COMEDY DVDs: IT ALL started back with D'Unbelievables. After becoming a national mini-phenomenon, the duo of Jon Kenny and Pat Shortt released a series of videos (it was the '90s) that stormed to the top of the Irish video charts, outselling bands such as Oasis.
Their success showed that home-produced videos and DVDs could compete with the very best, and this trend continues as releases by comic acts such as Shortt, Tommy Tiernan and Des Bishop now typically dominate the DVD charts for weeks on end.
Expected to be somewhere at the top of the comedy DVD pile this year is Tiernan's Jokerman, which sees the comic up sticks and move to the US in search of new territories to conquer. Filmed in a documentary style over two years, Jokerman is an engaging work which sees Tiernan at the very lowest rung of the Amerian comedy circuit as he tries to de-Irish his material for new audiences, including consulting a "comedy coach" as he gets to grips with the unique demands of a very different circuit. Also included here is footage from his appearance at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal, as well as a compilation of all his best moments from his many appearances on The Late Late Show.
Irish-American comic Des Bishop uses his experiences on RTÉ's Fitting In as the basis of his new DVD. The show featured Bishop teaching comedy classes in marginalised communities around the country and along the way uncovering some real new talent. The affable Bishop flies through his material here without ever losing sight of the quality control button.
Having sold out most every venue in the country with his You Won't Get Away With That Here show, Pat Shortt has now released a DVD of the same name. What impresses most about Shortt is the sheer physicality of his humour and his ability to really delve deep into his numerous characters. The DVD also includes his No 1 single, The Jumbo Breakfast Roll.
Ed Byrne's Pedantic and Whimsical DVD is, surprisingly, his first. This features all of his best material from the past 10 years, including his popular Alanis Morrisette/Ironic sketch.
Jason Byrne's Out of the Box DVD features a live show recorded at Dublin's Vicar St earlier this year. This is a high-energy performance from one of the most unpredictable acts around, and it's difficult to figure out just how much is actual material and how much is improvised. Either way, you can't see the cracks.
Fresh from his success on British TV, Dara O'Briain's DVD, Live at the Theatre Royal, is taken from the final date of his Irish/British tour and shows the performer at the very top of his game as he scatterguns his way through a quick-paced set.
When he's not hosting Love Island, Patrick Kielty is still a very good comedian and his Patrick Kielty Live DVD was filmed at Belfast's Grand Opera House. There's a real edge to some of the material as Kielty spares nobody in his withering commentary.
Finally, Après Match have a stupendous Best of 2006 DVD available. It's a review of the sporting year, with the trio going through a huge array of characters (including quite a few new ones). Highlights here include their Ryder Cup coverage.
Further afield, there's a barrage of Little Britain DVDs available.
One surprising package is Russell Brand Live. Don't be put off by his high profile or some of his dodgy TV work: in a live setting Brand proves himself to be a really superb comic.
Extras Series 1 is still selling strong, as is the Catherine Tate Series 1 and Series 2 compilation. But the one you might not be that familiar with is the Peep Show Series 1-3 collection. While the show didn't quite attract the attention it deserved, there is some excellent stuff here. The two stars of the show also crop up in their own Mitchell and Webb Live offering. Slightly away from the mainstream is Ross Noble - Randomist, which features the acclaimed comic touring across two continents.
If you haven't caught it on TV, then Green Wing Series 2 is well worth a look. But perhaps the pick of the crop here is the wild and wonderful humour of The Mighty Boosh as captured in a live setting.
