list.co.uk/comedy Comedy
5 THINGS
YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT . . . DOM JOLY 1 Born in Beirut in 1968, Joly has claimed to have attended the same school as some kid called bin Laden. He subsequently worked for the European Commission, and as a researcher and producer on political programmes across the main UK channels before getting work for the Mark Thomas Comedy Product on Channel 4. 2 Although it was the C4 series of Trigger Happy TV which cemented his reputation as a prankster extraordinaire, Joly’s larking around with massive mobile phones and getting-someone-in-a-cat- costume-chasing-someone-else-in- a-mouse-outfit first arrived on the Paramount Comedy Channel where short bits of material would be slotted in between established shows such as Frasier and Friends.
3 A big fan of reality shows, he headed off to Oz for last year’s I’m a Celebrity . . . which also featured Britt Ekland, Shaun Ryder and Gillian McKeith, and was a paparazzo for a fake magazine in Deadline. While on that job, he recalls having ‘bother’ with Lily Allen, Pete Doherty and Pierce Brosnan. 4 Ever the japester, Joly has been popping onto celeb pages on Wikipedia to do some judicious editing. He has fiddled with Jack Dee and Michael Winner’s entries and believes someone may have taken revenge by suggesting on Joly’s page that he is divorced when in fact he remains happily married to Stacey.
5 Later this year he’s releasing an e-book entitled Scary Monsters and Super Creeps in which he indulges his love of travel to try and track down classic beasts such as Nessie, Bigfoot and the Yeti. (Brian Donaldson) ■ Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Sat 14 May.
Sunday 8
Glasgow ✽✽ Tim Minchin SECC, Finnieston Quay, 0844 395 4000. 7.30pm.
£35. The beautiful piano man of comedy seduces us again with his wonky tunes and even wonkier perspective on life.
28 Apr–26 May 2011 THE LIST 49
REVIEW TV COMEDY FUNNY OR DIE PRESENTS Sky Atlantic, Mon 23 May, 10.10pm ●●●●●
Making the move from online cult status to small screen uncertainty, the Funny or Die project has inevitably lost some of its initial drive. Web-watchers previously had the voting power to save a sketch or have it dumped (hence the ‘funny or dying’ bit) but now the focus groups have been ditched with old- fashioned methods being implemented for the viewer to express their level of approval. But as yet, there is no impetus to change the name to Laugh or Switch Off. Episode one of the series is a good example of the ambition shown by the site with Don Cheadle, Zooey Deschanel and co-creator Will Ferrell all appearing while the gore content (dismemberments,
decapitations, penile destruction) taste-challenging skits (the politics of Africa acted out in the playground) and half-decent ideas drawn out too long (Designated Driver and the history of slavery as told by a drunk woman) are all present and correct. But despite the coliseum-like nature of its net
incarnation, you can’t help the nagging feeling that for all its credentials, Funny or Die Presents is now just another sketch show. And with it comes the indelible curse of that genre: some bits are good, other bits are awful. Unfortunately, the opening episode has more than its fair share of calamities and even the better moments come nowhere close to the joys of the site’s first ever sketch, The Landlord, where a bubble-haired Ferrell is abused by Pearl, an aggressive and sadistic toddler demanding her rent. (Brian Donaldson)
midweek slump alongside MC Jojo Sutherland. over Ian Moore, Gus Tawse and Sanderson Jones.
Thursday 5 Friday 6
Glasgow FREE Bratchy and The Wee Man’s Comedy Pub Quiz The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. 8pm. Bratchy and his ned of a brother The Wee Man host their monthly quiz show. The Masters of the Humourverse The Universal, 57–59 Sauchiehall Lane, 332 8899. 8pm. £5. Q-Fusion presents a rib-tickling blend of stand-up, sketches and intrepid improv. Fit O’The Giggles @ The Inn The Inn, 2 Station Road, Bearsden, 942 6752. 8.30pm. £5 (£3). A new monthly gig headed up by regular compère Keara Murphy. The Thursday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Four lovely acts flex their comedy muscles: Dave Johns, Marian Pashley, Mikey Adams and Rob Kane with host Joe Heenan. Edinburgh Comedy Unplugged: Open Mic Competition Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 7.45pm. £5. Brave new comics see who’s the best at standing up and being funny. The Thursday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £8 (£7; members £4). Bruce The Hour Devlin pulls rank
Glasgow Foster’s Comedy Live @ highlight Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8.30pm. £12. Limmy’s mate Raymond Mearns is joined by Anthony King, John Ryan and Andrew Learmonth. The Friday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 8.30pm. £10 (£9; members £5). Top headliners, great support acts and two days to recover. See Thu 5 for line-up. Jongleurs Comedy Show Jongleurs, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. Jokes and that from Martin Bigpig Mor, Benjamin Crellin, Mark Nelson and Sandy Nelson. Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £4–£7. See Fri 29 Apr. Foster’s Comedy Live @ highlight Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 9pm. £10. Patrick Rolink is joined by Paul Pirie for some fast-paced japes. The Friday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £10 (£9; members £5). Leave your worries at your desk and settle down for some live comedy. See Thu 5 for line-up.
Saturday 7
Glasgow Ha Ha Comedy DRAM!, 232–246 Woodlands Road, 332 1622. 8.30pm. £7 (students £5). He’s been banned from more venues than anyone else – see him quick before he’s banned from here. It’s Ian Cognito with Graham Mackie and MC Alan Anderson. Foster’s Comedy Live @ highlight Highlight, UGC Building, 11 Renfrew Street, 0844 844 0044. 8.30pm. £15. See Fri 6. Jongleurs Comedy Show Jongleurs, The Glasshouse, 20 Glassford Street, 0870 011 1960. 8.30pm. £15. See Fri 6. The Saturday Show The Stand, 333 Woodlands Road, 0844 335 8879. 9pm. £15. It’ll sell out so get in early for a chance to see some of the finest acts around. See Thu 5 for line-up. Edinburgh The Beehive Comedy Club Beehive Inn, 18 Grassmarket, 225 7171. 8.30pm. £4–£7. See Fri 29. Foster’s Comedy Live @ highlight Highlight, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, 0844 844 0044. 9pm. £13. See Fri 6. The Saturday Show The Stand, 5 York Place, 558 7272. 9pm. £15. Mark the turning of the week with five top acts. See Thu 5 for line-up. Jekyll and Hyde Comedy Club The Jekyll & Hyde, 112 Hanover Street, 225 2022. 9.30pm. £8 (£6). See Sat 30.