Comic Details

Lewis Schaffer

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Videos

At the Chortle Fast Fringe showcase

July 2008


More Lewis Schaffer videos

At the Chortle Fast Fringe showcase
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Reviews

Free Until Famous With Lewis Schaffer
Live Review

 rated 3/5
Free Until Famous With Lewis Schaffer

With what could be described as a Schafferian capacity for self-harm, the American sent the wrong time for his show to the Fringe brochure, ensuring that every day he’s had to perform two gigs. Thus it was that with similar Schafferian oversight, I found myself attending both in a matter of hours. This wasn’t so much because I’m a sucker for punishment, but because the first was performed directly to a group of myself and seven other confused punters around a pub table. I understand that on days without rain, he’s been delivering an al fresco performance in the area around Bristo Square.

If you like the idea of a self-loathing Jew casting aspersions on you at close quarters, flirting crudely with the women present and making sweeping generalisations about nationality, relationships and religion, then you’re in for a treat. Although the strain showed, Schaffer spoke entertainingly for well over an hour and even work-shopped a Holocaust joke he’d been developing as a response to a Jim Jefferies routine. I felt like I got my Free Fringe contribution’s worth, though hardly enough to justify a review, so I slunk back a couple of hours later, his audience having swelled so insignificantly that he could identify myself and another man as returnees.

Hearing many but not all of the same jokes certainly make you appreciate just how integral Schaffer’s sense of failure is to his performance on any given night. Strong and not so strong routines are dependent on his capacity to convince the sceptical that he’s an accomplished comic and not a washed up hack who speaks about a wife or ex-wife depending on whether he’s winning or losing in a particular sequence.

His exasperated tentativeness occasionally gets the better of him, as when he falters when he can’t get anyone to buy into his alternative Avatar scenario, a statistically improbable number of his audience having never seen the film. But when he’s on more solid footing, he can be devastatingly funny, as when he denigrates his sexual appeal for younger women or perversely accuses Native Americans of anti-immigrant employment policies.

Success would doubtless floor Schaffer, but he’s perhaps the most genuine anti-comic out there by virtue of barely faking his struggle. He deserves a certain degree of admiration for that.

Date of live review: Monday 30th Aug, '10
Review by Jay Richardson
Brixton Comedy Club
Brixton Comedy Club

Friday 7th Dec, '12- The Dogstar
Lewis Schaffer: Fringe 2012
Lewis Schaffer: Fringe 2012

Wednesday 8th Aug, '12- Laughing Horse @ The Free Sisters
Lewis Schaffer Is Free Until Famous In a Smaller Room at an Earlier Time
Lewis Schaffer Is Free Until Famous In a Smaller Room at an Earlier Time

Tuesday 16th Aug, '11-
Malcolm Hardee Awards Gig
Malcolm Hardee Awards Gig

Friday 5th Nov, '10- Highlight Camden
Frank Sanazi's Comedy Bunker at the 2010 Brighton Fringe
Frank Sanazi's Comedy Bunker at the 2010 Brighton Fringe

Sunday 9th May, '10- Brighton Freerange
Lewis Schaffer: Bigger and Blacker - Fringe 2009
Saturday 29th Aug, '09-
Lewis Schaffer: America, The Greatest Country In The World, By The Greatest American Living In Peckham
Lewis Schaffer: America, The Greatest Country In The World, By The Greatest American Living In Peckham

Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2008 -
Lewis Schaffer : Original Review
Lewis Schaffer : Original Review

Tuesday 12th Jun, '07-
Punk Cabaret
Punk Cabaret

Show - Misc live shows -
Lewis Schaffer + 2
Show - Edinburgh Fringe 2000 -
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Comments

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

No one works harder to sabotage the bond of trust between performer and audience. The majority of the audience appears to be at turns bemused and/or antagonised. The sense of unease veering towards outward hostility makes this an annual Fringe must see. Very funny.

Neal Mc, August 2012


If you love your live comedy you have to love Lewis.

dan evans, March 2012


Lewis Schaffer is the only comedian I know of who can spend a full hour ranting abuse at his audience (in the most undignified and shambolic way) and STILL get a huge round of applause at the end of the show. Expect no finesse, no preparation and a lot of very ropey gags, all salvaged by his seemingly god-given ability to read an audience.

AC, August 2011


Been working at comedy clubs for the last few years, and have never seen anything worse in my life, disgustingly bad

mitch, November 2010


He is a god. Lewis is as funny as they get

david w, November 2009


Stunning!

brian damage, August 2009


Last night at the Best Of The Fest, Louis insulted everything including comedy. I hope his show is a lot better than that...

ShockJD, August 2009


Lewis last night seemed more like a lecture that a stand-up show, he totally bombed.

Chris, July 2009


Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4



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News
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Where can I see Lewis Schaffer next?

Where can I see Lewis Schaffer next?

19:30 - Thursday 23rd May, '13
Venue: The Oxford
Prices: £6.50 (£5 concs)
Comics:
Info:
Plus: Sara Louise Campbell, John Davoren, Glen Moore, Tom Appleton, Stu Turner, Peter Strong, Stephen DiPlacito, Bryan Ghosh, Michael Shall, Phillip Wragg, Nig Lovell, Jaes Beatty, Sarah Mills, Martin Besserman
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
16:00 - Sunday 26th May, '13
Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Prices: £10
Comics: Lewis Schaffer
Info: Lewis Schaffer's American Guide To England
Show starts: 16:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Tuesday 28th May, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Wednesday 29th May, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
19:30 - Thursday 30th May, '13
Venue: The Oxford
Prices: £6.50 (£5 concs)
Comics:
Info:
Plus: Zoe Lewis, Stephani Lang, Al McWilliam, Peter dooley, Josh Dolin, Rose-Linn Jensen, Gareth John, Peter McAuliffe, Leighton Cuff, Andrae Alexzander, John Muphy, Jack Berry, Michael Shall Martin Besserman
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
18:00 - Sunday 2nd Jun, '13
Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Prices: £10
Comics: Lewis Schaffer
Info: Lewis Schaffer's American Guide To England
Show starts: 18:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Tuesday 4th Jun, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Wednesday 5th Jun, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
18:00 - Sunday 9th Jun, '13
Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Prices: £10
Comics: Lewis Schaffer
Info: Lewis Schaffer's American Guide To England
Show starts: 18:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Tuesday 11th Jun, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Wednesday 12th Jun, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
19:30 - Thursday 13th Jun, '13
Venue: The Oxford
Prices: £6.50 (£5 concs)
Comics: Lewis Schaffer, Phil O'Shea, Phil Wang, Stella Graham, Tim Rivett
Info: Plus:  Chris Cohen, John Wood, lily lang, Athena Kugblenu, Owain Paciuszko, Michael B, Sam Raven, Ben Westwood, Jim Daly, Masud Milas, Sean Hartnett, Jake Lovski, Martin Besserman
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
18:00 - Sunday 16th Jun, '13
Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Prices: £10
Comics: Lewis Schaffer
Info: Lewis Schaffer's American Guide To England
Show starts: 18:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Tuesday 18th Jun, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Wednesday 19th Jun, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
19:30 - Thursday 20th Jun, '13
Venue: The Oxford
Prices: £6.50 (£5 concs)
Comics: Jon Levene, Lewis Schaffer, Phil Wang
Info: Plus: Dan Kelly, Nathan Cassady, Ben Clover, Peter Edwards, Jayne Sanders, Martin Besserman
Show starts: 19:30 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
18:00~19:30 - Sunday 23rd Jun, '13
Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Prices: £10
Comics:
Show starts: 18:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Tuesday 25th Jun, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Wednesday 26th Jun, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00 - Thursday 27th Jun, '13
Venue: The Oxford
Prices: Call for prices
Comics: Lewis Schaffer
Info: Plus: Benjamin Waterhouse, Christopher Betts, Daniel Hooper, Evelyn Mok, Louise Bee, Jason Quinn, Karen White, Kate Weston, Haran Rasalingam, Jethro Bradley-Firth, Alexander Oliver Katie Lane, Scott Symes, Martin Besserman
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
16:00~17:30 - Sunday 30th Jun, '13
Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Prices: £10
Comics:
Info:
Lewis Schaffer's American Guide to England
Show starts: 16:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Tuesday 2nd Jul, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Wednesday 3rd Jul, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
19:00~20:30 - Sunday 7th Jul, '13
Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Prices: £10
Comics: Lewis Schaffer
Info: Lewis Schaffer's American Guide to England
Show starts: 19:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Tuesday 9th Jul, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Wednesday 10th Jul, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
16:00~17:30 - Sunday 14th Jul, '13
Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Prices: £10
Comics: Lewis Schaffer
Info: Lewis Schaffer's American Guide to England
Show starts: 16:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Tuesday 16th Jul, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Wednesday 17th Jul, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
17:00~18:30 - Sunday 21st Jul, '13
Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Prices: £10
Comics: Lewis Schaffer
Info: Lewis Schaffer's American Guide to England
Show starts: 17:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Tuesday 23rd Jul, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~22:00 - Wednesday 24th Jul, '13
Venue: Source Below
Prices: Free
Show: Lewis Schaffer: Free Until Famous
Show starts: 20:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
17:00~18:30 - Sunday 28th Jul, '13
Venue: Leicester Square Theatre
Prices: £10
Comics: Lewis Schaffer
Info: Lewis Schaffer's American Guide to England
Show starts: 17:00 (Doors open approx 30 mins earlier)
20:00~21:00 - Thursday 1st Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Thursday 1st Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Friday 2nd Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Friday 2nd Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Saturday 3rd Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Saturday 3rd Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Sunday 4th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Sunday 4th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Monday 5th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Monday 5th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Tuesday 6th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Tuesday 6th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Thursday 8th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Thursday 8th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Friday 9th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Friday 9th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
17:00 - Saturday 10th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Saturday 10th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Sunday 11th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Sunday 11th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Monday 12th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Monday 12th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Tuesday 13th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Tuesday 13th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Thursday 15th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Thursday 15th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Friday 16th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Friday 16th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
20:00~21:00 - Saturday 17th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Saturday 17th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Sunday 18th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Sunday 18th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Monday 19th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Monday 19th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Tuesday 20th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Tuesday 20th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Thursday 22nd Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Thursday 22nd Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Friday 23rd Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Friday 23rd Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Saturday 24th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Saturday 24th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
20:00~21:00 - Sunday 25th Aug, '13
Venue: Heroes @ The Hive
Prices: £5 in advance or pay what you want on exit
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Better Than You
Show starts: 20:00
17:00 - Sunday 25th Aug, '13
Venue: Laughing Horse @ Meadow Bar
Prices: Free, Voluntary donation at end
Show: Lewis Schaffer is Free Until Famous - 20th Year
Show starts: 17:00
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