I suppose the new puritanism is to blame. The PC thing has gone to ridiculous lengths in the world of entertainment.

Was it Cromwell who tried to ban Christmas? It has that sort of feel to it.

Observationnal comedy is all very well if you are gifted with powers of original observation and an solid technique in stagecraft and performance. Thers nowhere much for people to learn the craft. the traddies took it as a perdsonal affront when the folk clubs were used briefly for that purpose. And the unanimity that Brexiters are all wankers   seems to go down well in right-on comedy clubs - but it bores the bollocks off the general population. And its not really original at this point.

the trouble is you need to be a bit of a fuck up like Lenny bruce, or Tony Hancock to have that burst of originality.

And it does come only in bursts - otherwise you end up like Billy Connolly doing Stan Boardman's not very funny nit nurse routine. Its not something that just sustains like being an actor or a singer. Even the greatest comedians know that they can't take their bucket to well indefinitely.

comedy is a rare and wonderful gift to us all. but its a delicate flower. As Richard III said - weight it with the grossness of the age. that's why its all but disappeared.