Mike Teacher
08-10-2002, 09:50 PM
Hello All!
Well, I got back from Count Basie and lets see....<p>
In a nutshell, this was the toughest audience I've ever seen for a comedy act. A definite O+A crowd. The crowd was loud and obnoxious, and let everyone have it; even Norton. Some people feel that if they shout out radio drops during a show they are cool, all they really do is disrupt the act. <p>
So it went down like this:<p>
Vos: Better then expected; he got a good round of applause at the beginning, but the shouters began seconds later, especially from the balcony. They were brutal, but Vos used it against them; he had the Mic, so he could put them down. But the shouting wouldn't stop, so it was about 50/50 between comedy material and having it out with the crowd. Had some good bits.<p>
In a nutshell, the crowd didn't even give Billy a chance. 50/50 applause and boos when he entered, but after one joke; it was a torrential downpour of heckling. You can love Billy or hate Billy; but it was no contest. The crowd just wouldn't have any of it. Vos can turn the hecklers against themselves; its part of his act, but Billy, or anyone up there in those circumstances, could have great material, but nothings gonna get out when the chants and boos drown out the Mic. <p>
Norton was great, but didn't kill. Even when he was on, people were shouting drop lines like "Be More Funny!" They did shut up and let him do his act occasionally, but every once in a while someone would shout something, and Norton would stop and address it, only to have more shouting erupt. One guy about 5th row, wouldn't shut up, and Norton finally let him have it, to wild applause. His material was filthier then you can imagine, but cerbral also. A good mix. <p>One of the most Surreal events I have ever been to.<p>
As to Billy: He is a funny writer, but on-air he's the butt of jokes, and the 'make me laugh' on-air segments were just ammo for what happened to him tonight. I'm not sugar coating this; he had his chance, I'm guessing he knew what he was getting into. <p>Mike The Science Teacher <p>Miketeachr@aol.com
no sig yet; id love one of the prod to make me one
Well, I got back from Count Basie and lets see....<p>
In a nutshell, this was the toughest audience I've ever seen for a comedy act. A definite O+A crowd. The crowd was loud and obnoxious, and let everyone have it; even Norton. Some people feel that if they shout out radio drops during a show they are cool, all they really do is disrupt the act. <p>
So it went down like this:<p>
Vos: Better then expected; he got a good round of applause at the beginning, but the shouters began seconds later, especially from the balcony. They were brutal, but Vos used it against them; he had the Mic, so he could put them down. But the shouting wouldn't stop, so it was about 50/50 between comedy material and having it out with the crowd. Had some good bits.<p>
In a nutshell, the crowd didn't even give Billy a chance. 50/50 applause and boos when he entered, but after one joke; it was a torrential downpour of heckling. You can love Billy or hate Billy; but it was no contest. The crowd just wouldn't have any of it. Vos can turn the hecklers against themselves; its part of his act, but Billy, or anyone up there in those circumstances, could have great material, but nothings gonna get out when the chants and boos drown out the Mic. <p>
Norton was great, but didn't kill. Even when he was on, people were shouting drop lines like "Be More Funny!" They did shut up and let him do his act occasionally, but every once in a while someone would shout something, and Norton would stop and address it, only to have more shouting erupt. One guy about 5th row, wouldn't shut up, and Norton finally let him have it, to wild applause. His material was filthier then you can imagine, but cerbral also. A good mix. <p>One of the most Surreal events I have ever been to.<p>
As to Billy: He is a funny writer, but on-air he's the butt of jokes, and the 'make me laugh' on-air segments were just ammo for what happened to him tonight. I'm not sugar coating this; he had his chance, I'm guessing he knew what he was getting into. <p>Mike The Science Teacher <p>Miketeachr@aol.com
no sig yet; id love one of the prod to make me one