Yesterday I watched a programme with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, celebrating women in comedy. They showed clips that made me laugh so much - one in particular of Lucille Ball wearing a far too heavy hat and trying to dance; it was hilarious and so well done. So many names, from childhood and up to a few decades ago, with sketches that were nothing short of brilliant both in writing, timing and delivery, but I found that I wasn't laughing much as the comedy from the last few years was shown. It seemed to be relying on 'shock swearing' to make the audience laugh, and I finally gave up and switched off when Sarah Millican, doing a stand up, waved her hand around her knicker area and asked the audience how they were feeling 'down there' - she felt 'claggy', one of the audience yelled 'moist' and they all roared with laughter. Am I dull and without humour because I can't find this amusing?
I always say, "if you take all the swear words out of today's comedian's show, you would be left with 10-15 minutes of comedy". I like Michael MacIntire and Peter Kay type comedy, easy going and funny because the things they talk about, we do the same. Usually the sweary comedians are mainly slagging someone off.
lemongrove - you are right !
He was famous for overrunning, everyone missed their bus to go home !
Hellogirl1
Does anyone remember Al Read on the radio many years ago?
Yes, unfortunately am old enough to ?
Old radio shows that I thought were funny ( and still are IMHO) are Round The Horne, and the comedy with ‘Ron and Eth’) Take It From Here?
I think Kenny Everett was pretty amusing too, and the two man writers and actors in Stella Street ( one was John Sessions.) Their take offs of Mick and Keef ( Rolling Stones) who are grocers at the corner shop is epic.
Infinity2
Ken Dodd was the best. ❤️❤️❤️
Although.....he did used to hold his live audiences captive!
Does anyone remember Al Read on the radio many years ago?
If you haven't watched Taskmaster on Dave channel, give it a try. Wont appeal to all, but it does to me, though some groups who participate are more entertaining ( and surprising) than others!
I loved "Rising Damp" and George and Mildred but they are no PC these days. I loved Les Dawson too but you don't see re-runs of his
JaneJudge I didn't know that so 'googled' it and found this .....
"But what she didn’t tell him was that she once peed on the passenger seat!"
Lizzie44, a lot of those classic old radio shows are available on
Radio 4 Extra.
i find i appreciate them more now.
Forgot Bill Bailey.! Really funny guy and totally overlooked by me till recently.
Yes I love ''would I lie to you' but does anyone know why Bob Mortimer isn't on it now? I also like Bill Bailey. IT crowd and Father Ted.
I used to love radio comedies such as The Goon Show, Hancock's Half Hour, and Round the Horne. At school the next day my best friend and I would recite lines we remembered from the programmes until we were laughing helplessly. I still love radio comedy - The News Quiz, I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue.
I loved early TV comedy such as I Love Lucy (Lucille Ball) and The Golden Girls. Also loved The Two Ronnies and their clever "word" sketches and musical finales. I think Victoria Wood was the most talented performer of all. I can watch tribute shows to her endlessly and still laugh every time. I saw her live on stage - she had such a range of talent and so much energy.
Current favourites are Would I Lie to You, Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week, though these can vary depending on the guests in a particular programme. When I can't face another dire news programme or another gritty drama I turn to comedy recordings - never needed comedy as much as in the last 18 months.
You are not without humour. When people have to resort to toilet humour and gutter language it means they are not clever enough to be really funny. That takes talent. Even on radio shows I hear women in particular frequently referring to their bodily functions. It's just comes across as gross, embarrassing and gratuitous, and feeds into the belief that women are not funny, which of course is not true.
Such a subjective issue. Some great names mentioned above. I used to love The Fast Show, Harry Enfield and Chums, Fawlty Towers in its day, Blackadder. Nowadays I would add James Acaster and Canadian one-liner Stewart Francis. Have to concentrate with them as their delivery is so fast and seemingly random though if you follow they usually come full circle by the end. Not to everyone’s taste but love Catherine Tate too. Have laughed at her “ nan” sketches until I’ve cried “aint it *** hot in here” ??. And Jasper Carrott!! Still doing the rounds now with a comedy/60’s music show. A national treasure who we as a family have always loved. Billie Connolly? Of course. Finally, Frankie Boyle and ( would you believe it) old Jethro from the Des O’Connor days. Both of them foul, filthy, sweary, and desperate. Yuck!
Can’t stand Mrs browns boys, love Sarah Millican, Mickey Flanagan, Peter Kay, loved Dave Allen, and The two Ronnies
Oh, and The Detectorists - very gentle humour. Also Outnumbered
Don't find todays standup comedians funny. I liked Dave Allen and thought Ken Dodd fantastic and he had a lovely voice. There do not seem to be shows like The two Ronnies and Monty Python or Not the Nine o Clock News these days. I do like I'm sorry I Haven't a Clue on the radio
I can't say I like any of todays stand up comedians.
I'm a great fan of Peter Kay but he's not on tv anymore. I liked him in Phoenix Nights and Car share.
Victoria Wood was brilliant. I've got lots of her dvd's and Peter Kay's. A few weeks ago I watched a re-run of Dinner Ladies and found them just as funny as when I first watched them.
Lee Mack I like and Tim Vine who are both quick witted.
Never liked Billy Connelly or Dave Allen.
Loved Les Dawson especially the Cissie and Ada bits and when he played the piano out of tune.
I used to like Michael Barrymore. Ken Dodd and as already been mentioned, Joan Rivers.
You can't beat the 1970's - 80's comedy programmes.
Iwtwab12bow
Radio 4 " comedy" is the worst. Apart from I'm Sorry l haven't a Clue. Many years ago we went to the Hay festival, the only tickets left were for Ken Dodd. We went thinking we could nip off to the pub if he got too corny. He was hilarious, we ached with laughing. He went on for hours . Just when we thought the show was at an end he said it was half time. You just don't get live humour like that anymore. Although if anyone hasn't seen one of Gervais Phinns stand up tours you are in for a treat.
My brother has a similar experience, they went on the wrong night and saw Bob Monkhouse instead of whoever they were supposed to see, apparently he was excellent, joke after joke.
We saw Victoria Wood in the very early days of her career, we drove from the NW, to Leeds then down to Felixstowe and we were still talking about it at 5am!
MerylStreep
Jennifer Saunders doesn’t think Absolutely Fabulous would be acceptable now.
metro.co.uk/2021/06/16/jennifer-saunders-on-whether-absolutely-fabulous-could-be-made-today-14780052/
The majority of comedy from 20+ years ago wouldn't be made today for fear of upsetting the very delicate sensibilities it's fashionable purport to have! I like to watch Last of the Summer Wine, a bit of homesickness for the hills, but I doubt even that would make the cut although as a lot of the 'aggression' is aimed at the men, maybe it will.
The modern 'comedian' I loathe is that Canadian woman with the screechy voice, Katherine something or other, yes love, you have a vagina, we all know that, talk about something else sometime.
I cannot stand Sarah Millican.
Also, Miranda Hart. All that falling over business she does.
It just isn’t funny.
I much preferred her as an actress in Call The Midwife.
I agree, the old comedies were the best.
Father Ted was very funny but Mrs Browns Boys i just dont get.
Two things that I would turn off are Mrs Brown’s Boys and anything with Keith Lemon in - horrible ,unkind man.
Dave Allen was the one to make me laugh he was just so naturally funny about everyday things.
Teaching a child to tell the time was a classic
David Mitchell, Romesh Ranganathan, Mickey Flanagan, all brilliant. We also like HIGNFY and Mock the Week. Can't stand Not Going Out though. I find it far too contrived. DH likes it though.
We saw Ken Dodd at Dudley Town Hall years ago. as others have said, no swearing, no smut and had everyone was rolling with laughter till well after midnight. You could tell he was enjoying himself and the audience did too.
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