The Spit Take – Professional Comedy Criticism

The music is orchestral, the humor broad, many of the melodies are borrowed from jazzy klezmer music, and the references to Jewish culture come fast and furious.

Like Lenny Bruce, Andy Kaufman and a handful of other sad, indisputably titanic comedians, we seem incapable of doing anything but poring over the whats and hows of their lives at the risk of ignoring the whys.

Five minutes may not be enough to get the true essence of many of these comics, but that would be true of the live show, too. There will likely be several names here the average comedy fan may not know, though that’s all part of the fun.

There exists something of a dissonance between Lawrence’s self-perception of his comedic persona and the audience’s. It’s unnecessary to question how Lawrence feels about himself, but it’s certainly appropriate to want to hear more substantive material about why.

Tom Shillue’s decision to release 12 albums in 12 months proves he is a prolific comedian with confidence in his ability churn out stories. But spending a little more time in the laboratory would have benefited seventh entry Trust Your Heart.

If Orvedahl is a smart guy living in a stupid person’s world, Cayton-Holland is the sensitive, learned dude surrounded by malfunctioning automatons and resigned to our eventual oblivion.

Shillue’s expressiveness as a performer, even when limiting himself only to audio, and his painter’s eye for detail keeps his stories engaging and endearing.

Even as Gass roots his act in celebrity impressions, he asserts himself as a pro with a specific point of view.

Huntsberger rarely talks about himself, but he makes up for that lack of intimacy by not merely addressing topics ostensibly foreign to comedy fans, but by doing so in an intelligent, fluid and slightly absurdist way.

Comics exploring their personal lives onstage is part of what defined stand up at its inception, when it emerged from vaudeville. The difference between what these comics do on Urban Myth and their normal acts is found in the rhythm and the payoff.

Her natural disposition, curious and ever-perplexed, allows Poundstone to aggressively question audience members without ever seeming threatening. And no one does the callback better.