The Fab Four: The Mount Rushmore Of Always Be Comedy

Every comedy club has its legends. The acts who seem more at home at a gig than they ever did in the womb. But at Always Be Comedy, there is a specific tier of comedian that goes beyond "legend."

The topic of "Mount Rushmore" comes up a lot on the Always Be Comedy podcast (say, in the realm of sitcom, or history of British comedy, and so on). And so it's time to present our own.

We’re talking about the acts that are woven into the very DNA of Always Be Comedy. They are the ones who have been with us since the jump almost 14-and-a-half years ago. We love them more than most blood relatives (actually, as we think of Christmases gone by, this isn't the compliment we thought it was).

To explain: in US history, Mount Rushmore represents the founding fathers and the preservers of the nation. In Kennington (and Chelsea and online... and including all the other ABC nights we've done), it represents the four acts who helped define exactly what Always Be Comedy is.

And, to any comedians miffed they're not in the four, this next piece of information is crucial: these are the four acts who've played the night more than anyone else. And, frankly, long may that continue.

Ladies and gentlemen, lovingly grab your chisels. Here is the Mount Rushmore of ABC:

🏔 Nish Kumar

The Intellectual Rockstar Nish might love Bob Dylan, but he's our very own Eddie Vedder. Cerebral, passionate and - to quote Bill Hicks - he plays from his f*cking heart. Oh, and he's really, really funny. Yes, he's one of the great political comedians, but he can frankly do the lot: there's not a comedian on the planet who wouldn't love, for example, his routine about the drummer from Coldplay. Broad, accessible and very silly. We also can't emphasise this enough: he's one of the best comedians we've ever seen.

Why he’s on the rock: He is the gold standard of energy. Not just a front-foot comedian, but a foot-on-throat comedian. To any aspiring acts reading this, this is also crucial: Nish performs every single Always Be Comedy as if his very life depends on it. He treats a club set with the same energy as a TV taping. We've seen some acts phone it in. This lad wouldn't know how.

🏔 Sara Pascoe

The Smart Best Friend Dame Sara possesses the key comedic attribute you can't teach: she's innately likeable. Yes, she's got the smarts. Yes, she's recommended pretty much every great book we've ever read. But, on top of all that, you want to be her pal. And, like a friend, she shares the intimate stuff — it could be things that have happened that very day, relationships, the sort of anecdotes that cause the jaw to drop — and ol' Pascarelli turns it all into comedy gold. Her sets are a masterclass in making a room of strangers feel like a group of old friends catching up. Sara has also bailed us out at the 11th hour multiple times down the years (we can hear her say: "I am very successful!" We know - it makes the fact you've helped us in the way you have all the more remarkable) - a true mensch. We are grateful to know her.

Why she’s on the rock: She is one of the most generous performers we’ve ever hosted. Sara has that rare ability to make you smarter while you’re laughing. She trusts our audience with her rawest, freshest ideas, and watching her work an idea from a notebook scribble to a polished gem and then into a tour show is a privilege. She's one of the best - on and off stage.

🏔 Romesh Ranganathan

He's Still Rommy From The Block He might be a bigger star than Adele these days (citation needed? It's fine - we're sort of in it now), but he's still Rommy From The Block (what we mean is, this lad still wants absolutely rinsing before a gig). What's more, Romesh is proof that you can be one of the biggest stars in the country and still be obsessed with the craft of club comedy. Also, as the late Norm Macdonald said of his friend Adam Sandler: "He's grown up with his movies," we've seen Rom grow with his comedy. He's gone from Mr Sardonic to a more confessional comedian, unafraid to spill details from family life, from social situations and, indeed, his most-private thoughts. We can safely say this too: we've enjoyed seeing him rise from open mic rising star to arena-filling megastar way more than he has. And no wonder: we've had front-row seats from the off.

Why he’s on the rock: Very few work harder. If a comedian pulls out citing tiredness, we think of Rom. The dude's got a hectic family life, has made more TV than Judith Chalmers and still manages to gig more than Status Quo. And nobody wishes these references were more current than we do.

🏔 Brett Goldstein

The Local Hero As Jose Mourinho once said: "It took me 10 years to become an overnight success." He could have been talking about Brett, who'd been grafting on the circuit night after night before the big Roy Kent-shaped breakthrough. The rest, as Roy might say, is fakkin' 'istory. After all, before he was winning Emmys for Ted Lasso and hanging out with The Muppets, Brett was a big favourite at Always Be Comedy. Inded, here's a pre-Lasso story: Brett always preferred going in the middle on a mixed bill, rather than headline. He's ever so British. No fuss, thank you very much. But after years of roofing it in the middle, we essentially begged him to close. "You are an icon of The Tommyfield," we assured him. He grudgingly gave in. "Fine." But you knew he wasn't thrilled. Jump cut to the big night. Brett standing behind the bar in the upstairs comedy room. No fewer than three different people approached him and asked Brett to serve them a drink. It provided the first few minutes of his set: "I'm an icon of The Tommyfield, apparently..." You are, old friend. And you always will be.

Why he’s on the rock: Loyalty. Brett is a Hollywood star with the major awards and US chat show appearances to prove it. But he's still the same old G who plays ABC.

But... who is on your mountain?

This is our list. It’s the four faces we’d carve into the side of the venue if the council (and the venue's owners) allowed it.

But the beauty of comedy is that everyone’s list is different.

• Maybe your Rushmore features the surreal brilliance of Harry Hill?

• Maybe it’s the chaotic mastery of Judi Love?

• Maybe you’d reserve a spot for super Kevin Bridges?

• Or perhaps it's a rising star you saw here first who is about to go stratospheric? Hello, Josh Pugh

We want to know. If you had to pick four comedians to immortalise in stone to represent your time at Always Be Comedy, who makes the cut?

Drop your Mount Rushmore in the comments below (or reply to the email).

Let the debate begin. 👇