Customer Reviews

Invite Them Up (W/Dvd)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you are looking for something truly original for Christmas, this is it. It offers a wide collection of very funny and varied comics. There is something for everyone. Not every comic will have you laughing, but each one has something clever and there will be plenty that hit your funny bone. It is a fantastic gift for yourself or your friends. We all need to laugh a bit more and this CD will make it easy. Pop it in the CD player or the car and you will be smiling and laughing in no time. It gives your friends a glimpse into the funny and often wacky New York comedy scene. And you (and they) will be on the cutting edge. The CD includes well known names, but also the latest up and comers. It has some "grown up" humor so it is not for little kids. Get it or get several and spread the gift of laughter.

I am a huge fan of Jon Glaser, Todd Barry, Mike Birbiglia, David Cross, and Demetri Martin....and guess what? They're all on this album! Thanks to Invite Them Up, I discovered I like the comedic stylings of Andy Blitz, Tom McCaffrey, Jessi Klein, and Aziz Ansari too! Eugene Mirman, I'm endebted to you. You've broadened my comedy horizons. Cheers!

As a whole, the collection is a disappointment, but there are some individual performances that absolutely succeeded and are certainly worth a listen. If it were up to me, I'd advise someone buy mp3 versions of these standouts.

Eugene Mirman is always a win and Todd Barry's crowd-interactive routine is notable, but it was Aziz Ansari, to me, that really stood out.

Sadly, I thought David Cross fell flat, and he was the reason I bought the cd.

I was torn between the two and three-star rating because there are some gems, but the album as a whole just wasn't worth my time. There is a definite contrast in performances which created an awkward herd-thinning experience that I probably won't sit through again.

I only burned a few to my itunes and called it even.

- t -
7 July, 2010

Granted you have to get on the right wave-length to be able to appreciate a lot of the material but the same is true for most great art an comedy. The Fuggedabuddies part on the DVD stays funny over many repeated viewings. Its just too bad they didn't have Reggie Watts included.
If you like your comedy neat and tidy then stear clear, but you'd miss out on a lot.

With one exception, it would be easy to believe that none of these people had ever been on stage before. Act after act is painfully slow, pointless, and boring. Some of them spend more time explaining who they are and what they are going to do than actually doing it. You will have it beaten into your head that comedy is not easy.

The DVD is a worse disaster than the CDs. Amateur night behind the camera as well as in front. One word for the people involved: EDITING! It goes a long way toward making things bearable!

The one exception I mentioned above is Mike Birbiglia. He is head and shoulders above all the others put together. Go find his solo stuff and ignore these discs of torture.

There's some great alternative comedy here, but you might have to suffer through Mike Birbiglia and Jessi Klein to get to it. Make sure you check out The Doilies (Zak Orth and Michael Showalter), Aziz Ansari, God's Pottery, Jon Benjamin and David Cross. I don't know if I'd drop $16 on this set, but the used copies here are appropriately priced.

Everyone has pretty much summed up this disc: don't expect it to be a laugh a minute comedy riot. "Invite Them Up" (the weekly NYC comedy show) was supposed to be a sort of testing ground for new/weird material. And these CDs present the experience warts and all.
Also:
DAMN YOU DAVID WAIN!!! You have ruined bagels for me forever. Damn it!

From Smother Magazine smother.net-

This mega-collection of comedy is (count `em) three audio CDs and one big DVD. New York's East Village is the headquarters to "Invite Them Up". "Invite Them Up" is a great weekly comedy show with standup, characters, music, short films, and odds and ends. Hosts Eugene Mirman, Bobby Tisdale, and Holly Schlesinger collect some of the best moments for this collection. Performers include God's Pottery, Todd Barry, David Cross, Jon Benjamin, The Doilies, Demetri Martin, and many more. On the DVD are Eugene's videos and performances by The Forgetabuddies, Amy Miles, Demetri Martin, David Cross and Jon Benjamin, Heather Lawless, Langhorne Slim, and many more. While not every comedian is hilarious, the majority are pretty funny. The audio CDs just make you feel like you're right there too. Check it out!

This album is much more focused on the hosts than the comics. And neither the hosts nor the comics (except a short bit by Mike Birbiglia) are funny. Save your money.

painfully boring. remember that time your coworker finally convinced you to come out and see their stand up comedy act? .... well this cd is about as funny as that...awful.