| Doug Stanhope, born March 25, 1967, is a | | | | current situation, be that working in |
| critically-acclaimed American stand-up | | | | clothing stores in Cincinnati or serviced |
| comedian, influenced by the likes of George | | | | offices in London a catalyst for change. |
| Carlin, Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks and Sam | | | | |
| Kinison, and currently residing in the small | | | | Stanhope has made appearances at several |
| U.S.-Mexico border town of Bisbee, Arizona. | | | | major comedy festivals, including the |
| | | | Montreal Just For Laughs Festival, the |
| Stanhope's career began in 1990 in Las Vegas, | | | | Chicago Comedy Festival and the Edinburgh |
| Nevada, while he was working in | | | | Fringe Festival, where in 2002 he won the |
| telemarketing. According to his own website, | | | | Strathmore Press Award. Stanhope was in 2006 |
| his original ambition was to get "free beer | | | | voted GQ's Comedian of the Year. |
| and maybe the attention of chicks who | | | | |
| wouldn't otherwise talk to him", but Stanhope | | | | 2007 saw Stanhope make two TV specials - one |
| proved to have a penchant for making people | | | | for Channel 4 Comedy Lab, filmed at the Caves |
| laugh and started working the comedy circuit. | | | | in Edinburgh and one for US TV network |
| | | | Showtime, recorded at The Gotham Comedy Club |
| Since 1998 he has released 5 comedy albums, | | | | in New York City, later released on DVD. |
| The Great White Stanhope, Sicko, Something to | | | | |
| Take the Edge Off, Die Laughing and Deadbeat | | | | As a commentator of US politics, Stanhope |
| Hero, all displaying Stanhope's brand of | | | | intended to formally declare his presidential |
| black humour, ranging from true-life graphic | | | | candidacy for 2008 during an appearance on |
| perversion to volatile social criticism. As | | | | The Howard Stern Show in May 2007, but |
| Doug often states onstage, it is not an act | | | | ultimately had to pull out due to |
| for everyone, and includes none of the | | | | restrictions by the Federal Election |
| observational humour often done by American | | | | Commission, meaning he would not be able to |
| comedians. | | | | receive personal income from his comedy |
| | | | appearances and website if he was to use them |
| One of the mainstays of Stanhope's act is to | | | | to campaign. Instead, Doug chose to endorse |
| try to enlighten the audience or make them | | | | libertarian-leaning Republican presidential |
| see a situation from a different perspective. | | | | candidate Ron Paul. |
| For example, he often advocates, in an | | | | |
| extremely acerbic, yet humorous manner, that | | | | Ultimately, American politics' loss is our |
| people unsatisfied with their 9-5 existence | | | | gain, as it means Stanhope will be on the |
| try to find an alternative, rather than | | | | comedy circuit for years to come, providing |
| working harder for material gain. As he sees | | | | his loyal audience with laughs and insight |
| it, unless it is a labour of love and they | | | | into and what he sees as an ever-conforming |
| would do it for free, there's no point to it, | | | | world. |
| hopefully giving those unsatisfied with their | | | | |