Proops is definitely a great guest. Wish it could be more often. Scott Thompson also does a good job of getting the laugh and getting everyone in on the conversation.

Norton isn't as brain dead as he seems. He'll go for the cheap laugh when he can but he definitely has opinions that he doesn't always express. Vos...well, Vos really is that dumb. Poor guy.

Anybody see it last night? They changed the theme music and the set. Don't like the new chairs--they looked really uncomfortable. Also closed the show with a mock interview with Colin about the show. Didn't Craig Kilborne do something similar?

Horrible train wreck, but sooooooo funny. Patrice is hilarious.

But I always love "Size em up"

I used to really love the show, but it's over.

The only way they could really save the show is if they fired Quinn. The guy just plain stinks as a host.

Did something drastic happen to the ratings of this show? I don't watch it, but they seem to be pushing it extra-hard during TDS. You know you're desperate when you have to resort to soft-core porn in your commercials.

There are very few. Yeah, when you work a staff or writers or work out a set of jokes and have them proved by testing them on audiences, you can be both politically reverant and hilarious ... but to do it on the fly every night? For every pointed joke you see on Chris Rock's set on an HBO special, there's 50 other failed jokes he's rooted out of his routine after testing them in small night clubs. Same with Carlin. And Carlin is the one in the million. He's the Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzsky of political comedy. A natural. Dennis Miller? He's the real life version of Krusty the Clown. The guy would sell his soul (or his political affiliation) for showbiz. His show on MSNBC is horrid, and when he used to appear on Bill Maher's show he would do something completely hacked like use his set jokes during the show. I used to listen to Garafalo's and Franken's streamed shows on Air America, but I tuned out because they were absolutely horribly unfunny mix of politics and humor (and I'm a card carrying liberal).

At any rate, I enjoy the show. Its like the sugary desert that cleans the palate after the Daily Show entre. I like the fact that it goes for the joke, and doesn't take itself seriously. I'm tired of political pundits on both sides just firehosing people with their ideology. In many ways the Daily Show is teetering dangerously close to this trap.

(And Nick DiPaulo and Patrice O'Neal are genius.)

My favorite regulars are: Patrice O'Neal, Nick DiPaolo, Jim Norton, Rich Vos, Keith Robinson and Greg Giraldo. They always seem to put the right guests together for a combustible mix of comedy and arguments.

Here's this and next week's lineup: Mo 6/21: Sarah Silverman, Laura Kightlinger, Greg Giraldo, Nick DiPaolo
Tu 6/22: Patton Oswalt, Marc Maron, Jim David, Rich Vos
We 6/23: Jim Norton, Keith Robinson, Hal Sparks, Sue Murphy
Th 6/24: Patrice Oneal, Nick Di Paolo, Tony V, Fran Solomita

Mo 6/28: Greg Giraldo, Todd Glass, Mario Cantone, Paul Mooney
Tu 6/29: Judy Gold, Hood
We 6/30: Greg Giraldo, Nick Di Paolo, Lynne Koplitz
Th 7/1: Jim Norton

I'm so sad because I'm moving back to Toronto on Saturday and I know that I'll probably never get to see this show again since it doesn't air in Canada. :-( I think I should start a one man petition to get some station to pick it up, I don't know what I'll do without me hearing Colin Quinn saying "Shut up, stupid!" to someone. It's a shame.

Paul Mooney is the ni...um, Negrodamus. :)

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I like this show. However, the quality of individual shows depends on the mix of comedians and topics. I've fallen asleep during some shows, laughed myself silly with others.

George Carlin passed through my town a few weeks ago and I went to his show, and Elrhino is right. He was testing material for his new HBO special, and I bet very little of what I saw will go into the show. A lot of it just wasn't funny (but other parts were brilliant). He did a long bit on suicide and several people seated in my section walked out. I'm usually not sensitive to jokes about the dark side, but it really wasn't funny. I was sort of disappointed when it was over because I was expecting something different--funnier, I guess, like his TV shows. It will be interesting to watch the special when it airs and see what made it.

I absolutely love this show. My only gripe is that they squeeze too many newbies in one night. They need to gradually break in the new guys with 2 or 3 regulars.

Have people quit posting about this show? The Daily Show forum gets multiple posts a day. You'd think at least a few people would stick around for Tough Crowd.
Granted, it's largely uneven, generally degrades into shouting and racial epiteths, but occasionally it has a point and seems to be one of the few shows were stand up comedians can still get a foot in the door.

This may seem stupid but I am so distracted with how they have to stand up instead of sitting down that I can't even watch it anymore. Whose idea was that?

Amen. That's exactly how I feel. I cannot stand to watch them. It looks they are about to bolt out of the room. But then, I am nuts about the lighting and seating and drinks when I host a party, so.

What was the explanation for this again? Because they are stand-ups? WTF?

When they started it, I thought Colin said something like it seemed more natural, more like the way they are in real life. But, I agree. It doesn't work, especially when they step into each other's camera shots. Did you notice, too, that they did away with having the panelists answer questions at the end, and instead do more of the interview with Colin?

It is more natural in a way - this is like the kitchen where your guests always gather. But in that case they are leaning on the counter, the way Colin does on the pool table or whatever it is. Also, they would all be facing each other. This is very UNnatural.

I usually leave this on after TDS since pickings are slim as I hate Leno, Letterman is uneven and Koppel is a waffle. I really wish they would take this concept and give it to someone else. Colin Quinn has to be the least funny man after Dat Phan. His slobbering delivery and yammering squealing is more appropriate for a butchered pig. And this week, the stupid hat party sketch that he dragged out for four nights was like watching every bad SNL sketch jammed into one segment. Bring back Cross Balls.

It can't be that bad since you watched it al week. I know I did. That's probably how they get most of their viewers. TDS goes off, and it's just...there.

Actually two nights I turned to watch some crime show on A&E. WEdnesday I filliped back to catch the repeat of Reno at midnight and saw the last minute or so of the sketch and then last night I looked up when he did the intro and changed the channel. Unfunny. I do think there is a sense that I keep it on thinking it can't always be this bad, and then get proven wrong each time. But then I have watched both Growing Up Gotti episodes too. So tv masochism is a tried and true trait of mine.

That's how they get me. I leave the damn show on every night in the hope it might turn out to be actually funny one day. I'm still waiting. And last night the yelling and talking over one another was more annoying than usual. Whoever that female comic was last night, I felt bad -- she couldn't get three words out of her mouth before the other four loudmouths started yammering over her. How Colin Quinn has had a career for so long is baffling.

The new standing up thing? I don't get it either. It seems more like they're milling around for the bus to pick them up to take them to a show that's actually funny.

What Major Misfit said. Except the annoying and unfunny factors won out over the hope and lethargy and the show no longer plays here.

Besides the leaving-it-on-after-The Daily Show reason, I always check to see who they have on. Seems to me they used to throw in some bigger name folks on a fairly regular basis (a Jon Stewart or Denis Leary, for example) but I can't remember the last time they had a comedian on who wasn't one of the regulars. Am I just imagining that they used to have a wider range of panelists? I mean, I like Greg Giraldo as much as the next person but I think I see him more often than I see some of my immediate family members.

A mighty WORD to that.

I think in all the eps I've seen, I've only laughed twice -- and one of the laughs, I'm so totally ashamed and sickened to admit, was due to something uttered by that total asshat, Nick DiPaolo. I don't even remember what he had said, but I do remember that is was one of the precious few moments on the show that he didn't make a comment that struck me as totally racist or misogynistic.

With someone who could rein in the egos and keep DiPaolo, Giraldo and Marron in line, the show could have promise. Only one of the aforementioned though should be on at a time. The problem is that the show should not have its 'regulars' on so often. They're too predicatable and they know each other well enough that they try to anticipate the other's line and then step all over it. Whether they anticipated correctly or not.

A big problem with how the show is carried out is that I have never had any sense of sincerity from either Quinn or Morton. Both seem to take stands that they think will get attention, shock or surprise and much of their "humor" seems based on that. A rant is all well and good. But there has to be some level of belief in the rant. Quinn, Morton, Patrice and even DiPaolo many times, never strike me as having that belief. It is their schtick. Having Quinn then mushmouth, at a volume that has dogs barking in Secaucus, overtop any guest he 'disagrees' with pretty much ruins the idea of clever, witty and insightful discourse. The whole show seems to have devolve down to five people trying to do a standup routine all at the same time.

I know it's not official, but going by how there was no "Tough Crowd will be back in 2 Weeks" bumper between TDS and Graham Norton tonight, something tells me Tough Crowd might be done.

Not sure what might happen long-term, but the Comedy Central website is saying that TC will be back next Monday with new episodes. Maybe they just took an Olympics break.

Well now it's all but official:



http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/29174.htm

Oh, thank the God of Groucho!


Not unlike the way Quinn drains the energy out of his own monologues. Or my energy just by watching him, with his petty and formless version of Libertarian-ism, try and duct tape together a cohesive statement.

Too bad. Quinn is a weasel, of course, and he stocks the show with his troglodyte comedian buddies, but there's really nothing wrong with the program that a change in personnel couldn't fix. Replace Colin with Greg Giraldo and you'd have a fit companion for The Daily Show in no time flat...

Well, if it is true, I hope TPTB at Comedy Central spend their money wisely. (Remember "I'm with Busey"? "Kid Notorious"?)

Even though I like the show, I can understand why others didn't. However, in it's own, inconsitent way, it served as a forum for comedy club comedians who might not get national television exposure otherwise. Late night television just doesn't do that like it used to. To get exposure now, you have to be polished and have an "act". (That freak show, Last Comic Standing, doesn't even deserve to be mentioned.)

Did I think "Kid Notorious was brilliant"?

You bet your ass I did.

Much rather see more of that than any mor "Tough Crowd." SO much brilliance in one place!

"The show's ratings seem to be flagging. What should we do?"
"Take away the chairs!"
"Brilliant!"

And how about that segment where the panel assesses an audience member? Nothing like 20 seconds of dead air for each round.

Adieu, "Tough Crowd." Your potential shall be missed.

I'll say it now:

Colin Quinn? Worst Host in TV History.

It's true, Colin sucked hard as host. His monologues were probably some of the worst in TV history and his nonstop mumbling and stuttering was completely awful. With that being said, with the right guests, I absolutely loved Tough Crowd. Seriously, how can you not appreciate Jim Norton trading verbal blows with guys like Patrice O'Neal and Keith Richardson? Marc Maron and Colin's hilarious political banter? Greg Giraldo's comments on marriage? Anything at all from Nick Di Paolo? The blunt honesty and outrageous minds of most of the guests made for a downright hilarious show. I came to really enjoy this show in recent months and it's cancellation, while understandable, pissed me off immensely.

Sorry, just felt I had to represent the three people in America who enjoyed TC.

Tough Crowd could be very funny, when it had the right guests. My biggest problem with the show has always been Colin Quinn. If CC replaced him with someone who is actually funny and kept some of the aforementioned comics, plus Judy Gold it would be 1000% better.

God Mark Merron has to be one of the least funny comics besides Colin Quinn. I can't stand him on Air America Radio.

I like Marc Maron, but I like Jim Norton too. I don't have to agree with someone politically to enjoy their comedy. I stopped watching this show a long time ago, but I may tune in for the last night Thursday.

I'm a card carrying liberal feminist but I actually enjoyed Tough Crowd for the same reasons I enjoy Howard Stern's radio show. It made me laugh,and when it became objectionable I change the channel or yell at the TV. I laughed at Judy Gold and Patrice and Jim Norton and Colin Quinn and a number of others they had on. I disagreed with much of what many of them had to say, and I can't imagine voluntarily spending time with most of the comics in person, but I am one of the very few who will miss the show.

Ooh, I like that idea.

Like hutch I'm a liberal feminist, but I've really liked Tough Crowd. I'm sorry to see it go. I liked the fourth wall stuff that would slip in there sometimes.

I have to say, I'm incredibly sad that TC's over. I almost cried at the ending with just Colin alone. It was touching how upset Patrice and Greg seemed. Norton seemed sad, but lighthearted at the same time (if that makes any sense). Nick and Keith were just jackasses. I mean, they didn't have to get lovey-dovey and they ARE comics, but they really weren't even funny and just gave off a "who cares?" vibe. I don't know, they were always my least favorite regulars, so maybe I'm just biased. Poor Colin. Poor, poor, poor Colin...

I'm sad too. I liked TC. Bye Colin, you weren't the best host, but I loved you anyway. I don't know why I did, but I did. Greg, Patrice, Norton, and Judy, I'll miss you guys too. You all rocked. Nick and Keith, what can I say, I loved to hate you guys. Bye Tough Crowd. You'll be missed by me.

Before this show, I was really down on standup comedy. I thought it was an "80's" thing, and all the truly talented comics had transfered their talents to better media, leaving behind a gaggle of dime-a-dozen, former class clowns trying their best to imitate comics who did it a thousand times better ten to fifteen years ago ... even worse ... one-trick gimmick comics like Carrot Top and Jeff Foxworthy . I've now come to realize that there are really talented and smart standup comics out there who just don't have the "schtick" necessary for mass consumption and mainstream acess.

For that I'm very thankfull. And I'll miss access to all the regulars I've grown to love.

However, I think the show had two fundamental flaws. First of all, following the ever popular Daily Show was not good since it had a COMPLETELY different political tone. Much like a liberal/progressive radio talk show could never find a niche on the AM dial until they formed their own network. Its hard to keep audiences when they are turning to hear the firewater of their beliefs, and you turn around and throw icewater on it 30 minutes later.

Second of all, it was a difficult balance of getting the most talented comedians regular access to keep the yuks up but still keeping the opinions fresh night after night. I definitely am on more of the Marc Maron/Judy Gold side of the scale opposed to the Quinn/DiPaulo, but I still found myself getting bored with their opinions after a while. At the same time, many of the newbies were just not very funny.

Ha ha! I am so glad to see this show go. Not funny. Not clever. Not insightful. But self-indulgent, insular, and uninformed. I tried to watch this a number of times just to give it a chance, but simply got more and more annoyed at these ignorant buffoons. I hope they fill the slot with something good to follow The Daily Show.

I'm amazed this show lasted as long as it did. I wonder who or what will now find Colin worthy of a paycheck? (Isn't there some show on CBS that no one really watches that needs a host?) And the fact that I will not come across Nick DiPaolo while randomly channel surfing post-TDS warms my heart.

It was a very good concept.
It was a crappy execution, most of the time.

It was a show on which Lewis Black? Was not funny.

I realize how stupid of a question this might be, but did anyone happen to tape Wednesday's (4/10) or Thursday's(4/11) shows? I'd be glad to pay and cover shipping. I was recording Thursday's and got to the second segment when my VCR died. boo.

The cancellation of TC is a symptom of the problems at Comedy Central. The show could have done rather respectfully for it's time slot if CC had tweaked it a little bit and promoted it. Instead they cancelled it, and will (probably) replace it with reruns of shows that have already aired many times before on the network. Then they'll add a few more cheap cartoons to the schedule, because they gave all their money to Dave Chappelle. They're also banking on The Daily Show, but can it maintain it's higher ratings now that the election's over? Probably not. Good luck there, Mr. Herzog. And better luck to you, Colin.

It took nearly a year, but Tough Crowd was replaced in that timeslot by... The Colbert Report. I think Comedy Central made the right move.