In My Opinion…

Last night I was trying a new experiment – I wanted to see if the comics would be funnier if I drank more.  Sometimes I wonder if that is what makes people laugh.  While I was certainly more jovial, I found my attention span wasn’t as good and that actually meant the comics had to be that much funnier to get and keep my attention, but when I laughed, it was a heartier laugh than normal.  No definitive conclusion was reached, but I did have a great time sitting with Tim, Jodi, Chris, and the newlywed couple – Ang and Dan – they could not have looked happier.

I normally don’t talk about the MC at shows but I would like to take a second to acknowledge James Moore.  This is a guy who tirelessly works to make Comedy Monday Night the best it can be.  After 9 weeks at the new location, Nelsons Bar & Grill, they have decided to make more of an investment in the show and are now supplying a sound system.  The staff have all been working really hard to make it a fun night (and they are succeeding!) but everything can all be attributed back to James and the effort he puts in week in and week out.  In my opinion, Calgary comedy is really and truly blessed to have such a dedicated soul.

Paul Kuster started off the show.  While I enjoy Paul very much, the purpose of Comedy Monday Night is to try out new material, and I didn’t hear anything new.  I can respect that it is very hard to just get up on stage let alone try out new stuff that may or may not go over well, but if you don’t try you never know.  However, that’s just my opinion.

Dustin Hertel hasn’t been up for a while and he was very pacy on the stage at times last night.   He tried some new material and it’s not the writing for me, but the presentation.  I can’t get over thinking that Dustin isn’t comfortable on stage – it’s his posture, the nervous laughter and his mannerisms in general.  I find it hard to focus on the material when I don’t feel like the person up on stage is truly all there.  However, that’s just my opinion.

Tim Reynolds lost my attention at the beginning of his set, but he did have a slightly funny bit about a masturbating beaver.  Some of Tim’s material is a little on the lack of taste side and more often than not it puts me off.  However, that’s just my opinion.

Dan Guiry’s entire set was about his experience as a flyer delivery boy and his infatuation with a cougar that lived in his neighbourhood.  Dan was relaxed (so relaxed in fact, he sat down on the stage) and told the story very well.  Dan always makes me laugh, but my neighbour Tim thought that was one of the best sets he’s seen him do.  However, that’s just his opinion.

Cory Mack had a great set last night!  Her story about going to the Stampede at 19 years of age with jeans so tight she couldn’t even walk made me laugh so hard – mostly because I remember those jeans.  I actually remember my friends’ mom using a coat hanger to help my friend do up her jeans – what we were thinking?  But I loved my Fancy Ass jeans and I loved Cory Mack’s material last night!  But that’s just my opinion.

Marc Hallworth has all the confidence in the world, but in my opinion, he comes across as cocky and disingenuous.  Marc I think is more suited for sketch comedy or perhaps even improv, but as a standup, I wasn’t buying what he was selling.

Daniel Lee had yet another meaty set of new material – well done!  Not all of it was bust a gut funny, but of course, that’s just my opinion.  He’s really finding a way to draw from real life experiences and relay them to a mixed audience.  He’s so laidback though, sometimes it would be nice to hear a little more emotion in his voice.

Kevin Gillis did a “tribute” to George Carlin.  I think this is the third time I’ve seen Kevin now and the third time his material has offended me.  I don’t really have much more to say.  Of course, that’s just my opinion.

Katryna Chan started off with a great bit about goth girl eyebrows – well put together, well presented and enjoyable new joke!  Her new bit about song lyrics shows promise, but wasn’t as smooth as it could have been (but hey, first time doing that joke, what do you expect?).  Except, of course, that it’s just my opinion.

Karen O’Keefe has just lost her new home virginity (I’m tres jealous…) and devoted much of her set to comparing how buying a house for the first time is like having sex for the first time.  I also very liked how she started her set with discussing her new doctor.  In my opinion, Karen always brings it and is most enjoyable!

Then came the lady that brought out most of the audience last night – Allyson Smith.  I have never ever seen Allyson take a shit on stage.  Her blah blah blah is so funny I could watch her for hours on end.   Rumour had it last night that Nelsons opened up special for Comedy Monday Night and it was truly worth it – Allyson always puts on a great show.  She’s filming her own Comedy Now! special in Toronto in August but I don’t think much of the material she performed last night will be making that cut – especially the c*nt game – no way that’s going on CTV!  In my opinion, Allyson is one of the funniest female comics doing standup.

And it was great that Jodi finally won the Austermann Mechanical Sweet, Sweet Laughter Award – she was sure giggling a lot last night.

Keep coming out to Comedy Monday Night – it’s great to see such a big crowd out on a weekly basis, but there’s always room for more folks!

And the reason for the title?  Hey, this is all just one person’s opinion (which I am entitled to).  As my dad always says – “Opinions and assholes – everybody’s got one”. 

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