From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids
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For the album by Eddie Murphy, see Comedian (album)
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For the documentary film by Jerry Seinfeld, see Comedian (film)
A comedian, or comic, is a performer who entertains an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting the fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy. A female comedian may be known as a comedienne, although this usage has been deprecated in recent years. A comedian who stands and addresses an audience directly is called a stand-up comedian.
Since the mid-1980s, a new wave of comedy, called alternative comedy, has been gaining popularity and delighting audiences with its offbeat style. This normally involves more experiential, or observational, reporting to get a laugh. Famous comedians often overstep the mark of what the public perceive as acceptable, such as the remarks made by Billy Connolly about the killing of Ken Bigley.
Formats of a comedian's show are flexible and often depend on the type of comedy. Some comedians such as Brian Figarol speak about their own day to day lives, while others like Frank Skinner sing humorous songs.
As far as content is concerned, comedians such as Tommy Tiernan draw on their background to poke fun at themselves, while others such as Bill Hicks have strong political and cultural undertones.
Many comics achieve a cult following while touring famous comedy hubs such as the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal, the Edinburgh Fringe, and Melbourne in Australia. Often a comic's career is made when they win a notable comedy prize, such as the now defunct Perrier Award. Comics typically survive by continuous touring and foray into other areas of entertainment, when they have become famous. These include television (such as with Rowan Atkinson, Bill Cosby, Ellen DeGeneres, Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Ray Romano and Dave Chappelle), films (such as with Chris Rock, Richard Pryor, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Janeane Garofalo and Robin Williams), radio (such as with Dave Callan, more examples needed) and the release of DVDs of live shows.
- Comedy genres
- List of comedians
- Humour
- Comedy
- Humourist
- List of musical comedians
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