Stand-Up Comedy by Dara O'Briain


   

The laughDB database is dedicated to the funniest comedy movies, stand-up comedy and TV series.

This section is for stand-up comedy by Dara O'Briain. By default the stand-up sets are presented starting with those ranking highest on the laugh-o-meter, but you can also sort them by year, title or IMDB rating.

About Dara

( wikipedia | imdb )
I haven't yet written a blurb about Dara.

Dara O'Briain is said to have been born on Friday 4 February 1972, which would make him 52 years, 1 months and 25 days old (if this date is accurate and he is alive today).


Stand-Up Comedy by Dara O'Briain sorted by Laugh-o-meter (descending)


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Dara O'Briain was credited as writer and actor in the following stand-up comedy set.
At the time, he would have been about 34 years old.
Dara O'Briain: Live at the Theatre Royal posterDara O'Briain: Live at the Theatre Royal
      2006 | U.K. | Laughs: 8.6 | imdb: 7.9
      

This show was my introduction to Dara O'Briain. He made us laugh harder than we had in a while, so he entered this list with a bang. Dara has a beautiful Irish accent that is not too hard to understand. Unlike comedians who try to make you think at the same time they make you laugh, he uses everyday material, but it's very effective, probably because of the amount of audience interaction. Indeed, the back-and-forth with a handful of spectators is very much part of the show, and it is very funny. It also gives the show a very pleasant improvised feel. What with his fast delivery, his capacity to improvise and his ability to remember details about the spectators he picks on during the show, it's obvious that Dara is extremely bright—in the first place, to be a great stand-up you have to be at least very bright. When I read that he has a university degree in math and physics, I thought "Ah, that fits". I'm excited to see more of Dara's shows. (Last viewed: October 2013)

More About Dara O'Briain: Live at the Theatre Royal:
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Dara O'Briain was credited as writer and actor in the following stand-up comedy set.
At the time, he would have been about 36 years old.
Dara O'Briain Talks Funny: Live in London posterDara O'Briain Talks Funny: Live in London
      2008 | U.K. | Laughs: 7.1 (Laugh and Smile) | imdb: 7.9
      

This show is not in the same league as the hilarious Live at the Theatre Royal from two years earlier, but it is still funny. At the beginning, Dara takes some time to explain the format of what's about to follow—a bit like presenting a user's manual to the show. When presenting complex data, the famous three-step formula is "tell them what you're about to tell them, tell them, then tell them what you just told them". In comedy, there's no need for this, and it makes for a weak opening. In this recording, the way in which Dara weaves audience interaction with rehearsed material also feels less fluid than in Theatre Royal. But Dara set high standards in that earlier show, and Dara Talks Funny is still well worth a watch, as it easily outshines the gutter comedy that seems to dominate the field these days. Our favorite part was Dara's repeated friendly jabs at a teen who aspires to become an electrician but hasn't yet learned the basics of the trade. (Last viewed: October 2013)

More About Dara O'Briain Talks Funny: Live in London:
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Dara O'Briain was credited as writer and actor in the following stand-up comedy set.
At the time, he would have been about 40 years old.
Dara O Briain: Craic Dealer posterDara O Briain: Craic Dealer
      2012 | U.K. | Laughs: 5.5 | imdb: 7.7
      

This tape felt like the fast-food of Dara O'Briain stand-up sets: high in fat and low on nutritional value. Much of the show feels less like watching stand-up than like watching an MC amping up the crowd about the main act that's about to come on stage. Sadly, the main act never shows. Yes, there are good moments, but far too much filler in between. Perhaps that is digestible in a land where sandwiches contain half an inch of butter (my memories of England), but I doubt this formula would work overseas. The last quarter of the show is probably the strongest.

ps: Yes, I know the show was taped in Scotland. You can put down that world map. (Last viewed: December 2013)

More About Dara O Briain: Craic Dealer:
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Dara O'Briain was credited as writer and actor in the following stand-up comedy set.
At the time, he would have been about 38 years old.
Dara O'Briain: This Is the Show posterDara O'Briain: This Is the Show
      2010 | U.K. | Laughs: 1.8 (Don't Bother) | imdb: 8.0
      

Even though the show didn't make me laugh, it entertained me just enough that I kept watching till the end, no small feat given that it's over a hundred minutes long. The nourishment I got from the jokes was that same kind of low-grade satisfaction that comes from fast food. One aspect that kept me intrigued was the break-neck pace of the set: Dara delivers his material so fast that there's no time for you to exit. But I did find the last half hour really long.

The kind of humor Dara does here is not why I watch stand-up comedy. I always hope for something a bit stimulating, but this was more the kind of stuff I'd expect from the office clown during breaks by the water cooler. The improv bits using the audience were stronger, but I have better memories of those in Dara's previous shows.

The guy is extremely likeable, but I don't think I'll be investing another hour-and-a-half in one of his sets. (Last viewed: September 2018)

More About Dara O'Briain: This Is the Show:
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      laughDB's full page for Dara O'Briain: This Is the Show


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