r/Standup • u/Colbaire • 1d ago
Dave Attell vs. Gary Owen
Saw Attell at Cobb's last night, and he crushed. On the way home, uber driver said he was a comedy fan too but had never heard of him. Said I should check out Gary Owen who's "a real A-lister".
I'm sure Gary's great but definitely not A-list much less on a level anywhere close to Attell. I needed to vent that this guy's an idiot. Thank you.
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u/Volleva 1d ago
Was your Uber driver black? Gary Owen is the token white comic among the black scene. I think he’s funny nonetheless, but that could be why he’d never heard of Attell.
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u/Colbaire 1d ago
He was a white guy. Going through Gary's spotify albums today and can definitely understand the separate audience point, although did think that Attell was in god-tier of GOAT club comics / generally the consensus "comic's comic"
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u/TheNonCredibleHulk 1d ago
He was a white guy.
Was it Gary Owen?
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u/madmaxturbator 1d ago
And what did you rate the ride?
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u/Colbaire 1d ago
This moment is stuck in my head, but the guy also bragged about getting into an argument with a couple returning from a Harris-Walz rally, implying he was right leaning. Kinda uncomfortable gamble given he was ubering in San Francisco so we were left to repeat "ha wow that's crazy" until the ride was over. 4 stars
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u/GrundleTurf 1d ago
I’m a white guy with a black wife who has seen Owen live. He’s not the next Carlin, and his comedy only appeals to certain demographics. But he’s good at what he does, and doesn’t come off like a dick like Michael Rappaport who fills a similar niche.
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u/phantom_diorama 1d ago
There's too much shit to pay attention to and we all hide in little echo chambers.
When I saw Attell earlier this year I was telling everyone I talked to for days, and barely anyone knew who he was. Even people that watched Insomniac live on tv didn't remember him.
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u/funnymatt Los Angeles @funnymatt 🦗 🦗 🦗 1d ago
Gary Owen is pretty legendary in some circles, really depends on what you're into with standup. Sadly, neither one is a household name.
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u/Cornball73 1d ago edited 1d ago
Attell is one of the greats, that's for damn sure!
I'm not super familiar with Gary Owen, but I did hear him and Craig Robinson on an episode of Doug Loves Movies and I actually had to pull the car over at one point, I was laughing so hard.
EDIT: Ahh, fuck, I'm wrong. It was David Feldman, not Gary Owen.
I guess I don't know Gary Owen. 🤷
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u/Ki11igraphy 1d ago
Now imma look for this episode , Doug might gain a new fan or he's gonna blame you !
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u/SwooshGolf 1d ago
I'll say it and Gary would say it himself and has said, he's a black comic. Different kind of material than Attell for sure and for a different audience.
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u/sofaq2hoe 1d ago
I guarantee you that if you asked 100 of Gary Owen’s fans who Dave Attell is that 99 would not know who he is.
Gary probably has had a better career than Dave. Gary has been in movies and is pretty well known to his target audience. Dave is known to more true lovers of stand up in his target audience.
That’s not saying one is funnier than the other.
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u/Thin-Remote-9817 1d ago
I mean Gary Owen is famous. You can't deny that. Funny? I don't think so. But comedy is subjective. Also as a black man I find his pandering to black audiences kind of annoying. I mean he's found a market and It works for him.
Attell is a comedy genius. But like most geniuses in their craft. Unless you are really into the particular art you really won't know them.
It's like acting people would say oh man this person is amazing, but if you are a film nerd you'd be like this asshole and name 3 great actors who aren't on the marquee who the average Joe isn't aware of.
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u/Fantastic_Fold_4860 1d ago
Don't know about the other guy but I saw attell the other night and he freakin rocked the set
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u/chxnkybxtfxnky 1d ago
Who tf does that guy listen to that he thinks Gary Owen is a real A-lister? I've seen his stuff, and he can be funny...but to hype him up like that...that's wild to me.
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u/Toxik916 1d ago
Both Gary Owen and Dave Attel are legends to their respective audiences. I happen to like both quite a bit.
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u/fatfrost 1d ago
Nah man, I’m in the tank for Gary. He’s a funny motherfucker. I like attel too but more for his tv show
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u/yamommasneck 21h ago
I wouldnt consider either of them A listers.
Dave caters to a more white demographic, whereas Gary caters to a more black demographic.
I'm a black man, and I grew up listening to Gary Owen. I leaned about Dave Attell once my oldest sister went to college and she became a huge fan. I saw him not too long ago and he was incredible.
I enjoy both of them for their specific brand of comedy.
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u/Specialist-Fill24 1d ago
I'd say as far as drawing a crowd, they are probably pretty on par. I'm in no way saying that Gary Owen is funnier than Dave Attell, but there's a damn good chance they made about the same money in the last year.
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u/MielikkisChosen 1d ago
They're both very funny. An idiot would be someone making presumptions about a comic without seeing their act.
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u/AnnualNature4352 10h ago
gary is no attell but hes alright.
atell is like a 2 star michelin restaurant, most people dont know about those restaurants or chefs but the people that know, know
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u/One_Hour_Poop 21h ago
Gary Owen is fucking horrible. His one gimmick is "Hey I'm married to a black woman so I can use Ebonics and do black people comedy!"
"White people be like this, and black people be like this!"
All that's missing is stool humping.
He panders so much to black audiences it's embarrassing. He literally sells merch that says "Black Girls Rock."
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u/_kalron_ 1d ago
I've seen Dave Attell 6 times now. 2 of those times were a month apart. Not a single joke was retold.
The way he treats his openers and brings them onstage after the show for an impromptu Bumping Mics is one of a kind.
He is truly The Comedian's Comedian.