The latest cinematic offering from acclaimed director Bradley Cooper, titled Is This Thing On?, draws its inspiration from an unlikely source: the unconventional comedy journey of Liverpool's own John Bishop. The film explores the nerve-wracking world of stand-up through a fictional lens, with star Will Arnett undergoing a uniquely challenging preparation process that involved intentionally failing on stage.
From Manchester Club to Hollywood Script
John Bishop's entry into comedy was anything but planned. In October 2000, while navigating a divorce from his wife Melanie, the then 34-year-old salesman found himself at Manchester's Frog and Bucket comedy club. Rather than paying the £4 entry fee, Bishop signed up for the open mic night, performing to a sparse audience and unknowingly launching what would become a celebrated career.
"I found this thing that I just loved, but I was never sure it would be a job ever," Bishop reveals. "It took a number of years for me to build up to it and I was 40 when I left my job, so it was a completely different stage than what you see in the film."
The Birth of a Film Concept
The genesis of Is This Thing On? occurred during a chance meeting between Bishop and actor Will Arnett on a barge in Amsterdam. Joined by writer Mark Chappell, the trio began developing what would become Cooper's latest directorial project. While Bishop contributed to early script stages, he deliberately stepped back to allow Arnett and Chappell creative freedom to adapt the story for an American setting.
The resulting narrative follows Alex Novak, a finance professional who accidentally discovers New York's comedy scene, mirroring Bishop's own unexpected entry into stand-up. The film explores not just career transformation but personal reinvention during life's challenging transitions.
The Art of Intentional Failure
To authentically portray a comedian's difficult early days, Will Arnett undertook an unusual acting challenge: he performed deliberately unfunny material to real comedy club audiences. This required him to experience the unique humiliation of bombing on stage, something most performers actively avoid.
"It was important to us that he doesn't come out and be the Michael Jordan of comedy the first time," Arnett explains about his character's journey. "There was a night that I bombed particularly badly, and what was so glaring was the contrast because I'd done the same material five minutes before and it had gone really well."
The Sound of Silence
Arnett describes the experience of complete comedic failure as both terrifying and strangely enlightening. "It wasn't even crickets, it was silence," he recalls. "At first that was really daunting and very scary, and at the same time, there's something kind of magical about bombing that much because it's so quiet and you have to stay up there and do it."
The actor found a perverse humor in the situation, noting that such extreme failure becomes almost funny in its own right. This authentic experience informed his portrayal of a character discovering comedy through trial and significant error.
Beyond Comedy: A Story of Personal Discovery
Is This Thing On? extends beyond stand-up comedy to explore broader themes of personal fulfillment and relationship dynamics. The film follows both Alex (Arnett) and his wife Tess (Laura Dern) as they navigate separation and individual identity searches following their divorce.
Dern's character, a former athlete who dedicated her life to a sport she no longer plays, undergoes her own journey of rediscovery parallel to Alex's comedic awakening. The actress notes that the film serves as "a reminder to make a conscious decision to choose happiness" in daily life.
"Every day we have to reignite our passion," Dern reflects. "The luxury of having lives where - whether it's being in partnership or parenting... If we're lucky enough to have a job we actually love, even still life happens to us and you have to work to reignite your joy."
A Meritocratic Art Form
John Bishop emphasizes the democratic nature of stand-up comedy that the film captures. "The big thing with stand-up comedy is it's a meritocracy," he observes. "You know if you're good because you make more people laugh in the room than the other acts on the bill."
This supportive yet competitive environment, where community feedback directly indicates success, forms a central theme in both Bishop's real journey and the fictional narrative of Is This Thing On?. The film celebrates not just finding one's path but actively choosing to pursue what brings genuine fulfillment, however unexpected that path might be.
Now showing in cinemas, Bradley Cooper's latest directorial effort offers audiences both laughter and thoughtful reflection on second acts, career changes, and the courage required to pursue passion against conventional wisdom.
