Comics Unleashed

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 rarely take time to write a review about anything, but recently I'm stuck with no cable and only what's available via the air to watch. No wonder no one deals with free TV! It's nothing but ads! Comics unleashed is the worst. I think i recorded about 11 minutes of content for a 30 minute show. So not worth it! OK so I need more lines just to get my gripe out there.. fine. Again, I don't see the point in this show, it's literally an excuse to run ads. Why not just put on an infomercial during this time slot, it practically is anyway. So if you're thinking of watching this show don't waste you're time, unless of course you're looking for the latest fad or gadget for 19.95!

I got hooked on this show during my late night channel surfing. Now it's become a daily DVR staple along with The Daily Show. It is charmingly low budget, but not low in production values. The set is attractive and comfortable without trying too hard (I especially like the large aquarium in back of Byron Allen which appears to house only baby sharks). It's a terrific introduction to the latest in fresh new comic talent, although the occasional comic star drops in, too (Margaret Cho, Jimmie Walker, Jon Lovitz, Judy Tenuta, Larry Miller, etc.). Byron Allen is the laid back host who shares a brotherhood with his fellow comics and does a wonderful job of giving them the spotlight. The show is obviously cut and pasted to air the very best of the panels' bits, which is what makes the show so watchable -- you don't have to wade through the tepid or unfunny stuff to get to the gems. I absolutely disagree with the comment that the show does a poor job of trying to appear improvisational. The format is very much upfront: the host asks obviously leading questions meant to set up the comics' bits, and there's no pretense about it. It's kind of like being in on a job interview or a casting call, and as such it's actually a refreshing new format.

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.

I just don't see how this show manages to suck as much as it does. Every night, this show features 4 professional comedians (5, I suppose, if you count Byron Allen-I DON'T), yet there's more laughter to be found over at 'Poker After Dark'. This is a problem, people. An old guy in a cowboy hat playing poker with a dyed blonde woman wearing sunglasses is funnier than 4 comedians telling jokes on a stage! How is this possible? Well, to begin with, Byron Allen's isn't funny on the show (but they give him 3 minutes to do a painful monologue Jay Leno wouldn't touch during a Writer's Guild strike), and even if he WAS given good jokes, I'm not convinced the King of mediocre late night television would be able to deliver it. Secondly, the format of the show is awful. Byron Allen sits in the middle of a semi circle of four comedians (3 men and 1 woman...ALWAYS) and asks them strangely specific questions very obviously given to him beforehand by the comedians so that they can deliver pre-prepared jokes (or, more accurately, moderately amusing to unfunny and grating anecdotes). Even worse, Byron switches quickly from comedian to comedian to comedian to comedian to commercial to comedian until the show is over. Because none of the comics is given any chance to build up momentum, their extremely random and disjointed attempts at humor end up resembling nothing more than a rambling jumble of conversation you might overhear at a bar mitzvah.

I'm not joking when I say you could put Bill Cosby in his prime up on that stage and his famous routine on Noah and the Ark would barely elicit a chuckle, such is the waste land of this show.