German folk song

From Dave's One Night Stand 2011

More Henning Wehn videos

A London-based German comedian, Wehn has been performing as the self-styled 'German Comedy Ambassador' since 2003, playing on the English stereotype of Germans as humourless Nazis, obsessed with efficiency.

He was a regular on the Channel 4 show FAQ U in 2005, as well as Radio 5 Live sporting panel show Fighting Talk.

He regularly appears with fellow German performer Otto Kuhnle, and their show 1000 Years Of German Humour was nominated for the Barry Award at the 2009 Melbourne Comedy Festival.

CV

Henning Wehn: No Surrender
Live Review

Henning Wehn is not a happy German. He’s complaining that he’s had to throw away all the efficiently-functioning jokes from his acclaimed 2010 show and start from scratch, just because a new hour is the annual turnover the consumerist comedy world demands of him.

In fact, he does quite a lot of complaining about the comedy industry, including how big-name acts can get away with less dedication to new material, how the Free Fringe is full of shit, how whinging comedians shouldn’t be surprised when they lose money at this festival, how he struggled playing at he Melbourne Comedy Festival, and how he has nothing but contempt for some of the audiences the Highlight and Jongleurs clubs attract…

And it all rather begs the question: ‘Who gives a scheiße?’ Hardcore comedy geeks will have heard all these grievances before, and to everyone else it runs a high risk of being parochial and self-indulgent.

It’s contributes to the feeling that Wehn doesn’t quite have enough material to go around this year, as he tries to expand away from quite such a dependence on the old stereotypes about the war, German humourlessness and industrial efficiency – even though these continue to provide some of his most pointed, and most hilarious, lines, especially now the Fatherland has had to bail out Greece.

Items about the difference between Australian and British swimming pools, about a German beer festival in Aberdeen and have their funny moments, but seem over-stretched. Although, conversely, the idea that as an expat he feels more patriotic about Germany than ever before is rather under-explored.

The man’s still funny, there are some great lines here, and we’ll probably never tire of him attempting such British phrases as ‘a right old ding-dong’ or ‘isn’t it, Governor’ in his Teutonic brogue. But this is one German who needs to be a bit more industrious – and I’m sure he’ll appreciate a lazy Brit telling him that.

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Where racial self-parody adds to comics like Omid Djalili and Russell Brand, with Herr Wehn it just detracts. I've seen him a couple of times and I reckon he'd be far funnier if he cut the German line and just learned to be himself. The is-it-offensive-or-ain't-it stance is a tough one to master and one he hasn't quite managed it. Shame 'cos he's a great gagsmith and an even better rapport-builder.

Michael Monkhouse, April 2008

Absolutly awful! I am German myself and I was embarrassed about the whole thing! He is racist and not funny.

hans schmidt, March 2008

Saw him a few weeks ago and it was possibly the most embarrasing thing I've ever witnessed. He was so terrible he was lucky to escape unscathed. There's a fine line between playing on stereotype and being downright racist. This chap got it so very, very wrong.

dan R, March 2007

An original and clever act. Thought he was hilarious

Gemma Charlton, March 2006

In Germany, we know that laughing is not the only possible reaction to a good joke.

Herr Kunz and Herr Kallenbrecher, November 2005

Henning is unique and funny. The full package

Dave Dynamite, September 2005

I think Henning's great, I've compered him many times and he always makes me laugh even though I now know most of his jokes. In the Frank Carson mould of "It's the way he tells em" .Very funny act indeed.

Dan Willis, June 2005

I saw Henning on FAQ U. I agreed with his points about vain men being sissies etc etc, however, he seemed to just rant without a hint of humour. And he just listed items from a fried breakfast. What was that all about? He is like Jack Dee except all moan and no humour. A clever guy, but just not funny.

Charles Thomson, May 2005

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4