--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Watching Billy Connolly at the…" description: "\"Watching Billy Connolly at the Hammersmith Apollo in the late 90s was a masterclass of long-form comedy.\" — Richard Herring" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/richard-herring-5479_apollo_watching-billy-connolly-at-the-hammersmi_639749.jpg" --- # Watching Billy Connolly at the Hammersmith Apollo in the… ![“Watching Billy Connolly at the Hammersmith Apollo in the late 90s was a masterclass of long-form comedy.” quote by Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/richard-herring-5479_apollo_watching-billy-connolly-at-the-hammersmi_639749.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/richard-herring-5479_apollo_watching-billy-connolly-at-the-hammersmi_639749.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/richard-herring-5479_apollo_watching-billy-connolly-at-the-hammersmi_639749.jpg) > “Watching Billy Connolly at the Hammersmith Apollo in the late 90s was a masterclass of long-form comedy.” [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observing a skilled performer reveals the art of extended comedic storytelling. **In simple terms:** Long-form comedy showcases mastery of timing and narrative. Key Takeaway Study pacing and audience engagement. Themes comedy performance storytelling craft Mood entertaining analytical Type critical educational When to use this quote - stand‑up shows - writing workshops - improv classes Key Concepts humor theory stagecraft Questions to Reflect On - What makes a long comedy routine compelling? - How can you sustain humor over time? A Different Perspective Long sets risk losing audience attention without strong material. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apollo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) ## Related quotes > [Billy Connolly is probably the greatest stand-up this country has ever produced and he swears all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-lock/billy-connolly-is-probably-the-greatest-stand-up-this-country-has/) [Sean Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-lock/) > [I went to see Billy Connolly do two hours with no break at the Apollo, with Parkinson's disease, during the winter, and it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisling-bea/i-went-to-see-billy-connolly-do-two-hours-with-no-break-at-the-apollo/) [Aisling Bea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisling-bea/) > [When I hit the scene, there was Billy Connolly and Max Boyce. It was all mother-in-law and Irish jokes, and we broke the mould.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-carrott/when-i-hit-the-scene-there-was-billy-connolly-and-max-boyce-it-was/) [Jasper Carrott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-carrott/) > [The three people I've always wanted to meet are Stephen Fry, Billy Connolly and Steven Gerrard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-buchan/the-three-people-i-ve-always-wanted-to-meet-are-stephen-fry-billy/) [Andrew Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-buchan/) > [Sean pushes up to his feet and stands there. I look at his dirty boots. Now I've offended him, I think. He says, "Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sean-pushes-up-to-his-feet-and-stands-there-i-look-at-his-dirty-boots/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [When I write after dark", observed Cyril Connolly, "the shades of evening scatter their purple through my prose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fadiman/when-i-write-after-dark-observed-cyril-connolly-the-shades-of-evening/) [Anne Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fadiman/) > [I'm sure when alternative comedy started, before which - Billy Connolly aside - standup was essentially a person being racist and sexist onstage, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nish-kumar/i-m-sure-when-alternative-comedy-started-before-which-billy-connolly/) [Nish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nish-kumar/) > [I would love to direct a feature and have Robert Connolly produce it. That would be really fab.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wenham/i-would-love-to-direct-a-feature-and-have-robert-connolly-produce-it/) [David Wenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wenham/) > [“Everybody's born to do a certain thing and if you're dead jimmy you've found it. And if you're good at something, just keep doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-scott/everybody-s-born-to-do-a-certain-thing-and-if-you-re-dead-jimmy-you/) Mike Scott > [“My definition of an intellectual is someone who can listen to the William Tell Overture without thinking of the Lone Ranger" - Billy Connolly”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-marie-gallagher/my-definition-of-an-intellectual-is-someone-who-can-listen-to-the-2/) Sherry Marie Gallagher > [Janice Connolly is one of them people that whenever you see her, she's happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-mcguinness/janice-connolly-is-one-of-them-people-that-whenever-you-see-her-she-s/) [Paddy McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-mcguinness/) > [In terms of the stars, the only ones I cast were Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins. I was in Los Angeles working and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/in-terms-of-the-stars-the-only-ones-i-cast-were-billy-connolly-and/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [Jim MacLaine was the hero of Ray Connolly's 1973 movie 'That'll Be the Day', about a young man turning his back on a university…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hepworth/jim-maclaine-was-the-hero-of-ray-connolly-s-1973-movie-that-ll-be-the/) [David Hepworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hepworth/) > [Creating a wonderful drama is an art form, while comedy is just entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reitman/creating-a-wonderful-drama-is-an-art-form-while-comedy-is-just/) [Jason Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reitman/) > [Self-deprecating humour is a common form of comedy and it helps get the audience on side because you're being vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-brooker/self-deprecating-humour-is-a-common-form-of-comedy-and-it-helps-get/) [Alex Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-brooker/) ## More by Richard Herring > [Nobody at school would have expected me to be involved in anything that might have been perceived as cool. I was trying to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/nobody-at-school-would-have-expected-me-to-be-involved-in-anything/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [If I was happy for eternity I don't think I could enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/if-i-was-happy-for-eternity-i-don-t-think-i-could-enjoy-it/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [Sometimes my jokes are meant to be tasteless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/sometimes-my-jokes-are-meant-to-be-tasteless/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [I have a lack of practical skills. I can't mend anything or do anything manly; I don't understand how anything works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/i-have-a-lack-of-practical-skills-i-can-t-mend-anything-or-do/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [It's easy to pass judgement on someone else's racism, but what about your own?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/it-s-easy-to-pass-judgement-on-someone-else-s-racism-but-what-about/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [I have never been a massive fan of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/i-have-never-been-a-massive-fan-of-music/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [I had a very happy upbringing; I love funny people and love to make them laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/i-had-a-very-happy-upbringing-i-love-funny-people-and-love-to-make/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [I've always liked science fiction as a way of commenting on ourselves and it's wrong that it is seen as less valid than other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/i-ve-always-liked-science-fiction-as-a-way-of-commenting-on-ourselves/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [Sometimes with relationships where you work in the same job, it becomes all about the job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/sometimes-with-relationships-where-you-work-in-the-same-job-it/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [On one podcast, I attempt to antagonise and lose listeners by commentating on myself playing snooker against myself in my basement. Most people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/on-one-podcast-i-attempt-to-antagonise-and-lose-listeners-by/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [I can't be the only one who watches 'Footloose' and hopes that John Lithgow will stop Kevin Bacon ever dancing again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/i-can-t-be-the-only-one-who-watches-footloose-and-hopes-that-john/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [I've run a marathon - I think that's the most surprising thing about me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/i-ve-run-a-marathon-i-think-that-s-the-most-surprising-thing-about-me/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [You can joke about anything. It just depends on your angle and the way you go about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/you-can-joke-about-anything-it-just-depends-on-your-angle-and-the-way/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [I was into Simon & Garfunkel before my friends got into punk and laughed at me for liking Paul Simon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/i-was-into-simon-garfunkel-before-my-friends-got-into-punk-and/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) > [For me genius is '1% inspiration and 99% procrastination.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/for-me-genius-is-1-inspiration-and-99-procrastination/) [Richard Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) [Explore all 100 Richard Herring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/) ## More Apollo quotes > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Kennedy had made a mess in Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. He had to do something to look good. The Apollo program of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-schirra/kennedy-had-made-a-mess-in-cuba-at-the-bay-of-pigs-he-had-to-do/) [Wally Schirra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-schirra/) > [Apollo?” I guessed… He put a finger to his lips. “I’m incognito. Call me Fred.” A god named Fred?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/apollo-i-guessed-he-put-a-finger-to-his-lips-i-m-incognito-call-me/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [As a former Apollo astronaut, I think it's safe to say that SpaceX and the other commercial developers embody the 21st century version of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rusty-schweickart/as-a-former-apollo-astronaut-i-think-it-s-safe-to-say-that-spacex-and/) [Rusty Schweickart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rusty-schweickart/) > [I think if you were between maybe 6 and 16, there was nothing like Apollo, and I wonder if there can be something like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-stern/i-think-if-you-were-between-maybe-6-and-16-there-was-nothing-like/) [Alan Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-stern/) > [Apollo was a big, unwieldy vehicle. I had a problem with the flight controllers over that. It would try to fare its way like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-schirra/apollo-was-a-big-unwieldy-vehicle-i-had-a-problem-with-the-flight/) [Wally Schirra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-schirra/) > [I used to be a street performer, and performances on Venice Beach, it's like playing the Apollo: They let you know if they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/i-used-to-be-a-street-performer-and-performances-on-venice-beach-it-s/) [Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-hiroyuki-tagawa/) > [I owe much of my success to Seann Walsh. He kept recommending me for Live At The Apollo until eventually the producers offered me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/i-owe-much-of-my-success-to-seann-walsh-he-kept-recommending-me-for/) [Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/) > [A typical smart phone has more computing power than Apollo 11 when it landed a man on the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/a-typical-smart-phone-has-more-computing-power-than-apollo-11-when-it/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [Armstrong, sitting in the commander's seat, spacesuit on, helmet on, plugged into electrical and environmental umbilical's, is a man who is not only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/armstrong-sitting-in-the-commander-s-seat-spacesuit-on-helmet-on/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Have any of you taken a look out at Greece in the last, say, hour or so? (Hermes) What? Are they reacting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/have-any-of-you-taken-a-look-out-at-greece-in-the-last-say-hour-or-so/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“I couldn’t say I was surprised that Apollo hadn’t given me a lot to work on. The jerk was known for delivering little to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-l-armentrout/i-couldn-t-say-i-was-surprised-that-apollo-hadn-t-given-me-a-lot-to/) [Jennifer L. Armentrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-l-armentrout/) > [“As additional precautions, Kranz requested that a two-hundred-foot radio antenna (called a deep-space dish) in Australia be added to the global network tracking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-s-f-cooper-jr/as-additional-precautions-kranz-requested-that-a-two-hundred-foot/) Henry S.F. Cooper Jr > [“He saw her eyes bright as stars; he saw her lips, and was not satisfied with only seeing them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-saw-her-eyes-bright-as-stars-he-saw-her-lips-and-was-not-satisfied/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Among the gods, there is a dispute as to which one of them originally thought of Christianity; or, as they call it, the Great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-holt/among-the-gods-there-is-a-dispute-as-to-which-one-of-them-originally/) [Tom Holt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-holt/) [Browse all 382 Apollo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apollo/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Watching Billy Connolly at the Hammersmith Apollo in the late 90s was a masterclass of long-form comedy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Herring" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/watching-billy-connolly-at-the-hammersmith-apollo-in-the-late-90s-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Apollo" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/watching-billy-connolly-at-the-hammersmith-apollo-in-the-late-90s-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/richard-herring-5479_apollo_watching-billy-connolly-at-the-hammersmi_639749.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/richard-herring-5479_apollo_watching-billy-connolly-at-the-hammersmi_639749.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b71/richard-herring-5479_apollo_watching-billy-connolly-at-the-hammersmi_639749.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Watching Billy Connolly at the Hammersmith Apollo in the late 90s was a masterclass of long-form comedy.” — Richard Herring", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Herring", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-herring/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Watching Billy Connolly at the Hammersmith...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/watching-billy-connolly-at-the-hammersmith-apollo-in-the-late-90s-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-herring/watching-billy-connolly-at-the-hammersmith-apollo-in-the-late-90s-was/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```