The week's comedy on demand

This week's comedy on demand.

Always Amazing: The True Story Of The Life, Death And Return Of The Amazing Johnathan

Released for free on YouTube this week, this feature-length documentary tells of the storied career of the anarchic American comedy magician.

Directed by his friend, the comedian Steve Byrne, the film begins with Johnathan's career ascent, from bombing at his high school talent show, discovering and honing his act as a magician and comic while working as a street performer in San Francisco and the one showcase that launched his career at the Hollywood Improv.

While on tour in Australia, Johnathan met Joel Ozborn, a starstruck 12-year-old – and over the years they developed an unlikely freindship as Joel becomes an employee, apprentice, and confidant.

 As life goes on, Johnathan is diagnosed with heart disease and given a year to live, but after beating that by three years, Johnathan decides he's going to hit the road, one last time – and he wants Joel along for the ride.

Here's the film:

The History of Standup

Season 2 of this informative podcast has just got under way, taking a closer look at the venues that had a pivotal role in the history of American comedy, from Harlem's Apollo Theater, to Chicago's Lincoln Lodge to San Francisco's Holy City Zoo. Click here for more details of the places they are to look at.

The podcast is hosted by stand-up and comedy academic Wayne Federman along with Andrew Steven. The first of the eight weekly episodes is available here.  

Happy!

While the return of Black Mirror is understandably the big news on Netflix this week, the return of this jet-black comedy thriller is also a cause for celebration.  

Christopher Meloni plays a boozy ex-cop turned hitman whp thinks he's losing his marbles when a cartoon unicorn only he can see (and who's voiced by comedian Patton Oswalt) offers unwanted help. In season one he had to track dwon a malevolent Santa; now Easter Bunnies are its nemesis.  

Sadly original broadcaster Syfy just nixed the idea of a third season as this  second series, newly arrived on demand, didn't make the same impact as the first (some accounts suggest that might be because it takes a couple of episodes to hit its stride).   Watch here.  

The Comedy Underground

In his new podcast from BBC Scotland, Jay Lafferty introduces new stand-up from the UK comedy circuit. The second episode, which landed yesterday, features Ria Lina, Marc Jennings, Robin Grainger, Paul McDaniel and Ross Leslie. Listen  here  

Miranda Sings Live… Your Welcome

Very much aimed at the generation of would-be viral influencers Colleen Ballinger hopes to satiritse with her desperate and deluded alter-ego, Miranda Sings' new special was released on Netflix this week. Watch    

Published: 8 Jun 2019