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Oh yes, many people have heard of Denis Leary :)  He's related to Conan O'Brien somehow and they're both certifiably nutty ;D
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Indeed. I heard a routine about his hatred for the way the French pronounce words. It was the most funniest (and painful things) I have ever heard.

I have only listened to one half hour stint of his so I am not too sure how limited his repertoire is. I think it's refreshing to hear a comedian go on stage and have a straight-forward rant because I think some of them try to get a bit too clever and tricky. If Leary can get the macho/insightful balance right, he could be the funniest man on the planet!

It also makes me feel comfortable knowing there is someone out there more crazier than I am.  ;)  ;D

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I think Dennis Leary is talented and funny, but a second rate comedian.  Like a lot of macho comics (ala "Tough Crowd" with Colin Quinn), he's got no sense of subtlety or nuance, and his subjects are quite limited.
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Unlike Colin Quinn, Leary has charisma and sex appeal.

Quoting:
(cough)Bill Hicks(/cough)

...though I find Denis Leary funny even knowing the material's been ah, "borrowed" - I love his rant in Demolition Man, too: it's almost like his stand-up material.

And "Asshole" is a corker of a song.

Phil
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Borrowed? Who's Bill Hicks?

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Borrowed? Who's Bill Hicks?
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Have a look here for an overview... an anti-Leary rant here and some not too complimentary stuff on Bill Hicks here

Phil

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And "Asshole" is a corker of a song.

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Anyone remember his anti-drugs adverts? To this day, if anyone tries to sell me crack, I just say that I "never take drugs that sound like part of your a**"... ;D

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Unlike Colin Quinn, Leary has charisma and sex appeal.
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I preferred the late Bill Hicks.  He knew how to be self-effacing.
There are differences between Leary, Quinn, Jim Brewer, Jimmy Kimmel, and Dennis Miller.  However, they all bug me because they're angry white guys doing comedy exclusively for angry white guys.  I mean, I'm an white guy who's angry at the way other angry white guys are trashing my country.  And I just hate the macho bullsh*t.
Dennis Miller is especially pernicious.  He's been hired by CNBC to root for the Republican Party and Wal-Mart.  Miller was always a coke-addled little punk, but now he's a corporate @sskisser as well!

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But angry people are funny ;D
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It depends on the subject.  Too often the angry white guy is angry because his cultural supremacy is threatened.  In the case of Leary, Quinn, and Brewer, their narcissistic jokes about drinking, smoking, fighting, and sex are about celebrating an animalistic nature out of which they don't want to evolve.
In the case commentators--not comics--like Limbaugh and Miller, the humor is about ridiculing the less powerful and less fortunate, as well as "liberals."  Regardless of one's political point of view, one must admit these guys have struck fool's gold.  
Satire emerged as a vehicle for the underclass to ridicule the ruling class.  When right-wingers use satire to ridicule the homeless, poor black women, or people who live in trailer parks, it bombs.  It's akin to comics in Klan newsletters.
The humor of George Carlin and Lenny Bruce worked because they were anti-establishment.  You'll note Limbaugh and co. had to fabricate a phony establishment of the "liberal media" and the intellectual "elites" to ridicule.  
I don't like PC hogwash anymore than Colin Quinn or Rush, but PC is nothing compared to the havoc the corporate establishment elites are wreaking on the world.

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Have a look here for an overview... an anti-Leary rant here and some not too complimentary stuff on Bill Hicks here

Phil
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Thanks for that Phil. It sounds like Leary is a plagiarist. I'll try and listen to Bill Hick's 'Relentless' and find out for myself. Such a shame really because I really like Leary's style.

As for the Bill Hick's commentary, I'm not too sure how much I can rely on this. A comedian has to parody himself as well as his material to make it successfully. If the comedian doesn't exagerate the way he thinks, the humour is reduced and the audience sort of go 'o.k . . . So what?'

Can anyone recommend other comedians I can listen to? Apart from Robin Williams and Eddie Murphy - I heard Eddie Murphy's Raw recently and it just did my head in.

Thanks again, Phil.  :)

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But angry people are funny ;D
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Absolutely. I can be an angry white guy myself and listening to another angry white guy mouth off is . . . therepeutic?

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I thought you were an angry black guy ;)  Though you don't normally seem angry, more chipper and happy...

But fear not!  Plenty of angry black guys who do comedy!  :D
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Lol. I didn't mean to be quite specific when I was referring to listening to angry white guys only. Any angry funny bloke is great. :-[  ;D

Did you think I was a black guy, Rice? If so, interesting . . . I vow to put my picture up on the 'picture thread' soon. As for being chipper and happy, I suppose I'm what you call 'rehabilitated'.  ;)

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Absolutely. I can be an angry white guy myself and listening to another angry white guy mouth off is . . . therepeutic?
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It's not my business what you listen to, but I see this kind of anger as encouraging MORE anger, as well as vulgarity and prejudice.

I find a lot of African American comics, like rappers, represent negative stereotypes about blacks.  

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Can anyone recommend other comedians I can listen to?
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Not quite as satirical, but extremely funny anyway:
Billy Connolly
Jasper Carrott
Billy Connolly

Try and find some old recordings of the radio shows:
I'm sorry, I haven't a clue (ISIHAC)
The News Quiz (best and funniest satire ever recorded)
Dead Ringers
The Now Show (the recent couple of series have been superb)

Phil
PS Did I mention Billy Connolly?

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Have a look here for an overview... an anti-Leary rant here and some not too complimentary stuff on Bill Hicks here

Phil
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Quoting:"I'm out in full public view several times this fall so tell that hack if he wants to take a shot at me he can do it man-to-man. Although, I doubt he will.''End Quote

Denis Leary is the funniest man on the planet if he thinks he can take on Joe Rogan in a fist fight.

Quoting:PS Did I mention Billy Connolly?

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Geez, I haven't heard or seen anything of him since he replaced the teacher on "Head of the Class".

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Geez, I haven't heard or seen anything of him since he replaced the teacher on "Head of the Class".
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I recently read an article on Billy Connolly.  He had a spell of popularity in the States circa 1988-1993.  Connolly's also a musician and a songwriter and has been performing since the 1960s.  He's a funny, fascinating, and very gifted individual.

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It's not my business what you listen to, but I see this kind of anger as encouraging MORE anger, as well as vulgarity and prejudice.

I find a lot of African American comics, like rappers, represent negative stereotypes about blacks.  
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I don't know, Maxwell. I listened to a show (HBO Special?) and it didn't affect me - apart from make me laugh.

My perception of this kind of comedy is a bit like 'Till Death us do part' was in the 70s, Dennis Leary taking on a kind of Alf Garnet persona, mouthing off about things that gets on his nerves to get a reaction.

I must admit, I'm not a big fan of political correctness (a couple of steps down from 1984 in my opinion) and I find it refreshing that a person can go on stage and say what s/he wants and gets a laugh out of it. I'm not a smoker but I find it funny listening to Leary rant on about non-smokers. Gosh! Anyone listen to Roy 'Chubby' Brown?

As for rappers and African American comics that is up to them how they decide to portray themselves.

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I recently read an article on Billy Connolly.  He had a spell of popularity in the States circa 1988-1993.  Connolly's also a musician and a songwriter and has been performing since the 1960s.  He's a funny, fascinating, and very gifted individual.
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Billy Connolly has been a popular well known comic in Britain since the 70s and has had at least two chart hits 'In the Brownies' taking off the song 'In the Navy' by The Village People and 'DIVORCE'. He also sang the theme song to the old series on ITV called 'Supergran' in the mid 80s.

He's alright I suppose. Not my favourite comedian.

Quoting:I must admit, I'm not a big fan of political correctness (a couple of steps down from 1984 in my opinion)... End Quote

Amen to that. :)