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I am British comedian Romesh Ranganathan who will perform at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on December 21. AMA!
Hey everyone, comedian Romesh Ranganathan here! I’m doing an AMA to promote my upcoming comedy show at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 21. If you don’t yet know me, I’m a former maths teacher from the UK (hence the term 'maths'). I gave up my stable career to spend the rest of my life making jokes about issues close to my heart, and explain why everybody else is wrong about them. My next mission is to become a household name in the great U.S.A.
Here are links to my personal website and Ticketmaster in case you’d like to see me perform LIVE!
Proof: https://twitter.com/RomeshRanga/status/935228113327341568
UPDATE: I'm signing off -- thank you everyone for the questions and the support. If you're in the US, please come to my show at the Greek in Los Angeles, December 21st. Cheers!
derawin08173 karma
Does it freak you out a bit that all these randoms are so informed about your work, and can ask very specific questions?
Romesh_Ranganathan288 karma
It gives me a different angle on life. It's like I'm running two cameras at all times.
abraxian89 karma
Hey Romesh, my partner at the time and I followed you and Seann Walsh through Windsor to find a gig you were doing once.
What's the oddest fan interaction you've had?
Haltonch79 karma
On episodes of "Taskmaster" and interviews following it, quite often you acted like you genuinely weren't enjoying being on the show and regretted agreeing to appear (particularly this interview - transcript/video). How much of this was your grumpy stage persona and how much is genuine? What was your experience of "Taskmaster" really like?
Romesh_Ranganathan163 karma
Everything I do is genuine. I enjoyed Taskmaster but I was aggrieved at some of the injustices.
Romesh_Ranganathan207 karma
I died on my arse in Essex when i first started. They didn't even clap when I finished.
ILiveInThePostOffice68 karma
Romesh mate. Any plans on more of them BBC3 “interviews cum conversations” that you had with Jack Dee, James Acaster etc.?
3 minute YouTube clips just aren’t enough.
cleverpseudoname67 karma
What questions do you wish you were asked more often?
Which is more annoying to listen to: cheeky remarks about your eye, your maths teaching career, or your vegan diet?
mrunfunnyman12154 karma
What is your honest opinion on Dara O Brien from your time on Mock The Week?
kusemek49 karma
Romesh, I feel as though I was born in the wrong country because I absolutely love British humor. As one of my favorite comedians I always use you as one of my go to comedians to introduce Americans to how much better comedy is over there. I have to say in addition to all of your stand up that I absolutely love Tree Wizard. Did you ever think it would be as well received as it was? Video for those that haven't seen it. Tree Wizard
Romesh_Ranganathan72 karma
I did Tree Wizard just as a task and the song was something i just improv'd on the day. I am delighted to see its genius recognised.
SyNiiCaL44 karma
Hi Romesh,
I recently saw your stand up sometime last year in Southend at the Cliffs Pavillion. The show was great but what really stood out for me, and I wonder if you remember it was the incident with the fly that would not leave you alone on stage, and your handling of it was to a comedic point absolutely perfect.
My question for you is of all your stand up gigs you've done, except for 'the fly' what has been your favourite bit of improvised comedy, based on something an audience member said or something that happened on stage where you thought about it afterwards thinking 'I fucking killed that bit, couldn't have handled it better'?
Really enjoy all the shit you do, you were great last year on BFQOTY too so thanks for the entertainment!
P.S. if you come back to southend can I show them this comment and get up front row?
Romesh_Ranganathan64 karma
THat fly thing was the maddest thing that happened on the whole tour - Thanks for coming!
SyNiiCaL34 karma
Pleasure was mine. Do you still Boycott Tescos because they fired the lad in the front row?
derawin0842 karma
Are you a junk food vegan? What are your go to meals/snacks, and is your family vegan too?
eightgalaxies32 karma
Is there any joke that once those words left your mouth you instantly regretted, or thought you went to far, and if so, what was it?
Romesh_Ranganathan86 karma
My mum and wife are a bit pissed off about what i said about them this morning in an interview.
Romesh_Ranganathan80 karma
They are not allowed to watch my comedy. So there's some counselling ahead.
derawin0827 karma
Do you think your style of comedy will have to be modified in any way for the US audience? I saw the clip you tweeted on the American news/breakfast show, and I feel like they were a bit taken aback at your sarcasm, dead-pan way and saying things like you hate living with your mum.
Romesh_Ranganathan51 karma
I decided to go veggie at 12. And then veganism followed five years ago.
blackmagemasta20 karma
Romesh, how do you keep your beard looking so good? What's your secret?
PM_ME_GECKOS18 karma
Have you heard of your German rapper doppelganger, Samy Deluxe?
I really like this song: Eines Tages.
Here he is rapping: Weck auch mich.
I chose a picture of him with a watermelon, as that is my favourite moment of you on TM! Do you have any memories from filming it, in the pioneer series?
derawin0817 karma
Any news on Series three of Asian Provocateur? I am hoping for a series Down Under, featuring Uncle Rags - I think he lives there?
I can hook you up with the Lankan scene in Sydney - I was an honorary member of UCB, the United Curry Brothers in high school.
Romesh_Ranganathan31 karma
Rags is up for it. He is actually in the room with me here.
Never say never. But very unlikely.
derawin0810 karma
Hey Uncle Rags!! I love all your different hairstyles.
So are we saying unlikely to the Aussie version? Or to series 3?
jennyy115 karma
Hey Romesh! My husband and I are big fans of you from Taskmaster, but that's the only thing we know you from. It's kinda hard to follow our favorite British comics when we live in America. :( What projects are you most proud of? We'll try to find ways to watch and share the best we can!
We use Taskmaster as a background show to put on when we have family/friends over and try to show others what great humor panel shows have. It's gotten great reception... If it makes any difference, your name is definitely in this American household often!
PM_ME_GECKOS14 karma
Any news on when we will see The Reluctant Landlord? Has it been picked up past a pilot? How did you find the experience different to writing and shooting documentary style? I am just imagining all your relatives as guest stars, especially Uncle Rags!
Rojo-Valencia13 karma
How come nobody ever mentions Atmosphere on your hip hop saved my life podcast? Love hhsml though, who raps the intro?
joeybadbum12 karma
What's the second worse thing that's happened in the class room whilst you were teaching? (Locking the child in the closest obviously being the first worse thing I assume)
battychefcunt11 karma
Arsenal win the league but you have to have hair like marouane chamakh for the rest of your life. Yes or no?
SkippyGoodchild44910 karma
Did you have a hard time traveling to America because of Trump? Did anyone mistake you for a "bad hombre"?
Romesh_Ranganathan33 karma
The immigration people were more welcoming than I had been lead to believe.
Hassaan1810 karma
Why did you first get into stand up comedy and how did you break it to your school that you were leaving them to do stand up full time? I'm also interested in how you got TV work and your thoughts on diversity in the stand-up world and the media in general.
Romesh_Ranganathan35 karma
I think diversity is an ongoing issue but I would love to see a lot more diversity behind the camera too.
IFrapsGamer9 karma
Who have you seen perform or worked with that makes you laugh the most? :)
Turkmenbashy8 karma
When you ceased to be a regular on 'The Apprentice: You're Fired' two years ago, the BBC stated that you would still appear occasionally.
Can we still hope to see you on there, or were they just spinning us a damn, dirty yarn? (For the record, you were the funniest guest on the show)
killkillkilltron8 karma
Hi Romesh, I'm also a stone faced brown man and as such I'm a big big fan of your work. I really loved the interaction with your little cousin in both series of Asian Provocateur. What's the stupidest question you've gotten while in America and does it top the stupidest one you've gotten in the UK/elsewhere abroad?
coffeesforclosers8 karma
How are you finding the differences between British & US crowds and you have to tailor your material to suit?
Romesh_Ranganathan39 karma
US crowds are offended by different things. but otherwise the same.
nootnoot_pingu_noot8 karma
I tried to spruik you over at r/vegan for this AMA but also for your attempt to 'crack America', but you only have the Greek Theatre show advertised! Are you mostly focusing on the doco, or doing smaller local shows there too, and how can people find out about them?
Romesh_Ranganathan26 karma
My Dad lived in North London when he moved to the Uk. He became a gooner and so now the family is Arsenal.
justins96786 karma
My mom saw you on one of the soap operas (U.S.) she watches last week.
She couldn't remember your name and asked me "who's the black British comedian with the travel show?"
I said "Richard Ayoade?"
"YES! Yes, that's it."
That didn't sound right to me so i looked for a clip of the show. It took me about 20 minutes to track one down.
My questions are 1) what are you doing playing a camera man on a shitty soap and 2) is my mom a bit racist?
EDIT: Here is the clip. Romesh comes on at 7:55 into the video.
Jamescoleman996 karma
You get one tweet for the rest of your life. Who do you tweet and what do you say?
derawin084 karma
What is your next youtube video with Theo going to be themed on? I think he is adorable, and my favourite bit was when he yelled out 'God damn it Dad!' and when we was concerned about you staining the wall.
Romesh_Ranganathan11 karma
He is here with me now - his name is Theo and we have another set of videos coming soon.
JMAR17IPS4 karma
I want to ask something but I can’t think of anything interesting so I’ll just say that I think you’re a very funny bloke and that I hope your show in LA goes well.
Edit: Just got a message saying that there needs to be a question in this. Alright mate?
Gilleasbag3 karma
When did you first start doing comedy? and how the hell did you get so good at it?
Romesh_Ranganathan8 karma
I'm nowhere near as good as I want to be - I started about 8 years ago.
Jerryfizzlepop3 karma
As a guy who wasn't always appreciative of his teachers back in the day (say about ten years ago), how could said guy make up for being a bit of a bell-end in class?
HoodJiminyCricket3 karma
How many shows had you performed before you knew you’d be a professional comedian?
adaughterofthesun3 karma
How come you don't have any merch with your face on it? T-shirts, stuff like that?
derawin083 karma
Do you like the mix of working on different projects, like stand up, docos, sitcoms and other shows?
If you were guaranteed success, which one would you choose to do most of?
derawin083 karma
Do they ask you to think up a good story when you go on Would I Lie to You? And if your story is too boring do they give you a lieto tell instead?
For the 'This is My' section do they just give you the lie as to how you know the person?
MikeeeyM19922 karma
On play to the whistle you are hilarious, What is Frank Lampard a hero of mine like in real life?
Ollie-North2 karma
Hey Romesh. Huge fan of HHSML, and everything you're doing for UK Hip Hop.
My question is what are your opinions on Jam Baxter? I know he can be a bit out there and wondered what your thoughts are on him and his music.
Cheers, keep doing what you're doing.
derawin082 karma
Are your kids going to an American school right now? Are they having a blast?
adaughterofthesun2 karma
I seem to remember you said you liked the Marvel movies on RHLSTP, which one is your favorite?
Romesh_Ranganathan3 karma
I loved the first Iron Man because of the surprise factor. Deadpool was great too.
goedegeit2 karma
what's one project you want to do one day but haven't been able to get a start on?
HagridsLeftTesticle2 karma
Love your stuff. What was it like filling Asian Provoceteur? In some of it you looked genuinely scared
derawin081 karma
When are you touring next in Australia? I think this year was your first down here? How did you find the Aussie crowds, much different to back home?
smbkr1 karma
Hey Rom, what happened with the pilot for "That's It For The Week"? I came along to the taping and enjoyed it.
Also, do you want some drink or something?
ThrowawayHazelwickY8319 karma
Hey do you remember me? I'm your alien you locked in a cupboard. Thanks for using it while you were on Would I Lie to You, it's a great story to tell while I'm at uni.
I loved being in your maths class, and I know you'll do great oversees :D
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