise get really worked up about how our government spends its money. He did a fake conversation between a guy and [the government, maybe] where he is saying "you want HOW much? Are you crazy? No wa....oh, it's for SPACE? okay, sure thing. 'Honey, get the checkbook.....no, no, it's fine. It's for SPACE.'"

It wasn't uproariously funny or anything, but the point stuck with me. I am reasonably good with comedians, so I am confident it is not any of the more famous ones (Mitch Hedberg, Zach Galifianakis, Jim Gaffigan, Brian Regan, Nick Swardson, Louis C.K., etc.)

Help me find a comedy bit about gay marriage?

macfly — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:21:28 -0800

Help me find a comedy bit about gay marriage? I remember hearing or (less likely) reading a comedian talk about gay marriage and how when the U.S. finally accepts it we'll be all self-congratulatory about it in a 'USA is #1' kind of way. Then it went on to talk about all the times other counties had 'beaten' the US to civil rights - I specifically remember a mention of how England eliminated slavery via a vote of parliament years before the US fought the civil war. I've been going through a Patton Oswalt phase - I can't find it in any of the stuff of his that I have but I haven't been exhaustive so he's still a possible. More likely it's someone I found on YouTube, probably via a link from an Oswalt bit. Dan Savage is another possible source but I haven't been able to find it via google.

Help? It's like one of those ear worm songs that you can't quite remember but can't get out of your head.

Identify a comedian

rockhopper — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 07:12:32 -0800

Help me identify a comedian I've seen this guy on The Comedy Channel. He talks about women and he whispers things like, "Oh my God", and , "It's so beautiful".

Temple of pancakes

mad_little_monkey — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:13:48 -0800

Does anyone remember a comedian doing a bit about how his accountant's office was an old Ihop and he wanted to ask his accountant for pancakes? he called the Ihop the Temple of Pancakes and he kept saying "and some pancakes...." Ok you guys. It is driving me nuts. Does anyone remember a comedian doing a bit about how his accountant's office was an old Ihop and he wanted to ask his accountant for pancakes? he called the Ihop the Temple of Pancakes and he kept saying "and some pancakes...." which I still say all the time, and I'd love to show my husband where this came from - I just can't remember the comedian. Anyone know who this was?

Looking for opera piece & Premium Blend comedienne

batmonkey — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:35:23 -0800

Prior to '05, I saw a repeat of Premium Blend which featured a performance by a comedian with a joke about playing opera in her car; she illustrated the hilarity vis-a-vis prejudice by singing a bit of it. Picking up most culture by osmosis, I've long loved whatever the piece was from, but have no idea what it is. Also, she was hilarious and I'd like to find more by her. The music had some of the rise and fall character of elements from this part of Carmen, only more...percussive, without being staccato. Sort of...AH-Ah-AH-Ah-AH in structure, kind of? It seemed to be from an aria, but, again, that's my osmosis talking, so it could be anything. It may even be precisely from that piece (although I doubt it, as no version gets me the way that other piece does). I just want to confirm one way or another. I know this vague; rest assured I'm down with simply discovering new operatic music, so feel free to throw things out there.

The episode was anywhere from the first year through 2004, but I believe it was between '00 & '03. I wish I could remember which host, because that would help. If you guys don't know off the top of your heads, my next step is to search on each woman on the cast list. The good news is, I found her once before on an agent's site. I know she prides herself on being a clean comic and was being promoted for non-blue African-American comedy line-ups, corporate entertainment, and family shows, but I don't know what happened to her and can't find her via the search strings I used last time. She was a plush lady and I seem to remember she had long hair, although I can't remember the style she had it in, so could be crazy on that, too.

Looking for sarcastic stand-up comedians

madman — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:46:54 -0800

I need recommendations to find deeply sarcastic and satirical stand-up comedians. I am looking for stand-up comedians who excel at sarcastic and satirical comedy; even better if it's delivered in a deadpan manner. I would also prefer people who stay away from the tired "black/white", "men/women" material.

The second part of my question is for some research I'm doing into how to become a good stand-up comedian. (I'm from a country where stand-up comedy tends to be the loud slapstick "ha-ha" variety; something I'm not very fond of.)

So what I want to know is: do stand-up comedians usually tend to be very funny in real life off the stage? Or are there also people who are not always "on" and just work hard on their material, turning into comedians on stage? Essentially, does being a good stand-up comedian mean that you can make just about anyone laugh anywhere?

Can you help me find this comedian?

simplethings — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:13:16 -0800

I heard a clip of what I believe was a stand up routine this morning on 103.5 Kiss FM in Chicago. Can you help me find the comedian? It was a short clip where the comedian was talking about how when people get hit hard they'll be grabbing at everything while they're falling.
I also remembering him saying that one time his friend got punched at a bar or club and it caused his friend to fall asleep.

Is this familiar to anyone? They actually mentioned the comedian's name and I scribbled it down as Nick Hart. I've searched Nick Hart and Nick Heart and Nick K/Cart but I haven't found anything relevant.

I was really cracking up in my car and would love to hear more from him. Any leads would be much appreciated!

Sit Down, Stand Up

Christ, what an asshole — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:50:39 -0800

Who are some great comedians I've probably never heard of that I can watch on youtube?

Can anyone remember this video from my horrible description?

rfbjames — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:15:04 -0800

I'm looking for an online video that I've seen within the last couple of years of a one man show by a British comedian that covered the reasons why America invaded Iraq and the history leading up to it. My memory of this video is very fuzzy, but I remember that he talked about the history of Iraq and western involvement in the country leading down to the present times. He then ultimately made the connection of Iraq getting rid of using the dollar for its oil sales as the reason for the invasion. For some reason I remember him looking very old Vaudeville in hat and tie. He possibly showed up on a bicycle at the start of the video and did the show on a wooden stage with red drapes behind him. He also at one point did a routine of where Bush was beating up Saddam and China showed up looking all tough and wondering what was going on around here? Sorry that yes, my memory is really that vague about this video, but a recent discussion about the Iraq war with a coworker jarred this show from my memory...and it has been killing me to try and track it down to watch again ever since.

Which comedian did this joke?

Bakuun — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:53:14 -0800

Looking for the name of the Comedian who did a "Dad! Look at my hands! Look at my hands! Look at my haaaands!" joke. I -believe- I saw this on Comedy Central, but it was so long ago that I've no recollection of what the comedian looked like and what the rest of his routine was comprised of. All I remember is him talking about having a really active son who wouldn't quit pestering him with "Look at my hands! Look at my hands! Dad, look at my hands!" So he said he got tired and sent the kid off to a (Buddhist?) monastery, hoping the boy would calm down. Except when he returned, he came up to his dad and calmly stated, "Hello, father. Look... at my hands."

The entire thing really cracked me up, and even though I haven't been able to find this video again to show to others, my boyfriend and I have incorporated "Look at my hands! Look at my haaaands!" into our world of personal silly :) Now I'm wondering if anyone here might remember it and point me in the right direction, so that I may share the real thing.

I worry that this entire thing is too vague, but y'never know. Thank you in advance!

Finding a comedian by the joke

JamesJD — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 10:53:14 -0800

Trying to figure out which comedian came up with this joke about boo-ing. He has performed on Comedy Central, I think in his own special, but possibly on Premium Blend. This comedian has this set where he complains about people boo-ing in conversations. For example "You went to Florida?! Booooooo. I went to Florida STATE" and "You like triscuits. Booooo. I like Ritz crackers."

Who is this comedian, and where can I find a video of this show.

Who is this funny guy?

gursky — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:37:29 -0800

Help me figure out the name of a comedian I saw in NYC...last December. A few friends and I went to NYC for New Year's Eve last year. Because prior plans didn't pan out, on December 30th, we went to the Broadway Comedy Club. The comics were mediocre for the most part, but there was one guy who was hysterical. None of us remember his name, but three of us vaguely remember something being said (when he was introduced) about him being on the Daily Show at some point in time.

We're all desperate to know his name, and hopefully find out more about him - we just have no idea how to track him down. I've been to the comedy club's website
(here) and tried contacting them with no luck. I've been through a list of alumni from the Daily Show, but none of them match. And, of course, I've tried googling different combinations of words that would prove miraculous if they worked. No luck.

I do have a picture of the guy, though:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/vibrantdork/DSCF3242-1.jpg
(copy & paste)

How can I find the name of this hilarious man?

Who’s this comedian playing God?

dpcoffin — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 22:04:53 -0800

Help me find: An online comedian’s series. He plays god as an LA/Hollywood-type deal-maker/boss. In one sketch he tries to explain to an employee the benefits of getting crucified in exchange for a promotion. In another he’s going over a checklist with an assistant, deciding which horrors to allow in creation... In another, he’s complaining about the endless, repetitive stream of prayers that he’s ignoring. Who? Where? Thanks!

What's this comedian's name?

Savvas — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 03:29:16 -0800

I'm going insane trying to remember the name of a German comedian I saw on television a few months ago. I only saw about five minutes of his stand-up, but it was freaking hilarious and I want to hear more. He sang snippets of some German folk song and then proclaimed that it hadn't been sung that well since the Hitler Youth, and made a few other potentially off-colour jokes that I don't quite recall.

I saw him on Foxtel (Australian pay tv) on the Comedy Channel on one of the shows where a different bunch of comedians do their thing every week.

It's not much to go on, I know, but if anyone has any idea what the fuck I'm talking about then for the love of God tell me his name or I'll have to slit my wrists.

tell me a story and make it funny

grumblebee — Sun, 26 Mar 2006 10:40:50 -0800

Please recommend standup commedians to someone who dislikes gags but loves storytelling. Because life is short, I generally tell people that I hate standup comedy. And I’ve half convinced myself this is true. But then I remember the joy I felt, as a teenager, listening to Bill Cosby and Woody Allen tell funny stories. Alas, as I got older, most standup I heard was a collection of jokes or gags. For whatever reason, I don’t respond to shows like this -- even if the jokes are really, really funny. In such cases, I laugh at first, but as the jokes go on and on, I get bored. My brain yearns for narrative.

I’m interested in any recommendations for storytelling comedians. Bonus points for performances that I can actually see: they’ve been recorded or the performer is in my area (NYC).

Go ahead and suggest anything, put I prefer personal stories (“When I was a kid...”) to non-personal ones (“This Republican senator was on vacation...”), and I’m not a big fan of the scatological stuff. I’d rather laugh at failed relationships than fart jokes.

Can anyone recall this comedian?

thebrokedown — Sat, 25 Feb 2006 19:55:44 -0800

I am looking for a particular comedian. I saw this guy, on HBO, perhaps, about 15 years ago. His comedic style was extremely dry, and his one prop was a martini glass. He was fairly tall and thin, wearing either a suit or tux. Sorry I have no more details. I really liked him, and trivial as it is, I've been going crazy trying to find him. . . .

Who was this stand-up comedian?

icontemplate — Thu, 02 Dec 2004 12:11:59 -0800

Several years ago, about 1989-90, a friend of mine lent me a cassette featuring a stand-up comedian [more inside] I have no clue who the comedian is anymore, and my google-fu has let me down once more. He sounds like a southerner, along the lines of the Blue Collar comedy guys, but I'm definitely sure it's not one of them.

I remember some of his act fairly clearly, just not in order:

- He has a bit where he uses a talking calculator (which he says he took from Ray Charles, but don't worry, he gave him a Rubik's cube.) In the bit, he asks it questions, like "What do you say after hit a golf ball?" and then he presses "4." "What do you tell kids not to do?" "2 POINT", "How many times do you have to tell 'em" "5 TIMES" and so forth. He later does a duet with it, "singing" Tea for Two.

- There's another bit where he and a friend argues over how to pronounce the city name "Louisville." He thinks its LouiSville, his friend thinks it LouiEville. He then asks someone at the restaurant, "Slowly, how do you pronounce the name of this place?" "B-u-r-g-e-r-K-i-n-g."

- Somewhere he talks about the Revolutionary War, and says the French wore red so you wouldn't see blood on their pants. He says he would've worn brown pants in that case.

That's all I can remember right now. Any clue who that comedian was?

Does anybody remember '70s TV comedian Nick Hitler?

clavdivs — Sun, 13 Jun 2004 19:05:24 -0800

I recall seeing a comedian on TV, in the 70's, that went by the stage name of 'Nick Hitler' but cannot find anything on the web. Anyone heard of him?