Very odd piece here by Independent comedy critic Julian Hall ranting about not getting to go the British Comedy Awards on Saturday.
Musing on his snub he writes
This is despite the fact that I am a comedy critic (and thus have a role to play in highlighting emerging comedy talent)
I wonder if he could explain how going along to this glitzy knees up stuffed full of the most recognisable faces in British comedy will help him “highlight emerging comedy talent.”
A major problem with a lot of the national comedy reviewers is that their definition of “emerging” is completely out of kilter with the comedy industry’s definition. There is a major difference between emerging onto the public stage (ie Michael McIntyre) and being an emerging comedy talent, slogging your guts out on the open mic circuit and getting recognised for your potential (ie Ed Gamble – see video below, Paul F Taylor, Tom Craine etc)
Perhaps when poor Mr Hall, whose biog proudly boasts seats on various judging panels, writes some articles picking out proper emerging talent rather than telling us all that the ubiquitous Michael McIntyre is going to have a big 2009, his invitaton to the British Comedy Awards will have been well earned.
Tags: British Comedy Awards, Comedy, Ed Gamble, Julian Hall, Michael McIntyre, Paul F Taylor, Tom Craine
