Matt Kirshen: Keep Smiling, Matt. Just Keep Smiling

Matt Kirshen has just returned to Edinburgh after a year out appearing on US reality-talent show Last Comic Standing. He didn’t win, but considering how enthusiastically his material is received by the Fringe audience, we should be thankful the Americans didn’t snatch him when they had the chance.

His time abroad has not been wasted: Kirshen returns to the Festival with a wealth of anecdotes to add to an act already packed with wry observations on people’s sillier practices. He may announce early on that those from the US aren't stupid, but there aren't many shining examples of intellect among his stories' casts.

Some of his best jokes concern Scientology and Judaism—not exactly hard targets—but he does so from off kilter perspectives that keep each skit from following too closely in anyone else’s footsteps.

The only thing that really holds the show back is the manner in which it is all delivered. You can't help but think Kirshen has studied a lot of comics and his performance is such a fine example of good stand-up practice that there's nothing about his style that really marks him out from the rest.

But that is a minor quibble. Kirshen's material is first class and all well observed and weighted. To his credit his enthusiasm is also infectious enough to keep the crowd giggling throughout the set. It is lucky that, as Kirshen bemusedly points out, he didn't bring enough of "it" to Last Comic Standing. If he had done he might not have been able to make it back this year either.