Friday comedy: Rowan Atkinson
This is a classic called “Fatal Beatings.” Enjoy.
(NOTE: one swear word near the end, but still probably worksafe.)
October 27, 2006 in Radio.blog |
15 Comments
This is a classic called “Fatal Beatings.” Enjoy.
(NOTE: one swear word near the end, but still probably worksafe.)
Rowan Atkinson, Peter Sellers, Ricky Gervais, Sacha Baron Cohen, Python, Spike Milligan…
Let’s face it, the Brits are the best comedians. I mean, you Yanks have some funny guys (who often turn out to be Canadian), but as far as Genius Comedy goes, we kick your arses.
Comment by Ronan — October 28, 2006 @ 9:30 am
And I have decided, Cohen is the funniest, most genius man in the world. Possibly ever.
Comment by Ronan — October 28, 2006 @ 9:37 am
Someone needs to do a post on Britcoms.
Comment by Susan M — October 28, 2006 @ 10:00 am
Yes, Susan, but only if it doesn’t involve all those terrible shows they have on PBS. There’s Britcom and there’s Britcom. Top 6:
1. Black Adder
2. Monty Python’s Flying Circus
3. The Goon Show
4. Da Ali G Show
5. Not the Nine O’ Clock News
6. The Office
Comment by Ronan — October 28, 2006 @ 12:07 pm
You forgot The Young Ones.
And Red Dwarf.
Comment by Susan M — October 28, 2006 @ 12:42 pm
Let’s face it, the Brits are the best comedians. I mean, you Yanks have some funny guys (who often turn out to be Canadian), but as far as Genius Comedy goes, we kick your arses.
But we have (had?) Richard Pryor and Bill Hicks. I like everyone on your list, but none of them even approach the world-changing genius of these two. IMO, of course.
Comment by Brian V — October 28, 2006 @ 1:03 pm
Oh, and you left Eddie Izzard off your list. He’s one of my favorites.
Comment by Brian V — October 28, 2006 @ 1:04 pm
I saw a Bill Hicks stand up thing on Comedy Central the other night and ended up turning it, he wasn’t that funny to me. I know lots of people love him. What’s so great about him?
BTW, I’m gonna try to make a regular Friday comedy radio.blog post, but I’ll probably run out of stuff quick, so I might be soliciting clips.
Comment by Susan M — October 28, 2006 @ 1:58 pm
Well, Susan, I definitely wouldn’t recommend Hicks to you just because he’s incredibly vulgar and I know you don’t like excessive profanity.
I’m not sure I can fully explain what I think is great about him. Obviously, if you’ve seen him and you didn’t like it, there’s nothing I can say that will change your mind. One of the reasons I think he’s in the top tier of stand-up comedians is because he actually has something to say. He has a message, and he delivers his messages as fervently as a preacher because he really believes in what he’s saying. However, mere proselytizing is rarely entertaining, so Hicks wouldn’t work if he weren’t amazingly funny. Again, this is merely my opinion, but I can only think of a few comedians who make me laugh as frequently and as intensely as Hicks does.
That’s it, as well as I can explain it. The intersection of humor and a message, of entertainment and education. Not many people can do it successfully. Most comedians don’t even try, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Humor for its own sake certainly has its place. But the people who can do both are the really special ones. Pryor was one of them and Hicks was another, and that’s probably why I hold them in the highest regard.
Comment by Brian V — October 28, 2006 @ 3:51 pm
I didn’t give him very long because my husband was watching with me, but if I catch it again I’ll tune in for longer.
Comment by Susan M — October 28, 2006 @ 5:46 pm
BTW, I’m gonna try to make a regular Friday comedy radio.blog post, but I’ll probably run out of stuff quick, so I might be soliciting clips.
I can definitely help you out with clips if needed.
Comment by Brian V — October 28, 2006 @ 7:59 pm
Yes, Susan, but only if it doesn’t involve all those terrible shows they have on PBS.
I’ve seen Monty Python, The Office, and Black Adder on PBS. Fawlty Towers shows up on PBS occasionally as well.
The first couple of seasons of Coupling were also very funny, I thought.
Comment by BTD Greg — October 29, 2006 @ 8:58 am
The only British tv I’ve seen besides Monty Python and the Young Ones has all been via PBS. Oh, and Benny Hill, which I used to stay up really late as a young child to watch with my teenage brother.
When I was a kid I used to watch Man about the House, which our American Three’s Company was based on. And then the spin-off Robin’s Nest, which was our Three’s a Crowd.
Comment by Susan M — October 29, 2006 @ 9:25 am
Susan,
Have you ever heard Bob Newhart’s or Bill Cosby’s old stuff? I might be able to get a hold of some of it for you. That is some good stuff.
Comment by HP — November 1, 2006 @ 4:10 pm
That’d be awesome. Don’t think I’ve heard it. I’ve got a enough to last awhile, but not sure how worksafe some of it is.
Comment by Susan M — November 1, 2006 @ 5:11 pm