Stand-up comedy

Stand-up comedy is a comic style in which a comedian performs in front of a live audience, usually speaking directly to them. The performer is commonly known as a comic, stand-up comic, stand-up comedian, or simply a stand-up. In stand-up comedy, the comedian usually recites a grouping of humorous stories, jokes and one-liners typically called a monologue, routine, or act. Some stand-up comedians use props, music, or magic tricks to enhance their acts. Stand-up comedy is often performed in comedy clubs, bars, nightclubs, neo-burlesques, colleges, and theaters. Outside of live performance, stand-up is often distributed commercially via television, DVD, CD and the internet.

Overview

In stand-up comedy, the feedback of the audience is instant and crucial for the comedian's act. Audiences expect a stand-up comic to provide a steady stream of laughs, and a performer is always under pressure to deliver. Comedic actor Will Ferrell has called stand-up comedy "hard, lonely, and vicious".

Bill Burr

William Frederic "Bill" Burr (born June 10, 1968) is an American comedian, writer, and actor. He is best known for his stand-up comedy specials. He is also known for being the host of Bill Burr's Monday Morning Podcast, playing Patrick Kuby in the AMC crime drama series Breaking Bad, and starring in the Netflix animated sitcom F Is for Family as Frank Murphy. In 2013, The New York Times wrote that Burr "has been one of the funniest, most distinctive voices in the country for years."

Early life

Burr was born in Canton, Massachusetts, to white-collar parents of German and Irish descent. His father is a dentist. Burr obtained a bachelor's degree in radio from Emerson College in 1993. Before starting his comedy career, he worked in warehouses because "if [his] boss gave [him] a rough time, [he] could just get on a forklift and just, like, drive away".

Career

Burr's career began in 1992. He moved to New York City in 1995.

Since May 2007, Burr has recorded a weekly one-hour podcast, Bill Burr's Monday Morning Podcast, in which he speaks about his past and recent experiences, current events, going on tour, and sports, and offers advice to questions submitted by the listeners. The podcast is available on Burr's website and on the All Things Comedy network. He is sometimes joined by his wife, Nia Hill, and has featured guests and interviews with other comedians.