That's the Way, A-Ha, A-Ha, Joe Lycett: Live

This review written in 2017.

I mention the date because in 2017 I penned an IMDb review of the Chris Gethard HBO comedy special (loved it) and was a bit taken aback by the fairly extreme group of .... haters. (Chris has mental health issues and is up-front about it.)

Although I have a fair bit of IMDb experience (some 1300+ reviews) and back in the day I worked as a comedy writer in L.A., I had failed to realize how polarizing certain types of comedy are.

So this time I will be more cautious.

Lycett is a self-proclaimed bisexual, British, a gentle soul who wears his heart on his sleeve and an absolute master of language.

That said, in spite of the delicate and thoughtful delivery, much of the material is about sex, sexuality, and overall quite naughty.

Throw into the equation his sexuality and you have all the ingredients for diversity. Not diversity of spirit. Diversity of opinion. Diversity of reaction.

So, have warned you, I will say that if you are not put off by comedy based on non-standard sexuality, the material is both funny and thought-provoking.

Lycett is a gifted stage comic with a lot of experience and never misses a correct intonation or a comic beat.

On the other hand, if you think you may be offended by this material, then the ONLY bits you may resonate with are segments where Lycett, a master of language, takes pen in hand to do battle with the endless army of civil servants and similar officials who make it their personal business to complicate our lives.

For example, Lycett's spirited defence of a parking ticket (where the evidence as to where he was parked was a closeup photo of his car window upon which the ticketer had scrawled the words "Taxi Stand") is one of the all-time classic comedy bits and will leave you on the floor with a bellyache from laughing.

Recommended. With a caution.

A scant few years before Lycett had become somewhat of a household name (and possibly even a national-treasure-in-waiting) he recorded this show off the back of a viral parking dispute. He' a born entertainer and this intimate gig is a fantastic introduction to his shtick - which is light on structure and is mainly just him being himself - whether he's bantering with the audience, reading out e-mails or just going through his twitter feed he does it all with tremendous ease and it's remarkably fun to just watch him in his element. Also featured on the DVD is a wildly engaging chat between him and the equally genuine Sarah Millican which is a treat.

My family loved this and highly recommended it - but I didn't enjoy it.

The overall "mission" of the show is very nice and it is quite touching.

Although I like Joe as a presenter his comedy is not for me.

Half the time it relied on a Dave Gorman style of pettiness, where mundane things are taken to the extreme - which isn't for me.

Doing something just to annoy some random person or just to say you can, seems a bit self-centred - I have the same issue with Dom Jolly.

The other half is just pure snark.

Sometimes the put-downs had a sprinkling of wit but often not.

Very much in the vein of: "oh I like your hat."

"Thank you, I wasn't sure if..."

"No I was lying your hat is stupid and you look stupid! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!"

The end piece was very sweet but the big reveal was a little bit narcissistic.

This was enjoyable enough, Joe is very likeable. My favourite stuff is when he makes a nuisance of himself badgering companies, busy-bodies and fraudsters with emails.

Finally got round to watching "That's The Way A-ha A-ha Joe Lycett" the other day. Joe Lycett is a very funny guy. So funny, I lost half a cup of coffee over my naked body.

That'll teach me for trying to do 3 things at once...