BS: Your favourite comedian

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: kendall
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 10:16 AM

Red Skelton never used a 4 letter word. He made it on talent alone.
Jack Benny was the master of timing.
Take away his cue cards and Bob Hope couldn't say his name.
Ernie Kovaks. Who could forget the "Nairobi Trio"?



Lilly Tomlin
Carol Burnett
Minnie Pearl

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 08:12 AM

May be it's the writers rather than the comedians causing the problem. Stand up comedy is a little bit different there are good ones that are making me laugh but there are so many of them especially doing the observation type comedy, too many to know who is who. It seems that everytime I look up there is a new face on my screen being as equally funny as the last but without the personality to stay in my memory. These days if one stands out at all I find myself calling the comedian whatshisname or whatshername.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 10:44 PM

George Carlin must of had a TIme Machine. He predicted so many scenarios that happened later.
He even played a guy who had a time machine in a Bill & Ted movie.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: topical tom
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 06:54 PM

For my favorite comedian I would have to choose the stand-up comedy of Bob Newhart. I also laugh heartily at Robin Williams. These are my two choices.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: pdq
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 12:31 PM

"Was there really a Golden Age of comedy that is now past and gone? Is there nothing worth watching any more except old reruns? Is there nothing funny about the world we live in now? Have we run out of funny things to say about it?"

ANS: yes, yes, no, yes

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 11:36 AM

I find it odd and kind of disturbing that most of the people mentioned in this thread are dead. Some have been dead a long time. And of those that are living, many are retired and don't perform much any more.

What does this mean? Was there really a Golden Age of comedy that is now past and gone? Is there nothing worth watching any more except old reruns? Is there nothing funny about the world we live in now? Have we run out of funny things to say about it?

I think we are cheating ourselves if we don't pay any attention to the younger comedians who are still performing.

The main reason I find this thread disappointing is that, by concentrating on the old-timers, it has told me very little that I don't already know.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 07:53 AM

The fork handle sketch is a classic. The Two Ronnies show was more of a must in my household than Morecambe and Wise especially at Christmas and it's good to see Ronnie Corbett still carrying on in his career too.

It is a shame that we have to go to past comedys to get a laugh, I find it difficult to find much to make me laugh these days. In UK so many comedy programmes now seem to end up getting axed not long after being launched. My Family with Robert Lyndsay is a strange one, sometimes it can be really quite funny another time the acting can be so wooden and hammy, it is never consistantly funny but I suppose it is just funny enough to keep it going compared to some others.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: theleveller
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 04:30 AM

This is probably the funniest Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett sketch ever!

fork handles

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 04:28 AM

The Odd Couple was a favourite of mine too also Taxi and Cheers both very funny, really good comedy. All the characters that were in those shows were brilliant.

Lily Tomlin (not to sure of the spelling) when she used to portray herself as a typical little 5 year old girl sat on a gigantic chair.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: theleveller
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 04:16 AM

"But to me, the language of 'your' guy is third grade stuff and does not - to me - it ucking funny make. "

Well, Ebbie, I think it does emphasise the difference between what is considered humour in the UK and the USA - nothing to do with men and women. You obviously don't understand the concept of Spoonerisms which have been an important part of UK comedy since the man himself told one of his students that he had "tasted an entire worm and must leave Oxford by the town drain." Rindercella very much carried forward the great pantomime tradition.

Ronnie Barker was a comic genius - not just in his writing but in the faultless delivery, timing and characterisations, which is why he had so many series on UK TV for so many decades. Sadly missed!

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 03:00 AM

Phil Sinvers ?


Sorry

Phil Silvers !


Must be getting old
AD

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 02:59 AM

Tommy Cooper
Spike Milligan

Phil Sinvers
Groucho Marx

AD

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 12:17 AM

Has anyone mentioned Laurel & Hardy yet? Or Buster Keaton [who I must admit has never made me laugh yet, but had a great following in his time]?

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 05:24 AM

and John Candy.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 10 Jan 11 - 04:24 AM

Mae West did some great funny quips like 'when I was good I was very very good but when I was bad, I was better' and 'It's not the men in my life, it's the life in my men' for the time quite risky.

Most of the mentioned comedians I've liked. Early Jasper Carrot was very funny and Billy Connolly. Lee Evans can also be very funny except that just recently he is tending to pepper his act with too many f words in his act he has never had to that before so why he is doing that now, who knows? His observation comedy is funny anyway but there you go he obviously thinks he needs it in his act.

When I was small watching Victor Borge on the London Palladium was a treat as was Jack Benny (just about remember) I've always liked that droll sense of humour. Jack Dee is another one of those and he's not too bad in situation comedy either. Dawn French, Victoria Wood (sometimes), Alison Steadman for her comedy character roles such as Abigail's party and the whole cast of the Royale Family, Caroline Aherne's writing is very underrated.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 04:18 PM

Marshall Dodge
Lionel Jeffries
George Carlin
Jonathan Winters

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 04:00 PM

Yeh gnu, that clip was all that I could find on YouTube. I loved the TV shows and I have seen Beattie perform Wingfield live on stage several times. I am truly amazed at how he can change characters so quickly by facial expression and voice. How he can carry on a four way conversation without getting mixed up is beyond belief. To my mind he is the best that I've ever seen!
If you have a TV connection that provides the Book Channel you can still get his show on Tuesdays.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: gnu
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 02:46 PM

Thanks... right back atchya.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Ed T
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 02:36 PM

Just, that I enjoy the hurmour of your posts, when you are in thet kind of a posing mood.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: gnu
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 02:32 PM

Ed T... not sure what you mean, but if I twist it my way, thank you but there are far better.

Sandy... that Wingfield clip only gives a slight taste of the finely crafted and intricate tales woven so beautifully on Wingfield. I don't buy the DVD series compilations of TV shows but if I ever see such for Wingfield I will pay top dollar. Better than Red Green (yes, I said it).

Kendall... Tim Conway... amazing comedic actor... The Carol Burnett Show was NEVER missed in our house and I would guess in any house in NA. Amazing troupe.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 02:14 PM

My personal favourite was probably Derek Brimstone. Derek's song introductions were the inspiration of all that 1970's wave of folk comedians. Jasper Carrot, Mike Harding, Malc Stent, Billy Conolly - all of them mentioned Derek as the originator of the folk club style of comedy.

He's retired now, and the folk scene is more po-faced than is good for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Ed T
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 01:31 PM

I nominate gnu, for a candidate, for putting forth best Mudcat humour.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: kendall
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 01:00 PM

Tim Conway and Foster Brooks.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 11:44 AM

Rod Beattie as Walt Wingfield.

Wingfield

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Ed T
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 11:34 PM

Anyone remember Wayne and Shuster, from the Ed Sullivan days?
I believe Johnny Wayne died back in the early 90s.

Rinse the Blood Off My Toga

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: framus
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 10:20 PM

Thanks alanabit - great funny man, great musician - and so august.
I assume he is at his uncle's birthday party now.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 10:10 PM

Now, Rita Rudner. Some quotes are here.http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/rita_rudner.html

Previously, Sam Levenson. Some quotes are here. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/sam_levenson.html

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 01:17 PM

You are right, pdq; I did mean The Ritz Bros.

Sorry.

~M~ (old & confused!)

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: pdq
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 01:12 PM

... And how about the Marx Bros, the Mills Bros, the Three Stooges?

The Mills Brothers are comedy?

You perhaps meant the Ritz Brothers?

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Bill D
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 12:05 PM

well.... that watermelon bit got a bit old after awhile. When folks show up early so they can sit in the front row wearing raincoats, it loses a bit.
But I do like Red Green, even though it's almost impossible to find him any more in this area. They brought him back...at midnight Sat... then he disappeared again. They have some of the same 'themes', but endless variations on them.



(No...never saw Minchin)

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: olddude
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 11:15 AM

who was the guy that smashed watermelons with a big club ...
I thought he was a riot...

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 09:07 AM

At least two of us have mentioned him.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: GUEST,I don't know
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 08:00 AM

Morecome & Wise, Jasper Carrott, Joe Brand, Eddie Izzard & Rick Myall

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: alanabit
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 07:43 AM

I am a belated admirer of Victor Borge. A lot of what made him so funny was that he understood the conventions of classical music so very well. And what a fabulous musician he was.
In fact, the tradition of comedians having other skills is long established. WC Fields was by all accounts a terrific juggler and we all know about Steve Martin's musicianship. Charlie Chaplin first entered America as a member of Fred Karno's clog dancers.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: scouse
Date: 07 Jan 11 - 07:29 AM

I can't believe that no one's mentioned Billy Connolly... One of the best alive today.
As Aye,
Phil.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: framus
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 11:04 PM

Bill D - have you heard an aussie called Minchin - same technique, but not so classical. Very funny, but not Borge.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Janie
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 10:16 PM

Glad you caught that Ebbie. Bill Cosby. (OK, you can laugh.)

Definitely Jackie Gleason and Red Skelton.

When I was young and very, very insecure, I found slapstick painful and embarrassing to watch. I suffered agonies for Lucille Ball.

Because I have been so out of the loop of popular culture for so many years, there is much about comedy that deals with popular culture today that I often simply do not get - something my ex and I still have in common.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: olddude
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 07:21 PM

I love the comedy of Red Green, there I said it

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 07:09 PM

Let's clarify. Are we talking about comedians { as in stand-up comics } or comic actors ? Those are two different things.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 06:44 PM

Oh! Victor Borge,....indeed... He was one of a kind, and so creative. (He did repeat 'routines'...but he began a stage performer who had a different audience each night. I still laugh when he falls off the bench and pulls a seat belt out of it.)

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: framus
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 06:33 PM

Nobody's mentioner Victor Borge, or for us Brits, Humphrey Littleton when he wasn't playing jazz.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Becca72
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 04:39 PM

Wesley,
I LOVE Eddie Izzard - I simply forgot to include him on the short list. :-) Billy Connelly should be there as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 04:31 PM

& let us please hear it for Joe E Brown...

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 03:34 PM

Walter Matthau- yep, a great one.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Bill D
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 03:23 PM

"...Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, Jack Benny.... Red Skelton,....]. That was surely a vintage generation over there. And how about the Marx Bros, the Mills Bros, the Three Stooges?

I loved them as a kid, but Hope & Benny were too formulaic after I got older....though no one could deliver lines like Hope & Benny! Red Skelton was truly creative and often improvised on 'live' TV. The Marx bros. and Three Stooges had flashes of brilliance, but much of their material depended on the times. They are 'classics', worth studying and appreciating, but not what I'd choose for daily fare.\
(I will say, there was not much funnier than watching Harpo 'hand someone his leg' as a comedic non-sequitur.)

There are many 'forms' of comedy... from stand-up to simple joke telling to script-writing/directing, and I like some prime examples in various genrés. \

I DO wish Robin Williams & Jonathan Winters could "turn it off" occasionally, though they are brilliant most of the time. (One of the funniest routines I ever saw was Winters & Cliff Arquette improvising on the Jack Paar show about 'sail cats'...moggies which never made it across the road, and how useful they were when dry.)

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 02:53 PM

Walter Matthau - all he had to do is walk into a movie (usually by
          Neil Simon) with that hangdog face and he cracked me up:
   Some samples from the original Odd Couple:

Card player: What kinda sandwiches you got?

Oscar (Walter) : Brown or green

CP: What's in the green?

Oscar :Either very new cheese or very old meat.

(CP : I'll take the brown)


OR


Felix : laughing at Oscar for his ignorance in culinary matters: that's not spaghetti, that's linguini

Oscar : throwing it against the wall: "Now it's garbage"

AND
the look on his face as Felix starts clearing his sinuses in the diner- SPLITS MY SIDES LAUGHING

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 02:45 PM

Well... if we are talking about comedic actors/story tellers again, I identify with Walt on accounta I knew "these guys" in yesterday.

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 02:44 PM

What? No one for Eddie Izzard yet?

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 02:10 PM

Haven't watched comedy since the days of Gleason, Carney, Burns, (and even "I Love Lucy"), except reruns of old shows.
My favorite remains "The Honeymooners" on the Gleason show.

The only exceptions being some of the British situation comedies such as "Are You Being Served?" and "As Time Goes By".

Subject: RE: BS: Your favourite comedian
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 01:52 PM

theleveller, I much prefer the story of Rindercella as I learnt it- your version to me defines the difference between women and men or perhaps the contrast between the humo(u)r across the ocean and the humor of the US. I dunno. But to me, the language of 'your' guy is third grade stuff and does not - to me - it ucking funny make.