Comedy Exchange. Image shows from L to R: Eugene Mirman, Phill Jupitus. Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions
Comedy Exchange

Comedy Exchange

  • TV stand-up / factual
  • Dave
  • 2010
  • 1 pilot

Phill Jupitus and US comedian Eugene Mirman each attempt to make their stand-up routines work in the other's home country. Stars Phill Jupitus, Eugene Mirman, Eddie Brill, Kristen Schaal, Andre Vincent and more.

Press clippings

TV review: Comedy Exchange

The comedians in this first episode were Eugene Mirman and panel show doyen Phill Jupitus, who admittedly had more to prove, given that he hadn't performed stand-up in almost a decade. Judging by his hackneyed material (yes, there were fat jokes), that's a blessing for us all.

Paul Whitelaw, The Scotsman, 23rd March 2010

As pretty much every comedy show apart from The Office has discovered, British humour, like strong cheese, is something that doesn't travel well. Pity British comedian Phill Jupitus, then - not easy words to write, to start with - but he's agreed to undertake a comedy swap with US comedian/actor Eugene Mirman. For Mirman, a veteran of Flight of the Conchords, there awaits a trip to Britain, and a deluge of appearances on panel shows involving Marcus Brigstocke. For Jupitus, there's a sense of deja vu as he returns to standup, and some testing times, in New York comedy clubs. This show may well be what the phrase "tears of a clown" is all about.

The Guardian, 19th March 2010

Original programming on Dave! Yes, and it's perfect for the channel: a series of interest to serious comedy fans, but inclusive and fun enough to draw in new viewers. Phill Jupitus is first to take part in an experiment where UK and US stand-ups swap places. Jupitus flies to New York to play to audiences who've never heard of him, while Eugene Mirman tries to impress here. Cultural differences are such a comedy cliche, you'd think the pros would be hyper-sensitive to them, but a visibly nervous Jupitus manages to derail his first gig by attempting a routine about Frosties. The very funny Mirman starts well by playing on his bewilderment, but still anxiously adjusts gags between sets. The two men's skill and likeability create valuable insights into the comedian's craft. And when they finally get it right, the gags are tremendous.

Jack Seale, Radio Times, 19th March 2010

Phill Jupitus has moved away from his stand-up heritage in recent times, so it's nice to see him return here. However, there's a twist involved - he's trying his luck in New York, swapping places with Manhattan-based comic Eugene Mirman. Not only do both comics have to contend with being unknowns once more, there are cultural differences to trip them up as well. It's a great programme that really exposes how hard the art of stand-up is.

Scott Matthewman, The Stage, 19th March 2010

We gave them The Beatles, they gave us Billy Ray Cyrus. We gave them Monty Python, they gave us Golden Girls. We gave them language, they gave us mispronunciation of herbs. Well, now it's time for revenge. They're giving us mediocre comedian Eugene Mirman and we're giving them Phill Jupitus. Dave's new format sees two comedians try out gigging in each other's land. But they've subverted that in the pilot, by sending Jupitus. To be fair, it actually holds up pretty well under Jupitus's weight as a study of the effort that goes into stand-up.

TV Bite, 19th March 2010

Dave has hit on a good idea for this bit of original programming: get a British and US stand-up to swap audiences, and see how the cultural references fly. Phil Jupitus, who hasn't done live stand-up for eight years, and Eugene Mirman from Flight Of The Conchords (but an unknown on the live scene here) are the guinea pigs and provide an interesting insight into the stand-up comedian's craft.

Metro, 19th March 2010

Comedy Exchange review

The programme would have been just as interesting with just big Phil, and the whole 'cultural differences' thing is a bit overplayed. But it's great to see behind the cocky confidence comics tend to have and it's also packed with decent chucks of stand-up.

George Nott, On The Box, 19th March 2010

Phone call put Phill Jupitus back on comedy stage

When Eddie Izzard telephones to ask why you gave up stand-up comedy, the least you can do is give it another go. That is what happened to Phill Jupitus last year when the eccentric comedian called him. But the strange thing was, Phill didn't think he had quit stand-up.

Lisa Williams, Glasgow Evening Times, 15th March 2010

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