Comedy

Greg Behrendt is probably one of few comedians who has made his career out of stressing (with sincerity) how much he respects women. An American stand-up star, he became a relationship expert overnight by co-authoring the women’s dating manual 'He’s Just Not That into You'. As he explains, it was meant to be novelty literature, but became a self-help phenomenon.

Men, don’t stop reading. This guy is actually funny, regardless of what you’ve got between your legs. I’ve read the book and enjoyed it, but the men in the audience, who I’m sure haven’t, laugh along too.

Behrendt has had twenty years in the business to hone his act, and it shows. He's a real performer, not just a funny man who’s stumbled onto a stage. He’s confident and at the same time insanely personable. Maybe it’s because he makes it clear that while he’s a good guy, he’s also a guy’s guy too.

As you’d expect, relationships are the focus of his material. He takes the familiar routines of dating and marriage and draws out humour in situations that anyone can relate to. The audience were in hysterics for his setpiece about competing with his wife’s 'free pass' (the man she’d like to sleep with if she wasn’t married) in a gym.

Peppering his material are his anecdotes of women he meets in the street asking him for romantic advice. This guy is in a unique position between the sexes, and you want to listen to his bizarre experiences, whether you think he’s wise or just lucky (as he does).

There aren’t many mainstream American comics at the Fringe, and yet Behrendt’s act is something that’s ingrained into our culture through TV screens. It’s smart, well-observed material, and as mainstream as watching an episode of 'Friends'. Ironically, surrounded by the edgy ‘alternative’ giants of British comedy, Behrendt is a rarity; refreshingly safe and upbeat whilst very good at what he does. Guaranteed laughter, and possibly a little wisdom too.

Greg Behrendt is on at the Assembly Rooms daily at 19:40.