SIMON AMSTELL - DO NOTHING LIVE

Do you find any of the new young comedians funny? You know what I mean by this, right? Funny in the way that Robin Williams is funny. Or funny in the way that watching a monkey throwing sh* is funny. Maybe curly haired-twat, Simon Amstell, will know? As seen in his 60 minute stand-up show made in 2010.


Simon Amstell - Do Nothing Live

THE STORY:

He looks like a raggedy doll of the Hebrew persuasion. He once did children's television and hosted a quiz show. He sounds constipated and looks like he should eat more. Plus in 2010, comedian, Simon Amstell, is performing a stand-up show in front of a live studio audience, in Vicar Street, Ireland.

Now this gig is a rather simply presented affair overall, where Simon regales his audience on such topics as, love, life, romance, racism, family, frustration, religion, and, of course, sinks.

What now follows' are a select few quotes taken from his show:   

• Is that girl interesting? Or should she grow her hair?
• I was in love five years ago. I made him up. It wasn't ideal.
• I like the idea that I can go on a date with someone and it could possibly be their last.
• It's too easy to attack religious people. It feels as if I have already won.
• I have two sinks. One so I can brush my teeth. And the other one to cry into.
• I don't have a voice that can get me into a relationship or have sex.
• I am awkward around my Mother because I know that I came out of her vagina.
• My Jewish family is racist because they have too much time on their hands. 
• I went to the same club in Romford for three years. I went to the same club in Romford for three years. I went to the same club in Romford for three years. Because nobody told me London was so close.
• My Mother always says to me "Everyone who has been on television and on films shits".
• I know that half of the people here are only here because the person sitting next to them likes me.
• My family thinks that my Granddad caught diabetes because my Mother divorced my Dad.
• Everything is a choice between fear and love, because death is coming.
• My cat is a mascot for my loneliness. He's called 'Solitude'.

As soon as Simon has said his last gag, he takes a bow, he waves good-bye to the audience, and then he pisses off back to his two sinks.

THE REVIEW:

Now I have to confess that before watching 'Simon Amstell - Do Nothing Live', I did not know that much about him really. Well, apart from his work on the musical panel show 'Never Mind the Buzzcocks', plus that he co-hosted some daytime pop program I didn't watch. But apart from that - nothing - nish - kaput.

However, now that I have seen Simon in this more personable and jovial capacity, I have to say that I have found out quite a lot about him in the process. For example: (1) He's a poof. (2) He comes from Romford. (3) He Jewish. (4) He's in his thirties. (5) He writes his own material. (6) His hair is very curly. (7) He looks funnier standing up. And (8) He is a really-really funny chap.

You see, Simon has a very refreshing way about him and his act that I was not expecting at all. Heck, half of me only watched this program in the first place, because my Dad told me that he liked it. So, because the 'old git' and I share a similar taste in comedy, I thought to myself "Why not! What damage could it do?".

Answer - none. If anything, it has taught me that I should try to diversify my tastes in comedy to newer horizons, and embrace fresh talent no matter where their 'media origins' derive from.

OK, so why did I enjoy 'Simon Amstell - Do Nothing Live' so much, huh? Well...

DELIVERY: Simon has a very ying-yang way of how he holds himself. Visually he does not look intimidating one little bit. But sometimes his rather bodacious and straight forward delivery can hit you straight between the eyes, making him funny and revealing at the same time. Moreover, Simon has an educated tone to his voice as well. And in someway reminds me of 'Carry On' alumni, Kenneth Williams, because he makes you believe what he is saying whilst he is saying it.

SEXUAL PREFERENCE: Although Simon is a homosexual man, he does not present himself in a flamboyantly manner, and only touches upon this subject matter just as a heterosexual comedian would do in his act. I find this to be a very holistic and fresh take in this rather 'overt' day and age, as it presents Simon as a more broader and relatable character / performer.

FLOW: Generally speaking this is a show of two half's. The though-line of the first-half is relates to Simons 'imagined love'. Whereas the main though-line to the second-half relates to Simons Jewish family heritage and possible future. Granted, in places, there are numerous topics of note that sew both of these two segments together - such as his Mother, and his own yearning. But all in all this is a very cleverly written routine, intricately constructed in a very modern and precise structure.   

WOODY: Simon comes across as a pseudo English Woody Allen figure of today. He talks about his Jewish origins like Woody would. He talks about his own fear of death like Woody would. And his nervous behavior and sexual frustrations is similar to Woody's early leanings too. However, where Simon and Woody detract, is all to do with their delivery - because they both have a unique style of their own.

Overall, 'Simon Amstell - Do Nothing Live' is a really great stand-up show to watch. It is funny, personable, fresh, revealing, and on par with something like this clip...

Ha! What a sod.

THE RATING: A