Analysis of Russell Brand

What makes Russell Brand funny? (assuming of course you find him so. From my reading, not everyone does)

First of all, it is the complete package. I'm not sure Mr. Brand is as funny if you just experience the audio of his performances (a failing common to many stand up comics). His humour is conveyed as much through gesture as spoken word (his demonstration of him "boogying" from the "Shame" DVD is an example).

Visually he is Jim Morrison/Michael Hutchence with just the slightest touch of drag queen (something he is well aware of. Jack Sparrow is also hinted at, but this may be a case of the chicken and the egg. There are the shadows of Mick Jagger and John Cleese as well).

Performance wise? There are hints of Oscar Wilde (refinded naughtiness), Robin Williams (seeming freeform construction) and Lenny Bruce (shock value and reading from newspapers), but he himself is oh so English (as is Little Britain, as show with roots as far back a British music hall), his lines dotted with Victorian phrasing for example (using the word "farthing" on Leno is brave if obscure). Clever word play abounds, childlike and underground urban all at once.

At the end of the day though, it all comes together into something totally new. He will appeal to well read audiences with more than half a brain. His chances of success in the U.S. are therefore diminished.

Anyway, any comic who can reference Ophelia and Dante in the same piece has got me...