Comedy

I generally love comedy. I love laughing, I love making people laugh, and I love other people who make a career out of that whole laughter exchange. I'm a big fan of quirky comedic movies and laugh-out-loud funny books. And I love comedians--Mitch Hedberg, Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey, Jon Stewart (and for that matter, everyone on the Daily Show!), just to name a few.

But I have recently become hugely attached to Russell Brand. You should know who he is, and even if you don't recognize the name, you might recognize the look. He looks vaguely like a homosexual, rock 'n roll pirate with a penchant for leather and eyeliner. And he's hilarious.

You know why he's now my absolute favorite? He pushes his audience. To think while they laugh. His manner is a strange blend of the high- and lowbrow, his comedy both physical and metaphysical. In the span of a few seconds, he calls someone in the audience a "c***" and describes life as a "cacophony" of sounds and experiences. From "shite" to "staccato." "Retard" and "recalcitrant." His intelligence amazes me, as does his complete willingness to be blunt in his choice of swear words, the intimate details of his life, and his opinions.

And he's the master of off-the-cuff improv. I bust a gut every time I listen to an interview with him. His stage shows draw from the audience members, the local newspapers, and his own spur of the moment thoughts.

Sometimes that improvisational in-the-moment-ness gets him into trouble. From raunchy answering machine messages to the MTV awards to his Osama Bin Laden getup (on September 12, 2001), he often finds himself in hot water. He's got numerous past addictions to his name. But you just can't hate him. He's totally frank, open, and often apologetic and it's impossible not to forgive him, laugh with him, and move on.

He's completely crass, surprisingly smart, and perfectly perfect in every way (to quote one of my favorite nannies).

I feel like I've spent this whole blog just promoting Russell Brand, but I guess I'm ok with that. Go watch some of his stuff on Youtube, catch his turn in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and his numerous interviews (recently on NPR's Talk of the Nation). I promise you'll find yourself thinking about and laughing at yourself, him, and the world.

Just be prepared...and over, say 16.