Published: November 12, 2024 — The HBO Original comedy special JAMES ACASTER: HECKLERS WELCOME debuts SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. In his first HBO special, comedian James Acaster explores his love/hate relationship with standup – while welcoming a heckle or two.
Logline:
James Acaster explores his love/hate relationship with standup by relinquishing control of his set and accepting a healthy dose of audience interference – aka heckling. With his wiry observational eye and incomparable wit, Acaster shares hilarious on-the-fly meta-analysis of his own material, along with stories from his childhood that spurred him to pursue a career in comedy – from his participation in his grandmother’s spinning wheel workshop at school to his impersonation of Prince Charles at age six. In front of an obliging audience at the Royal & Derngate theatre in Northampton, England, Acaster unleashes his infectious energy as he delves into what initially drew him to the stage and what keeps him there.
James Acaster quote:
“Performing in the round, in a theatre I went to growing up, with the audience chipping in whenever they felt like it, meant this was the most I’ve enjoyed filming a special, and I’m delighted it’s coming to HBO. Also I jumped onto the stage via a trampoline and I don’t want that to go unacknowledged.”
Nina Rosenstein, EVP, HBO Programming, Late Night & Specials, quote:
“We’re longtime fans of James and are so thrilled to work with him. This special is a bold concept – not many comedians would allow hecklers at their shows; fewer still would openly encourage them to interrupt a live taping of their set, but James has never been one to approach his comedy in a traditional way. Filmed in his hometown somewhere in the middle of England, HECKLERS WELCOME is a hilarious and brilliantly strange hour where James examines his complicated relationship with comedy.”
About James Acaster:
A whimsical master, James has received acclaim from around the world, including a record-breaking five consecutive nominations for Best Comedy Show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals from 2012-2016. In 2017, he toured the country with a three-show trilogy, “Recognise,” “Represent,” and “Reset,” performing consecutively over three nights in each venue. In 2019, James completed a long tour of his successful show “Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999” around the UK, Australia, and America. James is also a Sunday Times bestselling author, with “Classic Scrapes,” “Perfect Sound Whatever,” and his most recent book, “James Acaster’s Guide to Quitting Social Media.” James also has three hit podcasts: “Off Menu,” which he co-hosts with Ed Gamble, “Perfect Sounds,” and his latest release, “Springleaf,” which he wrote and stars in.
Credits:
Performed and written by James Acaster; produced and directed by Stuart Laws; producers, Alastair Clayton and Nick Long; co-producer, Amy Tuckwell.
Source
HBO
