Comics Unleashed

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.

This is basically a show where they want you to believe that these comedians are doing improv and just "winging" it. What it really is, is Byron Allen asking a comedian a question like "So, where are you from?" and the comedian going into his or her bit that they have used a million times in the comedy clubs about where they are from, except they act like it was a random question. This show is set up like "Politically Incorrect" and "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn", but unlike those shows it is obvious that these comedians have come here with a planned bit. These are talented comedians, but don't try to pass this off as an improv show- it is just so obvious that it isn't.

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!

Unlike the organic and interactive flow of Tough Crowd this is awkward and forced. Byron Allen is only there to set people up to do their own material. He comes up with some non-sequitor question like "have you ever had a parrot get caught in your hair?" (not an actual quote) and that comic just HAPPENS to have a poignant anecdote for just that! It's just Allen's artless volleyball sets for people to showcase their acts. Also they laugh at their own stuff like they just "made a funny" on the fly which gives major d-chills.

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.