Simon Amstell - Where Philosophy Collides with Comedy

Philosophy Makes Friends with Comedy
Public Domain Clip Art from Bing Images

The Guardian describes award-winning comedian, Simon Amstell, as "The real deal where philosophy collides with anxiety; where Heidegger meets Woody Allen." If you've never seen Simon Amstell in action, then as soon as you do, you'll understand exactly what the Guardian reviewer means.

It's true what they say; that this young comedian's honesty is entirely engaging. "Why can't sex just be fun?" he asks on the show, Do Nothing Live. After all, if you say, "Did you enjoy that game of tennis?" you wouldn't expect to be told, "Not really. It was absolutely meaningless!" 

As for mooning his grandmother, a tale told in excruciatingly comic detail... "Well, I was only eleven."

Multi-talented Amstell

Amstell has had a varied career as an actor and a screenwriter, and as a presenter of prime-time shows like Never Mind the Buzzcocks. He was born on 29 November, 1979 at Gants Hill in London and entered the comedy circuit in his early teenage years. Jewish and gay, he uses his sexual orientation to inform his work on stage. 

Amstell has toured and performed in major venues the length and breadth of the UK, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He has two series under his belt, both currently on DVD, Do Nothing and Series 1 of Grandma's House. As well as starring in the latter, he also co-wrote it. Series 2 of Grandma's House will be presented by the BBC during 2012.

Sarcastic!

Yet, early on in his career, Amstell almost sabotaged his own success. A finalist in the BBC's new comedy awards at the age of 14, he landed a spot presenting on Nickelodeon, the satellite channel. Young Amstell tended to be rather sarcastic with his bosses and occasionally not too accommodating towards the children - so he was sacked. But later, he was back in business as a presenter on Channel 4's Popworld. Amstell took over Mark Lamarr's presenting role in Never Mind the Buzzcocks in 2006, then he went on to win the Best Entertainment Performance at the Royal Television Society Awards.

Praise for Simon Amstell

The accolades came thick and fast. "Painfully funny," says the Evening Standard. "One of the most elegant, articulate, sensitive and endearing proponents of Soul Comedy that there is." echoes The Scotsman.

Amstell just carries on, making us laugh in that matter-of-fact, inimitable way he has. "Choose love," he says, "because death is coming." Not many comedians could make a line like that sound so darn funny!

Sources:

·                                 Simon Amstell - Do Nothing Live, BBC3, 20.12.2011.

·                                 www.simonamstell.co.uk

·                                 Simon Amstell Biography, retrieved 22.12.2011.