'Comedy clubs are the purest place for our artform'

Thor Stenhaug picks his Perfect Playlist

Thor Stenhaug, a Norwegian comedian based in the UK, is making his Edinburgh Fringe debut this year with One Night Stand Baby. Here he picks his Perfect Playlist of comedy favourites.

Daniel Simonsen on Russell Howard's Good News

I’d never heard of Daniel Simonsen until one day our local newspaper wrote about a guy from Bergen doing stand-up comedy on British television. I watched his set on my school laptop during class and couldn’t believe how funny he was.

But just as importantly—he was Norwegian. And he was doing stand-up in English. In London. Based on that alone, I don’t think anyone else on this list has had a bigger influence on my career.

Patriotism aside, I genuinely found him so funny. Observational humour mixed with a more absurd persona is still the combo that makes me laugh the most (Sam Campbell and Jordan Brookes being a couple of contemporary examples).

I think the routine about saying hello too early might have been the first time I ever experienced relatable material. Despite being an influence, Daniel and I are very different on stage. Some people say he has the thickest Norwegian accent ever—but the truth is, Daniel sounds like that when he speaks Norwegian too.

Mike Birbiglia: Sleepwalk With Me

(The movie and the stand-up special)

I stumbled upon this film in my final year of Sixth Form. I didn’t really know what I was going to do with my life – the plan was to be a journalist – but I’d recently fallen in love with stand-up comedy. Despite having no idea who he was, a coming-of-age movie about a newer comedian finding his place in the world was enough for me to purchase the film (Read: illegally watch it on a streaming site. Sorry, Mike). I loved it.

Later, I listened to his audio-only special with the same title. Having grown up mainly on American comedy special where comedians tell completely unrelated jokes for an hour before suddenly going ‘Chicago, thank you so much!’, I’d never seen a show like this.

I’d never heard of the Edinburgh Fringe, and didn’t realise there were lots of comedians out there constructing shows that were funny, coherent, and played with structure in surprising ways. I’m from a generation with a tiny attention span, so if we’re going to watch anything for an hour, there’s got to be an interesting through line. I think my friend Janine Harouni is great at this. Similarly, I think John Mulaney’s last special, Baby J, is so much more interesting than his earlier stuff.

Tina Fey: Bossypants

For someone who’s not a big reader, the biggest compliment I can give this book is that it made it onto a list dominated by live shows and TV.

Tina Fey has been such an inspiration to me – a pure comedian, a showrunner, and a writer. Her behind-the-scenes stories from SNL show an insane work ethic, and there’s also a bit of gossip (which is always fun).

If you haven’t already watched it, her show 30 Rock is incredible. And if you want to know how good it is: it came out the same year as Aaron Sorkin’s Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, which had an incredible cast, the same concept as 30 Rock, and aired on the same network. Studio 60 lasted one season. 30 Rock ran for seven.

New Girl

All my favourite sitcoms over the years have been about a group of friends living together in their 20s and 30s. In a way, it’s a bit strange—because now I’m at that age, living with my friends, and it’s all I’ve ever wanted.

Friends and Seinfeld aren’t exactly niche shows that make me sound like a comedy nerd, but they’ve both had a big impact on me.

What I love about New Girl is how effortlessly funny it feels. I love how the characters’ dialogue overlaps, making it feel spontaneous and less scripted. The characters are great, and the chemistry between the cast really elevates the show. As with a lot of American sitcoms, the first seasons are vastly better than the later ones– but hey ho.

Kevin Bridges accidentally bought a horse: Would I Lie To You

The first episode I watched of any British panel show. I watched it in Norway, had never heard of Kevin Bridges and I honestly think there's no need to explain why it's on the list.

Andrew Schultz: 4:4:1

I wouldn’t say Andrew Schulz is one of my favourite comedians. I haven’t watched any of his latest specials or listened to his podcasts. But every time I watch 4:4:1, I feel so inspired—because it’s great at what it aspires to be: a love letter to club comedy.

Comedy clubs are the purest place for our artform. Standing on stage in front of a crowd who have no idea who you are—and don’t care, for that matter—but still want to listen to you for 10, 15, or 20 minutes. Tickets are cheap (compared to a play or a concert), and the vibe is unglamorous - and rightly so.

As I’ve been working on my debut hour this year, I’ve really fallen in love with the process of creating a show and all the opportunities that come with longer format. But I always want to be able to do the clubs.

I look up to comedians who can create interesting hours and still be strong club comics (I’ve done some warm-up for Larry Dean on his tour this year, and he’s a great example of this). I’m so proud to be a comedian living in London, doing the clubs. It’s sick!