I was disappointed to find that I had gone to a sell-out comedy show, only to watch jokes I’d already seen performed on TV.

Stephen K Amos has done some brilliant work’brilliant enough that I’ve got tapes of his routines from various comedy festivals, including his set for Melbourne International Comedy Festival’s Great Debate in 2005, which I also saw live. The topic was ‘Does God have a sense of humour?’

Unfortunately, this just means I have video proof that Amos’s routine this year was peppered with stale material. His latest set contains a good handful of religion-themed jokes lifted from the 2005 debate.

I know that all comedians recycle stuff’sometimes a joke is too good not to repeat’but this is two years after the fact. I expect a little more effort from an A-list comedian like Amos. He is, after all, a great talent.

Several jokes from this year’s set had me cackin’ me pants, as he wove tales of his childhood with observations about race and culture and ruminations on religion. And, like a true seasoned performer, Amos knows how to interact with an audience.

When he brought up football, a man in the audience shouted out, ‘Eagles!’

Quick as a flash, Amos said, ‘Penguins! What game are we playing?’

Now that’s skill.

I’m an Amos fan. I always have been. I think he’s a clever, snappy fellow. But he ought to avoid those live repeats.

Finished reading this article? You might also like:

• Guinness Great Debate: Ignorance Is Bliss
• Melbourne International Comedy Festival Annual Gala
• Stephen K. Amos