Christian comedy
Encyclopedia
Christian comedy is a sub-genre of comedy
where the material presented is aimed towards a Christian audience. The performances are typically held on church grounds or at off-site, Church-sponsored venues.
The material often contains Christian references, although this is not a requirement. Recently, notable performers like Victoria Jackson
, Tim Conway
, Sinbad
and Patricia Heaton
have appeared on a DVD series for the Christian market entitled, "Thou Shalt Laugh"
Christian comedy is increasingly being used as an outreach, with the idea that a comedy show is a great way to bring people into church who may have never thought about coming.
Christian comedy is also used as a method to renew and refresh the spirit of Church members, based on the Bible passage that says laughter does a heart good, like medicine.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
where the material presented is aimed towards a Christian audience. The performances are typically held on church grounds or at off-site, Church-sponsored venues.
The material often contains Christian references, although this is not a requirement. Recently, notable performers like Victoria Jackson
Victoria Jackson
Victoria Jackson is an American comedian, actress, satirist and singer best known as a cast member of the NBC television sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1992....
, Tim Conway
Tim Conway
Thomas Daniel "Tim" Conway is an American comedian and actor, primarily known for his roles in sitcoms, films and television. Conway is best known for his role as the inept second-in-command officer, Ensign Charles Parker, to Lt...
, Sinbad
Sinbad (entertainer)
David Adkins better known by his professional name of Sinbad, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He became well known in the 1990s from being featured on his own HBO specials, appearing on several television series, and starring in the films Necessary Roughness, Houseguest, First Kid,...
and Patricia Heaton
Patricia Heaton
Patricia Helen Heaton is an American actress, comedienne, producer and model, best known for portraying Debra Barone on the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond from 1996 to 2005, for which she won two Emmy Awards....
have appeared on a DVD series for the Christian market entitled, "Thou Shalt Laugh"
Christian comedy is increasingly being used as an outreach, with the idea that a comedy show is a great way to bring people into church who may have never thought about coming.
Christian comedy is also used as a method to renew and refresh the spirit of Church members, based on the Bible passage that says laughter does a heart good, like medicine.
Notable Christian comedians
- Comedian Nazareth
- Dennis SwanbergDennis SwanbergDennis Swanberg also known as "America's Minister of Encouragement" and "The Swan" is an American Christian comedian and former evangelical pastor. Swanberg's act often consists of impersonations of entertainment personalities such as James Stewart, Mr. Haney from Green Acres, Forrest Gump, Paul...
- Brad StineBrad StineBrad Stine is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and author. Relatively unknown until 2003, Stine first gained exposure when he "came out" as a conservative Christian on his debut album, Put a Helmet On!-Early life:...
- Chonda PierceChonda PierceChonda Pierce is a Christian comedienne often billed as "The Queen of Clean." Maiden name "Courtney".Pierce got her start in comedy during a six-year stint at a theme park in Nashville, Tennessee called Opryland USA. A Theater Arts major from Austin Peay State University, Pierce went to the park...
- Holy Ghost PlayersHoly Ghost PlayersThe Holy Ghost Players were a Christian comedy group from Chicago, Illinois. They were mostly active in the late 1970s through the late 1980s.Members included Barbara Pement, Mike Hertenstein, Jeanne Denton, Neil Taylor, Bob Ertel and Roy Montroy....
- Isaac Air FreightIsaac Air FreightIsaac Air Freight is a Christian comedy team formed in 1976. It originally consisted of three people, Dave Toole, Dan Rupple, and Larry Watt. Watt left after the release of their first album. He was replaced by Mitch Teemley, who largely did serious or "good guy" parts, for the second and third...
- Mark LowryMark LowryMark Alan Lowry is a Christian comedian, songwriter, and singer, best known for co-writing the song “Mary, Did You Know?”. Lowry performed with the Gaither Vocal Band from 1988–2001 and, in January 2009, he re-joined the group along with other "GVB" alumni Michael English and David Phelps...
- Bob SmileyBob SmileyBob Smiley is an American Christian comedian and author who lives near Houston, Texas. He has been a stand-up comedian for more than 10 years all over the United States, Canada, England, Wales and East Kentucky. He performed in front of 60,000 people while opening up for Switchfoot. He also was the...
- Victoria JacksonVictoria JacksonVictoria Jackson is an American comedian, actress, satirist and singer best known as a cast member of the NBC television sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1986 to 1992....
- John BranyanJohn BranyanJohn Branyan is a Christian comedian who specializes in family-oriented material. He is an improv player with Think Tank, has participated in Jay Leno’s National Comedy Competition, and has toured with Chonda Pierce...
- Daren StreblowDaren StreblowDaren Streblow is an American stand-up comedian from Ely, Minnesota. Originally a radio show host, Streblow stepped down to become a comedian in 1995, however, he did not become a full-time comedian until 1998. He performs mostly observational comedy, referencing to everyday subjects for parts of...
- Taylor MasonTaylor Mason-Early life and career:The son of a radio farm broadcaster and a homemaker mother, Mason was born in Hinsdale, Illinois, and grew up in suburban Chicago. His father, Bill Mason, worked at WGN Radio and Television, a local Chicago station that featured farm news in the early mornings and every day...
- Anita RenfroeAnita RenfroeAnita Renfroe is an American Christian comedian from Atlanta, Georgia, the wife of a Baptist pastor and the mother of three children...
- Tim HawkinsTim HawkinsTim Hawkins is a Christian comedian, songwriter, and singer, best known for parodying popular songs, such as Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take The Wheel" and "The Candy Man" stand-up material based on marriage, homeschooling and parenting. Hawkins has released three CDs and five DVDs of his material...
- Andy KindAndy KindAndy Kind is a British stand-up comedian and one of the initiators of the UK Clean Comedy movement. He has been performing since January 2005 and by the end of that year had won ‘Anything for Laffs’, one of the best known competitions in the Manchester area...
- Cleto RodriguezCleto Rodriguez (comedian)Cleto Rodriguez is a San Antonio-based, nationally touring stand-up comedian. His grandfather Cleto L. Rodriguez was one of Texas' first Congressional Medal of Honor winners....
- Mike WarnkeMike WarnkeMichael Alfred "Mike" Warnke is a Christian evangelist and comedian. With the success of his books and recordings, Warnke became one of evangelical Christianity's best-known experts on the subject of Satanism before his claims of having been a Satanist high priest were discredited in 1991 by the...