British comedy - thoughts etc...

**dohupa** · 12-19-2009, 10:18 AM

Just had a peek last night of that vision of Ali G again late on the telly and it sort of occured to me; is British comedy totally rubbish these days or what?

I mean from Frankie Howerd and Kenneth Williams and the Carry On regardless and the like and now Brit comedy boils down to this clown Ali G? What do you all Brits think?

snoopy1664 · 12-19-2009, 10:33 AM

There is a lot of good stuff around, but I guess it depends on your taste. I'm saying this as someone who liked the Ali G series and film. I thought Borat was great but still making up my mind about Bruno...at first viewing parts of were pretty gross.

Some things get hyped. I've been watching The Thick of It recently which I really wasn't too impressed by, but I think Ricky Gervais is a genius. Both The Office and Extras are masterpieces. Peep Show is worthy of the praise I.M.H.O. A lesser known one that has made me laugh out loud more than anything else in a while is the Channel 4 series The Inbetweeners. Cannot recommend it highly enough...Oh, almost forgot to mention The League of Gentlemen. Sheer genius!

I'm sure there are others but can't remember them at the moment...

But like I say, I guess it all depends on your taste..

Over and out.

Foxbark · 12-19-2009, 12:27 PM

Well, many would agree with you that the 'golden age' of British television comedy was in the 1960s and 70s, incidentally a period that coincides with much of the vintage erotic that we love here on this site.
- The reasons for this are manifold.Many of the great comedians and comic actors of that period really cut their comic teeth in the old-fashioned variety and music hall theatres that basically died-out by the 1950s (due to television, ironically).London's famous Windmill Theatre (which was basically a striptease revue venue) had comedians between the strip-acts and virtually every famous British comic of the 60s and 70s served their apprenticeship there - so the connection between comedy and nudity is older than this site.
I could list a roll-call of the great comedians of that era - Morecambe and Wise, the Two Ronnies, Benny Hill,Sidney James, Les Dawson, Reg Varney, Leonard Rossiter, Tommy Cooper,Harry H. Corbett, Frankie Howard, Kenneth Williams etc etc -the list is very long and all were exceedingly popular in their day and much loved.The doyen of all British comics was perhaps Tony Hancock - Hancock who specialised in playing a pompous, pretentious, cynical, hard-bitten petit-bourgeious little man with big pretentions set the seal for much of British TV comedy in that period.The writing duo Galton & Simpson specialised in a uniquely British strand of comedy coupled with edgy satire on class distinction and with a certain amount of dark pathos - their greatest moment was the classic 'Steptoe & Son'.
It was the situation comedy or 'sit-com' that ruled the airwaves in those days.Basically they were grotesque caricatures of various contrived yet familliar situations that gave a foil to various themes eg class warfare, race relations, grotesque domestic living arrangements.Out of that milieu came such greats as ' On the Buses' (good old fashioned British class warfare pitting bone idle working class 'jack the lad' tommies against Adolf Hitler (Blakey) - Blakey always loses and is made ridiculous).Incidentally, the first 'On the Buses' feature film (which is actually rather good) was the highest grossing British film of 1972 outperforming 'Diamonds are Forever' at the cinema.'Love thy Neighbour' was another hiliarious classic of that period as were 'Please Sir!', 'Man about the house', 'Rising Damp', 'Porridge', 'Dad's Army' , 'It ain't half hot mum' etc etc.
And we come to the unique knock-about vaudevillesque talents of those two lions of British comedy Bemmy Hill and Kenny Everett, which defy pigeon holing.Benny Hill started out as Reg Varney's 'straight man'.Also of that period was the lunacy of 'Monty Python' and Spike Milligan and the silliness of 'The Goodies'.

Why has this strand of comedy died-out.Basically television has changed.The old school of TV exec who liked a laugh above all else has largely died-out and being replaced by feminized PC morons who chase demographics.It is now soap-opera (amied at female demographics) not good ol'fashioned 'boys-own' comedy that rules Brtian's airwaves.

**Oswald** · 12-20-2009, 07:15 PM

One of the best comics from the bygone era. I have most of his material now on DVD. I was surprised to learn that the first 2 series of 'Sez Les' were wiped by YTV shortly after they were transmitted.

UncleMonty63 · 12-20-2009, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snoopy1664

There is a lot of good stuff around, but I guess it depends on your taste. I'm saying this as someone who liked the Ali G series and film. I thought Borat was great but still making up my mind about Bruno...at first viewing parts of were pretty gross.

Some things get hyped. I've been watching The Thick of It recently which I really wasn't too impressed by, but I think Ricky Gervais is a genius. Both The Office and Extras are masterpieces. Peep Show is worthy of the praise I.M.H.O. A lesser known one that has made me laugh out loud more than anything else in a while is the Channel 4 series The Inbetweeners. Cannot recommend it highly enough...Oh, almost forgot to mention The League of Gentlemen. Sheer genius!

I'm sure there are others but can't remember them at the moment...

But like I say, I guess it all depends on your taste..

Over and out.

Agree with inbetweeners first series was ace, 2nd mmmm a bit rushed i think

**Wendigo** · 12-20-2009, 10:20 PM

Sure there's lots of dross.....Ali G. has well passed his use by date apart from fancy dress costumes.
Remember Dennis Pennis - that's all about knowing when something has run its course.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v654Jh5Z9uI

There have been some real crackers including
The League of Gentleman
Peep Show
I'm Alan Partridge
anything by Chris Morris
Coupling

The Office and Extras were good but I'm not overly fond of Ricky Gervais, however, I can't deny that he's written some good stuff.

**tamsmith** · 12-20-2009, 10:28 PM

The Golden age was those like:
Dave Allen
Dick Emery
Benny Hill
The Great Stanley Baxter ( The one and only)
Hector Nicol
Ken Dodd

I could go on.

eelcat · 12-20-2009, 10:50 PM

Yes there are slim pickings these days but I do enjoy Little Britain as it ventures where no other comedy has gone before. Matt and David play all their parts perfectly.
Contemporaries like Drop the Dead Donkey and KYTV showed promise and were amusing in their day.
But the reality is, no matter how far we delve into the future the golden years will never be replicated....never.

**Estreeter** · 12-21-2009, 03:37 AM

Never really been a huge fan of British TV,
But these are ones I loved

Mind your language

Love thy Neighbour

On The Buses

and of course

The Benny Hill Show

Other than those, never really enjoyed many, don't know why apart from just not my cup of tea.

brianwp · 12-21-2009, 01:42 PM

I've seen Little Britain here, and it just didn't seem so good to me. However, I thought Ali G, and Borat, and Bruno were all brilliant! That type of comedy is so cutting edge these days...Cohen actually makes it so funny by exposing the hypocracy of the very ones that think they're being catered to! Borat and Bruno especially are just great characters...he has built their histories so seamlessly, and he can ad lib them so well! Very nice!!! I like!!!

12-19-2009, 10:18 AM	#1
dohupa Upper class you can kiss my ass. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Athens Posts: 3,151 Thanks: 7,115 Thanked 72,339 Times in 3,869 Posts	British comedy - thoughts etc... Just had a peek last night of that vision of Ali G again late on the telly and it sort of occured to me; is British comedy totally rubbish these days or what? I mean from Frankie Howerd and Kenneth Williams and the Carry On regardless and the like and now Brit comedy boils down to this clown Ali G? What do you all Brits think? __________________

12-19-2009, 10:33 AM	#2
snoopy1664 Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 40 Thanks: 108 Thanked 688 Times in 43 Posts	Depends What You're Looking For... There is a lot of good stuff around, but I guess it depends on your taste. I'm saying this as someone who liked the Ali G series and film. I thought Borat was great but still making up my mind about Bruno...at first viewing parts of were pretty gross. Some things get hyped. I've been watching The Thick of It recently which I really wasn't too impressed by, but I think Ricky Gervais is a genius. Both The Office and Extras are masterpieces. Peep Show is worthy of the praise I.M.H.O. A lesser known one that has made me laugh out loud more than anything else in a while is the Channel 4 series The Inbetweeners. Cannot recommend it highly enough...Oh, almost forgot to mention The League of Gentlemen. Sheer genius! I'm sure there are others but can't remember them at the moment... But like I say, I guess it all depends on your taste.. Over and out. __________________ Those aren't pillows!

12-20-2009, 07:15 PM	#4
Oswald Former Staff Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 8,817 Thanks: 37,597 Thanked 122,228 Times in 9,426 Posts	Les Dawson. One of the best comics from the bygone era. I have most of his material now on DVD. I was surprised to learn that the first 2 series of 'Sez Les' were wiped by YTV shortly after they were transmitted.

12-21-2009, 03:37 AM	#9
Estreeter Waste Management Consultant Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Both Of The Garden States Posts: 9,697 Thanks: 75,717 Thanked 141,766 Times in 10,753 Posts	Never really been a huge fan of British TV, But these are ones I loved Mind your language Love thy Neighbour On The Buses and of course The Benny Hill Show Other than those, never really enjoyed many, don't know why apart from just not my cup of tea. __________________ It's Just Business

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

12-19-2009, 12:27 PM	#3
Foxbark Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 247 Thanks: 295 Thanked 1,298 Times in 282 Posts	Well, many would agree with you that the 'golden age' of British television comedy was in the 1960s and 70s, incidentally a period that coincides with much of the vintage erotic that we love here on this site. - The reasons for this are manifold.Many of the great comedians and comic actors of that period really cut their comic teeth in the old-fashioned variety and music hall theatres that basically died-out by the 1950s (due to television, ironically).London's famous Windmill Theatre (which was basically a striptease revue venue) had comedians between the strip-acts and virtually every famous British comic of the 60s and 70s served their apprenticeship there - so the connection between comedy and nudity is older than this site. I could list a roll-call of the great comedians of that era - Morecambe and Wise, the Two Ronnies, Benny Hill,Sidney James, Les Dawson, Reg Varney, Leonard Rossiter, Tommy Cooper,Harry H. Corbett, Frankie Howard, Kenneth Williams etc etc -the list is very long and all were exceedingly popular in their day and much loved.The doyen of all British comics was perhaps Tony Hancock - Hancock who specialised in playing a pompous, pretentious, cynical, hard-bitten petit-bourgeious little man with big pretentions set the seal for much of British TV comedy in that period.The writing duo Galton & Simpson specialised in a uniquely British strand of comedy coupled with edgy satire on class distinction and with a certain amount of dark pathos - their greatest moment was the classic 'Steptoe & Son'. It was the situation comedy or 'sit-com' that ruled the airwaves in those days.Basically they were grotesque caricatures of various contrived yet familliar situations that gave a foil to various themes eg class warfare, race relations, grotesque domestic living arrangements.Out of that milieu came such greats as ' On the Buses' (good old fashioned British class warfare pitting bone idle working class 'jack the lad' tommies against Adolf Hitler (Blakey) - Blakey always loses and is made ridiculous).Incidentally, the first 'On the Buses' feature film (which is actually rather good) was the highest grossing British film of 1972 outperforming 'Diamonds are Forever' at the cinema.'Love thy Neighbour' was another hiliarious classic of that period as were 'Please Sir!', 'Man about the house', 'Rising Damp', 'Porridge', 'Dad's Army' , 'It ain't half hot mum' etc etc. And we come to the unique knock-about vaudevillesque talents of those two lions of British comedy Bemmy Hill and Kenny Everett, which defy pigeon holing.Benny Hill started out as Reg Varney's 'straight man'.Also of that period was the lunacy of 'Monty Python' and Spike Milligan and the silliness of 'The Goodies'. Why has this strand of comedy died-out.Basically television has changed.The old school of TV exec who liked a laugh above all else has largely died-out and being replaced by feminized PC morons who chase demographics.It is now soap-opera (amied at female demographics) not good ol'fashioned 'boys-own' comedy that rules Brtian's airwaves.

12-20-2009, 10:20 PM	#6
Wendigo Super Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Blighty Posts: 10,302 Thanks: 31,284 Thanked 115,937 Times in 10,523 Posts	Sure there's lots of dross.....Ali G. has well passed his use by date apart from fancy dress costumes. Remember Dennis Pennis - that's all about knowing when something has run its course. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v654Jh5Z9uI There have been some real crackers including The League of Gentleman Peep Show I'm Alan Partridge anything by Chris Morris Coupling The Office and Extras were good but I'm not overly fond of Ricky Gervais, however, I can't deny that he's written some good stuff.

12-20-2009, 10:28 PM	#7
tamsmith Vintage Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Beerland Posts: 2,564 Thanks: 10,348 Thanked 61,109 Times in 2,675 Posts	The Golden age was those like: Dave Allen Dick Emery Benny Hill The Great Stanley Baxter ( The one and only) Hector Nicol Ken Dodd I could go on.

12-20-2009, 10:50 PM	#8
eelcat Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 645 Thanks: 3,100 Thanked 4,762 Times in 799 Posts	Yes there are slim pickings these days but I do enjoy Little Britain as it ventures where no other comedy has gone before. Matt and David play all their parts perfectly. Contemporaries like Drop the Dead Donkey and KYTV showed promise and were amusing in their day. But the reality is, no matter how far we delve into the future the golden years will never be replicated....never.

12-21-2009, 01:42 PM	#10
brianwp Blocked! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: United States Posts: 1,366 Thanks: 6,134 Thanked 15,384 Times in 1,973 Posts	I've seen Little Britain here, and it just didn't seem so good to me. However, I thought Ali G, and Borat, and Bruno were all brilliant! That type of comedy is so cutting edge these days...Cohen actually makes it so funny by exposing the hypocracy of the very ones that think they're being catered to! Borat and Bruno especially are just great characters...he has built their histories so seamlessly, and he can ad lib them so well! Very nice!!! I like!!!