Source: Wikipedia
I have a theory that in any group of comedians there’s one who’s so funny, so out there, so quick that person is the one who makes the other comedians laugh. It’s not a well-thought out theory and, since I’ve neither performed comedy nor spent a lot of time around comedians–I’m just a fringe fan, really–I don’t have a lot of evidence for it beyond the anecdotes of a few comedians from their time on the road. Oh yeah, there’s one other thing that put this idea in my head: watching Colin Mochrie, whose birthday is today.
I started watching Whose Line Is It Anyway? when Comedy Central aired the British version and although he was a late addition to the show–it started in 1988 and he became a full time cast member in 1991–he stood out to me immediately as a funny guy. In any great episode of Whose Line every member of the cast brings something distinctive. Mochrie was, and still is, the wild card. He responds to good-natured insults from fellow cast members with a deadpan stare but can then go to full-throated lunacy right away. He’s straight man–or woman–or joker, whichever is needed, with a sly, natural goofiness. Whenever the cast joins together for a hoedown Mochrie is always placed at the end of the line. He makes up for his lack of singing ability with non sequiturs that make the rest of the cast laugh.
Oh yeah, and there are at least two dozen “Best of Colin Mochrie” videos on YouTube.
I agree, Colin is funny. I also like the rest of the comedians on every episode of the show I’ve seen. They look like they’re having fun, which adds to the enjoyment.
That does always add to the enjoyment. They all seem like they really get along too which helps in improv. You’ve got to have chemistry with your fellow players.
Drummer Boy has intimated that he’d like to try stand-up. I love him, but honestly I feel he probably can’t be as funny as Colin Mochrie (DO NOT TELL HIM THIS).
Your secret is safe with me but on the other hand Drummer Boy could do his own rimshots.
Okay, yeah, now that I’ve written that out I’m not sure whether that’s good or bad.
Great show. I always wonder if comedians are as funny in real life as they are on stage. Because a lot of times it’s not the case.
Yeah, some comedians just aren’t that funny in person, although I did hear a great story from a comedian who said that whenever she told people what she did and they said, “Oh? Tell me a joke then” she’d reply, “If I said I were a gynecologist would you ask for a pap smear?”
Gawd, I love him. Saw him and Ryan in person and it was fantastic.
That must have been amazing. I think it’s great too that he and Ryan really are friends. It always seems like they’re friends when they perform but really knowing they are just gives me the warm fuzzies.
I love Colin, Chris. My son and I studied his appearances on Whose Line is it Anyway, saw several live shows with him and Brad Sherwood, and went to see him at an Edinburgh Fringe Festival show called Hyprov last August…
https://www.assemblyfestival.com/event/325/
… although he wasn’t there (replaced that day by another Whose Line alum).
This post inspired me to watch lots of Colin appearances on YouTube, which made me very happy. My sincerest form of flattery to you for this post.
Seeing him live must have been fantastic. He’s really a great model to study too, and I was surprised to learn he was born in Scotland so going to Edinburgh was something of a homecoming for him.