Comics Unleashed

The only episodes worth watching are the so-called "Hot Chocolate" panels featuring black comedians who have obviously worked together a lot. In these, Byron Allen just gets out of the way and the comics take off, and (since this ain't cable) it's a treat to hear what these hilarious and creative folks can do when they don't have the crutch of gratuitous N and F words to fall back on... which seems to comprise most of their stand-up acts. Unfortunately, so far I've only seen 2 such episodes. All the rest feature a disparate panel who have nothing in common, and Byron just lobs each a question designed to let them launch into their Schtick without any interaction with each other. It's DREADFUL. One minute Rich Little is doing Richard Nixon, and the next minute some comic whose name I can't remember is bemoaning the state of airline food, followed by somebody complaining about his or her spouse. It's like they're phoning it in from isolation booths.

I have been introduced to one or two new comics, but mostly, I zap.

This is the definition of a terrible show. It started out having comics that most of us have heard of. But now there is no one we have heard of, and supposedly these people are COMICS, but I don't know what they are talking about. I am probably biased, because I can't stand Byron Allen or his terrible shows. I constantly don't know how this guy works. He has no personality, his shows are an embarrassment, and I thought his last show "Entertainers w/ Byron Allen" was as bad as shows could get. The whole format, including his awful interviewing techniques, were just painful to watch. The celebrities seemed to just tolerate this man. Now he has this attempt "To Branch Out," and it is just plain sad. Please do not waste your time with this totally unfunny outlet for 3rd rate comics unless you are trying to fall asleep. It plays in the middle of the night where I live, thank god! Avoid this at all costs or you will be laughing, and not because its funny. An update review as of 12/15/07! I cannot understand who watches this and those that do you have must be desperate and have no taste. Is this seriously something that should be on, even late-night Sunday night. This is still terrible and I am all for comics getting a forum for themselves, but c'mon this isn't how to do it. Even basic stand-up would be better than this crap. Besides there is no one worse than Byron Allen, and I cannot understand how he continues to work. He must have good business savvy, so I will give him that, but everything he has ever done is plain bad.

I have seen a few comedians who I saw before and many who I haven't. Since watching the show, I have had the pleasure of seeing several of these comedians in comedy clubs. The best ones that I've seen in person have been Alex Thomas, Howie Bell, Shang, B-Phlat, Roz G, Rodney Perry, Damon Williams, Charles Fleischer, Tammy Pescatelli, Tom Papa and Wayne Brady. Seeing these people in person is much better than on TV but "Comics Unleashed" has given me the opportunity to get an idea of what these people can do. Comedy is a very personal thing. What makes one person laugh may bore someone else or offend another person. My husband and I both laughed while watching this show and other people will, too. Get ready for 2 more seasons.

Imagine the most hacky way of showcasing talented comedians, then multiply it by 100.

I find it unbelievable that Byron Allen was at one point a stand-up comedian. He definitely is someone who couldn't be naturally funny, so his idea was the way you showcase stand up comedians is by trying to set up their jokes. It is possible that when he did stand up on Carson he was asked what should be brought up and he told him what topics he had jokes for. I can't be sure whether or not that was actually what Carson was asking him for, but it was how he interpreted it then and then continued to operate as if that was what the job of a show interviewing comedians should be like.

He is a very successful man, though. Gotta give him props for making the worst tv shows and getting paid for them.

Byron Allen has a long history of making terrible television and this may be his biggest turd yet. Not only has no one ever said anything funny on this show but it's 100% scripted. Allen does the classic Jay Leno fake leading question thing. "So have you ever been a victim of road rage?", without thinking the "comic" goes into a 5 minute monologue about road rage. Total garbage.