James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome

I love for comedy specials and try to watch as many as possible. There are plenty or European or international comics who I have watched and loved.

This one was truly awful. I don't think I laughed once. Stunning how bad it is for it to be on Max, which has put out brilliant specials this year like Hannah Einbinder, Alex Edelman and Seth Meyers to name a few. I read a review that compared him to the brilliant Bo Burnham, and I don't see the comparison on any level. Even the crowd at the taping looked like they didn't understand what was going on.

Maybe this is primarily for a European audience that is more familiar with his previous work, but I feel like I went into it with a pretty open mind and I still don't understand the appeal on any level.

James Acaster in my opinion is one of the UK's most unique, underrated and one of the wittiest comedians of the 2000s.

However this special... is possibly one of the worst stand up specials EVER to the point I think I laughed once compared to the "belly laughter" normally provided by James. I watched it twice as I could see front row audience laughing but on second watch noted this was recorded over 2 days. And it was quite clear the second audience were arms folded, straight faced. Where as the main one used were laughing just for the sake of their love for Acaster.

The other issue with this is you come with an expectation/hope based on his 'house rules' that it will be amusing from the audience interaction. However this is very minimal and have to wonder how much was cut out especially in the choppy bits of editing.

Like another reviewer said (but should have give it 10). If this is your first experience with James, watch his other shows.

But unfortunately this show sinks just like the great ship did when it left the dock so fabulously as James also enters so....

Heckler's Welcome provides a glimpse into one of James Acaster's greatest stand up tours, showcasing some of his strongest material and showing that he's grown as a comedian and celebrity.

For any budding comedian, Heckler's welcome is perhaps a masterclass of how to talk about real feelings (some of which aren't innately hilarious) without brining the vibe down.

My main criticism of Hecklers Welcome is the same thing that made the live show great. Hecklers Welcome is a more interactive experience than most stand up shows, the show gave an opportunity to get involved, and literally have a say in how the show plays out, and be part of the joke. Watching the prerecorded show places the viewer on the outside looking in, we're not part of the joke anymore so the thing that was so joyous about the show is now missing. It somewhat reminded me of sleep paralysis, being so eager to speak or be involved but being held down by an invisible barrier.

While this criticism may seem damning, the show is still among the best James Acaster content out there and was a very enjoyable watch.

Easily the worst stand up I've ever seen.

Had to turn it off.

How can someone who's very funny on a panel show be so bad at delivering a stand up show.

Absolute disaster, and ever funnier that he is berating other comedians when this is all he has to deliver, and also gives a nod to Nish Kumar as someone who go he thinks is funny is just comical for all the wrong reasons.

I would spend me time doing anything to else than watching this.

Despite being hilarious on panel shows, seems Acaster is just the comedy version of the chubby bloke from the Kaiser Chiefs. Some middle of the road nonsense man.

This has to be the first time I've ever reviewed someone I genuinely like this badly, I even watched it twice to make sure it wasn't just a bad mood, 3 ish hours over two sittings, maybe smiled twice, it felt disjointed with the weird mini drum break ups even though after a split scene, it returned on same subject!

It felt like a long warm up chat that never went anywhere, the mic at start was broken which wasn't even funny, he missed every joke and the crowd were dead or polite at best, the material was horrific, he is normally side splitting type funny, if this is him matured, I'd rethink as it's awful James.

Seeing him in films was a blast and he's come far but as someone who has seen his stuff decade or so ago this is one of the worst shows ever, let's be real he says he hates doing stand up... the proof is here.