Comedian Andy Zaltzman's approach to comedy was initially inspired by chance. After trying standup in university and failing miserably, he gave up on it – only to be persuaded back after a disastrous gig in Killarney, Ireland, where the audience's hostile response became comically entertaining. This experience taught him to appreciate silence, satire, and good humor.
Zaltzman credits his comedic heroes with shaping his approach. He was inspired by The Day Today and Brass Eye, shows known for their biting satire and parody. A particular fondness for Ancient Greek comedy, led by Aristophanes, has influenced the way he crafts jokes. "Aristophanes is total comedy" – a fusion of politics, slapstick, puns, and even dick jokes.
Zaltzman's most memorable gig was in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he performed at Naveed's Comedy Club for ESPNcricinfo during the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The tiny basement room, set up to resemble a New York standup club, became an inspiring setting. A particularly memorable heckle – when someone fell asleep and decided not to wake up – remains etched in his memory.
Zaltzman's latest show, The Zaltgeist, explores the increasingly complex world of politics. Satire now feels both harder and easier to tackle, with more opportunities for cathartic release. The comedian hopes to capitalize on this by touring his new series, tackling topics that make us laugh while also making a point about our chaotic world.
Zaltzman's future projects are exciting: the Ashes cricket, new episodes of The News Quiz, and The Zaltgeist tour are all lined up.
Zaltzman credits his comedic heroes with shaping his approach. He was inspired by The Day Today and Brass Eye, shows known for their biting satire and parody. A particular fondness for Ancient Greek comedy, led by Aristophanes, has influenced the way he crafts jokes. "Aristophanes is total comedy" – a fusion of politics, slapstick, puns, and even dick jokes.
Zaltzman's most memorable gig was in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he performed at Naveed's Comedy Club for ESPNcricinfo during the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The tiny basement room, set up to resemble a New York standup club, became an inspiring setting. A particularly memorable heckle – when someone fell asleep and decided not to wake up – remains etched in his memory.
Zaltzman's latest show, The Zaltgeist, explores the increasingly complex world of politics. Satire now feels both harder and easier to tackle, with more opportunities for cathartic release. The comedian hopes to capitalize on this by touring his new series, tackling topics that make us laugh while also making a point about our chaotic world.
Zaltzman's future projects are exciting: the Ashes cricket, new episodes of The News Quiz, and The Zaltgeist tour are all lined up.
... i mean, don't get me wrong, it's great for comedians to try out new material and stuff, but honestly, sometimes the heckling is more cringeworthy than funny 
. like what if that guy in Dhaka just fell asleep lol? wouldn't that've been a pretty awkward gig 
. still, i guess it's cool that Andy Zaltzman has found his niche with satire and all that jazz 
... gotta respect how he's tackling the wild world of politics 
. He thinks he's some kinda genius for figuring out that comedy is all about poking fun at people? Please, most comedians fail miserably, just like Andy did in university. It's not like it's rocket science to make a room full of humans laugh or cry (depending on the kind of humor). And another thing, who falls asleep during a gig? Sounds like he needs to work on his crowd control 
I've seen some of his bits and they're spot on. I think what I love most about him is that he's not afraid to poke fun at himself and the absurdity of life. His take on Ancient Greek comedy is genius, I was laughing out loud when I read about Aristophanes' influence!
he's got such a great attitude towards his failures too, like turning a hostile audience into comedy gold 
and it's awesome that he cites shows like The Day Today and Brass Eye as influences, I've always loved satire in comedy 
. His shows The Day Today and Brass Eye were so ahead of their time, still so relevant today 
.
, you know? Andy Zaltzman's journey is like a breath of fresh air, reminding us that even failure can lead to growth and inspiration 
. His passion for satire and parody is infectious, and I think it's so cool that he draws from Ancient Greek comedy - Aristophanes would be proud 
I mean, who knew dick jokes were a thing in ancient Greek comedy?! 
can't wait to check out his new show and see what kind of satire he's got up his sleeve 
And yeah, The Zaltgeist is gonna be interesting, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea to tackle politics in comedy - seems like it's got the potential to be super divisive... or maybe that's the point? 
. And with The Ashes cricket and new episodes of The News Quiz, I'm guessin' we're gonna see a whole lotta laughs while also gettin' some truth out there 
... doesn't he ever just wanna make people laugh for laughs' sake? 
. I mean, who else could turn a disastrous gig into fuel for their comedic genius? The way he talks about appreciation of silence and satire is so true - sometimes less is more, you know? And Ancient Greek comedy is like, totally underrated 