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10 sats \ 20 replies \ @carlosfandango 14 Sep 2023 \ parent \ on: Orange Pill Diaries: The Lebowski Brothers bitcoin
The influence of the Goon Show on Monty Python is pretty apparent and acknowledged by the likes of John Cleese etc. The two strains of comedy at that time in the UK were blue collar working men’s stand up acts (usually insulting their mother-in-law) and the university revue very media aware types (like Monty Python). The second type seemed to win with a television audience and directly influenced the likes of Blackadder, League of Gentlemen and later sketch shows. The stand up comedians these days are much more savvy and mother-in-law jokes thankfully binned.
I know the sort of humor you're talking about. The late British comic, Les Dawson, did Mother-in-Law jokes, but the 'alternative' comics that were eclipsing the 'old guard' really loved him. Also, he really loved his M-I-L and I think that came through. Plus, he was so well read and intelligent. If he's never been on your radar, maybe check him out.
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He could actually play the piano as well - have to be good to play that badly.
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Ironic but true!
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Did Benny Hill represent the other side? My friends and I couldn't believe that our fathers thought he was funny.
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What sort of comedy things were you and your friends into beside Python?
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I forgot to mention Mad Magazine. When we were in Elementary School we would wait for each issue and bring it to school. It was the funniest thing we had ever read in our young lives.
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When I was in the UK we had Viz magazine. A particularly irreverent comic strip with plenty of mildly offensive content written and drawn in the style of funny pages.
Such quality characters as Sid the Sexist, Roger Mellie (the rudest man on the telly) and Johnny Fartpants. Childish fun.
Recently had a copy sent to a friend recovering in hospital… wish I had a copy sent to me lol.
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Sat Flags?
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Sounds very similar. I remember this silliness (I thought it was genius) when the Godfather movie was released:
https://www.madmagazine.com/blog/2012/03/15/the-godfather-turns-40
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Don Vino Minestrone… brilliant
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Python was by far our favorite. The PBS local station in New York would air an episode of the TV show on Sunday Nights. This was when I was in high school. We also loved Mel Brooks movies. All In the Family TV show was very popular. Saturday Night Live was very popular. Woody Allen early films, Bananas, Take The Money And Run, Love and Death. Annie Hall. Stand Up- George Carlin, Richard Pryor.
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Did Fawlty Towers get a showing? Saturday Night Live can be very hit and miss even today. I recall Brewsters Millions as a great Pryor film and Eddie Murphy was also pretty popular along with his films. We used to have to get those on VHS though
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Yes. We loved Fawlty Towers. "Manuel!" I only liked Saturday Night Live until Eddie Murphy left. Haven't watched it since. Where did you grow up?
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I spent a lot of time all over the place; Europe, Canada, United Kingdom. The one constant has probably been British comedy.
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For absolute years I've always wondered about this - any ideas why this is the case?
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I guess this is the billion sat question that's been asked for years. I guess there's no a straightforward formula.
Just enjoying yourself and not having overbearing production constraints might be a large part of it.
Oh yes. Very working men’s / variety hall inspired and quite a different use of television as a medium to Python. It don’t have to be like that; Morecombe & Wise, The Two Ronnies did better versions of the variety acts (indeed Spike Milligan wrote for the Two Ronnies).
No judgment on those who enjoy that sort of thing but I find it unpleasant, misogynistic and comedically very weak. Having said that his song ‘Ernie: the fastest milkman in the west’ is considered a classic. So what do I know.
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I remember there was a really old man who got a lot of laughs.
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Yep, if it's the same guy, he got lots of laughs for having his bald head slapped every week.
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