Johnny Cochrane: Appeal

Sharing his name with the world’s most famous lawyer may not help his Google searchability, but it does wonders for Johnny Cochrane’s intro tape, which suggests that lots of famous Americans have been shouting about him. And one day they might, as he’s got it all: looks, hair, chutzpah and an admirably creative approach to staging your first standup hour.

Cochrane’s theme is actually ‘doing your first Edinburgh show’: he’s worked out what gets you famous and award-nominated and has a series of cue-cards to keep him to the all-important structure. The main points are also writ large on Pleasance Beneath’s big screen, as he negotiates the various steps. ‘Be Recognisable,’ for example, involves a journey through his TV work so far, including a reality show cameo, an ad, and a rather shocking bit on Crimewatch.

That video also sets up this show’s big moment, which suggests that Cochrane genuinely has been studying some of last year’s big buzz acts, the likes of Richard Gadd, Phil Nichol and Joel Dommett, whose shows all involved brilliant twists. This one is a little more obvious, but good fun all the same, and you can’t fault him for pushing the comedy boat out.

Cochrane pops up on TV fairly regularly already but isn’t quite the finished article yet, and while the ideas here are strong he never quite achieves the big roof-raising laughs. Still, it’s a strong debut, and you can well imagine him becoming a household name in the near future – and not just because of the guy he shares it with.