BS: greatest written comedy

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: s6k
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 06:16 AM

derek & clive

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: MBSLynne
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 07:47 AM

I second Terry Pratchett...anything by Terry Pratchett...everything by Terry Pratchett. The other books that made me laugh out loud frequently were the "All Creatures Great and Small" ones by James Herriott and Gerald Durrell's books.

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: John Hardly
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 08:22 AM

You're all so erudite.

Dave Barry.

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: GUEST,SueB
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 03:59 PM

Yes! Dave Barry! for the girls, especially, Dave Barry's Guide to Guys. Earlier stuff is better.

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: bflat
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 10:00 PM

How about Arsenic and Old Lace and The Importance of Being Earnest? Wonderful comic timing! I like everything Mel Brooks puts his name on.

Ellen

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: John Hardly
Date: 19 Sep 04 - 10:38 PM

Of course, there's always this guy

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: Teresa
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 12:00 AM

Pardon?

er um, the URL goes in there, too, John. :)

t

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 12:36 AM

thats not funny, its rubbish.

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: darkriver
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 02:54 AM

With one exception, I've found all the above suggestions very funny as well. I recently read Thurber's "The Car We Used to Push" to my 14-year-old, and we both ended up on the floor when I got to the Get-Ready Man during the production of King Lear.

Some of PG Wodehouse's funniest effects are achieved only because they are printed--they'd make little sense read aloud. I'm thinking of Bertie's tendency to use initials.

I dunno if I'd laugh now, but I remember thinking Tom Robbins's Another Roadside Attraction very funny.

(The exception I mentioned above is Confederacy of Dunces. My reaction was strange: I read it, and could see what O'Toole was doing, but I just couldn't laugh at it. It seemed too strained or something.

Doug

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 06:28 AM

Seasons Greetings by Alan Ayckbourn
Any one of a dozen scenes in Mike Leigh's Life is Sweet

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: GUEST,F.O.Kite
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 07:32 AM

"Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines"

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 09:01 AM

I'm a golf nut. Wodehouse wrote some hilarious golf stories.

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 11:02 AM

Greatest? Humor isn't a competitive event, unlike Irish fiddling and pop folksinging. I will suggest, though, that Twain's piece on Jemes Fenimore cooper and the Skinner/Kimbrough book "Our hearts were young and Gay", as well as almost anything by Stephen Leacock managed to render me helpless with laughter.
    Leacock, who is largely forgotten today, was responsible for gms like "He jumped on his horse and rode off madly in all directions"

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: M.Ted
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 04:19 PM

Nearly anything by Joyce Carol Oates--all of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, and of course, "Death of a Salesman"--

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: Sam L
Date: 20 Sep 04 - 06:49 PM

Death of a salesman? M.Ted? It has a very funny side, yes, but I'm of the camp that thinks it's almost as good as it's supposed to be. Conrad's Heart of Darkness is hilarious, and Murder In The Cathedral always reminds me of Monty Python. In this vein, Raymond Carver is also hilarious, maybe my most favorite. Italo Calvino in a sunnier way.
Any theories about what's funny? I'm beginning to form a few. I think when one laughs it presupposes a sharing--even if the person is not present with whom you mean to share the laugh. (Laughing alone and to oneself is a cliche' tradition of the madman.) Any other theories?

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: HuwG
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 01:01 AM

If the criteria here is purely "written" comedy, then several of the suggestions above must be disqualified as they are visual or recorded humour, rather than written. For example, Monty Python's films, Monty Python and the Holy Grail", and Life of Brian are probably the most hilarious films I will ever see, but these originated as film scripts, designed to be seen rather than read. (Also, the remarkable slapstick skills of the Pythons and the supporting cast contributed to much of the humour).


Likewise, Toms Stoppard's play and film, Rosenkrantz and guildenstern are dead is meant to be seen on stage rather than read.

If the criteria is restricted to that which causes the reader to guffaw suddenly when alone or in company, then obviously Spike Milligan's works must rank high. Also, Wodehouse, Jerome K. Jerome, Thurber and Twain. I have always enjoyed Garrison Keillor's stuff, even without hearing his lugubrious tones over BBC Radio 4.

May I nominate british author Michael Green, who wrote some hilarious books forty years ago on the subjects of coarse golf, rugby, sailing, acting and moving house.

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: Bert
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 02:58 AM

Hasn't ANYONE heard of Lewis Carroll?

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: Teresa
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 03:05 AM

"Twinkle, twinkle, little bat,
How I wonder what you're at.
Up above the world so high,
Like a teatray in the sky ..."

_Alice's Adventures in wonderland_

;)

T

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 04:42 AM

Twinkle twinkle little star.
Now I know just what you are.
A lump of rusting rocket case.
A rubbish tip in outer space. [ Spike Milligan ]

eric

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: muppett
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 04:53 AM

The hitch hiker's guide to the galaxy is back on the radio tonight (the 2nd book I think) radio 4 6.30pm.

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: GUEST,James
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 08:21 AM

Books.........Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons, Dead Souls, Gogol.
Three Men In A Boat, Jerome Jerome,The Wisdom of Shepherds by Rhett Ellis(unintentionally), Lots of things by Stephen Leacock...Tristam Shandy.

Film..Monty Python, The Holy Grail.

Theatre...Gilbert and Sullivan

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: Sam L
Date: 21 Sep 04 - 09:21 AM

Another Gogol fan!
I wouldn't disqualify plays, they're written, and also performed. Not everyone likes reading them, but still, there they are. I guess you'd have to allow movie and t.v. scripts, if you actually were reading them.

Subject: RE: BS: greatest written comedy
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 22 Sep 04 - 05:59 AM

Gilbert O'Sullivan isn't funny ?

eric