"The List" aka My Favorites

This week's post is going to be more structural since it is going to be a list of my favorite stand-up comedians. I will add that these aren't all of them, and my opinion now might change later on. But if you like these comics, then we will have a grand ol' time.

Dave Chappelle:

My interest for Dave Chappelle happens to be fairly recent because his recent special and I have not watched a lot his work. For the most part, I have only watched his occasional Laugh Factory bits. Though, after many appraisals from my friends, watching him on SNL, and watching both of his Netflix specials, I can honestly say he is a comedic genius. Weird, famous, understanding, and clever are some words that can portray Dave Chappelle. (Trigger Warning)Second last note: Dave Chappelle does not portray the "I am defined by my race comedian". As for the last note, Dave Chappelle is a comedian that puts his audience at a time where jokes are universal.
Dave Chappelle - Man Rape

Steve Byrne:

Steve Byrne is a comedian that has an interesting twist. The jokes Steve Byrne tells are from the side of a half-Korean, half-Irish perspective. Instead of being labeled as one or the other, Steve Byrne chooses to be labeled as "American"; a philosophy I am fully inspired by. Not too mention his Bruce Lee impression is remarkable. Other than that, he has great delivery without the need to be self-deprecating.

 Jo Koy:

Another interracial comedian; half-Filipino, half-White. I can relate to him a lot because he is Filipino and a mama's boy. Rice is rice.

Dane Cook:

I believe the hype for Dane Cook dies in the mid-2000s. However, he was one of the first comedians I was introduced so I can only blame nostalgia. Also, I watched a lot of his movies on Comedy Central. Peanut Butter Smack

Donald Glover:

From actor to musician to stand-up comedian. Call him what you want(Donald Glover, Childish Gambino, Troy from the show Community), the man has exponential talent. Donald Glover engraved the title "Black Nerd" and it totally works for his bits. Watching him perform jokes just shows that experience is one thing this comic owns. Japan

I could go on and on. Stand-up comedy is amazing and brings people together. The list would be longer but five is the minimum for a list format. It seems this is my last post for this blog. Maybe I will update it in my free time(probably not)? I had fun sharing ideas and hope to post my opinion more publicly from now on. Thanks to everyone who spent a couple of minutes to read this crap.

"Improv" or "Going with the Flow"

(This week's post is inspired by the improvisation books I have been reading recently.)

Here is a top secret that I do not tell anyone: All of my posts have been on the spot and totally improvised with little to no revision(occasionally). Now, this may be a forced excuse to hide from my sloppy work, but this is actually an attempt to improv my improvisation skills; one of the biggest key components in comedy.

The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the word improv is this scene from Ted 2. Luckily, it turns out that improv is actually the spark of creation; making something out of nothing. If you want to be a comedian, you absolutely need this skill. In more specific detail, improv is also adding more to what you already have. For example, a comedian will acknowledge the crowd to do a bit. Even though the comedian has a punch-line set, it is better to improvise and create a new experience. It is better to mix things up rather than to go insane.

People do not realize, but great improv skills are great for real life situations as well. Presentations, performances, speeches, acting, and even real life conversations can be benefited with improv. Another purpose of improv is to keep a momentum going. Anybody remember my first post on hecklers?(It's ok if you don't) Well, a bad improviser adds nothing to the performance if he/she does not interact with said heckler. Meanwhile, a great improv fanatic will likely put their own twist on a heckler. The heckler could argue that the performance is trash but the comedian can instantly remark with, "You're the one who paid for this garbage." Improvisation like that shuts down all forced negativity and adds realism to the performance. Love it or hate it, comedians that take a chance earn much respect from an audience member.

Here the two improv books I have currently read:

These books have been more than enough to inspire the little entertainer in me. Read a preview if you also inspire to entertain one day. Just like every weak week, I would like to thank anyone using their precious time to read a post from a guy who has no idea what he is talking about. Keep calm and wait for next week's lame post.

Impressionists

"Top a' the morning!" You see, it's funny because, as a non-Irish speaking person, I can pull off a smooth Irish accent.

Impressions, like any form of comedy, can be quite touchy. Some audiences w. I'll say. "Hey! We(They) don't sound like that at all!" Sometimes people will rejoice at the performance saying, "It's as if I was actually with that kind person/popular figure." My "favorite" impressions are the ones with no context. Just throw in a sentence and say it in a Brtish accent. Why? Becuase why not; that is the point of no context.

The great thing about impressions is that they open up a whole new world for your viewing experience. For example, on multiple occasions, people will instantly laugh at a stereotypical Japanese or Chinese accent(even if it does not apply to a majority). People laugh because they mix the Ls with the Rs. Take a rook at this exampre: "Herro my name isa Wata Bottre and I rove noodres." I know some of you laughed but you laughed because it was different. Comedy has a lot of shock value, and impressions can be known to electrify.

Aside from language impressions, there are also celebrity or famous impressions. Obama, Owen Wilson, Christopher Walkin, Nicholas Cage, Jane Lynch, and way more impressions available to the public. These mimicries are great for people who have or haven't met the person they're talking about. Like if I ever met Pitbull in person I imagine his first words would be, "Dale! It's ya boy Pitbull: Mr. Worldwide!" Again, this is just generalizing and I honestly do not expect anyone to sound like that.

Hope I left a good impression on the audience... My final note on impressions is that they require a LOT of practice. If not done correctly, they can offend and bore a crowd. However, if done exceptionally well, a crowd will further accept the spit. Off the top of my head, my favorite impressionist comedians are:

• Jay Pharoah*
• Kate McKinnon
• Any comedian of Asian decent
• Jo Koy
• Andy Sandberg

(If I find more, I will come back an edit this post. Have a nice day!)