Tompkins Square: Greg Proops

Tompkins Square: Greg Proops
Comedy Central
August 31, 1996
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
B

This Dana-Gould-hosted series kicked off with a pilot that featured Proops among others.  Having seen Greg live a couple times around then, I can vouch for this being a typical set, with its contrast of cultures, in this case, "Lo Cal" (Southern California), England, and Mexico.  It still holds up well, although it would've been interesting to see some New York humor, considering the setting.

Tom Kenny: The Laws of the Cartoon Universe

Tom Kenny: The Laws of the Cartoon Universe
Comedy Central
1992
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
B

In a bit that originally aired on The A-List, Kenny explains the laws, from why Peanuts adults communicate that way to why pizzicato notes play when you sneak up on someone.

London Underground: Steve Coogan

London Underground: Steve Coogan
BBC
1991
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
B-

Coogan demonstrates dubbing bad '70s foreign films.

Pete Moor: 1970s TV Incidental Music

Waa-waa pedal

Pete Moor: 1970s TV Incidental Music
Comedy Central
1993
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
B

Moor smoothly segues between 1970s cop show music and the various uses of The Brady Bunch theme to set the mood on that show.

Laura Kightlinger: Tabloid Town

MacDonald and Kightlinger

Laura Kightlinger: Tabloid Town
Comedy Central
1990
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
B-

Kightlinger imagines a place where The National Enquirer would describe everyday life.

Laura Kightlinger: Self-Esteem

Laura Kightlinger: Self-Esteem

Comedy Central

1993

Stand-Up Comedy

VHS

C+

Well, when your punch line is "Does that mean you don't want to pee on me now?"...  Note that this was taped off of Stand-Up Stand-Up when Kightlinger was the hostess.

Norm MacDonald: Weiner Dog

Norm MacDonald: Wiener Dog
Comedy Central
Stand-Up Comedy
1992
VHS
B-

In this clip from The A-List, MacDonald talks about his dachshund.  I probably would've gone with a C+ for the jokes, but he has a funny delivery.  To this day, I think of this routine when I see wiener dogs.

Caroline's Comedy Hour: Tom Kenny

His then future claim to fame

Caroline's Comedy Hour: Tom Kenny
A & E
The first half of 1994
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
B-

Kenny riffs on everything from Barney to the Bobbitts (who made the news in June of '93 but would inspire tasteless jokes for months and years) to the Taster's Choice couple.  Not every joke hits but he's generally funny in his hyper, pop-culture way.  (I can't think of anyone else who invoked "an island of Charles Nelson Reillys" when the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" gays in the military controversy came along.)

Tom Kenny: Insurance

Tom Kenny: Insurance
Comedy Central
1992 or 1993
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
C+

The Met Life stuff is pretty good, but out of context (from The A-List) the self-crotch-grabbing section feels pretty random.

Paul Kozlowski: People's Court

Paul Kozlowski: People's Court
Comedy Central
1992
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
C

Kozlowski's set-up has potential: People's Court as a game show.  But, as he notes at the end, he's "having more than you are."  Also marred by a prison-rape joke.  I would've gone with a C-, but the Rice-a-Roni flavors part is kind of funny.

Dennis Regan: Game Shows

Regan more recently

Dennis Regan: Game Shows
1990
Comedy Central
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
C+

Generic observations on game shows, e.g. Turtle Wax.

Greg Proops: Studs continued

Greg Proops: Studs continued
Comedy Central
1992
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
B

Greg gets to the part of the show where the "preverbal" contestants have to match up quotes to their dates.  He doesn't seem to have exaggerated much.

Greer Barnes: Gilligan's Island and TMNT

Greer Barnes: Gilligan's Island and TMNT
Comedy Central
1993
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
C+

While African-American comic Barnes is versatile at doing different accents, he does overuse stereotypes.

Tom Agna: E.T.

Tom Agna: E.T.
1992
Comedy Central
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
C+

Agna talks about how well cast E.T. was but sadly never worked again.

Tom Agna: His Hair etc.

Tom Agna: His Hair etc.
Comedy Central
1993
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
C+

Agna talks about, among other things, his "Prince Valiant" hairdo on the following clip, which he says aired on "The Comedy Channel" [sic].

Kevin Meyers: The Dating Game, Utah, Mormons, and Coffee

Kevin Meyers: The Dating Game, Utah, Mormons, and Coffee
Comedy Central
1989
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
C

Meyers has some potentially funny material here, talking about his experience on The Dating Game.  But he doesn't seem to know how to tell a joke or a series of jokes, repeating himself so much that we're left with diminishing returns.

Taylor Negron: The Dating Game

Taylor Negron: The Dating Game
Comedy Central
1985
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
C+

Negron tells of his experiences on The Dating Game, including something that CC bleeped out.

Greg Proops: Studs

Greg Proops: Studs
Comedy Central
1992
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
B

Greg analyzes the sleazy '90s answer to The Dating Game, from its "fashion faux pas of the epoch" to its "bizarre Euclidean gang-date" matches.

Robert Wuhl: Dating Game, Sally Struthers, and "a guy goes into a bar"

Robert Wuhl: Dating Game, Sally Struthers, and "a guy goes into a bar"
Comedy Central
1986
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
C+

Wuhl tells of his experience on The Dating Game, makes fun of Sally's weight, and tells a meh joke about a drunk.  This is belatedly the 700th "show" from the '80s I've reviewed.

Greg Proops: Little Drummer Boy

Greg Proops: Little Drummer Boy
Comedy Central
December 1992
Stand-Up Comedy
VHS
B-

Greg explains just why the song is so annoying.