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Am I without humour if I can't see why a lot of 'new' comedy is funny?

(142 Posts)
Rosina Mon 19-Jul-21 11:58:08

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?

Aepgirl Tue 20-Jul-21 11:25:02

I really don’t ‘get’ modern humour. It’s unpleasant, full of expletives, and just makes me feel uncomfortable. I enjoy programmes like ‘Would I lie to you’ and am amazed that the ‘comedians’ on there are much more restrained in their language (or perhaps it’s all done by editing).

Bring back Ken Dodd - he was sometimes a bit naughty, but never rude or unkind.

FannyCornforth Tue 20-Jul-21 11:29:38

I saw Ken Dodd at the Birmingham Hippodrome with my family circa 1982. We didn’t leave the theatre until getting on 1am.

Infinity2 Tue 20-Jul-21 11:33:01

Ken Dodd was the best. ❤️❤️❤️

EmilyHarburn Tue 20-Jul-21 11:33:29

I still enjoy Victoria Wood. I am not a fan of Sarah Millican. I do not think her female genitalia jokes are funny whatsoever.

NannyG123 Tue 20-Jul-21 11:34:41

Fav sitcoms. Only fools and horses. Porridge. Fav comedians. Jason Manford. Michael Mcintyre. Peter Kay. Mickley Flanagan. He does swear but very funny.

Youngatheart51 Tue 20-Jul-21 11:40:44

I find observational humour funny, Michael Macintire, Jason Manford to name a couple. "Comedians" like Frankie Boyle I find totally offensive.
WILTY is a must watch in our house, even more so when Bob Mortimer is on it!

Jaxjacky Tue 20-Jul-21 11:40:44

Love Billy Connolly live, he was a bit sweaty but it fitted in, Mrs Browns boys too, and now Romesh Ranganathan. He and Rob Beckett’s series vs is very amusing.

sundowngirl Tue 20-Jul-21 11:41:47

So sad about Tom O’Connor. Many years ago we were on a quiz programme with him as the host snd he was a perfect gentleman. Chatting to us before and after the show and ensuring we were relaxed and making us laugh with his quick wit. A few years later we were on another show with Michael Barrymore such a difference. He wouldn’t speak to you unless on the show and sent scriptwriters to us to make sure we said the right thing for him to make a joke of. Rip Tom O’Connor you were a naturally funny man

Gabrielle56 Tue 20-Jul-21 11:42:53

Delbert Wilkins. Theophilus P.Wilderbeast.....yall know who I'm talking about? The great Lenny Henry! I always thought he wasn't on enough and loved him in just everything he did specially with Tracey Ullman and David Copperfield (where's he?) in 3 of a kind. Loved Tracey Ullman s last series, the separated twins Nicola sturgeon and Angela Merkel! Had us roaring.shes so witty and brilliant writer for others.

Gabrielle56 Tue 20-Jul-21 11:44:29

Oh and adored French and Saunders movie specials, any more please ladies? There's so many movies you could just tear apart!

Edith81 Tue 20-Jul-21 11:47:35

Hello girl I met Tom O’Connor in Hayling Island and I enjoyed his humour without any swearing. I also liked Freddie Starr and his antics. I don’t watch today’s comedians.

tictacnana Tue 20-Jul-21 11:57:32

Victoria Wood was a genius. During lockdown Tom Wrigglesworth’s Hang Ups on R4Ex and Alexi Sayers Imaginary Sandwich Shop have kept me going.

ExDancer Tue 20-Jul-21 11:57:33

I never liked Ken Dodd until I saw him 'live'. Almost from the start, my sides ached with laughing. He obviously was enjoying himself too as he carried on until after midnight although he was billed to finish at 10pm.
A very clever, funny man.

loopylindy Tue 20-Jul-21 11:58:34

Although appreciation of humour and humourous acts modifies with age, we still find ourselves watching older programmes mainly because they rely on quick wittedness and careful and sophisticated use of language to get the laughs. We still corpse when watching some of the Two Ronnies stuff. R. Barker was a genuine wordsmith. Jasper Carrott used obsevational humour to great effect, as did the great Victoria Wood. Her crafting of her many songs was masterful.
I suppose you can gather from this we're not too keen on 'modern' humour, though having said that we weren't too keen on the Young Ones or Monty Python either.

loopylindy Tue 20-Jul-21 11:59:42

Kathrine Ryan

TiggyW Tue 20-Jul-21 12:09:30

I tried to watch ‘The Spy who Dumped Me’ - absolute rubbish. The usual four letter expletives from the verbally challenged. angry
Best comedians by a mile - Peter Kay, Victoria Wood, Ronnie Barker, Mike Harding, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Bill Bailey.
I’ve been trying to determine why I find them so funny - I think part of it is because they can all raise a laugh without saying a word. It’s their facial expressions. Brilliant!

Nightsky2 Tue 20-Jul-21 12:09:56

Infinity2

When I think how we used to roar at Benny Hill and Dick Emery ! We’d probably be condemned to death for it now.
I loved Stanley Baxter - I think he was an amazingly talented man.

They were two of my favourites and I can remember laughing out loud at Frankie Howard and turning see future FiL looking so po-faced. I think he was pretending to be offended in front of me. He probably thought I was an innocent little thing?.
Stanley Baxter could be outrageously funny.
I think Sarah Millican is just awful, so crude and vulgar.
Monthly Python, The Young Ones and Victoria Wood I didn’t watch or get sometimes but DH thought they were wonderful. We’re all different and different things make us laugh.
Infinity2……. I think you and I would get along.?.

Chrysalis Tue 20-Jul-21 12:11:36

I loved 'All That Glitters'. The skills were amazing. Took some time to warm to the judges but the comedien Katherine Ryan was annoying throughout.

Riggie Tue 20-Jul-21 12:14:37

I do area sense of humour but don't like stand up comedians. Occasionally something will make me laugh but on the whole not!! More into sitcoms

Nightsky2 Tue 20-Jul-21 12:15:07

schnackie

I think Michael McIntyre (sp?) is brilliant. Very much observational comedy and not much swearing. Also David Mitchell is such a great writer and actor - particularly Upstart Crow (Shakespeare) and Back on Channel 4.

?

grandtanteJE65 Tue 20-Jul-21 12:20:43

I have always disliked the kind of humour, whether on stage or off it, that consists entirely of what we used to call "dirty" or "blue" jokes.

Don't get me wrong, I have no objection to people discussing sex, either seriously or in jokes, but why should it be necessary to use obscene language to do so?

I have never much cared for "mother-in-law jokes" or the kind of humour that makes fun of various groups of society for their (supposed) characteristics.

But there are other forms of humour I find side-splitting and that I think is quite normal.

Humour is very individual after all.

Jaxie Tue 20-Jul-21 12:24:02

On The Great British Sewing Bee Joe Lycett is the infunniest show off it has ever been my displeasure to witness. The contestants are forced to simper at his pathetic cavorting. I never got a laugh out of Morecambe and Wise either. A dead-eyed comedian forced to perform like a trick pony is not my idea of humour. Witty people like Paul Merton who can play with words seemingly effortlessly, Peter Kay, like a naughtily observant son,are more my bag.

muffinthemoo Tue 20-Jul-21 12:33:55

Everyone has their own taste in comedy, and that’s all to the good!

It is always interesting to see which comedians of the past are revered by younger comedians though. The same names come up again and again. Ronnie Barker in particular. There is definitely a strain of humour which is inherently funny regardless of current context.

Tastes also do seem to vary by nationality. US sitcoms generally have a sympathetic protagonist, whereas UK sitcoms generally have a hateful protagonist - see The Office, Reginald Perrin, Fawlty Towers, I’m Alan Partridge

coastalgran Tue 20-Jul-21 12:33:56

I think it is like everything else in life, your choice about what makes you laugh, cry, annoyed etc. Good job we are all different.

Willjac123 Tue 20-Jul-21 12:40:32

Lots of votes around for 'Would I Lie To You' and David Mitchell.
I think they are both brilliant