Ever wondered what you could do in light of ongoing terrorism, the Haqqani network, the Taliban, the al Qaeda? Tried shooting off a punch line, or throwing a joke at them?
Its more or less what comics Saad Haroon and Danish Ali do as they try and explore the effect terrorism has had on Pakistani society in their their new web video series "This is Standup Comedy"
Haroon and Ali are well known among the hip crowd for being Pakistan's première English language stand-up comics. From Saad Haroon's famous improv group Blackfish to Danish Ali's wacky stand-ups, the two are a riot individually, together a laughter storm.
The show follows Harron, Ali and Amean 'Meaner' Arif's quest to find the funny in their lives, whether on or off stage, as they run amuck happily destroying everything your parents think is important.
They journey across the world, performing, laughing, and swapping stories with a host of fantastic comedians in a true comedy tour de force.
The show features the likes of Asif Mandvi (of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart fame), Sami Shah, Dean Obeidallah (of Axis of Evil fame) and many others, being shot in four countries.
The show itself is not a Daily show, or an ode to Saad's earlier shows including the immensely popular 'The Real News'. Rather it is closer to Saad's 'Very Live' television series where he conducted candid interviews with a particular guest over a host of topics. This is Standup Commedy compresses that. While the theme is followed loosely, one gets the sense of journey as Haroon, Ali and Arif set out to seek their role in an increasingly unforgiving, and intolerant society.
The web show though follows a more regulation television production format, hence at 15 minutes its a little long with a tendency to drag in the middle.
Tribune rating: Thumbs up.
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