How John Bishop's Life Inspired Bradley Cooper's New Comedy-Drama
COMEDY GOLD: Tinseltown Titan Bradley Cooper Trades in Blockbusters for Breakup Laughs with John Bishop-Inspired Comedy
In a shocking career move, Hollywood A-lister Bradley Cooper has traded in his blockbuster films for a comedy drama about divorce and stand-up comedy. The multi-Oscar-nominated actor directs, produces, and even operates the camera on "Is This Thing On?", based on the life of British comedian John Bishop.
This unlikely Venn diagram of people may raise eyebrows, but critics are already raving about Cooper's unique foray into comedy. Will Arnett stars as Alex, a wannabe comic whose newfound hobby threatens to upend his marriage to Laura Dern's Tess. But what happens when the couple discovers that their relationship is the real punchline?
The film is loosely based on Bishop's own story of getting his start in comedy after signing up for an open mic night at a Liverpool club in 2000, mere weeks after separating from his wife Melanie. What started as a joke-filled therapy session turned into a career-defining moment when his wife watched one of his shows and was reminded of the man she married. They reconciled, and Bishop's stand-up career took off.
Producer Kris Thykier met Bishop at a film premiere party in 2016 and was blown away by his incredible story. "I asked him about how he got into comedy, and he told me this amazing tale," Thykier revealed to The Scholarly Note. "I said, 'That's a movie!' And that's exactly what we made."
Thykier, married to Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman, admits that they tweaked the story to make it more universal by transposing Bishop's life to America. Cooper, who has directed three films so far, including "A Star Is Born" and "Maestro", has had his fair share of critics questioning his credentials.
However, Cooper's directorial debut "Is This Thing On?" is already generating Oscar buzz. The actor, known for boisterous comedies like "The Hangover" trilogy, has shown a remarkable tonal shift in his work behind the camera. He even serves as camera operator on this film, alongside lead actor Will Arnett and veteran sitcom writer Mark Chappell.
In an exclusive interview with ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show, Cooper revealed that filmmaking is akin to team sports: "If one of the 11 messes up, the whole thing screws up. Same thing in a movie set." He emphasized the importance of key positions on set, from camera operators to dolly grips.
Bishop himself has spoken about the moment that inspired Cooper's film, when his marriage hit rock bottom and he felt like a "broken record". But it was stand-up comedy that helped him find solace and eventually win back his wife. He even left his high-paying job in marketing to pursue a career as a comedian.
"I walked away from my life," Bishop confessed to The Irish Times. "I had everything: a mortgage, a pension plan, BUPA health insurance... But I wanted to make strangers laugh."
And make them laugh he did. Bishop's comedy career took off with awards like the BBC Radio Merseyside Best Newcomer in 2004 and the North West Comedy Award for Best Stand-up in 2004.
But what's more impressive is his commitment to social causes, including advocating for LGBT rights and supporting same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland. In a heart-wrenching speech at the NatWest British LGBT Awards, Bishop spoke about being an ally to his gay son: "I brought my whole family with me... Like all parents, we have problems with them. One of my sons has a tattoo on his ankle that was meant to be Africa but looks like Australia..."
Bishop's emotional acceptance speech touched the hearts of millions and highlighted the importance of love and acceptance in our society.
As Cooper's "Is This Thing On?" continues to generate buzz, one thing is clear: this film is not just about divorce and comedy, but also about the power of love, family, and self-discovery.