Tough Crowd – last show tonite

At this point it makes no sense to review or promote this show (I wanted to do it for a long time, but since it’s not on regular networks, and it’s pretty crude, I avoided it). The show is canceled. Colin Quinn and his guys are saying so long. But oh how I wish they could get together and rant about everyday issues for months and months to come. Simple idea, well presented, so what went wrong?

Yes, as I write this, I wonder what’s the point. The show’s last episode just aired, there won’t be any DVD releases (it’s old news), and the gang is probably on its way to better gigs, greener pastures, maybe even sitcom pilots. But, a guilty pleasure, I’ve been watching this little show for over a year, and am sad to see it go. (see the last set of monologues)

I’ve grown to live with Colin Quinn, to invite him and his gang into my bedroom (you know what I mean). Every night, right after Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the Comedy Central followed with “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn”, a talk show similar in format to Bill Maher’s Politically Incorrect, only instead of celebrities Colin invited to the studio fellow comedians. The topics of discussion varied from sex, religion to politics and entertainment. Anything that made the headlines that day (or week). But the presentation, the arguments, and the antics were much sharper, and at the same time, more blunt. How can I explain it – it was a truly politically incorrect discussion. The opinions were outrageous, biased, offensive, and yet – compelling.

The idea was simple – since comedians make their living “telling how it is”, why not get a few of them in front of a live audience, and throw topics at them? What do they have to lose? They do not have million-dollar endorsements, they do not have long contracts with major networks, they are not afraid to spek their mind, no matter how inappropriate. So when they spoke, I perked up my ears. Behind the jokes (both good ones and unsuccessful ones), behind the insults, there were views of people like you and me. No spin, no bias, no tip-toeing. I wonder why the show got canned.

Papers said it was low ratings, but just about anything will underperform if it follows Jon Stewart – his daily show is competing with real news networks. I suspect a big factor in Tough Crowd’s demise was that raw, uncensored flow of thought. Even late at night, on Comedy Central, things like that couldn’t slip thru the cracks. After all, if you know your New York comedy landscape, what can you expect from the likes of Jim Norton, Greg Giraldo, Patrice O’Neal, Rich Vos, Nick DiPaolo, Judy Gold, Jim David and dozens of others who came to the show, and left me with an impression that they don’t care if they ever appear on television again.

Nobody and nothing was spared – blacks, women, gays, politicians of both right and left, celebs, sports figures, the rich, the poor, everyone got their share of insults and barbs, and they were not the sugar-coated king of jokes you’d expect to hear from late-night entertainers. This was the language and the tone of night clubs, comedy cellars. It was entertainment, and at the same time a reflection of our everyday events. And, in the process, Colin brought in young aspiring comedians, as well as the veterans – to participate in games, take-ons, musical numbers, and just good old “how do you like this story of the week” discussions.

I may have disagreed with Colin and his views, with some of his guests, but I never for a moment contemplated turning it off, or muting the show. I wanted to hear what they said, because they seemed to be saying what was on their minds. And if you think about it – nowadays this kind of thing is rare. Very rare.

I’m sad to see this little club go their separate ways. I’m certain that many great comedians got bigger gigs and well-deserved national exposure because of that show – thanks to Colin for providing that. I’m also glad that he was able to dig up some of the dinosaurs, or recluses and bring them back into the spotlight, even if only for 30 minutes (Jerry Seinfeld, Andrew Dice Clay). Thanks to all of you, and I hope you will be back soon.