Welcome back to The Comedy Bureau - the comedy dissection podcast where comedian Laura Lexx and academic Oliver Double take comedy arguably too seriously.

This week on the podcast they are discussing comedy specials… first having a look at the different streaming platforms and options for releasing a comedy show once the live tour is completed. Obviously the larger platforms like Netflix and Prime etc exist but they also look at the options for smaller, lesser known comedians and how each of them can be used to benefit a burgeoning career.

Then, for the bulk of this episode the experiment was looking in detail at two specific specials and having a look at comparative joke rates and techniques and ideas within the shows. We use two very different recorded shows as a jumping off point for comedy discussion.

The first show we chose is John Bishop’s Winging It, from 2018 at The London Palladium. It’s available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re8-L11b8n4

The second show we looked at is Power and Chaos, by Fern Brady from 2021, and available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fern-Brady-Power-Chaos/dp/B0CBN92JKD

We use these shows as jumping off points to evaluate the myriad choices all comedians make every time they step out on stage or in front of a camera. From the clothing they choose, the the persona they inhabit and how that develops throughout their career to the jokes they tell.

Laura mentions a restaurant called Lavash. We’re not in anyway sponsored by them, but if you do like delicious food then check them out next time you’re in Brighton.

Laura mentions her newest show Slinky has been filmed and that it “will be out by now”. It’s not available online yet because the tour was extended again but if you are in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane or London you can catch it live. Go for tickets at www.lauralexx.co.uk/live and subscribe to Laura Lexx’s YouTube channel to receive the Slinky filming as soon as it is released.

Laura mentions a platform called NextUp that you may not have heard of, but if you’re interested enough in comedy to be watching The Comedy Bureau then we’re pretty sure you would LOVE the content of NextUp. Have a look at all their shows at www.nextupcomedy.com

You can watch Laura’s shows Trying and Tyrannosaurus Lexx at ITVX:

https://www.itv.com/watch/laura-lexx-trying/10a1419

https://www.itv.com/watch/laura-lexx-tyrannosauraus-lexx/10a1420

Laura mentions her other podcast, which you may not have got round to yet, but if you like giggling and sibling arguments then check out Lexx Education in your podcast app.

She also mentions Mark Simmons and Danny Ward’s excellent podcast, which is called Jokes With Mark and available wherever you podcast.

Here is some coverage of the Katherine Ryan appearance on “My Mate Bought A Toaster” Podcast where she discusses dressing feminine and glamorous to do stand up: https://www.chortle.co.uk/punching-ups/2024/04/04/55331/katherine_ryan%3A_female_comics_now_dress_more_glamorously_thanks_to_me

Case File 19: Is There A Right Way To Do Comedy?