Dennis Miller: The Big Speech, Falls Short of the Comedian's Last HBO Stand Up Comedy Special
Dennis Miller: The Big Speech Hit on Many Subjects for about an Hour
The comedian came out dressed in a suit, and there were many props on the stage, including a podium that looked as if there was a presidential seal on it, even though Miller admitted about 15 minutes into his concert that the seal read "The Podium of the United States of America" so as not give the impression he was offending the executive branch. There were two flags behind him, the American and also California's state flag, plus a large picture of the White House. He immediately gloated over the November elections, but lamented on what happened in California, especially because Nancy Pelosi was retained. The current Speaker of the House was a big target for Miller, while President Obama was both praised for being a family man and cool yet chided for his "Obama Care" health care legislation.
While the former Monday Night Football personality espoused being liberal on such social issues as gay marriage, the theme throughout his concert was about being tough on terrorism and terrorists. Miller also chided global warming and the American people's softness. Other subjects covered included erectile dysfunction, the Clintons, Joe Biden, old rock and roll stars, and the US border.
Unlike All In, this Dennis Miller: The Big Speech concert saw him meander and ramble more about various things, rather than barrel through ingeniously as he did in his last HBO Stand Up Comedy Special four years ago. The jokester went on about his dinner date with Frank Sinatra and closed the concert with an anecdote about his time on Monday Night Football. The comedian used recycled jokes from All In, such as when he discussed such issues as the deficit, the Pope, and getting pet meds delivered to our doors.
This HBO program did generate a lot of laughs, but Dennis Miller: The Big Speech certainly doesn't top his last special for cutting edge comedy.
Sources:
Dennis Miller: The Big Speech, November 19, 2010, HBO
Published by Roy A. Barnes - Featured Contributor in Politics
Roy A. Barnes writes from the plains of southeastern Wyoming. View profile
- Welcome to Monday Night Football, Jon GrudenJon Gruden replacing Tony Kornheiser as one of the Monday Night Football announcers was a wise decision
ESPN Monday Night Football Proves to Be LacklusterMonday Night Football had one of the best duos in all of football commentary, while Sunday Night have an awesome trio. Sadly, ESPN decided to change that.- Monday Night Football 2009 Schedule: Season Begins with Double HeaderMonday Night Football may be one of the best ideas ever concocted by a bunch of television execs and a bunch of NFL execs (or whoever came up with the idea), because it certainly draws a crowd. Monday Night Football...
- NFL '08: Monday Night Football MatchupsA review and preview of the '08 schedule for Monday night football games in the NFL this year.
Pardon the Interruption but Tony Kornheiser Stalls on Monday Night FootballBy blowing up Tony Kornheiser's spot with his Monday Night Football promotion, they've (ESPN) jeopardized their neat little afternoon show.
- My All-Time Favorite Black Stand-Up Comedy Specials
- How To: Become a Stand-up Comedian
- African Americans in Television: 22 Important Personalities and Programs
- Biography of Dave Chappelle, Star and Host of Comedy Central's Chappelle's Show
- Thoughts on the 2009 Slammy Awards
- Comedian Richard Jeni Dies from Apparent Suicide
- Monday Night Football Schedule 2009 Presents Many Great Games
27 Comments
Post a CommentFrankly, I don't care what his political assoc. is. How do you recycle Four yr. old jokes, when they've already been shown both on tour & an HBO special & the Cali folks were paying hard-earned recession $$ to hear that TIRED ish??? Not too mention "name dropping" of a man who's been dead for decades.
I used to respect & enjoy DM. But he has long since begun to believe his own hype. And, guess what, DM - you are NOT as funny OR as thought provoking as you think you are!!! You could, at the very LEAST have given your paying audience some new & fresh material - THAT'S YOUR JOB!!!
I watched Miller and thought he was very funny but only in spurts. Commenting that Don Rickles is his mentor said a LOT. Dennis started by wallowing in the pig filth happiness of a rightwinger celebrating the mid-terms. Stay classy Den. The Sinatra bit was funny but mister smarmy pants, once again showed his lack of grammatical skills saying BETWEEN so and so and I rather than me. In brief Denny is no Will Rogers (or Roy Rogers for that matter) and lacks subtlety of wit that he tries so agonizingly hard to portray. Demeaning those with whom you disagree just because they don't share your short-sightedness or smallness doesn't make you smarter, better, wittier it just makes you shallower and small. And when you self-deprecate sell it like you mean it. As far as lambasting the progressives were you all that happy with the 8 yrs of the Geo and Dick show? Didn't hear you RANT then.
Haven't seen this one yet, have to catch it.
There used to be an act in vaudeville where a guy sat in a tub of water and because of his extreme flatulence, he would pass sufficient gas to empty the tub. The fellow got standing O's. He had his act...and Dennis Miller has his.
Great recap Roy! Recycled jokes are never a good idea when it comes to being at the top of your game as a comedian.
Do you know what conservatives do when Bill Maher or Jon Stewart come on our televisions? We change the channel and find something else to watch. No complaints, they are there for the entertainment of others who enjoy them plain and simple. I am pretty sure my cable company offers some 500 channels for diversity as well.
Dennis Miller, once a "liberal" is now just another turd dropping from the collective pimpled Republican ass. The guy is a sell out to the backers of the Tea Party. Must of been a good pay day for him.
Expose a bit of conservative values and it turns of the self-conscious liberals right away... Dennis miller is hilarious.
'this was a comedy show, not his doctoral dissertation. Ed'
Agreed! It is my honest opinion, however that Dennis Miller has made a career of smart, intellectual and quirky social and political commentary as well as dead-funny pop references and similes. I don't feel that criticism at the level of other stand-up comedians is necessarily appropriate. Most stand-ups don't make a living from conservative radio talk shows. In other words; I'm saying, 'Fair game!'. I still find him funny at times... :)
@Guest:Good comments, that was you expressing your opinion. Disagreement and discourse is great when it is done at an intellecutally honest level. Just remember, this was a comedy show, not his doctoral dissertation. Regards,Ed