That's probably more about him being used to that pacing than anything else 🤷‍♂️ he's been doing it in front of an audience and has been required to pause like that for years

I felt the complete opposite. The late night shows almost seem like a laugh track because they're told when to laugh. If they don't feel like laughing they clap. I like the quiet of this. I really hope they continue to do this, it's perfect. I immediately thought they should go around to different public access places and do similar things. It would be fun to watch.

I appreciate not being told when to laugh, but to laugh when I think something is funny. I'm 10 minutes into the show and I have only chuckled, but this is a genius ploy, well written and perfectly executed. All things considered, no notes.

As with all comedy, it exists within context. So far, this is solid.

Edit: now that they are huffing helium, I am genuinely laughing.

I think that was deliberate. He has been doing comedy since forever and knows his timing.

Come back and watch the whole thing. Give it a chance. There comes a moment when one of the camera guys keeps stifling his laughter and Stephen calls him out on it and says it's okay to laugh! And things start to loosen up after that. https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/comment/26216986

It can be pretty funny when done intentionally by somebody who is good at it.

In addition to this, check out Norm MacDonald's last special "nothing special."

when they got warmed up he had the crew rolling.

I loved Last Week Tonight during the pandemic because the lack of an audience let the jokes have time to land.

It makes it feel more natural to me.