I'm just in the process of finishing up a fascinating book on the American eccentric raconteur "Lord" Richard Buckley". (sent by Harvey Andrews...thanks so much!)

Heather and I then sat down and started discussing humour, which apparently we both have VERY strong views on. I'm 12 years older than her (58 to 46) so there are SOME problems when we're trying to discuss our initial reaction to certain comics....but we manage.

So here are some questions that we'd love to get some Mudcatters' opinions on: (if you're a mere child and don't remember some...or any...of these 'funny' people, be thankful yer so friggin' young.

#1. From the late fifties through the mid sixties, Ed Sullivan would present many comics from the British Isles (he apparently LOVED some that were simply not seen as funny over here)

Who was the guy in the Fez? He did a failed magic act (which NEVER changed) and I loved him.

Who had the emu? Which of them (not the emu...the other comic) DIED on stage?

Sullivan LOVED Morcombe and Wise (so did Heather)...but I simply didn't 'get' them. What kind of stuff did they do...I forget?

#2. So what about AMERICAN comedians? Did they do British TV? It's hard for me to picture Jackie Mason, Professor Irwin Corey, Professor Backwards, Sam Levinson, Lord Buckley (another Sullivan favourite, oddly enough) Joan Rivers, Myron Cohen, Martin and Lewis (yuchh) or Rodney Dangerfield, translating into "British" and still being funny.

I'm well aware that American SINGING DANCING comedians made the transatlantic journey all the time and were very well received by the Brits (Heck, Danny Kaye was so well 'received' by Olivier it caused a scandal!) but it's hard to picture the stand-ups like Jack Carter and Alan King (mainstays on all American TV) doing well overseas.

Certainly Bob Hope went back to Britain, but I didn't think he was funny period. Heather remembers "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In" as being very popular (which surprised me) in Glasgow, and that might have opened the door for some of the comics who were regulars on that show.

What about the really weird acts that came from the Continent like TOPO GIGIO, (oh edddddie!) SENOR WENCES, (close de box!) and that guy who did half of himself as male, and half as a female?

Or even Sullivan's big faves, Canada's Wayne and Shuster? Like Morcombe and Wise, I didn't find them that funny...although they did parodies on Shakespeare, Arthur Miller, etc. Witty...but just not funny to me.

I really think the first time I UNDERSTOOD (not heard) THE GOONS, comedy totally changed for me. Had they not run them (and Hancock) on the snotty little CBC Toronto, outlet, I probably WOULD have thought Jerry Lewis and Bob Hope were funny...ha ha!

Whaddya think?

Rick