Post by flum on Aug 26, 2004 11:59:36 GMT
Over the last week I've been attempting to see the people that I reckoned would make the Perrier shortlist. As always, my judgement is entirely wrong and I've only seen two of the 5 nominated shows. This is, however, a hell of a lot better than last year where, despite seeing, and I use the scientific term here, a shit load of shows, I only saw one of the nominated acts. Grr. Anyway, here's this years funny five.
Chris Addison - Civiliaztion, Chris Addison is probably best known for hosting Channel 4's largely laugh free internet based comedy show 'dotcomedy' a few years ago, which is quite interesting given that the eligibility rules for the Perrier quite clearly state that "Acts considered to have 'star' status are not eligible.
For the purposes of this Award a 'star' is defined as any act who has starred in a television comedy or light entertainment series broadcast on a terrestrial channel or regularly fills a 500-plus seat venue on their own name.". Hmmm. Obviously they've decided to forget about this series, qhich is probably fair enough as I doubt that Chris wants to be reminded about it either. Chris has always been a solid enough stand-up, but I have no idea what his show is like this year. He's been doing the Fringe for years now so his nomination does slightly smack of, "he's been around for a while, it's his turn".
Reginald D.Hunter - A Mystery Wrapped in A Nigga. Reginald was nominated last year and was up for best newcomer the year before that. Is unlikely to win as in previous years he's always split the panel due to a number of people considering his show to be essentially racist and satisfying middle-class prejudices of what black people are like.
Epitaph - She's Dead - Move On!. I hadn't heard of this show until yesterday so I can't comment on it's quality. What I will comment on, though, is that it's listed in the theatre section of the Fringe brochure and, once again turning towards the elligibility rules I can quote "Comedy plays are not eligible.". Again, Hmmm.
Jackson's Way. I've seen this! It's genuinely brilliant and what I'd love to see win it this year. Originally scheduled for a week long run, but extended for the full Fringe due to it's general greatness, Jackson's Way is a parody/satire of motivational speakers with Chris Jackson believing that the way to happiness is via the pointless. To be honest, it's not an idea that should really entertain for more than ten minutes, but the hour flew by leaving the audience wanting more. It's completely unique, despite the slight unoriginality of the taking the piss out of motivational speakers idea, and succeeds in creating it's own little believable world for the show. As it has my support, it probably won't win.
Sarah Kendall. Look! A girl! And one I've seen as well. I think Sarah is fab, I saw her last year and laughed my head off at her material, she's incredibly funny, which is why I was quite disappointed when I went to see her show this year and the majority of the material was te same as the stuff she'd done last year. I'd like to take this opportunity to quote from the Elligibility rules for a final time and point out that "Established acts should have substantially new material since the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2003. ". Hmmm, for a third time. I hesitate to suggest that she's been included for tokenism after the furore last year when it was felt that at least one of her, Natalie Haynes and Lucy Porter should have recieved a nomination, but I have anyway now. Ah well.
Who's going to win? Haven't the foggiest. While last year Demetri Martin stood head and shoulders above the rest, this year it's pretty much a level playing field and they're all in with a shout really, even Reginald if he has enough supporters. The winner will be announced at midnight on Saturday at the Perrier party so all will be revealed then.
Chris Addison - Civiliaztion, Chris Addison is probably best known for hosting Channel 4's largely laugh free internet based comedy show 'dotcomedy' a few years ago, which is quite interesting given that the eligibility rules for the Perrier quite clearly state that "Acts considered to have 'star' status are not eligible.
For the purposes of this Award a 'star' is defined as any act who has starred in a television comedy or light entertainment series broadcast on a terrestrial channel or regularly fills a 500-plus seat venue on their own name.". Hmmm. Obviously they've decided to forget about this series, qhich is probably fair enough as I doubt that Chris wants to be reminded about it either. Chris has always been a solid enough stand-up, but I have no idea what his show is like this year. He's been doing the Fringe for years now so his nomination does slightly smack of, "he's been around for a while, it's his turn".
Reginald D.Hunter - A Mystery Wrapped in A Nigga. Reginald was nominated last year and was up for best newcomer the year before that. Is unlikely to win as in previous years he's always split the panel due to a number of people considering his show to be essentially racist and satisfying middle-class prejudices of what black people are like.
Epitaph - She's Dead - Move On!. I hadn't heard of this show until yesterday so I can't comment on it's quality. What I will comment on, though, is that it's listed in the theatre section of the Fringe brochure and, once again turning towards the elligibility rules I can quote "Comedy plays are not eligible.". Again, Hmmm.
Jackson's Way. I've seen this! It's genuinely brilliant and what I'd love to see win it this year. Originally scheduled for a week long run, but extended for the full Fringe due to it's general greatness, Jackson's Way is a parody/satire of motivational speakers with Chris Jackson believing that the way to happiness is via the pointless. To be honest, it's not an idea that should really entertain for more than ten minutes, but the hour flew by leaving the audience wanting more. It's completely unique, despite the slight unoriginality of the taking the piss out of motivational speakers idea, and succeeds in creating it's own little believable world for the show. As it has my support, it probably won't win.
Sarah Kendall. Look! A girl! And one I've seen as well. I think Sarah is fab, I saw her last year and laughed my head off at her material, she's incredibly funny, which is why I was quite disappointed when I went to see her show this year and the majority of the material was te same as the stuff she'd done last year. I'd like to take this opportunity to quote from the Elligibility rules for a final time and point out that "Established acts should have substantially new material since the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2003. ". Hmmm, for a third time. I hesitate to suggest that she's been included for tokenism after the furore last year when it was felt that at least one of her, Natalie Haynes and Lucy Porter should have recieved a nomination, but I have anyway now. Ah well.
Who's going to win? Haven't the foggiest. While last year Demetri Martin stood head and shoulders above the rest, this year it's pretty much a level playing field and they're all in with a shout really, even Reginald if he has enough supporters. The winner will be announced at midnight on Saturday at the Perrier party so all will be revealed then.
