Friday, February 19, 2010
House of Blues goes for laughs
Variety: "In its latest brand-extension efforts, Comedy Central has teamed with Live Nation to launch a monthly standup showcase at the House of Blues. Cabler also announced Thursday it has ordered a third season of Web-generated series 'Atom TV.'"
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5 comments:
It is interesting to read articles about comedic theater. I like seeing how, with this poor economy, people and producers react. What show are occurring, what theaters are still doing well. Comedy is something that will always survive, like the Marx brothers and Charlie Chaplin in the great depression and the second world war, people always can do with a laugh.
As Sylvianne said I think that comedy is a genre that thrives particularly well during times of economic depression. Comedy provides a break from somber reality and that's what people are looking for right now. More then just being a method of escapism however, comedy can also provide a medium for telling unpleasant truths and satirizing institutions. I really hope that the demand for comedy will bring about some true art and go beyond just cheap parody based comedy.
I find it interesting that Atom TV's air time is at 2:30 am. This doesn't seem like a time that is used for new material, but more for re-runs, although perhaps this is actually when viewers are expected to watch. It is said that in times of economic crisis, comedies do surprisingly well, and this seems to be true based on Comedy Central's continued expansion. I think this team-up with House of Blues will be a successful one.
This House of Blues concept is awesome! I can totally vouche that comedy is complete gold anytime, but especially in times of economic hardship, etc. This is the case for me at least. Comedy Cental is to thank for my head not flying off during college app season, or pre-SAT period in junior year of high school. And it really is a true art, at least good comedic writing is. I wouldn't necessarily call it theater because I think in theater you bring all these different elements together to produce one, unified show. If your comedian is doing his/her job, you don't need anything but a microphone, and a four-legged stool to sit the water on. It is, however, one of the most enjoyable aspects of life in my opinion, and I really hope this venture does well.
I think seeing some comedy once in a while is something we all need to do, whether in a economic depression on a national scale, or when we are dealing with hard times on our own, it's always a good thing. That being said, this effort between the House of Blues and Comedy Central is really interesting and I think will provide the opportunity for more people to see comedic theater live. I look forward to seeing this venture thrive (which it should with some good comics in tow).
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