this genre of promotional photographs employed by british comedians and light entertainment types

http://i.imgur.com/OvNOhDn.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/bTocEXA.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/lScnWbK.jpg

eyebrows askew / contorted posture / wacky props / overlit / distorted perspective from being 50 cm in front of camera

this isnt just british

photos of comedy troupes are the worst

http://i.imgur.com/bmD4g2c.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/fppKgqX.jpg

I don't have the stomach for this. I started looking at photos of Stephen Merchant and had to stop right away.

click this link

https://www.google.com/search?q=comedy+troupe&safe=off&espv=210&es_sm=91&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=3JpeUq27EbXl4APB6ICgDA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1030&bih=711

http://i.imgur.com/ZjMzNyt.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cb/Flyingcircus_2.jpg

https://www.edfringe.com/uploads/event/chris-martin-passionate-about-the-pointless_30507.jpg

http://www.thestand.co.uk/standFringe/img/2013/2013-gavin-webster-big.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/WolIcWN.png

http://www.rodwoodward.co.uk/images/funny-turn.jpg

http://i2.digiguide.tv/up/0804/1208811600-644598-DomJolys-12078157280.jpg

http://www.statichukd.com/images/threads/high-res/1540053_1.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QsMIXDsE9Jo/TWLCDo2g0oI/AAAAAAAAAnI/g49zVTY_UO4/s1600/tt2.jpg

http://files.list.co.uk/images/2013/02/22/andy-parsons-lst059229.jpg

http://www.thsh.co.uk/files/images/applicationfiles/3766.5680.andy2011image2.jpg.cropped/630x26.fitwithoffset.jpg

How much of this is a result of these people's innate awfulness and how much is a result of the photographers saying, "Do something funny?"

http://files.list.co.uk/images/2008/07/22/pappys-fun-club.jpg

http://i2.cdnds.net/10/18/618x955/550w_gay_spy_cosmo_jack_whitehall.jpg

The group ones definitely getting in the neighborhood of

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3d/GordonBarenakedLadies.jpg

I won't fill up the whole thread with them, but if you GIS 'Pappy's' you see approx 2 million examples of this genre.

it's a result of the purpose of the photos as much as anything i'd've thought - "convey to promoter/potential audience that you are a comedian". doesn't make it less horrible but still.

"convey to promoter/potential audience that you are a comedian".

"Because you can tell from your act, oy!"

It's the way they all seem to be saying 'Oo-er!'

None of you people should ever go to Edinburgh in August, the entire city is papered in these things.

some of them even have posters of themselves everywhere etc etc

http://static.bips.channel4.com/bse/orig/lee-mack-live/lee-mack-live_625x352.jpg

every year I come closer to saying 'fuck it, lex otm'. who's left, at least in britain? lee? brand?

For a second I thought you meant Lee Mack and I was confused/disappointed.

Lee Mack & Jo Brand

There just doesn't seem to be much point to any of the new crop. They're just here to shill their mean-spirited ego-worship & pocket £££

British humour as a whole is having a dark decade or two, even. Fucking Gervais and Baron Cohen are the two Great Satans as far as I'm concerned. Absolutely obnoxious fucking waste. I cannot credit them with anything positive. They are the dregs of our disdain for humanity.

http://images.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/6501f3d5-58f3-102e-88fa-f887b90b0b17_001.jpg

http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348346489l/12773996.jpg

Manford was born[2] in Salford,[3] Greater Manchester, a son of Sharon[1] (née Ryan), who is a Catholic[4] and gave birth to him when she was sixteen – and Ian Manford, a courtroom stenographer.[2] He grew up in a terraced house in what is known as the "Triangle of Death" area of Manchester notorious for its gang activity and high crime rate.[2][5]

every year I come closer to saying 'fuck it, lex otm'. who's left, at least in britain? lee? brand?

kitson ffs

http://gifilmfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Triangle-of-Death-Horizonta.jpg

sic otm

not seen any daniel kitson. link?

THERE’S no doubt that, as a nation, we churn out a delightful helping of comedians. How could one possibly ever choose a favourite?

Well, I’m sure that on most people’s shortlists, you will find Mancunian beauty Jason Manford. Over recent years, Manford has risen to incredible success, having many titles to his name: co-host on BBC’s The One Show, C4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats panelist, Show Me the Funny presenter.

However, he’s always at his finest when performing as a stand-up comedian. Following the recent release of his autobiography, Brung Up Proper, Manford is now taking his ‘Off On Tour We Go’ tour across the country, stopping recently at Metro Radio Arena.

With a label of ‘over 16s only’ attached to it, Manford’s material can be a little strong, but on the most, it contains delightfully entertaining, and equally nostalgic, tales of his adventures as a brother a son, and a father.

For the avid fans of Manford, who have perhaps seen him live already, they need not worry. This particular tour is weaved with fresh jokes and anecdotes, with little recycled gags being used.

His audience participation, which makes for great hilarity, allows for a unique experience that can only be witnessed at that one particular gig.

Manford certainly allows each individual audience member to feel special, this helped by the simplicity of the stage layout.He also ensures all that their cheek muscles are still in perfect working order; you’d certainly struggle to stop laughing after the evening is over, his best work lingering in your mind.

Whether or not you’re familiar with Manford’s work already, his ‘Off on Tour We Go’ run is one which should be enjoyed by all. Both precise and professional with his performance, his personalty shines through for all.

If laughter really is the best medicine, then Jason Manford would make for a sensational doctor.

obviously limmy is amazing but he's not a stand-up so dq'd

Kitson is so anti-commercial he doesn't do Youtube so he'll be riiiiight up your alley dude

yeah fuck the man!

\m/

he's funny

http://i.imgur.com/2qJ0SHZ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/YVHsK9S.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/N6U3iYk.jpg

Comedian-pictured-host-stars-including-Phill-Jupitus-John-Bishop-revealed-paedophile-imprisoned-abusing-15-year-old-boy.html

been doing open mic a bit in the last year and also on a few of the Facebook comedy groups as a result. i shouldn't be surprised but these promotional pictures are everywhere, along with sexism, racism, "anti-pc" sentiment or vague men's rights movement stuff. the latter ties in with the overwhelming sense of bitterness and failure that pervades the amateur comedy scene - there are a great many angry men involved who seem to be ready to feel sleighted at any point, so an act cancelling or a dodgy promoter is magnified into the latest in a long line of venal sins.

i think there's a lot of mental illness involved - like there are some last chance saloon type guys who are not only unfunny but wouldn't make you laugh if you were best friends and sat with them in the pub for hours. it's not just bad jokes or cliched attempts at humour. you see people trying to communicate something that only they understand - jokes where you can't even tell what they're trying to do or what's supposed to be funny - it's mildly disturbing. i want to make a play about open mic but i actually don't think i have the skill to write those kind of jokes, failed humour from deep within the mind of a psychopath.

i actually don't think i have the skill to write those kind of jokes, failed humour from deep within the mind of a psychopath.

I disagree. You have enough skill and this seems a very promising idea. It would require your immersion in bad open mic comedy before the skill had enough raw material to work on. The hard part would be finding the correct structure. One act or three? How to frame the audience's POV and how to find a satisfactory ending. That kind of nuts and bolts you could hammer out via your dramatic imagination. Your working title could be Observational Tragedy.

I encourage you to play around with the idea further.

http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/16/06/1280x589/gallery-1454948346-talkradio-presenter-lineup.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gki77GxXAAAjvbr?format=jpg&name=medium

Jesus

to be fair it must be nigh-impossible to get a stand-up promo shot looking right. Do you smile, do you pull a face, do you stand there looking half-bored? Unlike musicians, standing there looking all acerbic and brooding doesn't suit everyone, but it's that or do something whacky with a fish-eye lense.

I like that they didn't include Alexei Sayles because if they did they'd have to move everyone else right.

Very shoddy work on the authoritarian/libertarian axis there too