Brian Lazanik and Greg Davies Are Just a Couple of the Great Acts at the World Stands Up

Brian Lazanik is crazy funny surrounded by a multi-colored stage setting caused by lighting effects that let the viewer know they are watching British television. The well lit and highly inspirational environment is met by easily the tallest comedian working today, Greg Davies. Subsequently, the cool and seasoned demeanor of Sean Meo takes over and the ride begins. Lazanik, Davies and Meo all bring a uniquely diverse blend of mirth and insight to a variety show certain to offer something for everyone on Paramount's The World Stands Up.

Brian Lazanik goes the observational route keeping it hysterical while touching on a variety of subjects and leaving you wondering how many times he may have hit his head. Greg Davies is as charming as he is tall as he discusses a number of encounters he had while teaching as well as sharing local references with the crowd. Sean Meo is sly and smooth as silk as he provides options for how to deal with meeting the child of a friend that you don't really need to know.

All the comedians featured on this showcase are great. It is an extremely well shot feature that has been airing in the United Kingdom for years. The look of the the show, as noted, is definitively British. Where most North American shows in a similar vein would be shot with simpler, even plain type surroundings, this is immediately more interesting to the eye. Interesting but not necessarily inviting. It depends on taste really. The backdrop is filled with multi-colored lights the cross the entire spectrum. There are blue, red, green, purple, white, yellow, orange, the list goes on. As for the look of the shot, it really comes down to taste.

The show is great. What they seemed to have figured out is what the classic late night television talk shows in America learned with Johnny Carson. That is, focus on the act, turn down the house lights and keep the shots of the audience to a minimum. There have been a glut of variety type shows coming out of Canada and the U.S. over the last number of years that seem to have forgotten some basic principles in keeping the show looking good. For one thing, a number of them leave all the house lights on so that they can go to individual reaction shots in the audience. Completely unnecessary and it interrupts the flow of the show. This is the case if watching comedy, music or a dramatic performance. Whatever it is, this show, if it is your taste, looks good.

Brian Lazanik, Greg Davies and Sean Meo are just a few of the many acts featured on The World Stands Up. On any given broadcast, you are treated to a host of performers from around the globe. Most of them are great. If you happen to be from the United Kingdom, it is likely you will find a performer from your home town with whom you share more in common with than you expected. Perhaps instead you will find a comedian from the other side of the globe who enlightens and then knocks your socks off.

Whatever your taste, this particular showcase promises a little something for everyone. What the World Stands Up offers with comedians like Lazanik, Davies and Meo and all the rest of them, is a chance to share in a unique perspective. What you otherwise might miss out on if you only have had exposure to comedy or even entertainment for that matter, from a particular part of the globe, you get to catch up with here. Hopefully as the development of broadcast media changes, the rest of us don't lose out on this type of diamond in the rough.