Stephen Merchant Doing Stand-Up

Stephen Merchant, half of the writing duo behind The Office (UK) and Extras, is apparently following Rickey Gervais's footsteps in launching a stand-up comedy act. Merchant is best known for starring in BBC and HBO's Extras, as Darren Lamb, Andy Millman's inept and bumbling agent. I had no clue Merchant had a stand-up act until I stumbled across this review from today's UK Metro. My favorite quote from the review focuses on Merchant's self-deprecation:

He's realised that British audiences will smile at faux self-importance, but they'll laugh at self-deprecation, and in recent sets he's played off his gangly frame and general awkwardness.

I agree. Self-deprecation is the finest form of comedy. For example, I am a very short and tiny human being! I could almost hear the rimshot echo as I typed that. Let me try another one. I pick my nose occasionally! Whoo-boy, I'm on a roll. One more? It is probable I will die a lonely, forgotten man. Oh, wait. That just made me sad.

I'll leave the self-deprecation to the professionals from now on and just stick to what I'm good at; Polish jokes. Have you heard the one about the submarine with the screen door? Everyone drowned and then their families were really sad! I still got it!

[Photo via Flickr]