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The British Comedy Show Appreciation Thread - Page 4

post #151 of 538
6/25/08 at 3:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post
Yeah, I've got some some nice memories of watching his shows when I was growing up. Nice to see he has some admirers here.

Here's another clip (predates Army of Darkness by several years)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VNRZl_fuquY
Ha! And people would have you believe that "dark" comedy was a recent invention.

Anyway, there's only one way to answer that clip:

The End is Nigh
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post #152 of 538
6/26/08 at 3:27pm
That's almost too much talent up there onscreen, like Michael Mann's Heat times two or something (and I'm not just saying that cos Terry Jones looks BADLY like Deniro in that clip)
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post #153 of 538
6/26/08 at 4:20pm
dave allen was our george carlin, I miss him too. I saw him on tv when i was too young and he blew me away.

I'd put him into the british creative eccentric category (even though he was from dublin). did you know he fathered a child in 2005, the same year he died (possibly born after he died). I also liked the story where he bit his own finger off.
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post #154 of 538
6/26/08 at 7:15pm
Definitely some equivalence, but I doubt Carlin would have ever considered signing off with "good night, and may your God go with you". Dave was just pure class (not a knock on Carlin, by the way).
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post #155 of 538
6/26/08 at 7:46pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post
That's almost too much talent up there onscreen, like Michael Mann's Heat times two or something (and I'm not just saying that cos Terry Jones looks BADLY like Deniro in that clip)
Ha!

The Secret Policeman's Balls were great for that sort of thing. It's the funniest people ever on stage together with an added "hey look, it's Eleanor Bron and David Rappaport!" factor to keep you occupied during any lulls.

They resurrected the format in 2006 with a show that had appearances by Jimmy Fallon, Seth Green and Chevy Chase for some reason or other. It was fairly grim.

Anyway, speaking of Terry Jones his recent history shows, Medieval Lives and Barbarians have been excellent. I'm not sure if they'd have been on Discovery outside the UK but they're worth a watch and TJ is still the man you'd most like to be your uncle. He'd still look like Bob DeNiro if you squint a bit and Bobby ate few more pies

Classic Jones!

Ron Obvious l

and no-one will ever tire of Whizzo Chocs
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post #156 of 538
6/27/08 at 3:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
You never see Terry Jones and Jake LaMotta in the same place at the same time, do you? Something to think about.

Those TJ history shows sound good. Palin's travel docs proved to me that the Pythons can do more than just comedy.
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post #157 of 538
6/27/08 at 3:39pm
Whoops, I suppose there's Gilliam as well! but you know what I mean.
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post #158 of 538
6/27/08 at 5:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post
You never see Terry Jones and Jake LaMotta in the same place at the same time, do you? Something to think about.

Those TJ history shows sound good. Palin's travel docs proved to me that the Pythons can do more than just comedy.
If it turned out that Bobby DeNiro had been a 35 year practical joke by Terry Jones, it would at least go some way to explaining his film choices since roughly Ronin.

His history shows are really great. I hope you can track them down outside the UK but I'm sure they're relatively easy to get hold of.

The thing about the Pythons - and for that matter many of comedy's finest - is that they all fall somewhere between reasonably and very intelligent - Graham Chapman was a practicing doctor! - so can quite happily switch between "funny comedy man" and "that personable travelogue narrator/Medieval history expert/visionary, yet cursed director."

I, for one, would be very interested in Zoology Graduate Chris Morris eventually replacing the Greatest Living Englishman, David Attenborough, as the BBC's resident Naturalist!

Good comedy is generally made by clever people, preferably mixing the clever with being as silly as they possibly can be.

On a related-ish topic, the Comedy song is a really hard thing to do unless it's written by a proficiant musician. which is why Eric the Half-a-Bee, say, is a better proposition than any number of Topical Calypsos!
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post #159 of 538
6/27/08 at 5:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
Graham Chapman was a practicing doctor!
Harry Hill too, unless I'm very much mistaken. I definitely agree with you on the intelligence part.

Quote:
the Comedy song is a really hard thing to do unless it's written by a proficiant musician.
Do Abba count?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oPlF0oIHgAE

(I know, not exactly very sophisticated, but it's in my all time top ten AP bits. Never fails to make me bust up)
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post #160 of 538
6/27/08 at 6:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post
Harry Hill too, unless I'm very much mistaken. I definitely agree with you on the intelligence part.
Harry Hill is indeed a qualified GP, which is a fact that seems more marvellous the more you think about it. I wouldn't say clever is mandatory for the funny but it certainly helps in almost all cases.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post
Do Abba count?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=oPlF0oIHgAE

(I know, not exactly very sophisticated, but it's in my all time top ten AP bits. Never fails to make me bust up)
I absolutely love that bit! Abba, despite being no favourites of mine, know a catchy hook or two! Anyway, I also have love for the Kate Bush Medley which is slightly cleverer! They both come up on my iPod every now and again and make laughter happen.

Speaking of, episode 4 of series 2 of On The Hour came up on shuffle today and made me laugh so hard walking up the street that I've felt the need to stick it on the internet
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post #161 of 538
6/30/08 at 4:20pm
Morris at his very best! The French report is especially great, but it's all solid gold really. Also, essential research material for anybody wanting to track the evolution of Partridge. "no...no.... you know... come on, w-w-w-WHEN?"

Another fave OTH Partridge memory is when he's talking to the sumo wrestler and keeps commenting on how the interviewee is "REALLY QUITE FAT", which of course leads to suffocation. That was one of the many great OTH bits that ended up in a slightly remixed form on The Day Today (except there, instead of a wrestler Partridge gets into trouble with a judo expert played by David Schneider aka Tony LeMesmer aka Tony Hayers aka Resident Physical Cartoonist BRANT!)

I think the radio work has its own unique charm, with Morris, Coogan et al forced to rely on just their voices. And I say that as someone who loves The Day Today and the Partridge TV stuff, and all the expressions/mugging contained therein. Have you ever listened to the Knowing Me, Knowing You radio series?

Quote:
I absolutely love that bit! Abba, despite being no favourites of mine, know a catchy hook or two! Anyway, I also have love for the Kate Bush Medley which is slightly cleverer!
I love the Kate Bush medley too, though the original Comic Relief version is a better performance in my opinion (told you I was a Partridge nerd): http://youtube.com/watch?v=PJbjAwvRWLs

But if it was a life or death situation and I was forced to choose between the two medleys, I'd have to say the Swedish quartet would wipe the floor with Kate every single time. Not literally, that would be hideous. [/Alan]

Seriously though, I just like everything about the Abba one e.g. the way he tries to stuff every last Abba song title in there before it ends. Plus, Rebecca Front is quite lovely.
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post #162 of 538
6/30/08 at 4:25pm
PS: new Coogan sighting: Saw him in a clip from Finding Amanda with Matthew Broderick
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post #163 of 538
6/30/08 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post
Morris at his very best! The French report is especially great, but it's all solid gold really.
Sadly enough, myself and friends can - and very often do - recite quite a lot of that French bit and the one from the other Jacques Ouef bit on a whim. The delivery of the line "Le Pape, il vomir les carrottes cubique dans le tete d'une baby!" is one of the greatest ever.

Also good from that episode is Patrick Marber's "I'm not saying that we're going to burn old people, I'm saying old people... may... burn"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post
Also, essential research material for anybody wanting to track the evolution of Partridge. "no...no.... you know... come on, w-w-w-WHEN?"
I love that interview. It was sort of re-worked for the TV as well - was it on a Mini-news - where Alan interviews Doon MacKichan in the locker room as she changes her top and he pulls one of the great "mesmerised by tit" faces of our time.

Quote:
I think the radio work has its own unique charm, with Morris, Coogan et al forced to rely on just their voices. And I say that as someone who loves The Day Today and the Partridge TV stuff, and all the expressions/mugging contained therein.
I'd go out on a limb and say that On the Hour is - possibly not better - but at least as good as The Day Today. Different beasts of course, but on the radio you had Lee & Herring's Audio Pull-outs and the marvellous Urine Man. And more horse-racing results. Man, those have provided me with Pub Quiz team names to this day! I would have given anything to have been in the brainstorming sessions where they came up with those.

The Day Today does have some excellent mugging, though. And it does have the line "Jockey folklore says that if you cock up the Queen Henry, you might as well ride the Derby on a cow"

And this

Quote:
Have you ever listened to the Knowing Me, Knowing You radio series?
I have and I love it. I've not actually had it on in years, though. I must dig it out. There's a lot more crossover of situations/guests from radio to TV than there was with On The Hour as I recall.

Quote:
I love the Kate Bush medley too, though the original Comic Relief version is a better performance in my opinion (told you I was a Partridge nerd): http://youtube.com/watch?v=PJbjAwvRWLs
Believe it or not, I was actually looking for that version! I was always disappointed that the outside broadcast Radio Norwich stuff from Comic Relief was on the KMKY(?) DVD but not that Kate Bush Medley. PRS reasons, I suppose, but still!

Quote:
But if it was a life or death situation and I was forced to choose between the two medleys, I'd have to say the Swedish quartet would wipe the floor with Kate every single time. Not literally, that would be hideous. [/Alan]
Chortle!

Quote:
Seriously though, I just like everything about the Abba one e.g. the way he tries to stuff every last Abba song title in there before it ends. Plus, Rebecca Front is quite lovely.
That's all true, actually. Plus there's the bit where he tries to hit the high-note in "Thank You For the Music", realises it's way past his range and drops the key about an octave-and-a-half.

Quote:
PS: new Coogan sighting Saw him in a clip from Finding Amanda with Matthew Broderick
He's so hot right now!
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post #164 of 538
7/1/08 at 8:42am
Its also worth checking out some of the raido shows on bbc4 (half of them end up as tv shows in any case.)

The Museum of Everthing is one of the funniest things around at the moment.
Much love for Marcus Brigstock (sp).

And the Now Show staring former Mary Whitehouse(ers) Punt and Dennis.
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post #165 of 538
7/1/08 at 6:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
Also good from that episode is Patrick Marber's "I'm not saying that we're going to burn old people, I'm saying old people... may... burn"
Marber was a very good performer, what with his copper kettle antics and reports as Peter O'Hanrahanrahanrahan (one too many? damn, I always overshoot!). He's like a hot shit writer now or something. Was quite weird knowing that he was up against fellow TDT wordsmith Peter Baynham at the 2007 Oscars.


Quote:
I love that interview. It was sort of re-worked for the TV as well - was it on a Mini-news - where Alan interviews Doon MacKichan in the locker room as she changes her top and he pulls one of the great "mesmerised by tit" faces of our time.
"Katrina Parfitt.

A lady."


Quote:
horse-racing results. Man, those have provided me with Pub Quiz team names to this day!

And this
The horse names are great by themselves but it's the commentary composition that screams genius (the repetition of "Alf Ramsey's Porn Dungeon" being a particularly nice touch). Also, the face Coogan makes when he says "Piggott fell from his horse and HAD TO BE DESTROYED" is one of the best Coogan faces ever (definitely up there with mesmerized-by-tit) and is the exact same face and delivery he uses at the end of the football report where we learn that the Scottish division one game between Taste of Dunfermline and Strathcarnage CANNOT BE STOPPED.


Quote:
I have and I love it. I've not actually had it on in years, though. I must dig it out. There's a lot more crossover of situations/guests from radio to TV than there was with On The Hour as I recall.
Yeah, I own it too but I haven't had a listen lately. It's excellent, and as you say a lot of the same guest type crossover with KMKYWAP, although sometimes it goes off in slightly different directions than the TV version (e.g. Alan thinks he's an owl on the TV show vs. his "Smelly Alan Fartridge" hypnotic regression nightmare of the radio show)

Quote:
Plus there's the bit where he tries to hit the high-note in "Thank You For the Music", realises it's way past his range and drops the key about an octave-and-a-half.
The only thing missing from the Abba medley is the incredible mimelike behaviour that Alan displays in the Comic Relief KB medley. Otherwise, it's flawless.
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post #166 of 538
7/3/08 at 5:55pm
A bit of a latecomer to this subject, but heres my list of favorite British comedy shows
The Classics:Monty Python's Flying Circus, Faulty Towers, The Two Ronnies, Dave Allan at Large, The Benny Hill Show, Red Dwarf, To The Manor Born, Spitting Image, Absolutely Fabulous, Ripping Yarns, The Goodies
The New Classics:The Office, Spaced, Dead Ringers.
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post #167 of 538
7/3/08 at 6:43pm
"Round the chicane...oh, it's...round the chicane, round the chicane...round the chicane..."

Well, enough Coogan fellation but has anyone bought THIS?
It was mentioned in passing several pages ago and I'm surprised it hasn't been brought up more.

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post #168 of 538
7/6/08 at 6:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post
Marber was a very good performer, what with his copper kettle antics and reports as Peter O'Hanrahanrahanrahan (one too many? damn, I always overshoot!). He's like a hot shit writer now or something. Was quite weird knowing that he was up against fellow TDT wordsmith Peter Baynham at the 2007 Oscars.
Seeing Peter Baynham on-stage collecting an Oscar was one of the more unusual moments in Academy Award history.

Speaking of collecting awards, this is a nice bit from the UK comedy awards with Chris Morris and Armando Iannucci collecting the award for OTH. They're all so young!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham
Has anyone bought THIS [Comic Strip box-set thingy]?
It was mentioned in passing several pages ago and I'm surprised it hasn't been brought up more.
Yes sir! I worked my way through them all last year when the DVD came out. Some of the later stuff was... hard going*, but the best episodes - The Strike, Bad News, Five Go Mad in Dorset and especially the proto-Bottom - but with the awesome bonus of Peter Cook - Mr Jolly Lives Next Door amongst others are still cracking stuff. What's not to like when Robbie Coltrane plays Charles Bronson playing Ken Livingstone?

Definitely worth the purchase if you can get it cheap, but you will be left with a couple of coasters re: the later episodes.



*Space Virgins From the Planet Sex: a less time-consuming alternative to Water-Boarding.
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post #169 of 538
7/9/08 at 4:13pm
Just looking back through this thread, lots of UK geniuses talked about. For the sake of completeness though, I would like to mention Paul Rose (aka Mr Biffo), the mastermind behind golden era Teletext video games mag "Digitiser". Ten or so years ago, the funniest British writing wasn't in print or on the web, but on the TV when you pressed a few buttons on your remote. Here is a wiki entry about Digitiser, followed by the best archive that I know of classic Digi material:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitiser

http://www.btinternet.com/~moononastick/sp58/Index.html

Also, the films scripts and one of my favourite Digi characters, Insincere Dave, can be found here:

http://www.moleman.freeserve.co.uk/
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post #170 of 538
7/11/08 at 1:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post
Just looking back through this thread, lots of UK geniuses talked about. For the sake of completeness though, I would like to mention Paul Rose (aka Mr Biffo), the mastermind behind golden era Teletext video games mag "Digitiser". Ten or so years ago, the funniest British writing wasn't in print or on the web, but on the TV when you pressed a few buttons on your remote. Here is a wiki entry about Digitiser, followed by the best archive that I know of classic Digi material:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitiser

http://www.btinternet.com/~moononastick/sp58/Index.html

Also, the films scripts and one of my favourite Digi characters, Insincere Dave, can be found here:

http://www.moleman.freeserve.co.uk/
Ah, Mister Biffo! Digitiser was this: Smashing. Indeed we have messed up by not mentioning him before now.

I remember the days of refreshing Teletext every minute around seven to get the new content. It was a sad day when C4 "cancelled it" in favour if some serious games journalism thing. I believe Biffo went on to do a pay website which had the same look as Digi but that folded after a while.

I'm now about to spend some hours going through that archive!
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post #171 of 538
7/11/08 at 3:37pm
Somehow, I knew you'd be a fan! Here's a direct link to some of the funniest Digi stuff ever, that is the transcripts of calls made to games shops as Phoning Honey:

http://www.moleman.freeserve.co.uk/honey.htm

click on "More Honey" at the bottom for further mischief
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post #172 of 538
7/11/08 at 6:41pm
Thread Starter 
Excellent stuff again. I was bad laughing at "Beakus Strike" and have spent exactly far too long looking though pages of teletext on the internet. It's been time well spent, though.

And for no other reason that it just popped into my head a second ago, here's
The Undertaker's Sketch
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post #173 of 538
7/16/08 at 3:16pm
did you know: the undertaker's sketch was only allowed (by the beeb) to be performed if the audience could be seen attacking the performers afterwards.

my favourite was crunchy frog
there was also a really good version of it in the secret policeman's ball with robbie coltrane and jimmy mulville but I can't find a clip of it.

I would also like to send big love to jimmy mulville who needs some recognition on this thread.
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post #174 of 538
7/16/08 at 3:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_adam View Post
did you know: the undertaker's sketch was only allowed (by the beeb) to be performed if the audience could be seen attacking the performers afterwards.
Link or it didn't happen.
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post #175 of 538
7/16/08 at 3:50pm
Thread Starter 
From the last word in truth and integrity:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undertakers_sketch

Quote:
The BBC were cautious about the sketch, and reluctantly agreed to let it go ahead on the condition that the studio audience were heard to protest loudly, then invade the set at the sketch's conclusion. This was poorly-executed: the audience began booing and shouting too early (those who weren't heckling were laughing), and because of studio fire regulations, only a limited section of the crowd were allowed to rush onto the studio floor - the rest of them just sat there looking awkward. (As Roger Wilmut pointed out in the book From Fringe To Flying Circus, a genuinely shocked audience would have reacted with an embarrassed silence.)

Following its initial broadcast of the sketch in 1970, the BBC wiped the sketch from the master tape and replaced it with the "Spot the Braincell" sketch from episode 7 of the second series ("The Attila the Hun Show"). However, when the second series was released on BBC Video in 1985, episode thirteen was rather cleverly 'restored', thanks to the discovery of a (low quality) copy of the sketch that appears to be sourced from an off-air recording or a foreign (probably American) duplicate of the original show. This restored episode was finally shown again on television in the late 1980s as part of a complete (if frequently interrupted) run of second and third series repeats.
Despite me having been blasé about the source, there are people so into the minutiae of Python that a claim like that wouldn't get past them without some sort of furore. I've heard it told in various forms before, actually, so there may be something to it.

Anyway, Mr_Adam is a good man for reminding me of Chelmsford 123 and Who Dares Wins

Also, Graham, as someone who has seen The Fly:The Opera*, I enjoy your avatar!





*Boast!
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post #176 of 538
7/16/08 at 6:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
Despite me having been blasé about the source, there are people so into the minutiae of Python that a claim like that wouldn't get past them without some sort of furore. I've heard it told in various forms before, actually, so there may be something to it.
I read it in Pythons autobiography by the Pythons the massive book in which each python gives an account of their first meetings, their backgrounds and the production of the first few seasons of the show. It was also in Michael Palin's diaries.

Thanks for linking in the wiki ref. but if this minor anecdote requires "proof" I offer these as testimony.

Incidentally, I am python minutiae. It was almost my forum name.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
Anyway, Mr_Adam is a good man for reminding me of Chelmsford 123 and Who Dares Wins
I think Mulville is worth billions now because he founded talk-back productions. I have no proof of this, perhaps it never happened. ;(

Chelmsford 123 was outstanding, cheap but great value - remember that sitcom that's love he did with tony slattery and a woman. that blots his copy a bit.

Have we talked about slattery's contribution yet?

Does anyone else remember 3 saturday morning shows that i loved?

1. On the waterfront - this was my favourite and had andrew oconnor and kate capstick it took over from no.73. It was also wriiten by Russell T. Davis.

2. TX - No one else remembers this. It was presented by Tony Slattery and a woman ???Sue Robbins??? (i always mix her up with kate robbins) and sometimes frank sidebottom. made by granada. i know it exists but there is no record anywhere.

3. 8.15 from manchester. Nuff said. Charlotte Hindle (from blackburn).

there was get fresh too but that's an easy one...
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post #177 of 538
7/16/08 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_adam View Post
Incidentally, I am python minutiae. It was almost my forum name.
And now I wish it were mine. That or Reg Nullify.

Quote:
I think Mulville is worth billions now because he founded talk-back productions. I have no proof of this, perhaps it never happened. ;(
I call shenanigans on this one - It was Hat Trick productions! Talkback was Smith & Jones. I hope you can live with the shame!

Quote:
Chelmsford 123 was outstanding, cheap but great value - remember that sitcom that's love he did with tony slattery and a woman. that blots his copy a bit.
I have a lot of love for C123, it's a pity Mulville got so rich as he probably had another decent series or two in him.


Quote:
1. On the waterfront

2. TX

3. 8.15 from manchester.

there was get fresh too but that's an easy one...
Frstly, that Alan Moore clip is the tits!

Secondly, of the shows you mentioned, I obviously loved Get Fresh (and Gilbert's Fridge) and have fond memories of both On the Waterfront - although admittedly they don't really stretch beyond the comically dubbed episodes of The Flashing Blade - and Charlotte Hyndle.

TX, I'm drawing a blank on. Perhaps it was Granada only or something?

Also, free association from your mention of Tony Slattery has reminded me of Paul Merton: The Series

Actually, have we mentioned A Bit of Fry & Laurie yet? I can only apologise if it's not been brought up as it's one of the great sketch shows of ever. Even the script archive is a great read.
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post #178 of 538
7/17/08 at 2:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
And now I wish it were mine. That or Reg Nullify. .



Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
I call shenanigans on this one - It was Hat Trick productions! Talkback was Smith & Jones. I hope you can live with the shame! .
Shit! My evil misinformation ploy spoiled! I always get those 2 production companies mixed up. I saw a great documentary about Talkback and not-the nine o'clock news smith & Jones etc. in fact, i think it was comedy connections - which is a pretty good show (even if it comes from BBC Scotland


Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
Frstly, that Alan Moore clip is the tits! .
Isn't it! I found it ages ago and with all the watchmen love going around I wanted to share it with someone who knew the context - also it's nice to see alan moore on tv (see numerous posts) and also excited about watchmen. I guess it was hours after this he turned on DC.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
Secondly, of the shows you mentioned, I obviously loved Get Fresh (and Gilbert's Fridge) and have fond memories of both On the Waterfront - although admittedly they don't really stretch beyond the comically dubbed episodes of The Flashing Blade - and Charlotte Hyndle..
Charlotte hyndle wasn't "on the waterfront" in addition to the 2 i mentioned it was bernie nolan? and another guy called terry who would be familiar to you... it also had the cartoon of Visionaries which I liked (knights of the magical light?)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
TX, I'm drawing a blank on. Perhaps it was Granada only or something?.
I have found something!!!!!!

I forgot there was a gawky bird called Alison Dowlingwho is a voice actress, she's been in other things but when you mix that with Sue Robbie and Tony Slattery and frank sidebottom you had one weird bunch of presenters.

Incidentally I would like to big up Frank, he's a legend and still touring.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
Also, free association from your mention of Tony Slattery has reminded me of Paul Merton: The Series.
I loved this series, i can pretty much chant my way through it. There was 2 series of it and I wish it was on DVD. It is on 4od though - I can't get that though....

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
Actually, have we mentioned A Bit of Fry & Laurie yet? I can only apologise if it's not been brought up as it's one of the great sketch shows of ever. Even the script archive is a great read.
Aye? And what of the people? Weird how it's taken 20+ years for them to break the US when it takes losers like gervais and little britain a few months.
Damn Damn Damn and Double Damn, Marjory won't like it!

Also, please support my drive for Stephen Fry to be the new Doctor Who. It's already a bit pink, so I vote for 6'5" gay intellectual doctor.
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post #179 of 538
7/17/08 at 2:41pm
I knew Laurie would finally make it big in America when I heard the accent he uses on House, since it's actually funnier than anything he and Stephen Fry ever did together. Oooh!
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post #180 of 538
7/17/08 at 3:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_adam View Post
comedy connections - which is a pretty good show (even if it comes from BBC Scotland
You might mock, but you never had to suffer this. I didn't even get to watch the Election Night Armistice till about a year ago because of stupid regional programming in 1997!

Anyway, Comedy Connections was pretty good!



Quote:
Charlotte hyndle wasn't "on the waterfront" in addition to the 2 i mentioned it was bernie nolan? and another guy called terry who would be familiar to you... it also had the cartoon of Visionaries which I liked (knights of the magical light?)
Yeah, I know Charlotte Hyndle was 815FM, it was just bad sentence construction on my part that made me look stupid. Anyway, it was Bernie Nolan in OTW and she was shite!



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Frank Sidebottom
If we're talking Frank Sidebottom, I found this gem on a crawl of Youtube a few months back. I still can't quite believe I've seen it with my own eyes.

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I loved this series, i can pretty much chant my way through it. There was 2 series of it and I wish it was on DVD. It is on 4od though - I can't get that though....
*Checks on demand...* Holy Shit, you're not even kidding! I'm going to watch the living fuck out of that this weekend.

Quote:
Aye? And what of the people? Weird how it's taken 20+ years for them to break the US when it takes losers like gervais and little britain a few months.
Damn Damn Damn and Double Damn, Marjory won't like it!
I picked up the 4 series on DVD over the last couple of years. Series 2 and 3 especially are up there with the best comedy shows ever. If anyone still reading this thread has never seen them. Consume!

Quote:
Also, please support my drive for Stephen Fry to be the new Doctor Who. It's already a bit pink, so I vote for 6'5" gay intellectual doctor.
I've never been a big Dr. Who guy but I'd watch it for Stephen Fry.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72
I knew Laurie would finally make it big in America when I heard the accent he uses on House, since it's actually funnier than anything he and Stephen Fry ever did together. Oooh!
Zing!

Hey, I know we've skirted the Young Ones and Bottom but I don't recall any talk of Filthy, Rich and Catflap - hell, it diesn't get mentioned enough in any context. Break that 4th Wall, Richie!
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post #181 of 538
7/17/08 at 5:19pm
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Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
You might mock, but you never had to suffer this. I didn't even get to watch the Election Night Armistice till about a year ago because of stupid regional programming in 1997!

Anyway, Comedy Connections was pretty good!
That's tough man the election night armistice was always a treat - i wonder if they'll bring it out again for Emperor Brown's final downfall?

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Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
Yeah, I know Charlotte Hyndle was 815FM, it was just bad sentence construction on my part that made me look stupid. Anyway, it was Bernie Nolan in OTW and she was shite!
My bad, she was awful anyway - but not as bad as bernie nolan - who the fuck thought she woud be a good idea?


Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
If we're talking Frank Sidebottom, I found this gem on a crawl of Youtube a few months back. I still can't quite believe I've seen it with my own eyes.
this was on channel m a free to air channel in manchester broadcasting out of the urbis museum, somehow Frank got a show and it was fucking crazy. I was living in Levenshulme at the time but couldn't recieve it through the freeview - so i had to watch it on the channel m site (i bet it's still there) it used to be broadcast in black and white and then in a colour "repeat" a few days later. He would also do the "live" test card wheer he would just piss around on his keyboard for hours on end. Somehow he would get guests coming on (usually because they were in a show at the opera house / palace/ m.e.n) and they would all jam on a song together. I loved the Hit the north (big fall fan - see previous posts) but the antonio fargas zoo-scrapbook is a wonder. a true wonder.


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Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
*Checks on demand...* Holy Shit, you're not even kidding! I'm going to watch the living fuck out of that this weekend.
JEALOUS>

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Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
I picked up the 4 series on DVD over the last couple of years. Series 2 and 3 especially are up there with the best comedy shows ever. If anyone still reading this thread has never seen them. Consume!
I got the four season set from amazon for the wife, she loved Jeeves and wooster and I had already got her that. But i think i watch the f&L dvd more than she does. but then she watches league of gentlemen more than i do.
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post #182 of 538
7/31/08 at 5:39pm
I'm not a massive fan of little britain or walliams and Lucas but I remember loving these vignettes from years ago on the paramount comedy channel between the shorter US shows, there were 3

A puppet lives in my house

My gay dads is that reece shearsmith????

Only Jerks and horses (this is fucking ace) featuring uncle robot.

they were re-shot as part of the mash & peas flop (one of the many l&w flops before little britain) including "my cousin is english" some of them recast eg. without rebecca front (hello jessica stephenson) and directed by some guy called edgar wright.

One of the things I love is the way the theme music is the same for some of them and is just a 6 second loop. also the way the generic opening titles are spot on.

There's also one called I'm bland but my friends are crazy or something which was a fantastic seinfeld pisstake

As far as I'm concerned these are the best thing l&w have done.
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post #183 of 538
8/3/08 at 5:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
Also, free association from your mention of Tony Slattery has reminded me of Paul Merton: The Series
Awesome. I vaguely remember that series, I'll have to revisit it.

I have to give my love to Snuff Box

Just brilliant sketch comedy from Matt "IT Crowd" Berry and Rich Fulcher.

Also, I want the theme as my ringtone so fucking badly.
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post #184 of 538
8/3/08 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragon Ma View Post
Awesome. I vaguely remember that series, I'll have to revisit it.
As I mentioned above, I watched "the living fuck" out of it a couple of weeks ago. Still holds up well and can be found on YouTube and UK Cable on demand but not on DVD for reasons that are beyond me. See also about 50% of the stuff on this thread for that matter.

I've never seen Snuffbox, but I did quite enjoy that clip. I'll try to track it down.


Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_adam
As far as I'm concerned these are the best thing l&w have done.
Agreed. I did quite enjoy most of Rock Profiles, although it lost a lot of its charm on DVD without the music videos.

Is Little Britain still going ahead on HBO? I don't think I could bear it if it's even a slight success. I wonder if they'll repeat the formula of having exactly the same joke in every sketch in every episode? That never got old! Even the ones that were reasonably funny on first viewing became intolerable on their 3rd rotation, far less the 23rd.
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post #185 of 538
8/6/08 at 4:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
Is Little Britain still going ahead on HBO? I don't think I could bear it if it's even a slight success. I wonder if they'll repeat the formula of having exactly the same joke in every sketch in every episode? That never got old! Even the ones that were reasonably funny on first viewing became intolerable on their 3rd rotation, far less the 23rd.
I think little britain is on somewhere over here but god knows where. Are they still making it? I'm not much of a fan, i think catchphrase comedy had kind of reached it's peak with the fast show.

L&W are talented guys i can't deny that but they should quit while they are ahead, they've had dozens of attempts at success (mash and peas anyone? Sir bernard? even rock profiles was only successful in retrospect, no-one got it at the time - not even jamie "naughty boy" theakston) but they should split up and get solo work as proper actors.

I just got series 1-3 of alexei Sayle's stuff - i loved this show as a kid and I'm fucking hyped to get all 3 dvds for a tenner. Still wish paul merton the series was available.....
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post #186 of 538
8/6/08 at 6:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_adam View Post
I think little britain is on somewhere over here but god knows where. Are they still making it?
It's done with over here as far as I know but I heard that they're making new ones in the US a la Ali G in the USAiiii. In fact, having checked the imdb, it apparently starts next month: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936458/

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I'm not much of a fan, i think catchphrase comedy had kind of reached it's peak with the fast show.
I've never been big on catchphrase comedy but there's a time and a place for it if the writers are clever about it. The Fast Show was fine up to a point, although it lost its lustre by the 2nd or 3rd series. Ah, Lee and Herring still win!

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L&W are talented guys i can't deny that but they should quit while they are ahead, they've had dozens of attempts at success (mash and peas anyone? Sir bernard? even rock profiles was only successful in retrospect, no-one got it at the time - not even jamie "naughty boy" theakston) but they should split up and get solo work as proper actors.
Pah, David Walliams' best work was giving out games tips for the SNES on Games World, Sky's early '90s answer to Gamesmaster!

I agree that they're both talented guys but Little Britain just bored me after a few episodes and any time I checked it out in later series it was the same old but with more fat suits and old ladies vomiting. Which actually makes it sound slightly better than the reality of it.

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I just got series 1-3 of alexei Sayle's stuff - i loved this show as a kid and I'm fucking hyped to get all 3 dvds for a tenner. Still wish paul merton the series was available....
You're in for a treat, man "Stuff" is a fucking great show!
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post #187 of 538
8/6/08 at 7:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post


Pah, David Walliams' best work was giving out games tips for the SNES on Games World, Sky's early '90s answer to Gamesmaster!

I remember that. Didn't he also do some weird anoraky character based on a TV ad or something? I think Sacha Baron Cohen also has some similarly embarassing presenting work on his resume too.

BTW, here's a write up on Alexei Sayle from Chortle:

http://www.chortle.co.uk/corresponde...all_to_one_man...
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post #188 of 538
8/6/08 at 7:32pm
Have just finished all 5 seasons of Peep Show. I can quite honestly say it's one of the most brilliantly written and performed TV shows ever.
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post #189 of 538
8/7/08 at 1:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
It's done with over here as far as I know but I heard that they're making new ones in the US a la Ali G in the USAiiii. In fact, having checked the imdb, it apparently starts next month: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0936458/

I agree that they're both talented guys but Little Britain just bored me after a few episodes.

You're in for a treat, man "Stuff" is a fucking great show!
i want to get "the all new alexei sayle show" as well because there was some good stuff in those 2 seasons as well but i can't find them on DVD yet.

Little Britain USA? It's a bit of a non-sequitur still I guess you have to have a crack at the US market. If it's on comedy central I'll watch it - see what they are doing (recycling I imagine) - but I'm not springing for HBO - can you imagine 26 episodes of the same shit.

Bees?! , glad to see you've made it through peep show - apparently they've greenlit another 2 or 3 series so I guess they'll make as many as they want (something tells me it's not expensive to make...)
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post #190 of 538
8/7/08 at 1:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post
I remember that. Didn't he also do some weird anoraky character based on a TV ad or something?
Norm from out the Twix ads I think?

Quote:
I think Sacha Baron Cohen also has some similarly embarassing presenting work on his resume too.
Yeah, The 11 O'clock Show!

I think he was on some regional youth programme mid-90s.

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BTW, here's a write up on Alexei Sayle from Chortle:
Nice one. It's a pity Alexei sort of drifted away from sketch comedy after the All-New Show. Most of ...Stuff is gold. Plus, you gotta love that credit sequence.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bees?!
Have just finished all 5 seasons of Peep Show. I can quite honestly say it's one of the most brilliantly written and performed TV shows ever.
You're not wrong, Bees?! A lot of it is just glorious. Definitely the best sitcom since, what, Father Ted?

Have you checked out The Thick Of It? It's by one of the writers of Peep Show and Armando Iannucci amongst others. It contains some of the most glorious swear bombs ever aired. Hell, In the first minute Peter Capaldi uses the phrase "As useless as a Marzipan dildo"!
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post #191 of 538
8/7/08 at 1:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_adam View Post
i want to get "the all new alexei sayle show" as well because there was some good stuff in those 2 seasons as well but i can't find them on DVD yet.
Again, completely unavailable on DVD whilst any old shit that gets churned out by chancers and rip-off merchants these days is on the shelves the second the last episode has aired.

I'd say Stuff was definitely a lot stronger but I've not seen the All New Show since it was aired to make a fair comparison on that.

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Little Britain USA? It's a bit of a non-sequitur still I guess you have to have a crack at the US market. If it's on comedy central I'll watch it - see what they are doing (recycling I imagine) - but I'm not springing for HBO - can you imagine 26 episodes of the same shit.

Then you are shit outta luck, my man. From the trailer it looks like they've swapped Anthony Stewart Head for an Obam-a-like and added some wrestling but other than that, same old show. It's on BBC1 over here apparently. I might watch it and scowl for a bit.
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post #192 of 538
8/7/08 at 3:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post

Then you are shit outta luck, my man. From the trailer it looks like they've swapped Anthony Stewart Head for an Obam-a-like and added some wrestling but other than that, same old show. It's on BBC1 over here apparently. I might watch it and scowl for a bit.
The all new alexei sayle show wasn't as tight as stuff but that meant it had room to breathe, stuff used to show the end titles before the start and do loads of fake-out endings and trailers, the anass was more open and "traditional" in style. ANASS will be remembered forever, even if only for the appearance of Bobby Chariot, one of the greatest tragi-comic characters ever created.

Lazy bastards.

I had an fb post from my mate Geoff:

I saw the funniest show last night on channel 4. It was called the Kevin Bishop show. The guy that does Star Stories. He did these two trailers for teenage sex comedies with familiar names. One was about Vinnie SCHINDLER making a LIST of the ten girls he planned to nail before the prom, and the other was about some nerdlingers who joined the BOWLING team in order to impress new girl Stacey COLUMBINE. You need to check out the Channel 4 website. I don't know whether the show would be viewable in Canadia, but if not then it should be all over Youtube.

I can't find the trailers he means but there's shit loads of good ones. I'm going to stick that batman one on the dark knight thread now....
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post #193 of 538
8/7/08 at 3:25pm
go on one more
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post #194 of 538
8/7/08 at 5:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
That's the one. Good memory!

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Yeah, The 11 O'clock Show!
Heh. Yeah, the british attempt at the Daily Show. Unfortunately, Iain Lee was no Jon Stewart. Cohen and Gervais (and I guess Daisy Donovan?) made it out alright, though.

Also since you mentioned Gamesmaster a few posts back, I'll mention that I always liked Dominik Diamond as a presenter. He wasn't always laugh out loud funny, but he brought some welcome subversive humour to teatime TV. I think it was the little asides and the stuff like randomly holding up a banana flanked by two apples that I found endearing.
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post #195 of 538
8/8/08 at 7:32am
You guys ever watched Drop the dead donkey?

The topical humor is sort of dated now but it was still quite funny.
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post #196 of 538
8/8/08 at 4:02pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Disciple_72 View Post
That's the one. Good memory!
Hmm, it's more of a curse to be honest. Comes in useful in Pub Quizzes, I suppose.

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Heh. Yeah, the british attempt at the Daily Show. Unfortunately, Iain Lee was no Jon Stewart. Cohen and Gervais (and I guess Daisy Donovan?) made it out alright, though.
Mackenzie Crook as well! I felt kind of sorry for Iain Lee. He was crap and out of his depth, sure, but the team of writers (including Steven Merchant and Charlie Brooker at points) just gave him material along the lines of "aren't poofs funny" and "ha ha, wanking!" which didn't really make for cutting edge topical satire. At least Daisy Donovan had the twin weapons of tight tops and fluttery eyelashes to get her through it all relatively unscathed.

Lee turned up in some Computer games show or other a couple of years after the 11OCS and was actually quite good at it.

Quote:
Also since you mentioned Gamesmaster a few posts back, I'll mention that I always liked Dominik Diamond as a presenter. He wasn't always laugh out loud funny, but he brought some welcome subversive humour to teatime TV. I think it was the little asides and the stuff like randomly holding up a banana flanked by two apples that I found endearing.
Yeah, I also liked the way he managed to get the word "pish" onto early evening television.

Here's Lee & Herring on Gamesmaster with Dominic Diamond being slightly crap at presenting! Part 1 Part 2


Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragon Ma
You guys ever watched Drop the dead donkey?

The topical humor is sort of dated now but it was still quite funny.
I liked it when it was on but I'm always put off watching any repeats because it was so topical. Hey, maybe I should give it a go again!
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post #197 of 538
8/11/08 at 9:27am
Benny Hill, yes, the humor's dated, yes, it's sexist but by god, the man was a genius at silent comedy.

Watch as Benny fights a man in a bear suit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTUNh...eature=related

Or watch as he goes to the beach to the sounds of Santana

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9UcJ...eature=related
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post #198 of 538
8/13/08 at 5:37pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vernon Signpost View Post
good point, the series 3 titles were superb but I gotta send big love to series 2 which was a bizarre zorro/jukebox jury pastiche - I can't find it on youtube but i did find this which happens just before it at the very very start of series 2 and in the era of fake trailers (trpic thunder, grindhouse etc.) I think it's one of the best.

and best off all the original Dion - this blew me away as a kid - notice morwenna banks in series 1. So at this time I'd like to acknowledge Absolutely as one of the best series ever, and also naked video while we are north of the border. Apparently Absolutely came out on DVD finally a few months ago - get out there and buy it!!!


Incidentally I'm loving watching alexei sayle again I truly love this series.

Benny Hill wasn't to my tastes but he did some great stuff - one for our eccentric british genius pile methinks. It's one of those where often americans think Benny Hill = all british comedy; the way some people think of 70s batman = all comics.

I liked that era of the 11 o'clock show - remember how bad it was initially with fred Mcauley and brendan burns? that was awful. I'm glad Lee and donovan didn't try to do it american style - that wouldn't have worked and perhaps gervais and sasha wouldn't have go started. The last season with john holmes and the lovely sarah alexander who of course went "naked" in nude practise with armstrong and miller
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post #199 of 538
8/14/08 at 2:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr_adam View Post
good point, the series 3 titles were superb but I gotta send big love to series 2 which was a bizarre zorro/jukebox jury pastiche - I can't find it on youtube but i did find this which happens just before it at the very very start of series 2 and in the era of fake trailers (trpic thunder, grindhouse etc.) I think it's one of the best
Things Exploding II got me!

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So at this time I'd like to acknowledge Absolutely as one of the best series ever,
You're, um, absolutely right! I think it was mentioned somewhere at the other end of this thread. Again, I stumbled across an episode of the first series fairly randomly late night on Channel 4 in - fuck me - 1989 and was hooked from the off. UK TV being what it is, it was only with the release of the DVD that I actually got to see all of that series for the first time.

The DVD is excellent, incidentally. Here's 10 minutes of fabulous trailer

And here's this sketch again just in case I didn't post it previously due to some sort of oversight.

G... for... gnome

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naked video
Starring my dad, obviously!


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Incidentally I'm loving watching alexei sayle again I truly love this series.
Glad you're enjoying it, although, there's no reason why you wouldn't of course. There's a definite similarity in style between Stuff and Absolutely, actually i.e. We like that Monty Python, let's make a show!

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Benny Hill wasn't to my tastes but he did some great stuff - one for our eccentric british genius pile methinks. It's one of those where often americans think Benny Hill = all british comedy; the way some people think of 70s batman = all comics.
Quite. It's frustrating that everyone knows Benny Hill (who is far from the worst offender in fairness) and a few casually Xeno- and Homophobic sitcoms from the 70s but a lot of the great stuff that's been mentioned in this thread barely registers beyond these glorious shores.
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post #200 of 538
8/14/08 at 3:03pm
I was a fan of Naked Video! Top grossout gags, as I remember. Though for me, Gregor Fisher's finest hour (or minute) will always be:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0SbVFxl64A
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