On Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow

July 2009

More Jeff Green videos

CV

Jeff Green: Crazy From The Heat
Live Review

Maybe it’s because it sounds strange in his Cheshire accent, but Jeff Green seems over-eager to endear himself to the Australian audience with local references. Having lived in Melbourne for little over a year, he namechecks more suburbs than the Yarra Trams timetable, and never just goes to a cinema when he can go to ‘Cinema Como, just down the road…’

But behind all this localisation, his material is as universal and accessible as it comes; about the compromise of relationships, about cosseted kids, about going on holiday in a cramped caravan. Often, too, the comedy is mild, nothing too unexpected to dent that broad ‘relatability’ and as a consequence a little dull, no matter how skilfully delivered with the relaxed confidence only two decades on stage can bring.

But he can pull some stronger material out of the bag, too: his topical take on the refugee centre at Christmas Island showed an ironic wit, while his reminiscences of teenage fumbles in his mother’s tiny car built impressively on his cheeky likeability. As is so often the case, what was personal to him plays better than the generic, with a yarn about his distant father’s run-in with a camping gas cylinder proving lovely in its slapstick.

The Monday-night audience prove sluggish, and little of Green’s material truly engages them; but he’s tenacious and ploughs through routine after routine, happy to get laughs where he can, but ignoring the extended calmer periods, too.

His finale actually proves one of the bigger lulls, as he reads from his book The A-Z Of Relationships, containing such insights as, erm, men leave toilet seats up when women like them down. When he starts with A, then B it looks as if it will be a long night, though thankfully he starts skipping sections until he gets to ‘vaginal flatulence’, a bit of below-the-belt ‘blue’ though delivered with typical charm, to partially rescue a listless evening of patchy stand-up that plays it too safe, too often.

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Saw Jeff on Friday at Headliners in Chiswick. Made me laugh enormously but rude, uncommunicative crowd spoiled the atmosphere a little. It seemed that his set was juggled around at late notice by the club too. Shame - he is a really funny guy.

Sarah, March 2009

Saw him twice now at the Glee Club in Cardiff, the best two sets I have ever seen there. used different material both time and both times I was in pain laughing. watch him live and you won't regret it.

Luke, July 2007

This man is a very tired comedian who, despite having experience, has no connection with his audience. His set was old, he seemed bored with it, as if he was just going through the motions. I know that mostly all stand-ups use the same set for ages but the magic is making it seem fresh. Jeff did not! His "why can't men leave the toilet seat up" style routine would fit in somewhere like Butlins but I fail to understand how we remains so popular with comedy club audiences. Jeff Green is a prime example that experience does not always make a good comic. You also need to be funny!

Colin, October 2006

Just saw him a few weeks ago in Hong Kong and didn't stop laughing from beginning to end (and neither did anyone else in the room). Can't recommend him enough.

Si, March 2006

Vastly underated. He is by far and away the best stand up I have seen. His tale of the cat coming in during sex has me crying with laughter

Pete, February 2006

Jeff Green is Englands equlivalent of Billy Connolly maybe he's not as loudD but the same comic genius observations make him so brilliant .I first saw Jeff in a two-hour show. I thought there is NO comedian I who could hold a stage for that long without eventually dying but I was proved wrong as he had me falling off the chair almost to the last. Have seen him many times since and he is alongside Connolly and Hicks up with the very best. Duncan 20.01.06

Duncan, January 2006

Like a poor man's Rob Newman. Not exactly cutting edge, but you know there'll be laughs. Tends to recycle his old stuff a bit too much.

Warren Micchell, July 2005

I know the books have had a bit of a slating, but I loved them. Very well observed, sometimes predictable, sometime very profound, 90% of the time - funny. Loved them. As a stand up the "that REALLY hurts" routine made me crease up. Fantastic

Barry Dodd, May 2005

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