Russell Brand in New York City

With his wild mane of dark hair making him look like a male Medusa, Russell Brand backs up his flamboyant image with a wicked wit and self deprecating spirit that lets North American audiences see and hear the comic mind that's ruffled more than a few feathers across the pond. This concert comes after his hosting of MTV's Video Music Awards and, in tandem with his scene stealing as "Aldous Snow" in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", is from where most on this side of the Atlantic know him best.

At first, he wasn't ideal for the original role of a man who comes between Jason Segel and Kristen Bell in "Forgetting". Then the creators met him and changed the part from a button down preppy author into the wild pop star much more germane to Brand's built in flair for the comedic. Now his love life and drug soaked past are taking over publicity wise from his artistic output, as tabloids wait for the next tidbit of Russell gossip.

And here, he pokes fun at the very chaste (according to their PR) Jonas brothers, having to explain exactly why he's famous to those not fully in the know, jokes about using the internet for endless self examination (calling one vast resource "MeTube"), tells why shooting for months in Hawaii is very different from a vacationing week or two in the lovely state, deciphers various death threats sent via the true coward's medium (e-mail) and let's his very British joie de vivre run amok in New York City.

Brand has a bright future ahead of him, if he keeps choosing roles like "Aldous Snow" and sticking to his truly literate guns. This Essexian addition to Judd Apatow's repertory company is someone too smart and talented for the typical star driven vehicle films. I hope to see him in more projects worthy of his time and ours.