The truth about this show ...
"They're filming the show in HD, so if it's bad -- it will be clear" - Byron Allen
Too bad no one took a cue from this and canceled this stinker before it got any further.
Byron Allen --
Allen is the kind of person that is rife in Los Angeles. Someone, who will try anything to "break into the biz", or "get his shot" and someone who has festered on the city like a bad fungus. He's the type of sycophant who goes to acting schools, yoga classes, singing lessons, self-help gurus and probably even applies 'medium bronze' self-tanner, daily, trying to master everything -- but never grasping the basics of one of them, or himself. He's the black male version of a Paris Hilton, which is probably more of an insult to Black Males than it is to Paris Hilton. His interviews always showed him to be self-absorbed and obnoxious. He's famous for doing absolutely nothing, unless you call being Host of multiple canceled shows something to be proud of. But how many more incarnations of Byron Allen must we see before everyone realizes that he's nothing more than a talentless hack, a groveling socialite and a wannabe?
I don't think that I've ever heard such dry, tired and haggard stand-up as I heard coming from Byron Allen's incredibly unfunny mouth. It was obvious that he had been coached, had over-rehearsed and had zero comedic timing. The joke about taking a picture of the $200 for the traffic light violation wasn't even his joke, but someone else's. I wish I could remember who it was that came up with that as I would inform them that Byron Allen is stealing their material and fronting with it on his show.
No amount of classes, coaching and B-List celebs will ever help the situation that is evident on these disks.
The Comics --
To the credit of the show, they really tried to book some really strong talent. But nothing seems to work and the show just struggles along not working for the entirety of the two disks. The look on Jon Lovitz face is priceless, as you can tell he's thinking that show will probably be canceled long before his segment airs. A similar look can be seen on the face of several of the other comics as well, even though they're struggling to be gracious to Allen. Most might think that this is a DVD full of stand-up comics delivering their best material, but it is not. It's really cheesy, episodic cable TV on disc, trying to recoup money for something that is not worth the asking price.
Harland Williams --
I once stood in front of Harland Williams in line to go see the movie High Fidelity at the El Capitan in Hollywood many years ago. He was there with some girl that he was trying to impress by being funny. The problem was that most of what he was trying was obnoxious. He sat a few seats over from me and I heard him whispering the same old tired material as the film progressed. I get the feeling that Harland Williams will try anything at all and just hope that something along the way will work, as the bulk of his humor fails to evince any laughter from the crowd. Most of what he does produce though, is nervous laughter and the anticipation to leave. Making a career out of that though is undoubtedly his trade mark. He has a Jon Gries / Steven Wright sense of timing and wit that only a select audience can appreciate.
Harland Williams appears in multiple places on the DVD, so beware.
The Audience --
It was clear that they tried to film as many shows as they could with the first audience. The first four shows repeatedly will flash back to the same young blonde audience members. You can also see them in the end credits as well. Some of the audience are behaving way too over the top as if they were paid. Several people looked as if they were having epileptic fits and others just looked downright bored or even angry. I freeze-framed the audience several times just to see some of the disinterested faces close up, just to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing.
The DJ --
The DJ spinning in his little control booth above the rest of them also looked as if he might be Ted Kaczynski's little brother with a permanent scowl. What was up with that? Maybe he was just hoping the check from Byron Allen would clear so he could pay his overdue rent. He seemed to be working overtime trying to salvage the show like the Quartet on the Titanic, refusing to accept the fact that they were going down fast. The thundering bass during every commercial was just far too annoying.
The Show & DVD --
How many times are TV execs going to try to run with this over-used formula? Colin Quinn tried it, Tom Arnold tried it, Norm McDonald tried it, Chevy Chase tried it and even Adam "Troll" Corolla tried it. They all failed -- because it was always a lame idea at 22 mins long. It just doesn't work.
I would skip this at all costs as it'll probably be one of those shows that will be offered up as free content online to lure in viewers to whatever website that might host this, as it's material that the studios can afford to dispose of. You can see better stand-up comedy on Youtube.
Check out James Inman, on youtube, if you're looking for independent impromptu comedy.
* The above review is obviously, only my opinion. Hopefully, no one will begrudge me for it.
