Bill Cosby: Himself (1983)

Director: Bill Cosby

Writer: Bill Cosby

Starring: Bill Cosby

More info: IMDb

Plot: A concert film in which Bill Cosby discusses weekends, raising children, dentists, and many other situations.

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again?  No.

I haven't seen this in over thirty years.  It was funnier then when I was a teenager and Cosby was the number one show on TV.  It's just not as funny as it once was.  His routines are masterfully performed.  They always were.  His stories are amusing and sometimes I laughed but mostly just enjoyed listening to his rhythm and delivery.  That I can admire.  The bit about the dentist is still great.  His stories are clearly exaggerated and they're often so embellished that you can tell he's full of shit except that he's a comedian and his job is to make people laugh for which he excelled.  I was surprised that his closer was as poor as it was which makes me wonder why he chose to end it so abruptly instead of with a calculated bang.  Even though I can separate the art from the artist, it was still a little odd watching this with the knowledge that he is a serial rapist.  Perhaps subconsciously that affected my viewing but I think that my tastes in humor have changed in places, what I once laughed hysterically at 35 years ago, the magic has waned and it's been downgraded to amusing at best. The 20th Century Fox DVD presents the film in both anamorphic widescreen and fullscreen with the sole extra with the fullscreen theatrical trailer.

Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle (2009) TV series

Creator: Stewart Lee

Writers: Stewart Lee, Sean Gray

Starring: Stewart Lee, Christopher Morris

More info: IMDb

Plot: A sketch comedy show within Lee's stand-up comedy routine where each show has its own theme.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

Fuckin' A is this show funny.  From the first minute I was sold.  I'd never even heard of Lee, which is a shame as I'm a big fan of stand-up comedy, and I'm almost instantly hooked on this guy's delivery.  He's hilarious.  Not only are a lot of his stand-up bits on the show funny but the sketches in between them are also good.  I had a blast burning through the six episodes in season one.  Unfortunately that's all I had.  I was pleased to see that there are three more seasons with a total of 18 episodes.  Now all I need to do is find them.  It's so refreshing when I discover a new voice in comedy like this. 

Ralphie May: Too Big to Ignore (2012)

Directors: Michael Drumm, Chris Berkenkamp

Writer: Ralphie May

Starring: Ralphie May

More info: IMDb

Plot: Ralphie May proves he's TOO BIG TO IGNORE in his record breaking 4th Comedy Central Special.

My rating: 7.5/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

I was sort of introduced to Ralphie May in 2016.  He was one of several comedians on the DVD THE BIG BLACK COMEDY SHOW, VOL. 2 (2005).  I about peed myself during his set.  He fucking killed.  A lot of the comics on that disc did.  May was last and boy, oh boy, what a finish.  I haven't heard him as funny as on that disc but this special is pretty fuckin' funny.  I can't believe the guy's dead.  What a tragic loss.  He is missed.  Oh, I said sort of earlier because the first time I came across him was on an episode of SQUIDBILLIES where he played a one time character of P-Nut and he was just as outrageous as he was in his stand up.  I just didn't know it was him until 2015.

Jay Mohr: Funny for a Girl (2012)

Director: Scott L. Montoya

Writer: Jay Mohr

Composer: Alec Puro

Starring: Jay Mohr

More info: IMDb

Plot: "Funny For A Girl," Jay's newest one hour special, and the first in over 7 years, is the hilarious telling of stories of the challenges of raising two kids, keeping his family on the right path, along with his legendary impressions (Christopher Walken, Norm MacDonald, Adam Sandler and a host of others), and his hilarious real life stories in Hollywood.

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

I've dug this guy's work for as long as I can remember.  His impressions are very, very good plus he's funny as shit.  I hadn't realized that he'd been out of stand up for so long but it's good to see him back (even though I'm seeing this five years after the fact).  I'll watch this again and anything else he puts out.

Ralphie May: Imperfectly Yours (2013)

Director: Anthony Pierce

Writer: Ralphie May

Starring: Ralphie May

More info: IMDb

Plot: Ralphie May's 2013 stand up special.

My rating: 6/10

Will I watch it again?  No.

His delivery's there and his heart seems like it's into it but where's the funny?  I don't think I laughed once and I REALLY fuckin' dig this guy.  I can't recall not ever seeing him not funny but here it is.  Geez I hope this was an isolated incident.  He did one stand up special each year from 2012 to 2015 and this was the second one in that string.  Maybe he needed more time to work on the material instead of spreading himself thin.  HA!  Listen to me, spreading himself thin.  

Sinbad: Afros and Bellbottoms (1993)

Director: Debbie Allen

Writer: Sinbad

Starring: Sinbad

More info: IMDb

Plot:  Afros & Bellbottoms is a self-styled monologue on the "good ‘ol days" when dashikis, afros, bellbottoms, platform shoes and collars wide enough to take hang gliding were the hit!

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

There was a time where Sinbad was king and there was a reason why he was on top.  He was hilarious.  I dig his persona and delivery.  And he was always smiling.  That goes a long way.  This HBO special takes a few minutes to get warmed up but once the laughs start, they don't stop until the credits roll.  Some of the best stuff is what he and his family went through growing up in the 70s.  Some of it is outrageous and you know he's making some of that shit up but there's a lot that's right on target.  It's been ages since I heard or saw any of his standup and I need to find more of this classic stuff.

George Carlin: Complaints & Grievances (2001)

Director: Rocco Urbisci

Writer: George Carlin

Starring: George Carlin

More info: IMDb

Plot: In "Complaints & Grievances," George Carlin's 12th HBO comedy special, taped at the Beacon Theater in New York on November 17, 2001 (ten weeks after 9/11), Carlin casts his usual jaundiced eye on America and its inhabitants.From the events of 9/11, to the Ten Commandments, to why you should never stop if you run someone over with your car, nothing is sacred to this 45-year veteran of the comedy scene. Self-help books, answering machines, gun nuts, visors, motivational seminars, pictures of children, singers with one name, hot air balloons and guys named Todd; take your pick. They all come in for a special, closer Carlin look in this latest hilarious collection.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

Fuck Tucker.  Tucker sucks.  Hahahahaha.  Carlin was a genius comedian and he's one of the few entertainers that I feel like the world is a lonelier place without him.  I love his voice (his words and his speaking voice).  He can easily be seen as a grumpy old man but that's if you don't pay attention.  His jokes ran from base and vulgar to brilliant and clever.  Many of his observations are dead on target.  His closing bit on the ten commandments is a perfect example of Carlin whittling an idea down to the core all the while staying completely logical and incredibly funny.  It's worth seeing just for that several minute routine.  It's beautiful.

Wanda Sykes: I'ma Be Me (2009)

Director: Beth McCarthy-Miller

Writer: Wanda Sykes

Starring: Wanda Sykes

More info: IMDb


Plot: Wanda Sykes returns to HBO for her second full-length stand-up special.


My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again?  Yes.

I adore this broad.  She's so fucking funny.  This 90 minute concert was filmed in Washington D.C. not long after President Obama took office so she opens with bits about him and Michelle.  She also talks about coming out, her French wife, being a new mom and so on.  Fans don't need a reason to watch it other than it's Wanda.  She's one of the few comedians I'd love to see live.  The film is presented in anamorphic widescreen and there are no extras.

Just for Laughs Stand Up vol. 2: On the Edge (2002)

Director: Ron Meraska

Starring: Mitch Hedberg, Dave Attell, Dane Cook, Lewis Black, Greg Girldo, Maria Bamford, Harland Williams, Jim Breuer, Sean Cullen, Mitch Fatel

More info :IMDb

Tagline: Warning: Dangerously Funny!

Plot: Stand up comedians do their stand up thing.

My rating: 7.5/10

Will I watch it again?  Nah.

This 86 minute DVD features all of the above stand up comedians performing 1-2 short bursts (about 5-6 minutes each time) of their routines.  If you're fans of any then you'll at least dig them.  I liked most of them although it was weird watching Dave Attell (one of my favorites) kill in one set and die in the other.  Because they are so many comedians and they don't get much time, if you don't like one then wait 5 minutes for the next.  That's all fine, I suppose, but I'd rather watch an hour of each of my favorites instead.  The Image DVD is presented in fullscreen with a few brief extras including backstage footage (5 minutes), 2005 interviews with Harland Williams (3 minutes) and Lewis Black (less than 2 minutes) and a look at the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival (7 minutes).

George Lopez: Tall, Dark & Chicano (2009)

Director: Marty Callner

Writer: George Lopez

Starring: George Lopez

More info: IMDb

Tagline:  He's all over the hood.

Plot:  George's HBO stand-up comedy special.

My rating: 5.5/10

Will I watch it again?  No.

I laughed once and that was the gag using a vibrator as a tortilla roller.   The rest of it was mildly amusing.  I don't dislike Lopez but I just didn't find this funny.  I can see why others would love it but it's not for me.  He's very energetic, constantly roaming the stage, he makes sound effects and funny faces.  The guy sold out a 14k seat auditorium for this.  He's doing something right.  The HBO DVD has no extras but the concert is longer than usual at about 90 minutes so there's a lot more of George to love...or not.

Billy Connolly: Erect for 30 Years (1999)

Directors:  Billy Sneddon, Andrew Gillman

Writer:  Billy Connolly

Starring: Billy Connolly, Sean Connery, Judi Dench, Whoopi Goldberg, Dustin Hoffman, Eddie Izzard, Michael Parkinson, Pamela Stephenson, Robin Williams

More info: IMDb

Tagline: The world's favorite comedian!

Plot:  Celebrities spend the first half of this video talking about what makes comedian Billy Connolly special, intermittent with clips of Connolly from films, stand-up and interviews.  What follows is a stand-up concert from Connolly.

My rating:  7.5/10

Will I watch it again?  Maybe.

I've been a fan of Connolly since I first saw him.  He's so likable and his sense of wonder and enthusiasm is contagious.  I popped this disc in expecting to see a concert film but instead there are lots of people I really dig talking about how great Connolly is but the best part is seeing vintage clips of Connolly as well as interviews and whatnot.  It's fun but I was a bit disappointed because I really wanted to see him doing his thing without other people getting in the way.  Less than halfway through Connolly is don't some stand-up and the people have stopped talking about him and it ends up being a concert special after all.  So you really get a lot more than you'd normally get with a stand-up special.  It's great.  The Delta DVD presents the film in fullscreen and there are no extras.

Before They Were Kings, Vol. 2

Starring: Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle, Steve Harvey, Michael Colyar, Keenan Wayans, Vince Champ, John Ridley, Charles Cozart, Ralph Harris, Dwayne Cunningham, Sean Corvelle

More info: Amazon

Plot:  See some of your favorite stand-up comedians do their routines before they became megastars.

My rating: 6/10

Will I watch it again?  No.

Don't expect a laugh-fest from this DVD compilation of comedians doing about 6 minutes each.  First of all the routines are taken from an A&E stand-up show so they comedians don't get blue.  They keep the language clean.  It was interesting seeing Martin Lawrence before he developed his persona that everyone knows now.  He changed.  All of the other big names that I knew had their stand-up persona down at this time.  I only laughed at three and the most and biggest came from John Ridley.  Holy fuck was that guy funny.  He has that edgy, twist the joke quick to get to the sick style of Dave Attell and I love it.  The other two were Charles Cozart and Michael Colyar.  The Xenon DVD has this broken down so you can play all or go to each comedian as you like.  The only extras are trailers for 8 movies and you have to go to the chapter menu to see the link.

The Big Black Comedy Show, Vol. 2 (2005)

Director: Dale S. Lewis

Starring: Mo'Nique, Rod Man, Sexy Mario, Ralphie May, Vince Morris, Jay Phillips

More info: IMDb


Plot:  Comedian/actress Mo'Nique returns to host this all-star lineup which includes Sexy Mario, Rodman, Vince Morris, and Ralphie May. Once again her Co-host is the one and only Rodney Perry.

My rating: 7.5/10

Will I watch it again?  Maybe.

Funny.  All of them.  And they get progressively funnier ending with Ralphie May.  Vince Morris' act was all about pointing out the ridiculousness of black ignorance but he made it funny.  Rodman has a strange delivery.  He's not a speed talker but he doesn't break at all.  He's like a musician with his breathing.  At first I wasn't laughing.  That's because I didn't think he was funny.  But after a couple of minutes his delivery (and jokes) settled in and I was laughing.  I'm thoroughly impressed with this DVD.  So many of these multi-comic videos are severely lacking in the funny.  This one brings it.  And it's an hour and a half so each of the four comics (plus Mo'Nique gets a few as the host) gets a good deal of time to do their thing.  The Key DVD presents the show in anamorphic widescreen with no extras.

Nick Offerman: American Ham (2014)

Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts

Writer: Nick Offerman

Composer: Ryan Miller

Starring: Nick Offerman, Marc Evan Jackson, Megan Mullally

More info: IMDb


Plot:  A live taping of Nick Offerman's one-man show at New York's historic Town Hall theater, featuring a collection of anecdotes, songs and woodworking/oral-sex techniques.

My rating: 7.5/10

Will I watch it again?  Sure.

I love this guy.  He's one of the best reasons to watch PARKS AND RECREATION.  I think he's a love him or not kind of guy.  He's not clean but he's not all that filthy, either.  His comedy is down home-y and adult.  The Netflix special isn't just jokes on a stage but there are some staged bits (the one about the song he sings and didn't get the rights for airing is pretty funny) but it's mostly a concert film for funny.

Dave Attell: Road Work (2014)

Director: Scott Gawlik

Staring: Dave Attell

More info: IMDb

Plot: Veteran New York City comic Dave Attell is back with his Comedy Central stand-up special "Road Work." This unique special cuts together multiple performances from Attell's past tour. From New Orleans to Philadelphia to Minneapolis and more, "Road Work" feels more like a concert film than a traditional stand-up special. Of course, it wouldn't be a proper Attell show without his expert crowd work and clever R-rated material in what he calls "a filthy, dirty mess of a show."

My rating:9/10

Will I watch it again? Yes.

After watching the incredibly unfunny CHRIS TUCKER LIVE (2015) I had to get some laughs from somewhere (on Netflix streaming) and this one came up.  I love Attell.  I've never not laughed my ass off to his shit.  He's so outrageously vulgar and his jokes zig zag all over the place and the guy is lightning fast with the laughs.  The sad thing is this is only 40 minutes long but the good thing is it's loaded with laughs.  I'd love to see this cat live.  If you're into highly inappropriate funny then this guy is your ambassador.

Chris Tucker Live (2015)

Director: Phil Joanou

Starring: Chris Tucker

More info: IMDb

Plot: In this Netflix special, Chris Tucker returns to the stage he loves and showcases his mind-blowing comedic chops as he shares his experiences from childhood to the big time.

My rating: 4/10

Will I watch it again?  No.

I didn't laugh once until the last twenty minutes when he did his Bill Clinton impression and bit.  He sounded a lot like the former President but it didn't take long before it leaned more toward Barney Fife and then we're back to not being funny.  Something else that was surprising were the jarring moments of when the show was clearly edited to cut out a bit and the sudden applause or laughter was used to cover up the awkward edit.  I've sometimes like Tucker in the few films he's done and this is the first time I've ever seen his stand up.  If this is any indication of what he's capable of on stage, I don't need to see anything else he's done.  Is this the best he's got or is there another stand up special that brings the funny?  I'm not going to waste my time searching for it.  This was enough.

The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall (2013)

Director: ???

Composers: Bruce Stephen Foster, Extreme Music

Starring: Budd Friedman, Judd Apatow, Richard Belzer, Lewis Black, Russell Brand, Larry David, Jimmy Fallon, Kathy Griffin, Jay Leno, Richard Lewis, Mark Lonow, Bill Maher, Ray Romano, Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, Damon wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans

More info: IMDb

Tagline: They all had to start somewhere

Plot: Several comic greats pay tribute to the legendary stand-up stage founded by Budd Friedman in 1963.

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again? Maybe.

As a stand-up comic fan, shit like this is a no-brainer.  This hour long film is more of a bunch of comics telling stories of their experiences with Bud Friedman and performing at The Improv, there's not nearly enough said about the history of the club and that's a damn shame, you know, 'cause that's what's implied by the title!!!  But who the hell cares.  It's got loads of great comedians shootin' the shit and goofing off for an hour and that's alright by me.  It's fun on that level but I would have preferred a longer show with more than just a Cliff Notes version of the famous comedy joint. 

Jeff Foxworthy: You Might Be a Redneck If.../Check Your Neck (2004)

Directors: David Bergman, Keith Truesdell

Writer: Jeff Foxworthy

Starring: Jeff Foxworthy, Allie Raye

More info: IMDb

Plot: Jeff Foxworthy at his best and funniest. Every thing from You might be a redneck if..., to Victoria's Secret, women, children, sex and life.

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again? No.

I dig the guy.  His "you might be a redneck if..." shit is funny.  I grew up in The South and I've known the targets of his jokes and he's accurate.  "...if your family tree has no branches" is one of my favorites along with "if you go to family reunions to pick up women" is another. Like Andrew Dice Clay and his nursery rhymes, he can do that all day long and I'm on board.  But, like Gallagher, he's more than just a one-trick pony and shouldn't be judged solely on that. This DVD is broken into two almost half hour clean sets.  The first has a lot of his now-classic routines that fans probably know by heart like the Victoria's Secret bits.  This is the best set of the two.  The second is mostly about married life and being a parent.  I'm not a big fan of when comedians change their act to focus on their wife/husband and kids.  That's not to say those aren't funny subjects, they can be.  It's just that more often than not, the comedians at that point tend to become more tame and predictable in their performance.  And I know that this is only a small part of what he's done.  I'll keep checking out his other stuff.  He's a polished professional that knows how to get laughs and that's not easy.

Funny People (2009)

Director: Judd Apatow

Writer: Judd Apatow

Composers: Michael Andrews, Jason Schwartzman

Staring: Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jonah Hill, Jason Schwartzman, Aubrey Plaza, Maude Apatow, Iris Apatow, RZA, Aziz Ansari, Torsten Voges, Allan Wasserman, Wayne Federman, James Taylor, Andy Dick, Budd Friedman, Carol Leifer, Paul Reiser, George Wallace, Norm MacDonald, Dave Attell, Sarah Silverman, Maggie Siff, Eminem, Ray Romano, Jon Brion, Justin Long

More info: IMDb

Tagline: George Simmons was prepared to die, but then a funny thing happened.

Plot: When seasoned comedian George Simmons learns of his terminal, inoperable health condition, his desire to form a genuine friendship cause him to take a relatively green performer under his wing as his opening act.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again? Yes.

I'm a sucker for good stand-up comedy and comedians.  This pictures full of both and I loved it.  You get to see what Sarah Silverman's vagina looks like...

FINALLY, right?  I'm not a huge Sandler fan, as so many of his movies are juvenile comedies, but I think he's fantastic when he's more focused on making a good picture.  He gets better the closer he gets to drama.  The two and a half hour movie is almost precisely cut in half between George's (Sandler) diagnosis with a fatal disease and the aftermath with his rekindling an old romance with Laura (Mann).  At first it felt like it was getting long in the tooth but after a while I settled into it.  By the end I was completely satisfied.  I dig how Apatow makes pictures that do in atypical directions.  It makes the characters feel more realistic.  He takes comedy to another level you don't often see.  The relationship between George and Ira (Rogan) is great.  George clearly has problems dealing with people and it runs the gambit.  He can be charming and very funny one second and a total asshole the next.  You don't always know which way the wind is going to blow with this guy.

Rogen does a great job, too, and the supporting cast is wonderful.  The stand-up comedy scenes are funny but they're better in the context of the film.  There are a lot of laughs and there's a lot of heart in this picture.  Sandler was the perfect choice for the role and at the right age.  It wasn't surprising to learn after seeing it that Sandler and Apatow were roommates early on and this was written with him in mind.  It's a great flick that reminded me that it's been too long since I saw Sandler's excellent turn in PUNCH DRUNK LOVE (2002).  Has Sandler done other movies that approach the maturity of FUNNY PEOPLE?  I dig the guy but it's tough just seeing the trailers for stuff like JACK AND JILL (2011) et al.

Wanda Sykes: Sick and Tired (2006)

Director: Michael Drumm

Writer: Wanda Sykes

Composer: ???

Starring: Wanda Sykes

More info: IMDb

Plot: Wanda Sykes has been called "one of the funniest stand up comics" by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly's 25 Funniest People in America. She won an Emmy in 2003 for her work on Inside the NFL and was showcased for 5 years on HBO's The Chis Rock Show and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Now catch her hilarious stand up skills in this side-splitting program where she serves up comic truth and turns common sense into thought-provoking humor.

My rating: 8/10

Will I watch it again? Yes.

I laughed.  A lot.  Her bit on detachable pussy was hilarious.  It's an opposite riff on a Sam Kinison bit but it's still funny.  She takes an idea and runs with it, seemingly exhausting it.  The titties routine had me laughing out loud.  I've got another of her DVDs that I'll have to slap in sooner than later.