I’m sure most stand-up regulars know that situation where you have to force laughter out, even with a comedian you really like. Their set might be good, but you might be doing it to keep the energy up, or just out of courtesy. However, whenever I watch Lee, live or not, the laughter is honest and never forced.
The reason lies in the fact that most of Lee’s comedy doesn’t come from the set-up and punchline formula, even though it is there; it comes from everything around the joke. Lee’s characteristic deconstructive style emphasises the absurdist nature of all stand-up comedy, it makes you realise the bizarre situation of one person standing in front of hundreds of strangers, trying to make them laugh.
Everything you could expect from a Stewart Lee set is there; meticulously planned moments of audience contempt, frantic repetition, and unrelenting self-deprecation. It’s stand-up pedigree, go see him.
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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John Robins, Comedian
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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World Without End, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Chez, Chortle.com
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Robert Gavin, Twitter