The meaning

Stand-up comedy is a style of comedy where the performer speaks directly to the audience, with the absence of the theatrical fourth wall. A person who performs stand-up comedy is known as a stand-up comic, stand-up comedian or more informally stand up. It is usually performed by a single comedian, and usually with the aid of a microphone. The comedian usually recites a fast-paced succession of humorous stories, short jokes (called "bits"), and one-liners, which comprises what is typically called a monologue, routine or act. Some stand-up comedians use props, music or magic tricks in their acts. Stand-up comedy is often performed in comedy clubs, bars, colleges and theaters. However, there is no real restriction on where it can be performed. Many smaller venues hold "open mic" events, where amateur comedians can perform comedy before a live audience, offering a way for the performers to hone their craft and possibly break into the business. In North America, many comedy clubs feature the now-iconic brick wall as the backdrop for stand-up performances.

Many stand-up routines are similar to one man shows, with the main difference being the expectations of the audience, who, with stand-up, expect a relatively steady stream of "laughs". This in turn affects the aims of the performer, who is under great pressure to deliver those laughs. If the performer cannot coax these laughs out of the crowd, sometimes the crowd will poke fun at the comedian, a practice known as heckling.

Stand-up comedy is considered difficult to master, because the stand-up comedian is at the mercy of the audience, which is an integral element of the act. An adept stand-up comedian must nimbly play off the mood and tastes of any particular audience, and adjust his or her routine accordingly. Stand-up is a comedic art form that is openly devoted to getting laughs from an audience above any other component of the form (unlike theatrical comedy, which creates comedy within the structure of a play and with character and situation). The skills attributed to being a stand-up comic are diverse; it is often necessary for a solitary stand-up comic to simultaneously assume the roles of a writer, editor, performer, promoter, producer and technician.

One test of a master stand-up comedian is the ability to not only face down a "heckler", but win over and entertain the rest of the crowd with a witty retort. Many stand-up comedians work for years to get 45 minutes of material, and usually perform their bits repeatedly, slowly perfecting them over time. Actor and comedian Will Ferrell has called stand-up comedy hard, lonely and vicious.

The History

Stand-up comedy has its roots in various traditions of American entertainment popular in the late 19th century, ranging from vaudeville and humorist monologues (by personalities such as Mark Twain, a notable master) to circus clown antics. Most early comedians were merely regarded as opening act "joke tellers" who warmed up the audience, or kept the crowds entertained during intermissions. Being a comedian was often considered a stepping stone to a proper show business career. Jokes were generally broad and (often when not broadcast) mildly risqué, and often dwelt on stock comic themes ("mother-in-law jokes," ethnic humor). "Blue humor", or comedy that was considered indecent, was popular in many nightclubs, but working "blue" greatly limited a comedian's chance for legitimate success. Today, this type of routine is more commonly seen.

The fathers of stand-up comedy were often called "masters of ceremonies" during the "golden age" of radio broadcasting. Jack Benny, Fred Allen and Bob Hope all came from vaudeville and often opened their listening programs with topical monologues, characterized by ad-libs and discussions about anything from the latest films to a missed birthday. Each program tended to be divided into the opening monologue, musical number, followed by a skit or story routine. Their guests were varied and included other radio comedians, including Burns and Allen. A "feud" between Fred Allen and Jack Benny was used as comic material for nearly a decade.

In the late 1950s and into the 1960s, a new generation of American comedians began to explore political topics, race relations, and sexual humor. Stand-up comedy shifted from quick jokes and one-liners to monologues, often with dark humor and cutting satire. Lenny Bruce became particularly influential in pushing the boundaries of what was considered acceptable entertainment. (Such "boundary pushing" among comedians dates back at least to vaudeville in a traditional joke called The Aristocrats that comedians would usually tell only to each other). African-American comedians such as Redd Foxx, long relegated to segregated venues, began to cross over to white audiences during this time.

Phyllis Diller ventured out as the first solo female stand-up comic, opening the door to other funny women such as Joan Rivers, Lily Tomlin and Roseanne Barr. In what was historically a man's domain, Diller was a true stand out. She began working small clubs and eventually shared the stage with the likes of Bob Hope, Don Rickles, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Stand-up comedy exploded during the 1970s, with several entertainers becoming major stars based on stand-up comedy performances. Stand-up expanded from nightclubs and theaters to major concerts in sports arenas. Richard Pryor and George Carlin followed Lenny Bruce's acerbic style to become counterculture icons. Steve Martin and Bill Cosby had similar levels of success with gentler comic routines. The older style of stand-up comedy was kept alive by Rodney Dangerfield and Buddy Hackett, who enjoyed revived careers late on life. Television programs such as Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show launched the careers of other stand-up comedians.

By the 1980s, the rising popularity of stand-up led to a boom in stand-up comedy venues for locally-based and touring comics in several cities. Many stand-up stars landed major television deals, and established television and film stars such as Kip Addotta, Robin Williams, Eddie Murphy and Billy Crystal tested their comic skills with live stand-up comedy appearances. The advent of HBO (which could present comedians uncensored) and other cable channels such as Comedy Central contributed to the stand-up comedy boom.

By the 1990s, a glut of stand-up comedy led to its decline, as the market became somewhat flooded with comedians of varying talent levels. Established stand-up comedians still commanded top ticket prices, however, and talented new comedians had many smaller venues in which to establish themselves.

Many observers believe that Chris Rock's stand-up career, which took off in 1996 with his popular special Bring the Pain, was instrumental to stand-up comedy's revival during the late 1990s. By the 2000s, comedy had enjoyed a resurgence, not only because of Rock's popularity, but because of newer media outlets such as the internet, television channels like Comedy Central and various comedy schools, troupes, and improv groups nurturing new talent through workshops and classes.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stand-up_comedy