Apart from the growing status of stand-up comedy in various countries around the planet, it has also become a steady focus of four major international festivals. These major events include HBO s US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Just for Laughs in Montreal, Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland, and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in Australia. Stand-up comedy is a very stylish facet of the entertainment industry particularly that of comedy. It involves an individual technically-termed as a comedian, performing in front of a live audience. Face-to-face and personal interaction occurs as the comedian directly talks with the people. Now, usually a single person can get the job done with the help of a microphone which is either hand-held or placed on a stand. It usually deviates from the standards of comedy for a certain era and allows for varying styles of jokes and punch lines. An alternative comedian bases his acts on various factors, one of which is observational humour. This involves deriving humour from everyday happenings while focusing on one s very own weaknesses and shortcomings. He was an easy target due to the clear-cut mannerisms and fashion sense which allowed for numerous mechanisms of visual proximity. Televised talent shows provided an avenue for aspiring impressionists in the 70s. Lenny Henry is a prime success story that went through this career path. Mike Yarwood smoked the competition during the early stages of the 80s wherein his program showcased impressionist scene at its finest thus receiving high ratings and constant support from more than ten million spectators. Truly, merrymaking and festivities can turn dark moods around into light and soft exchanges of grins and smiles. At this point, let s venture into a part of the world where stand-up comedy has reached a level of high regard and acceptance. It s time to learn about the Japanese Manzai. Manzai is a variation of stand-up comedy found within the confines of the Land of the Rising Sun. The roots of US stand-up can be attributed to the development of popular entertainment schemes in the late 19th century, which included the likes of English Music Hall, Minstrel shows, circus clown antics, vaudeville, and humorist monologues. This comedic era featured individuals that generally carried out routines based on ethnicity and famous stereotypes.