Comedy

Malcolm's wishlist

1 For every comedian to acknowledge the importance of technique but also to realise that individuality and playfulness are more crucial.

2 For audiences to go to comedy in a spirit of joyful participation.

3 For TV production companies to show imagination in devising ways for stand-up to be put on the small screen.

4 For major companies, multinationals and fat cats to provide funding for individual comedians to develop new projects (with no strings attached).

5 For promoters to experiment with formats other than just four or five
stand-ups with a compere. Feature continues

6 For those who run clubs never to employ the practice of an interval after each act.

7 For there to be fewer competitions (they claim a lot but prove very little).

8 For all of us to understand that, even when we’re laughing at other people, we are in reality laughing at ourselves.

9 For politicians, religious nuts and joyless hypocrites everywhere to develop a comedy-going habit and loosen up a bit.

10 As the power of the state closes in, for stand-up to remain (as Bill Hicks declared) the last bastion of free speech.