• Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Apr 22, 2011
  • Season #: 1
Talking Funny Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

  • Summary: Louis C.K., Ricky Gervais, Chris Rock, and Jerry Seinfeld discuss the different aspects of being a successful comedian.
  • Genre(s): Comedy, Talk & Interview, Arts
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Reviewed by: Matt Roush
    Apr 22, 2011
    80
    Well, Talking Funny is certainly addictive.
  2. Reviewed by: Alan Sepinwall
    Apr 21, 2011
    80
    While there was plenty these four could have continued to talk about, there was never a point where I felt they missed something obvious because they didn't know the others and what they do well enough.
  3. Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    Apr 21, 2011
    70
    If you're an avid fan of any of them, there's probably something here for you, especially if you like to monitor subtext.
  4. Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Apr 21, 2011
    70
    At times, the chat can become a trifle wonky--more like an academic seminar than mass entertainment. Still, the comics' conflicting styles and easy rapport make the banter amusing enough.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. This was wildly entertaining and very informative for me, as a young comic. I could watch these 4 guys talk about the saddest of things and still giggle throughout. Ricky has a home-run here if he can find a way to keep it going. Expand
  2. Four of the funniest comedians sitting around the table both analyzing comedy and making each other laugh. Each man funny in his own way, with his own distinct style, yet they agree on some things and disagree on other things, sometimes in varying combinations. It's a toss up between who is the least universally known amongst the four, but I felt like Louis CK or Ricky Gervais are the two most likely to not be named by random people, yet I thought they were the funniest two. This hour flew by, and hopefully they will do more. This could be a series. One question I wished they asked each other was "Who is the funniest comedian not in this room?", or "Who should have been here instead of me?"... that would have been interesting. Great special for comedy fans and anyone who wants to laugh. Expand
  3. If your a fan of stand up comedy you'll love this, but if your just a fan of the comedians t.v shows you might think it's a bit boring. Hopefully next season they will bring some new comedians Expand
  4. Very decent show. C.K, Seinfeld, and Rock have been at the top of the game for years. Meanwhile Gervais is a third wheel, totally ruining what would have been an amazing hour of television. Would have been a lot better without Gervais, who comes off as arrogant and sometimes petulant. At one point he angrily tries to tell the others what they find funny about a certain joke, as they tell him he's wrong and explain why they find it funny, Gervais gets more agitated and more obnoxious. Gervais has one note; irony, whereas the others know entire scales and modes filled with notes that Gervais doesn't even know exist. Gervais should have stayed off camera, and put Steven Wright or Norm Macdonald, someone like that, in there. Someone who worked to get where they are. As opposed to Gervais, who had a stand up career handed to him because of The Office. Expand

See all 7 User Reviews