My favourite comedian is Woody Allen; whose films I grew up on. (Bananas, Sleeper, Take The Money And Run, Love and Death, Zelig, Play It Again Sam) but I also like Tony Hancock (Hancocks Half Hour and The Rebel) Peter Cook and Dudley Moore (Not Only But Also, Bedazzled) Monty Python (The original series and Life Of Brian/The Holy Grail but not so much the Meaning of Life),Peter Sellers (all the early Ealing and Boulting Brothers comedies like Heavens Above also Dr Strangelove and, to a lesser degree, the Pink Panther movies), Red Dwarf, Lenny Bruce, Dave Allen, Saturday Night Live (Bill Murray,Dan Ackroyd, John Belushi etcetera), Ealing Comedies generally, (Favourites being Passport To Pimlico, The Lady Killers and The Man in the White Suit), the films of The Marx Brothers (particularly Horse Feathers and Duck Soup),Abbot and Costello, Bob Hope (Particularly The Road Movies made with Bing Crosby and the Paleface movies made with Jane Russell), Laurel and Hardy (Particularly Way Out West, The Music Box,A Chump at Oxford) and Charlie Chaplin (Particularly Modern Times and The Great Dictator).
My favourite comedy film is probably The Great Dictator.
I have to say, I don't really like modern comedians and particularly can't stand Ricky Gervais or Russell Brand because of their egos. I don't mind Sacha-Baron Cohen so much because he can be very clever (and reminds me of Peter Sellers somewhat) but I think alot of modern comedy is aimed
at teenagers rather than adults (Russell Howard for example) and I've never really been a teenager.
well-wisher | June 25, 2012 - 17:24
I put this on the wrong Forum. Should be under General Discussion.
scratch | June 25, 2012 - 17:33
Couldn't agree more about Gervasie and Brand. Personally Peter Kay is my favourite of all time.
scratch | June 25, 2012 - 17:37
FTSE's not bad either!
Verdana | June 25, 2012 - 18:19
Thanks for posting. Yeh the Ghostbusters crew, Felix Dexter, Chevy Chase, Laurel and Hardy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SEvhZ1_n9U&feature=related
bazzacozza | June 25, 2012 - 18:28
I agree with 98% of whatyou say well-wisher. If you want to see something really funny look on you tube for Abbott & Costello doing their "Who's on One" which is relating to positions on an American baseball field. It's hilarious.
well-wisher | June 25, 2012 - 19:02
I agree about Peter Kay. Quite a good comedy actor aswell.
I forgot to add Danny Kaye to my list. Love everything Danny Kaye did, especially the film
"Wonderman".
Also forgot to mention the films of Frank Capra - "Arsenic and Old Lace" and Howard Hawks - "His Girl Friday" and the playwright/screen writer Neil Simon -
"The Odd Couple"
Also, among modern comedians,David Mitchell is really funny and smart and I like Reginald D Hunter and Rich Hall
Parson Thru | June 25, 2012 - 19:31
That which doesn't know it's comedy. (Groan)
Stan | June 25, 2012 - 19:46
Another Gervais and Brand avoider here - although I really enjoyed The Office.
TV: Fawlty Towers, Spaced, Monty Python, Fools and Horses.
Radio: I'm Sorry, I Haven't A Clue, The News Quiz, The Goon Show.
Stand-up: Eddie Izzard, Al Murray, Bill Hicks, George Carlin, Rich Hall.
Film: The Big Lebowski, The Blues Brothers, Life of Brian, Withnail and I.
See if my piccies make you chuckle!
http://s1214.photobucket.com/albums/cc495/MartianTom/Celebs/
well-wisher | June 25, 2012 - 20:19
Some of them. Others I just found a bit disturbing.
I'm quite sure that Simon Cowell one is real and the one with Nick Clegg in it.
Blessing | June 25, 2012 - 20:49
Oh also The Muppets, Fresh Prince, Sanford and Son, Dave Allen, Norman Wisdom, Dick Gregory, Soap, Frankie Howard, Tommy Cooper ... Maxwell Smart ...
Linda Wigzell Cress | June 25, 2012 - 22:55
Putting in a word for the Carry On Films, and must say cannot see anything funny at all in Chaplin or Laurel and Hardy or Abbott and Costello. Maybe its a girl thing, most men I know like that stuff most women dont. Monty Python is great, so clever, and the Two Ronnies. Russell Brand is extremely sharp and amusing if you can look past his reputation, he has some very witty and well-observed things to say. (and attractive in a bad boy way). Fools and Horses - great scripts and acted with superb timing. David Walliams is too creepy and dislike Peter Kay. Agree David Mitchell is best of the moderns, so witty and astute. I find Danny Kaye and dear old Norman Wisdom just silly. And let's hear it for Victoria Wood - what a talent!
But - what is comedy anyway?
Linda
FTSE100 | June 26, 2012 - 08:33
I like that show for arsonists - what's it called? - oh yes: Would I Lighter You?
I agree entirely with scratch about FTSE, the guy's a comedy genius. :) Not as good as the Krankies, but then who is? Apart from the Chuckle Brothers, of course.
FTSE100 | June 26, 2012 - 08:40
League of Gentlemen.
Just thought I'd toss that one in.
And Hyperdrive. Anyone remember Hyperdrive?
alex_tomlin | June 26, 2012 - 08:49
Good call on Victoria Wood. I don't think there's any really great comedians around at the moment - they're all quite similar. I'd make a case for radio comedy - Just a Minute, I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, and the News Quiz are all great. A great free night out is if you can get tickets to see the recordings of those.
Geoffrey | June 26, 2012 - 10:14
The trouble with most comedy is that it gets dated. Does anyone else remember ITMA? Alright so I was a kid then but I remember my parents and myself killing ourselves laughing. What at? mostly catch phrases; "Can I do you now sir?" Oh how we creased up! Fawlty towels anyone, good at the time but oh dear have you seen repeats lately?
I'm sure one of the great poets on abc will help me on a subject thats completely different. I've finished a poem with the line "Where do you keep those cardboard boxes." What on earth rhymes with 'cardboard boxes' apart from foxes. HELP!
h jenkins | June 26, 2012 - 10:45
Hi Geoffrey.
How about these:
coxes, poxes, paradoxes, equinoxes, Xeroxes, outfoxes, orthodoxes or, I suppose, orthodoxies.
Which brings to mind a bit of old 'plank-bed' slang - 'doxy', which meant a thief/beggar's female companion and later just meant a prostitute. Stretching it a bit, you could use the plural which would be doxies.
You could also use the possessive of things/names ending in 'x', eg Fox's (as in glacier mints) or ending in 'xy' such as Moxy's.
Helvigo Jenkins
Stan | June 26, 2012 - 11:55
League of Gentlemen! How could I forget that?
'You're my wife now, Footsie!'
FTSE100 | June 26, 2012 - 12:15
I say, steady on old chap.
ItsSteveDave | June 26, 2012 - 16:15
Garth Marenghi's Darkplace is brilliant! Also the Mighty Boosh. But the best show on TV in my opinion - Have I Got News For You.
I agree on Gervais. Man's an idiot. I like Russell Brand, strangely, just because what he looks and sounds like belies quite a good vocab! David Mitchell never fails to make me laugh. Especially his 'Soap Box' series.
One thing does have to be said, I think, and that is - Russell Howard is not funny in the slightest :)
Stan | June 26, 2012 - 17:34
Father Ted...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_Dcl2aUzsc
Mrs Brown...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QarofaycN3c
blighters rock | June 26, 2012 - 18:33
Early Gene Wilder, Richard Pryor and Steve Martin, plus Monty Python's Life of Brian, Steptoe and Son, any Norman Wisdom film (cry as well as laugh) and Benny Hill.
There are loads but I don't really find many of the modern ones very funny apart from Peter Kaye, Dennis Pennis and most of the subversive BBC lot (League of gents, Nighty Night).
White Dwarf | June 26, 2012 - 19:49
Wow -- lots of people hating on Gervais. I am not a fan of his standup -- but he has talent in writing and producing great comedy.
Specially love "An Idiot Abroad" and the Ricky Gervais Podcast with Steve and my favorite - Karl Pilkington (who must be the funniest dullard on the planet)
Best Comic - Bill Hicks.
Stan | June 26, 2012 - 22:35
Yeah... Gervais is a great writer. He's just let fame go to his head and turn him into a detestable prick as a person.
Bill Hicks... without doubt, the genius (but George Carlin is pretty close, too).
I've just watched Margin Call again - a favourite film, mostly because of the performances, but primarily because of the writing. It's not a comedy. It follows the key people at an investment bank, over a 24-hour period, during the early stages of the financial crisis. It's compulsive viewing for all that. But the script contains such gems as this, which had me laughing hard. Two traders, shooting the breeze...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNX7u_8KL7g
scratch | June 26, 2012 - 22:54
Months ago you put me onto 'Carlin' Stan, and I am so glad that you did.
RIP.
Stan | June 27, 2012 - 09:22
A pleasure, mate. Alright to post a reminder?
George on the little things that we have in common - the things that bring us together...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgps85scy1g
*some strong language*
FTSE100 | June 27, 2012 - 09:41
Years and years ago I saw Norman Wisdom in my local Waitrose. He was looking lost. The staff were nudging each other - look, it's Norman Wisdom - but none of them went to help him. No wonder he hasn't been back.
well-wisher | June 28, 2012 - 19:22
I was waiting for George to describe the "Working Class" but then he went from "Middle Class" to "The Poor","The Middle Class pay all of the taxes".
I thought that was so American.
Usually, though, I do quite like George Carlin especially on Religion and Bill Hicks generally.
scratch | June 28, 2012 - 21:42
I just watched the G Carlin link. True comic talent - comic genius I think. I have become a fan of his Stan since you (I think it was you) posted the link to modern man which I think is so good.
Brilliant.
Stan | June 28, 2012 - 23:30
Yeah, that's something else, Scratch. I found the transcript of it on the internet and printed it off to learn, just as an exercise. It took a few weeks, I can tell you! Now, I try to run through it once every day to keep it fresh. I did it at a Slam last year and it went down ok. I don't have George's panache, though!
Zalgradis | July 11, 2012 - 00:24
Frankie Boyle is amazing for me. Scared to go to his gigs though lol *S*
denni1 | July 15, 2012 - 09:53
Wankie Boyle is vile. That Scottish/English voice gives me the creeps. He doesn't write his own "material", and to use rape, cancer and suchlike to get a belly laugh is pathetic. He is dull and rude off stage too, yuck. l love Still Game, Tootie Fruity, Stanley Baxter's "Parliamo Glasgow" is genius xx
FTSE100 | July 15, 2012 - 13:18
I like Twenty Twelve. I bet there are people who think it's a documentary.
Spinal Tap! Did nobody say Spinal Tap? Why has nobody said Spinal Tap? Spinal Tap!!!
denni1 | July 15, 2012 - 13:45
Chewin' the fat. Bob and Margaret. Nighty night. (Already mentioned)
Early Doors.. xx
FTSE100 | July 17, 2012 - 01:22
Wok the Meek.