![The Alternative Comedy Experience. Image shows from L to R: Josie Long, David Kay, Stewart Lee, Henning Wehn, Simon Munnery, Paul Sinha, Phil Nichol, Tony Law, Paul Foot. Copyright: Comedy Central The Alternative Comedy Experience. Image shows from L to R: Josie Long, David Kay, Stewart Lee, Henning Wehn, Simon Munnery, Paul Sinha, Phil Nichol, Tony Law, Paul Foot. Copyright: Comedy Central](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200/t/the_alternative_comedy_experience.jpg)
The Alternative Comedy Experience
- TV stand-up
- Comedy Central
- 2013 - 2014
- 25 episodes (2 series)
Stewart Lee curates a series of stand-up nights featuring alternative comedians. Recorded for Comedy Central.
Press clippings Page 4
Is it the recession? The Tories? The procession of fresh-faced ob-coms filling the O2 with their jaunty musings on social-media etiquette and supermarket self-service checkouts? Who knows. But there's little doubt that what older readers will recognise as alternative comedy is undergoing a mini-renaissance. Alexei Sayle has returned to stand-up and this new series sees Stewart Lee, who has flown the flag through alt.com's fallow years, introducing comedy from The Stand in Edinburgh. It's simultaneously refreshing and frustrating.
Tonight's opener features Isy Suttie, David Kay, Boothby Graffoe, Henning Wehn, Glenn Wool and David O'Doherty. But not for very long: at half an hour, and with ads and six comedians per show, it means approximately one and a half gags each - although the same half-dozen will be returning for more across the 12-part series, which showcases a total of 20 stand-ups. It's great to see more marginal comic turns getting exposure, but frustrating that we aren't allowed to see them in full flow, at least tonight.
Phil Harrison, Time Out, 5th February 2013Stewart Lee's history of stand-up on TV
Iconoclast comedian Stewart Lee knows TV's delicate relationship with live comedy better than anyone. Ahead of his Comedy Central series showcasing leftfield comics he outlines the history of stand-up on television...
Stewart Lee, Time Out, 5th February 2013Stewart Lee: Pop culture's past is growing fast
I went for a meeting with the channel's marketing people, who had not watched any of the 12 episodes, but were principally, and understandably, concerned about how to sell this strange product to their target audience of 18- to 32-year-olds, whose loyalty to the channel encourages advertisers to fund it.
Stewart Lee, The Guardian, 4th February 2013Stewart Lee interview
You won't see much of Stewart Lee in his latest TV series starting on February 5. He is executive producer/curator of Comedy Central's The Alternative Comedy Experience and only crops up briefly interviewing the acts between their appearances.
Bruce Dessau, 4th February 2013Stewart Lee: Our manifesto
We have been criticized on the internet for the lack of 'new' talent in the show, but we never wanted the talent to be exclusively 'new', and any quotes saying we did are inaccurate glosses of my words.
Stewart Lee, Chortle, 4th February 2013The Alternative Comedy Experience: review
Well done, Comedy Central. For too long, your schedules have been filled with repeats of Mike and Molly, Two and a Half Men, King of Queens, and a whole host of other mind-numbingly awful American sitcoms. Just when you were starting to wonder whether the name "Comedy Central" was some sort of sarcastic joke in itself, they pull something like The Alternative Comedy Experience out the bag, and fair play to them.
Doug Bolton, On The Box, 4th February 2013Stewart Lee is not amused by monopoly of TV comedy
Comedian attacks production companies behind popular shows for simply employing their own clients.
Oliver Duggan, The Independent, 2nd February 2013Stewart Lee interview
Do you hate stand-up comedy? You might love Stewart Lee's new quirky TV series.
Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard, 30th January 2013The Alternative Comedy Experience - review
Stewart Lee curates a series of alternative comedians, but offers little discussion on the genre.
Brian Donaldson, The List, 22nd January 2013Stewart Lee interview
Stewart Lee prepares to invade The Stand for the filming of his new Comedy Central series, The Alternative Comedy Experience.
Bernard O'Leary, The Skinny, 29th June 2012