"Alternative" Comedy

Saw some alternative comedy the other night. It wasn't funny. At all.

Herre's a joke that's funnier than 95% of what was included on the programme that night: "Alternative comedy? If conventional comedy is funny, then yes, it's alternative". I wrote that joke. I don't claim to be a comedian, or put my comedic efforts out there for the public to consume (for dollars), so I can throw these stones.

Was it alternative because the bulk of the show was made up of poorly conceived and produced video instead of a dude in front of a brick wall cracking wise about his wife? No. I think they're suggesting they're alternative because if you're into Everybody Loves Raymond, you just won't "get it". They operate outside of the restrictive paradigms that have been imposed on comedy by chain comedy clubs and the Hollywood comedian star system. Man.

I'm not into Raymond, and I didn't get Pony Hunters, who should have done better than their submission: a too long and too unfunny camcorder documentary of their visit to a Star Trek convention. There were no jokes, little editing and nothing to distinguish it from a video that you yourself may have made, but decided to delete it off your memory card instead of sharing it with a room full of people who paid $8 to watch it. What I didn't get was why they didn't interview nerds at the convention? That's comedy gold! It's also a fairly well worn comedy convention - letting geeks embarrass themselves, so I guess it's not all that alternative. Instead they recounted meeting Captain Kirk and Spock, with lots of giggles that weren't shared by the audience.

The funny highlight of the night was anticipating male nudity, because men's buttocks are hilarious. Female buttocks on the other hand are really sexy and not to be laughed at. (Patriarchy)