Customer Reviews

Lewis Black - Black on Broadway

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that our world has gone to hell. We have an inferior health care system, high unemployment, a war in the Middle East that no one wants and natural disasters that kill hundreds of thousands of people. Basically, we're screwed. So what can we do about it? Lewis Black has a solution: get ticked off.

Black's shtick is to start most jokes in a conversational tone of voice and punctuate the punch-line by yelling it angrily. After all, he's the angry guy who's angry at the world. Think of Sam Kinison in terms of style of delivery and Bill Hicks in terms of social and political commentary. Black works the crowd with all the skill and experience of a veteran stand-up comic. He does a good job of going off on tangents and then laying on a zinger that references an earlier joke. He has a good sense of timing. He knows just the right amount of beats between the set-up and punch-line of a joke.

If you can tap into Black's misanthropy (and in this day and age who can't?) he is quite funny with some genuinely laugh-out bits. On soy milk: "They couldn't sell soy juice so they called it soy milk because any time you say soy juice you actually start to gag." It's not just his jokes that are funny but how he delivers them-in an angry, exasperated way of someone in danger of having an aneurysm. What makes Black's comedy work is that its core there is a ring of honesty that he exaggerates for comic effect. He understands and acknowledges that the world is supremely messed up and that there may be nothing we can do but at least we can have some fun complaining about it.

Lewis Black is angry. And when he gets angry, he yells. And when Lewis Black yells, people laugh. At least I do. A lot.

What exactly, you might ask, is Black angry about? For starters, how about the weather, the government, corporate greed, and the lack of clean water? Fortunately, Black is far more than just another middle-aged curmudgeon, as there's always a payoff to be found when he starts one of his diatribes. So if you're in the mood for some uproarious, laugh-inducing, bile-filled yelling, you should run, not walk, to the store and pick up a copy of last year's HBO special Black on Broadway. Right from the opening salvo fired directly at the audience, Black on Broadway is pure gold: misanthropic, brutally honest, frightfully thought-provoking comedy that effectively catalogues the staggering stupidity of human existence.

Black's signature style-profanity-laced rants punctuated by shouted punch lines that see him come one step short of becoming completely unhinged-finds plenty of fodder here, as this special shows him to be a satirist and social critic on par with such modern-day greats as Bill Hicks and Chris Rock. Early on, he gives us a pitch-perfect characterization of the two political parties ("The Democrats are the party of NO ideas, and the Republicans are the party of BAD ideas!"), coupled with a tirade on the economy ("It goes up, it goes down, it goes UP, it goes DOWN!") that's surprisingly spot-on no matter what your political leanings. Black really gets going later on with his discussion of Americans' obnoxious reflexive patriotism, the current misguided health mania, and comparisons between the current terrorism fears and the nuclear paranoia of his childhood ("That era was pretty f---ing scary!").

While I didn't really know what to expect when I got this DVD (I don't watch the Daily Show, so my exposure to Black was minimal), I really can't say enough good things about it. In a profoundly irrational world, Lewis Black provides a rare voice of reason, even if that voice is filled with rage and spite. While Black doesn't suggest much in the way of making the world better, he does at least let us have some laughs at the absurdity of our lives.

A man with many hats, outrageous, ranting comedian/author/playwright/pundit, Lewis Black is simply amazing. His dry, pointed rants are one of the funniest stand up performances since comedian George Carlin did his `seven little words'. Recently on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, here he gets to cut loose in his first HBO solo special - first but hopefully not his last. Filmed before a live - and very entertained - audience in Brooks Atkinson Theatre in New York City, it's one hour of absolute perfection! No frills mind you, but then would Lewis really have frills? I am sure he could do a routine about he told the HBO executives what to do with their voice-overs and behind the scenes segments!

From where is Global Warming where you need it?; US Government Deficit - and no one explaining where over 5 Trillion dollars went!; Lewis chows down on Republicans and Democrats alike; Homeland security; tax-cuts; coupons; travel to New Zealand; Corporate Greed; how to stretch you money; milk that isn't milk; bottled water and it's nutritional values; where cold air comes from; why his government stopped lying to him; George Bush; diet; how to live longer; and Martha Stewart's body parts!

His razor-edge humor is dead bang on target and requires repeated viewing because you are laughing so hard at one joke, you might miss part of another!!

Hey, my cat even loves Lewis! Seriously, she watches him like he is the god of Catdom! Maybe he is because he sure is the cat's whiskers!! lol.

I just bought the Black on Broadway (DVD) of Lewis Black from a local retailer on the day of its release. The comedy was very funny but I must say I was a bit disappointed. I bought the DVD anticipating new comedy skits but I heard some of the same jokes from Lewis Black's comedy (CD) Rules of Enragement. If you have already heard the jokes from Black's Rules of Enragement (CD) and are wanting new jokes then I'd suggest saving your money. The DVD is worth the money but from my perspective it is only good so far as one hasn't previously heard and laughed at the jokes.

I bought all of Lewis Black's CD's after having seen him on the "Daily Show." Each and every one deserves a 5 star rating. Yet - I still wanted more so I bought the Black on Broadway DVD.
The material on the DVD is a cobbled together, best of much of his previous work.
What you get with the DVD is his facial expressions and the "finger." The wagging "finger!" The "finger" that gives you some idea of how pissed off he really is.

And he has a right to be pissed off - because the world has way too many idiots.

His ablility to make vessel bursting anger seem funny is comic genius.

The DVD is a must for hardcore fans and the newly initiated.

caslo

I saw this on HBO earlier sometime in 2005. Since then I forgot most of the material that was said; that actually happens frequently with comedians on TV for me for some reason, I decided I had to get this, since I had long forgotten the material. I popped this in the TV and immediately enjoyed the words coming from Mr. Black's mouth like I had heard them for the first time. Since then, I've showed this DVD to many of my friends and they have all enjoyed tit as much as I have. If you are a fan of Lewis Black then this will not disappoint. Pick it, up, the price of eight bucks makes it worth every penny.

I'm a very recent convert to Lewis Black. I had seen him perform just once in a comedy Central show before seeing this special on HBO. While Black uses a lot of profanity, he uses it to accent his angry mannerisms which have become his calling card, rather than use it just for the sake of using it. During this one hour special Black covers a variety of subjects from an inspirational rant about how popular Jesus, to a political skewering of both political parties, to the mundane subjects of air travel, bottled water, and the varieties of milk available today.

Through it all, Black does his slowburn on the subjects which eventually lead to his full blown, and riotously funny explosion of anger. In particular I enjoyed Black's bit about milk, and the many varieties of milk available today such as low fat, skim, soy, lactose intolerant, etc. Black points out that people who are "lactose intolerant can't drink milk...so what's in the bottle???" And then goes onto point out that there is no such thing as soy milk..."It's soy juice". Clever and funny stuff, impeccably delivered by Black. It shows up on HBO quite frequently but if you don't have access to that channel then this is a well-worthwhile DVD to pickup. Uneven in spots but when he hits the ball, it goes a long way.

The man just makes me laugh. The combination of witty New York Jew and disgruntled conspiracy theorist is a winner. While the profanity is prevalent, I attribute it to the HBO stand-up tradition. May Lewis thrive. Buy this now.

Lewis Black is probably the funniest comedian of the year. He tackles tough social issues and makes a bang. His delivery and vocal inflection is perfect for the material. He knows just when to pause and when to get excited. Don't be paranoid of the "F" word. He uses it a lot, but I might add, uses it quite effectively.
He is amazing. I recommend this highly.

Loved this comedy special. It has a different spin, than most comedies.