I like comedy and stand up , but lately I haven't really enjoyed a lot of 1 hour specials. Is it me, or could it be that the quality is waning? (I agree - it *could* jsut be me.)

I think there are more 1 hour specials now than ever before - and that maybe the comedians don't have the time to hone the jokes to be "hour long special level" anymore.

In the past they'd have been a segment on Def Comedy Jam, or Young Comedian Special, or Evening at The Improv btu would get a full hour.

HBO and CC used to have both 30 minute and 1 hour specials - but lately everyone has a full hour - and often a full hour every 12-18 months.

I think Carlin even took 2 years between shows - and several a couple of his later show were not funny at all - but I think he was clinically depressed at that point.

Examples of comedians where I like their first hour specials - but not their most recent special(s):

David Cross
John Mulaney
Amy Schumer
Louis CK
Patton Oswalt
Hannibal Burress
Mike Birgiblia
Jimmy Carr
Marc Maron
Jim Jefferies
Kyle Kinane

And some that I never enjoyed but have new hour pretty often:
Craig Fergeson
Aziz Ansari
Chelsea Peretti
Ali Wong
Anthony Jeslnik

I did like these recently (look at it - all super white.)
Nate Bargatze
Paul F Tompkins
Eugene Mirman (although it was "thin")

This is just IMHO and I'm curious if anyone else is feeling the same way.

------------


Gone: My Discogs collection for The Roots:
http://www.discogs.com/user/tomhayes-roots/collection