The Great Doug Stanhope

Doug Stanhope, born March 25, 1967, is apoint to it, hopefully giving those unsatisfied with
critically-acclaimed American stand-up comedian,their current situation, be that working in clothing
influenced by the likes of George Carlin, Richardstores in Cincinnati or serviced offices in London a
Pryor, Bill Hicks and Sam Kinison, and currentlycatalyst for change.
residing in the small U.S.-Mexico border town ofStanhope has made appearances at several
Bisbee, Arizona.major comedy festivals, including the Montreal
Stanhope's career began in 1990 in Las Vegas,Just For Laughs Festival, the Chicago Comedy
Nevada, while he was working in telemarketing.Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where in
According to his own website, his original ambition2002 he won the Strathmore Press Award.
was to get "free beer and maybe the attentionStanhope was in 2006 voted GQ's Comedian of
of chicks who wouldn't otherwise talk to him", butthe Year.
Stanhope proved to have a penchant for making2007 saw Stanhope make two TV specials - one
people laugh and started working the comedyfor Channel 4 Comedy Lab, filmed at the Caves
circuit.in Edinburgh and one for US TV network
Since 1998 he has released 5 comedy albums,Showtime, recorded at The Gotham Comedy
The Great White Stanhope, Sicko, Something toClub in New York City, later released on DVD.
Take the Edge Off, Die Laughing and DeadbeatAs a commentator of US politics, Stanhope
Hero, all displaying Stanhope's brand of blackintended to formally declare his presidential
humour, ranging from true-life graphic perversioncandidacy for 2008 during an appearance on The
to volatile social criticism. As Doug often statesHoward Stern Show in May 2007, but ultimately
onstage, it is not an act for everyone, andhad to pull out due to restrictions by the Federal
includes none of the observational humour oftenElection Commission, meaning he would not be
done by American comedians.able to receive personal income from his comedy
One of the mainstays of Stanhope's act is to tryappearances and website if he was to use them
to enlighten the audience or make them see ato campaign. Instead, Doug chose to endorse
situation from a different perspective. Forlibertarian-leaning Republican presidential candidate
example, he often advocates, in an extremelyRon Paul.
acerbic, yet humorous manner, that peopleUltimately, American politics' loss is our gain, as it
unsatisfied with their 9-5 existence try to find anmeans Stanhope will be on the comedy circuit for
alternative, rather than working harder foryears to come, providing his loyal audience with
material gain. As he sees it, unless it is a labour oflaughs and insight into and what he sees as an
love and they would do it for free, there's noever-conforming world.