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Dave
Attell:
Gonzo
Jester
by Joel Tianello
April 11, 2014
 
Any week we get material from one of our comedic heroes is a good one.

 

 So getting a brand new hour from Dave Attell, arguably the greatest club comic of this generation, the same week as his new series on Comedy Central makes us, well, giddy beyond delight.
This weekend Attell debuted his new special, "Road Work," right before his new uncensored weekly showcase, "Comedy Underground."
Both were spectacular and help cement Attell's place in the comedy community, even if such statements would make him uncomfortable.
"I'm not a good comedian," Attell will tell anyone who will listen. "I'm a good club comic, but I'm just retelling the same jokes over and over again."
Attell's take on himself could be seen as false modesty, or reveal his discomfort with the comedians he's often compared to-
contemporaries like Louis C.K., Doug Stanhope and Patton Oswalt;
classics like Rodney Dangerfield, Don Rickles and George Carlin.
Perhaps Attell's difficulty to see himself in that league has to do with his inability to comfortably transition to theaters.
For him, it will always be about the club scene.
Theater stages are too brightly lit and far away from the crowd, who are too calm and sober.
"I like feeding off the crowd's energy. The crowd will tell you how far you can go."
Attell believes it. He set both the series and his special in clubs.
Despite modesty, he did believe in himself enough to shoot Road Work in a series of clubs.
"I put all my money into it," he said.



"Underground," on the other hand, was the network's idea.
"They came to me. They wanted me to host a stand-up show, and I said 'so what's different about this one?' They said 'it's uncensored.' I said 'what else?' and they said 'you tell us.' I knew it had to be in a club and it had to be dirty."
Attell is filling his line-up with both established comedians and no-names, based solely on the merits of their dirty jokes.
If you're not easily offended, tune in or set the DVR.
"Comedy Underground" will continue airing Saturdays at 1am on Comedy Central, and is available on the new CC app.
The special is available at Comedy Central Direct and Amazon.com. (right)
             

 

  

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