For the first time in my career one of my solo shows is now available for sale on DVD in actual factual shops. I haven't seen it myself, but I got sent this photo of it on the shelves of HMV, Oxford Street and apparently it has already sold out in HMV in Bath (though they only had five copies, but still!) I would still advise you to buy it from
gofasterstripe, because that way you can get the third disc of extras and your cash will go to Welshmen who will spend it on seaweed bread and making more comedy DVDs (though if you have bought it elsewhere you should be able to buy the 3rd disc on its own at some point soon).
I am still very excited that the DVD is available from different outlets, and thanks to PIAS for having faith in the show and distributing it to the wider world. Very pleased it has worked out as a kind of hybrid between wider distribution, whilst still staying true to my gofasterstripe roots!
I also got the news today that Radio 4 are interested in doing more Objectives next year. I knew when I started this blog that I would manage to get to a moderate level of success in just eight short years. And look, I have done it with a month to spare. Kudos to me.
I was listening to my iPod on shuffle on the exercise bike at the gym - I nearly always listen on shuffle these days, which means I hardly ever listen to a whole album start to finish, just dip in at random - when a Tim Minchin song that I had never heard came up. It was called "The Song for Phil Daoust". I had seen this on the track listing when I had bought the album and recognised the name, but wrongly remembered as being the name of a comedy agent, rather than as it turns out a journalist. The song is about a bad review that Minchin got from Daoust in 2005 (the song I believe was first performed in 2008) and it had me creased up with laughter from start to finish, confirming to me that Minchin really is in contention for being the strongest comedians of modern times. If you haven't heard the song
then you can see it here and if you google Phil Daoust
his review of Minchin is the first thing that comes up.
The song is so great for me because it perfectly encapsulates the relationship between performer and critic. It's as much about Minchin (if not more) than it is about Daoust. In reality Minchin's success is enough of a two fingered gesture to this unfair (and I believe incredibly wrong) review and time should have lessened the sting. So for Minchin to make this into a song is perfect because it is the revenge of the successful comedian to show up the poor judgement of his critic and make him a figure of fun, but it also is petty and unreasonable and unfair in its turn, so the object of the comedy in Minchin too. He is venting his pain and frustration and the things he wishes on his nemesis are very extreme and funny and immature. It is a poem to the emotions that every performer has been through and indeed anyone that has been criticised by anyone. We want to just scream oh fuck off you cunt at the person or take our revenge and make them look stupid. Minchin achieves both because he is cruel and offensive, but also lyrical and poetic and heartfelt. Every time I see this guy I am gobsmacked by his intelligence, his skill and his funniness. And he manages to bring this clever comedy to a mass audience. He makes me want to give up comedy because there's no point in trying. Only Minchin and Daniel Kitson have made me feel that way. Wow, I wish I had a chance to see Tim Minchin live for as little as £10.
Hold on, I forgot, he's trying out some new stuff at
the Lyric Hammersmith on Sunday I might have to take the opportunity to kill him, just in order to make myself feel better about my own comedy.
But if you have no money and want someone from the comedy Championship, not the flashy Premier League then I have just released last week's secret stand up from AIOTM as
a bonus podcast. As I remember it there was some funny stuff in there, so it's worth sitting through the first few minutes of me taking the piss out of people's hats and jumpers.
