Ismo - Words Apart (MICF)

Finland native Ismo became a worldwide sensation overnight thanks to his recent stand-up appearance on US talk show Conan. His unique take on the word "ass" had English speakers around the globe asking, "How have I never noticed this before?" and the comic continues to elicit this response with Words Apart.

Ismo's thick Scandinavian accent aids his bizarre, monotone delivery, as he takes the crowd through his skewed take on words and language. His jokes are simple and often structured as straightforward observations, but it's in this simplicity that the comic shines brightest. However, there is little beyond this MO, as punters quickly realise.

While Ismo masterfully deconstructs the English language, his comedy is lacking in other areas. Much of his anecdotal material is an antiquated look at the differences between men and women, scarcely hidden beneath the veneer of his obscure delivery. The Finnish comic relies on his accent as a safety net far too often and, after the shtick wears off, all that's left are some pretty poor gender comparisons.

While this hiccup infiltrates the middle third of Words Apart, Ismo bookends his performance with some hilarious jabs at how his second language irks him. Often the laughs come before any punchline; the audience simply realising the ridiculousness of modern English. From the random sounds that somehow substitute real words, to the versatility and overuse of "shit" in everyday conversation, Ismo notices the most obvious hilarities that go over everyone else's heads. Currently, the comedian is a bit of a one-trick pony, but he can spin that yarn into plenty of laugh-worthy gold over his hour of entertainment.