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Comedy Reviews - CD - Various Stand-Up Comics - Yuk Yuk's Guide To Canadian Stand-up

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Yuk Yuk’s Guide to Canadian Stand-up
Written and narrated by Mark Breslin
Mike MacDonald, Brent Butt, Darren Frost
47 other stand-up comics
5 CD set
Harper Collins Audio 2009

This is a must have and just about perfect look at Canadian stand-up comedy. Who better than Yuk Yuk’s founder Mark Breslin to present the history of stand-up in Canada? This 5 CD set features 4 discs about Canadian comedy with clips of more than 50 comics. There is a bonus comedy CD reissue of Yuk Yuk’s The Funniest 50 minutes Ever. If you are into stand-up comedy this belongs on your shelf and lit properly.

Yuk Yuk’s Guide to Canadian Stand-up is in the audio book section at your local store because Mark Breslin tells the story of his comedy club and Canadian stand-up. Each section closes with an audio clip of the comic Breslin is talking about. The routines are 3 to five minutes long. Since the clips were recorded at different times and in different venues the sound quality varies a bit but it’s nothing to really quibble about.

Yuk Yuk’s Guide to Canadian Stand-up Comedy is divided in 3 sections. CD 1 is The Roots with comics like Don Harron, David Steinberg, Dave Broadfoot, and Larry Horowittz. CD 2 presents The Stars and includes Howie Mandel, Jim Carrey, Mike MacDonald, Brent Butt, and others.  Discs 3 and 4 are The Future and include comics like Russell Peters, Elvira Kurt, Richard Lett, Darren Frost, Jeff McEnery, and Nikki Payne to name a few.

The Future is a bit of a misnomer as many of the comics on this 2 CD section are the present and a couple have already stagnated.

I am of two minds when it comes to this comedy audio book. A history of Canadian stand-up comedy was overdue. Breslin knows his stuff and is a solid narrator with lots of insight. He is a bit of a cheerleader sometimes but that is to be expected from a guy who gave a place for stand-up comedy to flourish in Canada.

Still, I would have preferred more stand-up comedy and less Breslin. How that could have been done is fortunately not my problem as it would be almost impossible to improve on Yuk Yuk’s Guide to Canadian Standup unless you included more CDs.

Yuk Yuk’s Guide to Canadian Stand-up Track List:

CD 1 – The Roots: Don Harron, Dave Broadfoot, David Steinberg, Gary David, La Troupe Grotesque, Larry Horowitz, Chas Lawther, Marla Lukowfsky, Gerry Rednob, Briane Nasimok.

CD 2 – The Stars: Howie Mandel, Jim Carrey, Mike MacDonald, Jeremy Hotz, Norm MacDonald, Harland Williams, Pat Bullard, Mike Bullard, Mike Wilmot, Brent Butt, Gerry Dee, Sean Cullen.

CD 3 – The Future: Kenny Robinson, Russell Peters, Shaun Majumder, Ron Josol, Shannon Laverty, Martha Chavez, Kate Davis, Judy Croon, Tracey MacDonald, Carla Collins, Elvira Kurt, Trevor Boris.

CD 4 – The Future: Craig Campbell, Richard Lett, Graham Clark, Daemonde Tshritter, Jeffery Yu, Jason Rouse, Nikki Payne, Darren Frost, Aaron Berg, Jeff McEnery.

Bonus CD – The Funniest Fifty Minutes Ever: Mark Breslin, John Wing jr., Donnie Coy, Lou Dinos, Al and George, Lawrence Morgenstern, Mark Breslin, Howard Busgang, Larry Horowitz, Glen Foster, Pat Bullard, Sam Kinison, Mike MacDonald, Mark Breslin.

Other Various Stand-Up Comics Reviews

Play The Word - Volume 1: Merril Markoe, Rob Cohen, Julie Rottenberg, Adam Zweibel, Beth Lapides, Winnie Holzman, George Meyer

Play The Word - Volume 2: Jay Kogen, Cindy Chupack, Eric Gilliland, Beth Lapides, Julia Sweeny, Cindy Camponera, Rob Cohen

Before They Were Kings Volume 1: a comedy Dvd featuring some old sets has not aged a bit.

Before They Were Kings Volume 2: an interesting though not a must have stand-up comedy DVD.

The Big Black Comedy Show Volume 1: The Big Black Comedy Show Volume 1 is a very solid comedy DVD

The Big Black Comedy Show Volume 2: Big Black Comedy Volume 1 is far superior to this comedy DVD

Laffapalooza 5: not the best of the bunch but quite decent nonetheless

Laughing Matters: Bad director! Bad director!! Someone take her splicing kit away, now!

Drive By Comedy: a pretty good sample style audio book comedy CD

The Naughty Show Bad Girls Of Comedy: Kim Cea, Stella Stolper, Lisa Ann Walter, Kate Rigg, Shayma Tash, Robin Montague. Ex adult film star director, limp product, no money shot.

World's Greatest Stand-Up Comedy Collection: World's greatest stand-up comedy DVD collection. They are all there.

Redneck Comedy Roundup: skip over the many Engvall tracks and enjoy the other stand-up comics

Invite Them Up: 4 hours on 3 comedy CDs and 1 DVD, hard to beat

Open Mic: behind-the-scenes documentary about the stand-up comedy biz

Man Alive - CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival: CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival show John Wing Jr, Glen Foster, others

Just For Laughs Vol 1 Best of The Uptown Comics: Uptown Comics Volume 1 is an excellent stand-up comedy DVD.

Just For Laughs Stand-Up Vol 2 On The Edge: Comedy Festival gala performances by comedy's edgiest,funniest

The Good,The Bad, And The Drugly: Major stand-up comedy artists do very different stuff.

Un-Cabaret - The Un & Only: Decent not quite comedy CD

10,000 Laughs : Best of the Boston Comedy Festival: Very good stand-up comedy CD features 16 stand-up comics and not a bad set in the bunch.

Comedy Death-Ray: A different comedy concept 2 CD set with Patton Oswalt, Maria Bamford, David Cross, and many others.

Cutting Edge Comedians of the 60s and 70s DVD - Capsule Review: Great Stand-up comedy TV clip collection.

Cutting Edge Comedians of the 60s and 70s - Full Review: DVD with rare TV clips of comedy greats like Cosby, Newhart, Carlin, etc

Indian Invasion Comedy: Buffet style DVD featuring Mark Saldana, Bijai Nathan, Rajiv Satyal, Dalia, and Vidur Kapur.

Katt Williams presents Katthouse Comedy: Ordinary stand-up comedy DVD with Red Grant, Luenell, and Melanie Comarcho

National Lampoon Live Un-Scripted with Frank Caliendo: Buffet style stand-up comedy CD with Frank Caliendo, John DiResta, Bert Kreischer, Tess, and Steve Byrne

Comics Without Borders - Season One: Russell Peters hosts 18 comics in stand-up comedy variety pack

Best of Montreal Comedy: Good variety pack of up-and-coming Montreal comics

The Awkward Comedy Show: Buffet style stand-up comedy DVD featuring 5 nerdy Black comics