How important is intelligence in comedy (thinking of people like Monty Python who did come from places like Oxbridge) and is one reason comedy is terrible these days that too many thick people are in?
You've always been quite forthright in your jokes and comments. Do you think anything has changed in regards to audience reactions to that in the last 10 years or so and if so what and how?
Absolute Legend! Jimmy, you get away with saying the unsayable on stage; however, you balance that with being sincere and giving proper heart felt advice. This is a unique talent. If you were king of the universe, what rule would you make regarding telling mean jokes. Further to that, have you ever told a mean joke where the comedy wasn't worth the price. If so, how do you deal with that?
How do you feel about the Riyadh Comedy Festival and its participants, would you do it, and could you comment on the glaring irony of its location, juxtaposed to the UK's growing intolerance of humour from the strange Islamo-Leftist alliance?
So that Jimmy knows this question comes from admiration of his skillset, I'd like to preface it by saying he is one of my favourite comedians of all time, and I was extremely chuffed with him commending me on a heckle at his show, so am a big fan of his work. I was surprised to hear him refer to AI as 'just a covers band' in a recent YouTube clip of some crowd work as ultimately, in my (by far less expert) understanding, humour is highly mathematical and algorithmic.
There are certain ways to write jokes (the reason I'm especially surprised is I believe Jimmy himself is writing a book on this subject so he must clearly believe there are algorithms), with set-ups and punches, wordplay (Jimmy himself started out with just going through the English dictionary, which AI can do in a matter of seconds), and then things like rule of 3, inversions, misdirection and over-exaggeration all the way to absurdity etc. where what you do is take a formula and insert subjects, with the creativity being in connecting things that are not typically connected.
For example, there's little different in terms of joke construction in Jimmy's own joke of "Boxers don't have sex before a fight. Because they don't fancy each other" and Anthony Jeselnik's joke "A woman asked me to be a sperm donor for her baby. Wow, that's a big decision - how old is your baby?" - both feature the exact same punchline of twisting the original premise by taking it literally (by the way, if I get lucky and this is chosen, I'm looking forward to the look on KK or FF's faces when they having to read them out loud)... so why does he think that with more compute and iterations, AI couldn't come up with what could be deemed as 'original' material if we're willing to give the same grace to the two jokes above?
Maga and woke seem to have careened beyond the orbit of irony and satire. What tools remain for comedians to carve up and feast on these rotting carcasses?
How did your view of the universe change from when you believed in a god to now as an atheist? And do you find the singularity theory compelling, or does the idea of 'something from nothing' still feel incomplete? EDIT: In case that question doesn't fit the brief, oops... Following on from what you wrote in your brilliant book, have you ever encouraged anyone to leave their nine-to-five job, like you did, to become a comedian?
You ever wonder why we're here?
How important is intelligence in comedy (thinking of people like Monty Python who did come from places like Oxbridge) and is one reason comedy is terrible these days that too many thick people are in?
Always good to see Jimmy, incredible talent, hard work, and a mentor to anyone smart enough to listen.
I salute his extra effort to check the local state of affairs before shows, how did he come to that idea?
I remember you speaking up for Graham Lenahan at one of your shows. What do you make of the trans debate?
You've always been quite forthright in your jokes and comments. Do you think anything has changed in regards to audience reactions to that in the last 10 years or so and if so what and how?
Are there any subjects/topics you wouldn't go near with a barge pole, or is everything fair game in your amazing brain?
Absolute Legend! Jimmy, you get away with saying the unsayable on stage; however, you balance that with being sincere and giving proper heart felt advice. This is a unique talent. If you were king of the universe, what rule would you make regarding telling mean jokes. Further to that, have you ever told a mean joke where the comedy wasn't worth the price. If so, how do you deal with that?
How do you feel about the Riyadh Comedy Festival and its participants, would you do it, and could you comment on the glaring irony of its location, juxtaposed to the UK's growing intolerance of humour from the strange Islamo-Leftist alliance?
What was the joke that caused you to bomb the hardest? What was the thought process behind the joke?
So that Jimmy knows this question comes from admiration of his skillset, I'd like to preface it by saying he is one of my favourite comedians of all time, and I was extremely chuffed with him commending me on a heckle at his show, so am a big fan of his work. I was surprised to hear him refer to AI as 'just a covers band' in a recent YouTube clip of some crowd work as ultimately, in my (by far less expert) understanding, humour is highly mathematical and algorithmic.
There are certain ways to write jokes (the reason I'm especially surprised is I believe Jimmy himself is writing a book on this subject so he must clearly believe there are algorithms), with set-ups and punches, wordplay (Jimmy himself started out with just going through the English dictionary, which AI can do in a matter of seconds), and then things like rule of 3, inversions, misdirection and over-exaggeration all the way to absurdity etc. where what you do is take a formula and insert subjects, with the creativity being in connecting things that are not typically connected.
For example, there's little different in terms of joke construction in Jimmy's own joke of "Boxers don't have sex before a fight. Because they don't fancy each other" and Anthony Jeselnik's joke "A woman asked me to be a sperm donor for her baby. Wow, that's a big decision - how old is your baby?" - both feature the exact same punchline of twisting the original premise by taking it literally (by the way, if I get lucky and this is chosen, I'm looking forward to the look on KK or FF's faces when they having to read them out loud)... so why does he think that with more compute and iterations, AI couldn't come up with what could be deemed as 'original' material if we're willing to give the same grace to the two jokes above?
Yeah I am upvoting it just for that reaction..
What is Jimmy’s opinion of Paul Currie’s treatment of a Jewish audience member at the Soho Theatre last year?
(I love Jimmy, btw. He not only makes me laugh but provides fabulous life advice too! What a guy!).
How did you learn to be so quick on your feet when doing crowd work, or is it an innate skill?
Maga and woke seem to have careened beyond the orbit of irony and satire. What tools remain for comedians to carve up and feast on these rotting carcasses?
Do you think there will come a time when the BBC actually puts some comedians on their panel shows that are not just certified left wing luvvies ?
thanks for all the laughs X
How did your view of the universe change from when you believed in a god to now as an atheist? And do you find the singularity theory compelling, or does the idea of 'something from nothing' still feel incomplete? EDIT: In case that question doesn't fit the brief, oops... Following on from what you wrote in your brilliant book, have you ever encouraged anyone to leave their nine-to-five job, like you did, to become a comedian?