Ross Noble: Nobleism

Introduction

Ross Noble isn't ubiquitous, which is an odd statement to begin a review of his latest Christmas DVD offering with. The thing is that most modern stand ups also have a strong presence on the talk show and panel game show circuit, so much so that they become part of the landscape. Shows like Mock the Week, QI and Buzzcocks are almost trailers for their stand up, where little snippets of their routines momentarily escape. The other venue for their talents is the talk show, as they follow the precedent of Parky's best mate Billy Connolly, and bring the cleaner parts of their acts to family audiences. I've seen Ross Noble on Jonathan Ross once, but the only panel show that I remember seeing him on is Have I Got News For You, where he's a little difficult to categorise, beyond the superficial, long-haired Geordie bloke. He seems to revel in the surreal, although in a slightly darker place than Paul Merton. He made an impact on me, but it's hardly the same exposure that most stand-ups pursue when they aren't at their day job. Then one night I channel hopped my way to Channel 4, and caught the hind end of his Regent's Park show. To say I was electrified is an understatement.


Ross Noble has a freewheeling, stream of consciousness, random association approach, he invites interaction from his audience, practically demands heckles, and it all somehow works brilliantly. I've been aching to get my hands on one of his shows for a good while now, and when Nobleism turned up, a two disc set, you can bet I had a smile on my face. Nobleism was filmed at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool last year, and simultaneously broadcast live via satellite to 45 cinemas nationwide. Now it comes to DVD, and you can feel the force of this talent at home, safe in front of your TVs.

The Technicals

A 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer that is clear and sharp means you miss none of the action. You also get a DD 5.1 soundtrack, which may sound like overkill for a comedy gig, but I'm not complaining. Subtitles are there if you need them.

Extras

There is a comedy copyright notice at the front of the discs, which is a nice change from one of those 'you wouldn't fillet a rat' ads. Both discs get nice animated menus.

Disc 1

Here you'll find a 22-minute encore, which carries on exactly from where the main feature ends. There's even more audience interaction here than before.

Commentary with Ross Noble. Or comedy, round 2 as I like to call it. It's Ross, in a booth, mellow and relaxed, and rambling randomly through his mindspace, and still finding nuggets of funny to share with the people watching the disc. Why can't all commentaries be like this?


Disc 2

We begin with the Nobleism cinema trailer, which is then followed by Ross Noble being interviewed by Dr Oliver Double. This interview lasts 55 minutes, and offers what you may have been expecting from the commentary, an analysis of how Ross' brain works, and also offers a little on his past and how he became a comic. Just one thing, if your interviewee is wearing black, don't film him in front of a black background. It looks like Ross' disembodied head is being interviewed here.

Then we get episode 1 of Ross Noble's Australian Trip, the series which is currently unfurling on ITV. This lasts 43 minutes, and for 43 minutes I was thinking that Billy Connolly has already done this. Also, Ross Noble's wanderings weren't all that thrilling, consisting of lots of closed down attractions, and wearingly long motorcycle rides. If there were a disappointment on this set, it would be this bit.


The Gifted featurette offers 34 minutes of discourse about all the weird odds and ends that wind up on the stage during the interval, serving to provide inspiration for more comical diversions. There's footage here from several gigs.

The disc winds up with Bonus Show Footage, 70 minutes of it. Six different shows are sampled, and you can access each chapter separately, or just leave it to play through all the way by itself. More funny stuff is always brilliant, but what this section is essential for is that there's a moment in the main feature that refers to an earlier gig. You can see that moment in the earlier gig here, so you won't be left scratching your head going, 'Huh?'

All the featurettes are subtitled where required.

Conclusion

I've been fretting about what to write here, although this time it isn't writer's block. It's just that as a comic, Ross Noble defies easy description. Actually, that isn't exactly it, it's more the fear that any attempt to analyse his comedy, to try and convey just how he does what he does, simply won't do it justice, and will really just trivialise it. Ross Noble is probably the funniest, most breathtaking comedian I have seen. I was in hysterics watching this show, I'm still chuckling now as I write about it, but to try and pin down just why it's so funny, it's like trying to capture the wind. So forgive me if I don't even try.


Much of it has to be Ross Noble himself, the usual 'funny bones' descriptive applied to any comic worth his salt. Noble has stage presence, charisma, is utterly likeable, and he has a pair of cast iron balls. Most comedians have well-planned routines, sharp delivery, impeccable timing, are rehearsed to the limit and control the audience. Ross Noble is anarchic, freewheeling, and it seems totally improvisational. He comes on stage, says something, hears something, or sees something, and click, from a moment of inspiration, a two-hour gig will develop. There's prepared stuff in there, there has to be, but I'll be damned if I can find the joins. It's one man's brain firing off in all directions simultaneously. And he invites audience participation, he demands it, heckles are his lifeblood, rowdy and drunk audience members simply serve to inspire him more. Imagine watching a juggler, juggling flaming torches, on a high wire, no net, but hungry lions below. Now imagine that you are up on that wire as well. That's what watching Ross Noble is like. It's amazingly entertaining, you're laughing your head off, but a part of you is trusting that he won't fall, and he won't let you fall either. It's hilarious and it's thrilling at the same time.


Ross Noble: Nobleism is the best stand up comedy DVD I have seen by far, and with this two disc set, you get quality and quantity; cake and eat it time. If you're going to get one comedy DVD this Christmas, make it Nobleism. You won't regret it.