27th September, Konsert och Kongress, Linköping
Pablo Francisco was introduced to the stage last night as ‘The Greatest Comedian in The World’. After the understatement and irony free hour that unfolded, I am curious what the criteria for the title are.
OK. It wasn’t really my cup of tea, but then again, I am ready to acknowledge that I was in the minority in the 1200 strong crowd who had paid upwards of 400 kronor to be there. Pablo Francisco is a superstar in Sweden and it is easy to understand why. Not only is he an incredible performer, physically and vocally versatile, with an onstage energy that is astounding, but his subject matter is broad enough for the MTV watching, X-Box playing, Subway eating EuroSwede crowd to get… and even if they don’t, there are sound effects to hammer home the joke… and hammer it home he did… Perhaps it’s cultural and I come from the wrong side of the Atlantic, but it just wasn’t my thing. Personally, I cringe when a comic says ‘I love you guys’
There were some nice routines – I found his Smart Car routine very, er, smart, but it naturally boiled down to what it would be like getting a blow job in a Smart Car. This having followed routines about … James Bond having sex, why don’t X Box make Porn Hero instead of Guitar Hero, what does Jackie Chan look like having sex, what does Arnold Schwarzenegger look like having sex, phone sex, etc etc… you get the picture. In fact the subject matter of the entire show, including the support acts, can probably be summarised in the following five words: Fucking, Weed, Wanking, Chinese and Gays.
The ‘Who You Foolin’? tour is heading north and continues until the 17th October. If you’re American or a US lovin’ Swede, you’ll probably enjoy it. Otherwise, just spend some time with a hyperactive teenager instead, the experience is fairly similar.
Tags: Comedy, Linköping, Review, Stand Up
You’re far too kind to Francisco and too hard on the US standup scene.
He’s a nobody in America. His claims to fame are one Leno appearance ten years ago, one Comedy Central special eight years ago, being knocked out in the semi-final of Last Comic Standing 3 and touring as the third tier opening act for b-level comic Ned “Carlos Mencia” Holness. Hardly superstar material. Why do you think he tours Scandinavia extensively and often? No one else cares.
His style says less about Americans and more about what kind of crap Swedish audiences will swallow.
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You make some fair criticisms. There’s much to admire about Pablo’s act, but he’s a bit of a one trick pony and his routine starts to wear thin after a while. I think what lets him down is his material.
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I love his old shows and would like to see him live here in germany. If you dont`t get him it`s ok. He is a comedian for young people…
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Tell me better impersonators than Pablo…
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If you don’t find Pablo hilarious, you probably have a stick up your ash.
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