I got hooked on this show during my late night channel surfing. Now it's become a daily DVR staple along with The Daily Show. It is charmingly low budget, but not low in production values. The set is attractive and comfortable without trying too hard (I especially like the large aquarium in back of Byron Allen which appears to house only baby sharks). It's a terrific introduction to the latest in fresh new comic talent, although the occasional comic star drops in, too (Margaret Cho, Jimmie Walker, Jon Lovitz, Judy Tenuta, Larry Miller, etc.). Byron Allen is the laid back host who shares a brotherhood with his fellow comics and does a wonderful job of giving them the spotlight. The show is obviously cut and pasted to air the very best of the panels' bits, which is what makes the show so watchable -- you don't have to wade through the tepid or unfunny stuff to get to the gems. I absolutely disagree with the comment that the show does a poor job of trying to appear improvisational. The format is very much upfront: the host asks obviously leading questions meant to set up the comics' bits, and there's no pretense about it. It's kind of like being in on a job interview or a casting call, and as such it's actually a refreshing new format.
Review of Comics Unleashed
