Jimmy Carr @ The Parr Hall, Warrington – 30th January 2010

I’ll be honest with you: I don’t really like jokes.  I know that sounds weird coming from someone who loves comedy, but they’re usually so tortured.  I cringe when someone offers to tell me a joke, as I know that I probably won’t think it’s funny and so will have to either pretend to laugh, or look like a stony-faced arse.  On occasion I tell people not to bother telling me a joke.  It’s a bit of an affectation, but the sentiment is real.

So, it may surprise you to find out that this is the third year in a row that I’ve been to see gag-man extraordinaire, Jimmy Carr.  While he’s never going to be a comedian that I truly love, he does provide you with one thing: Value For Money.  In his 2-hour set, he rattles through well over 200 jokes, so there’s bound to be something that makes you laugh.  That’s assuming that you’re not easily offended.  He also delivers a brand-new show every year, which is more unusual than you might imagine.  I know it doesn’t exactly sound like a ringing endorsement, but this is the third time that I’ve been to see him, so he must be doing something right.

Most of his jokes are based on questionable topics, but I think it’s clear that he’s uses taboos to get the maximum reaction, from a technical point of view, rather than him actually laughing at rape or disability.  I can certainly understand how people wouldn’t find it acceptable and there are a few occasions where I think he oversteps the mark.

I don’t really have a lot more to add – if you like lots of jokes, go and watch him.