The hit geek game show Star Trek vs Star Wars returns to The Edinburgh Fringe. Rik Carranza hosts the game show that pits some of the best comedians from around the festival as they debate, argue and entertain as they try to decide once and for all. Star Trek or Star Wars. Han Solo or Kirk, Spock or Yoda, Jar Jar or Neelix? Nothing is off limit as Rik leads the comedians through several rounds to test their comedy skills, their improv skills and their knowledge. Who wins? You decide. Featuring a rotating line up, who knows what will happen in each show?

"A fun filled hour with plenty to laugh at, presided over by a very skilled host."

★★★★

TheReviewsHub.com

"Rik is a delightful, knowledgeable host who has put together perfectly balanced, relaxed live quiz show." Squirrelcomedy.com

"If you're feeling the urge to geek out this is definitely worth a watch."

The Skinny

"Whether you're a trekkie or you believe in the force, not at all it's still a good comedy show."

ArtsAwardVoice

August 6, 2024   Edinburgh Live

Edinburgh Fringe performer 'forced to bring son on stage' after childcare mishap

A performer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was forced to bring his toddler son on stage - after his childcare fell through at the last minute.

Comedian Rik Carranza, who is hosting Star Trek vs Star Wars at the Three Sisters venue in Cowgate, was left in a pickle after his wife fell ill, and then his backup plan failed.

The host, who is from Edinburgh, shared his struggles on TikTok, says his three-year-old son Jonah refused to sit in the audience with his friend - meaning he had to hold him for the majority of the performance.

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Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Rik said: “My plan was that I’d collect Jonah, take him to the show and that he could sit in the audience with a friend who had rushed to the venue to try to help out.

“Unfortunately, after a long day at nursery, Jonah was a bit overwhelmed by everything, so I took him up on stage with me at the start of the show, hoping that he’d go and sit with my friend as the show progressed.

"I’m not sure if Jonah liked being in front of the crowd or he just wanted some daddy cuddles, but he spent the entire show on stage with me and at least half of it in my arms”

Rik says Jonah was the perfect co-host and was quiet and well behaved throughout the show, and the audience were accepting of the extra performer taking part.

“I think that Jonah might be taking after me in terms of enjoying being on stage," Rik said.

“His reports from nursery say that he enjoys making the other children laugh, so in years to come we might well end up doing a father and son show at the Fringe!”

Rik says Jonah behaved until the bucket speech at the end of the show, which is a free or pay-what-you-can show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The comic said: "What happens, is some of you have bought your tickets in advance - I really, really appreciate that you did that, thanks a lot.

"It does cost, even though this is a free festival, it still costs a lot for us to put on these shows, plus I've got a little one to feed, and pay for a babysitter right?"

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The audience laughs at this point as Rik is holding his wriggling son. He then goes on to say that he will be standing at the back for donations, but Jonah firmly puts his hand over Rik's mouth which gets a round of applause from the audience.

Rik then said: "I love you, little man!"

The comedian said this isn’t the only impact Jonah has had on Rik’s shows at this year’s Fringe. The three-year-old’s love of superheroes was the inspiration behind Rik’s debut Fringe show for children, Rik Carranza Presents: Marvel Vs DC which also began its run on Thursday.

As Rik explains, his decision to create a show aimed at young superhero fans was inspired by watching Jonah become interested in superheroes.

He said: “Seeing Jonah discover the superheroes I loved as a child – and still love – was pretty special for me. It was fascinating to watch him decide on his own favourites from quite a young age, and he has some pretty strong opinions about who he does and doesn’t like”

But seeing your son choose his own favourite superhero can be a bittersweet experience, as Rik discovered.

He explained: “I’m a huge Batman fan – my wife and I even had a Batman-themed cake topper on our wedding cake – and I must confess I was hoping that Jonah would love Batman too.

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"I even tried some subtle indoctrination in the form of dressing him in Batman romper suits when he was a baby, but it doesn’t seem to have worked and he's totally obsessed with Spiderman instead!”

Star Trek vs Star Wars is on until August 16, at The Three Sisters, more information here. Click Here For Article

August 6, 2024   Edinburgh Evening News

Edinburgh Festival Fringe comedian left holding the baby as childcare falls through on his opening night

It was a case of “the show must go on” for comedian Rik Carranza as he was left literally holding the baby on the opening night of his Star Trek Vs Star Wars comedy debate Fringe show.

With most comedians worrying about first night nerves, Edinburgh-based Rik had a bigger problem to deal with on Thursday, no childcare.

With his wife ill at home and unable to do the nursery pick up, and their planned childcare falling though at the last minute, Rik had no option but to take his son, three-year-old Jonah, with him to the show.

Rik said: “My plan was that I’d collect Jonah, take him to the show and that he could sit in the audience with a friend who had rushed to the venue to try to help out.

“Unfortunately, after a long day at nursery Jonah was a bit overwhelmed by everything, so I took him up on stage with me at the start of the show, hoping that he’d go and sit with my friend as the show progressed.

“I’m not sure if Jonah liked being in front of the crowd or he just wanted some daddy cuddles, but he spent the entire show on stage with me and at least half of it in my arms.”

Rik added that Jonah was the perfect co-host, and was quiet and well behaved throughout the show, and that the audience – having had the situation explained to them before the show got underway – were fully onboard with an extra performer taking part.

He said: “I think that Jonah might be taking after me in terms of enjoying being on stage. His reports from nursery say that he enjoys making the other children laugh, so in years to come we might well end up doing a father and son two-hander at the Fringe!”

Now in its sixth year, Rik Carranza Presents: Star Trek Vs Star Wars is a Fringe favourite and is also in demand both on the sci-fi convention circuit and on Rik’s popular Twitch stream.

Every day Rik is joined by two comedians and fellow geeks from across the Fringe, who battle it out to discover which is the best franchise, Star Trek or Star Wars, in the ultimate clash of the fandoms.

This isn’t the only impact Jonah has had on Rik’s shows at this year’s Fringe. The three-year-old’s love of superheroes was the inspiration behind Rik’s debut Fringe show for children, Rik Carranza Presents: Marvel Vs DC which also began its run on Thursday.

As Rik explained, his decision to create a show aimed at young superhero fans was inspired by watching Jonah become interested in superheroes.

He said: “Seeing Jonah discover the superheroes I loved as a child, and still love, was pretty special for me. It was fascinating to watch him decide on his own favourites from quite a young age, and he has some pretty strong opinions about who he does and doesn’t like.”

However, seeing your son choose his own favourite superhero can be a bittersweet experience, as Rik discovered.

He added: “I’m a huge Batman fan, my wife and I even had a Batman themed cake topper on our wedding cake, and I must confess, I was hoping that Jonah would love Batman too.

“I even tried some subtle indoctrination in the form of dressing him in Batman romper suits when he was a baby, but it doesn’t seem to have worked and he's totally obsessed with Spiderman instead!”

With dad Rik on team DC and son Jonah mad about Marvel, the idea for the new Marvel Vs DC show began to evolve.

Rik Carranza Presents: Marvel Vs DC is an interactive and action-packed hour-long show, aimed at children aged eight and over and will see kids battling it out in fun-filled tests of speed, strength, and courage in defence of their favourite franchise.

Rik Carranza Presents: Star Trek Vs Star Wars, 1 – 16 August, 5.15pm, at venue 272 – Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters – Maggie’s Front Room. Show suitability age 12 and over.

Rik Carranza Presents: Marvel Vs DC, 1– 18 August, 11: 45am, at venue 170 – Laughing Horse @ The Counting House – Lounge. Show suitability age 8 and over. Both shows are ‘pay what you can’. Click Here For Article

August 6, 2024   Daily Record

Edinburgh Fringe comedian forced to bring son on stage after childcare plans fall through

A performer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe was unexpectedly joined on stage by his toddler son after a last-minute childcare mishap. Comedian Rik Carranza found himself in a bit of a bind while hosting his Star Trek vs Star Wars show at the Three Sisters venue in Cowgate on Thursday.

The Edinburgh-born comic revealed that his wife had become ill before his backup babysitting plan fell through. To make sure Rik was still able to perform, three-year-old Jonah came along to the show and was sitting with a friend in the audience.

But the youngster was restless and wanted to be with his dad, leading to Rik holding Jonah for most of the show. Posting about the unusual incident on TikTok, Rik joked that "even comedians have bring your child to work days!"

Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Rik said: "My plan was that I'd collect Jonah, take him to the show and that he could sit in the audience with a friend who had rushed to the venue to try to help out.

"Unfortunately, after a long day at nursery, Jonah was a bit overwhelmed by everything, so I took him up on stage with me at the start of the show, hoping that he'd go and sit with my friend as the show progressed.

"I'm not sure if Jonah liked being in front of the crowd or he just wanted some daddy cuddles, but he spent the entire show on stage with me and at least half of it in my arms".

Rik praised Jonah for being the perfect co-host, noting that he was quiet and well-behaved throughout the performance. The Star Trek vs Star Wars audience also warmly welcomed Jonah's impromptu addition to the show.

Rik said: "I think that Jonah might be taking after me in terms of enjoying being on stage. His reports from nursery say that he enjoys making the other children laugh, so in years to come we might well end up doing a father and son show at the Fringe!"

Rik told how Jonah was well-behaved until the bucket speech at the end of his free or pay-what-you-can show at the Fringe. The comic said to his audience: "What happens, is some of you have bought your tickets in advance - I really, really appreciate that you did that, thanks a lot.

"It does cost, even though this is a free festival, it still costs a lot for us to put on these shows, plus I've got a little one to feed, and pay for a babysitter right?"

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The audience laughed at Rik's clever joke about his childcare issues, before the comedian mentioned that he would be at the back for donations. At this point, a squirming Jonah put his hand over Rik's mouth, earning a round of applause from the crowd. Rik then affectionately said: "I love you, little man!"

The comedian also revealed that Jonah's passion for superheroes has influenced his performances at this year's Fringe, inspiring Rik's debut children's show, 'Rik Carranza Presents: Marvel Vs DC', which kicked off on Thursday.

He said: "Seeing Jonah discover the superheroes I loved as a child and still love was pretty special for me. It was fascinating to watch him decide on his own favourites from quite a young age, and he has some pretty strong opinions about who he does and doesn't like".

But Jonah's perferences have caused a bit of an issue for his nostalgic dad. Rik explained: "I'm a huge Batman fan. My wife and I even had a Batman-themed cake topper on our wedding cake and I must confess I was hoping that Jonah would love Batman too.

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"I even tried some subtle indoctrination in the form of dressing him in Batman romper suits when he was a baby, but it doesn't seem to have worked and he's totally obsessed with Spiderman instead!"

Star Trek vs Star Wars is running until August 16 at The Three Sisters. You can fine more information HERE. Click Here For Article

July 24, 2024   

Edinburgh Fringe: 6 Shit-Hot Must-See Acts

The Fringe guide reads like the phone book these days, with so many acts lining up to entertain you, but which ones should you invest your time and hard-earned dosh on? Sure, it’s a matter of taste. I mean, some folk will pay hundreds of quid just to see a middle-aged man in a fake hot air balloon, singing theme tunes from 70s TV shows. Each to their own, I guess.


But that’s not what the Fringe is about. It’s like that holiday in Thailand when you took that hooker back to your apartment and learned a new meaning to the phrase “gender reveal”. Roll the dice man, take a chance! Sure, it’s down to personal taste, but the Fringe is like a swinger’s party; there’s something for everyone.

So, throw your keys in the bowl. Here are six acts not to miss if you want to get some comedy diversity and proper belly laughs.

Lou Taylor: Jeans and a Nice Top

Lou Taylor is an online sensation, with nearly 20 million views of her sketches. She comes to the Fringe for the first time, and with the following she has, I’d expect to see her shows packed out. 90s fans are in for a treat., Lou will take you back to a time when life was so much simpler, more fun, but still a bit shite.

How much? £12

Where and when? Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Three 8:30 (1 hour)

What to expect: 90s nostalgia, and plenty of proper laughs


Mark Nelson: Getting Better Man

Multi award-winning comedian Mark Nelson has built a huge reputation in the comedy scene, but for me, he still hasn’t got the recognition he fully deserves. Expect plenty of football banter; Mark confesses that even though he’s a huge fan of his national team, he’s found it very difficult to hate the England team recently. He managed to, but it was difficult. He came out the other side of COVID a new man, despite having to home-school his kids; a time so stressful, he was certain he’d be the first person to be involved in a home-school shooting.

How much? Pay what you want, but it’s a good idea to get tickets in advance.

Where and when? Monkey Barrel Comedy (The Hive). 19.05 (1 hour)

What to expect: Pure Nelson


Rik Carranza Presents: Star Trek vs Star Wars

I’ve been to a few of these and I’ve never seen a bad one.

We all know Jar Jar Binks is a better sci-fi character than Mr Spock. Don’t agree? Then let’s settle this af the Fringe. So, which is better- Star Trek or Star Wars? There’s only one way to find out…go check out this innovative gem of a show which is back for its sixth run at the Fringe. Host Rik Carranza invites comedians from across the Fringe get their light sabers and phasers out to sort it out once and for all.

How much? Pay what you can

Where and when? Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters 17.15 (1 hour)

What to expect: Geek wars


Phil O’Shea: Never Pretend to Be an Owl!

If you like your “Reeves and Mortimer” you’ll love Phil O’Shea. Phil is one half of the popular Soup Group comedy duo and takes his one-man show to the Fringe. One of my favourite Phil O’Shea jokes involves a man who invented the world’s most powerful binoculars. They were so strong that he could see right around the world. Unfortunately, when he looked through them, all he could see was the back of his head. Take your time…

How much? £10

Where and when? The Stand Comedy Club- Club 2 21:30 (1 hour)

What to expect: Owls


Martin Mor: Three Thousand, One Hundred and Twenty Nine Weeks

Mor knows how to work the crowd and this brilliant showman showman is back again, with another must-see show. Never one to hold back on a hot topic, Northern-Ireland funnyman Mor is looking at living to at least 80-years old. He’s already had 3,129 weeks of that, but what will he do with the 871 weeks that he has got left? It’ll be well worth the tenner to find out.

How much? £10

Where and when? The Stand Comedy Club- Club 5 and 6 20:20 (1 hour)

What to expect: Plenty of side-splitting banter with the audience


Bella Humphries: Square Peg

Bella Humphries' star is on the rise, so catch her now. Originally from Swindon, but now based in North Wales, this is her debut Fringe show. It’s the story of someone trying to find their feet in life, before being given an unexpected diagnosis. No spoilers here, but when life throws shit at you, perhaps the best thing to do is laugh at it. You’ll come away well entertained, and maybe even educated too.

How much? £8

Where and when? Just the Tonic Mash House – Just the Bottle Room 18.10 (1 hour)

What to expect: Why you sometimes have to work your arse off just to be yourself


Fred Spanner will be appearing at Ray Fordyce’s Vibrant and Vivacious Variety Show, West Oracle, Edinburgh Fringe, 6.15pm, Saturday 3rd August 2024. Click Here For Article