Hack subjects - Is there really such thing?

[Rhubarb]

I know there are subjects that can produce humour with little thought or effort and there are subjects that are endlessly addressed, often because they require little imagination on the part of the stand up...BUT...

If the ideas and observations are new and incisive doesn't that stop a subject being hack? - Is it not only comedians and materials that are hack whereas subjects, whilst difficult to do something new with, aren't definitively hack?

This is not a defence of keebab routines by the way!

Oh and if this subject was done to death a couple of times a year ago and it some how offends you that I didn't know that, then patronise me at your own risk...
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[birdy]

If you're going to spend that much time finding a new angle on well-covered subject then why not look for something else that's more original entirely?
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Lower Quartile and PROUD!

[Rhubarb]

Fair point, but what I'm getting at is, why avoid a subjecct if you have something new to bring to the table? - Sometimes ideas come from inspiration not just planning so, if you think of something new and funny about a 'hack' subject, you shouldn't feel that you can't use it because of snobbery and/or peer pressure.
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[Alex]

There are no hack subjects, just hack material.
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UK Comedy Clubs, Edinburgh Fringe's Free Festival,
Brighton Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, Hollywood Fringe
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[Rhubarb]

[richard]

Rich Hall said something like no matter what the subject matter, whether you're doing jokes about polar bears or fuzzy slippers, another comedian somewhere has already done jokes on this subject first. What prevents you doing hack material in the same area is tackling the subject with your own unique perspective and viewpoint, so technically, no subject is hack as long as you approach it in a different way.

(Mind you, I'm still a bit cynical that any more laughs can be extracted from flogged-to-death subjects like airline food, the difference between men and women, George Bush's surname being another name for a fanny etc.)

[andrewoneill]

Saying that an audience member looks like Harry Potter cracks me up every time.

Hahahahahahahahaha.

Harry Potter.
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www.andrewoneill.co.uk

[Danny Deegan]

I'm don't like people who run around going This is hack this is hack thats hack and so is that it's all hack.

These people run the risk of becoming comedy snobs.
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Danny Deegan

(Sucking the corporate cock of Comedy)

[Karen]

I've got a dilemma about some of the material I use, I know that the subject is considered hack but I know that the punchlines aren't, but it came about from something that really happened. I was compering my club and told the story, Mark Maier who was headlining, said afterwards that it was really funny and that I should include it in my set, which I do and it gets really big laughs, but then I get accused for being hack.
Should you carry on doing stuff that gets big laughs despite feeling that your letting your comedy integrity slip, albeit for a couple of minutes, but then be accused of being hack for that small section.
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"Venus de mileage" Steve Day

[andrewoneill]

I AM a comedy snob and I am very proud of being so.

What's your point?
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www.andrewoneill.co.uk

[Rhubarb]

[Karen]

Well I know it's original cos it really happened.
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"Venus de mileage" Steve Day

[Anthony Miller]

Who cares? Promoters are hypocrites
"How come you don't do your sea cucumber number anymore, Anthony?"

BECAUSE WHEN I USED TO DO INTERESTING STUFF NOBODY USED TO RE-BOOK ME
they'd just all say
"how interesting and original darling"!

Go hack. It's best.
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[Rhubarb]

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