anthony newley - the strange world of gurney slade

I re-watched Anthony Newley's 'The Strange World of Gurney Slade' last night, as l am a fan of Newley's, but l am still amazed how weird it must have seemed when it was first broadcast in 1960. It breaks just about every rule of a comedy show, and it is understandable that it wasn't a big hit at the time (or since then) despite it (and Newley himself) being a huge influence on David Bowie. The TV audience must have been bewildered.
It's very slow paced, has no real jokes in it, and is pretty surreal, so it's just the sort of thing that appeals to me, although l am not at all surprised there was only one series. Even l was too young to watch it at the time, but it would have messed with my young head if l had.
It's all available on youtube, and in my opinion, is well worth sticking with till the last episode (6).





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right said fred - bernard cribbins, plus david bowie connections

After the Scott Walker post below, here's something cheerful - Bernard Cribbins with 'Right Said Fred'. It always bugs me when l sing along to this that there is no part where the lyrics go 'Right said Fred - knock it on the head' as it would fit perfectly. So l just fit that bit in myself.
Also, to continue with the David Bowie part of the Scott Walker post, l reckon he appropriated the vocal mannerisms at the end of this for the speaking parts of The Laughing Gnome era songs (with some Anthony Newly thrown in for good measure). Probably plenty of more songs as well, especially Tommy Steele's 'l Puts The Lightie On'.
See what you think.









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the spaced house is up for sale

If you are a fan of the comedy series 'Spaced' and have a lot of spare cash lying around, then it might be your lucky day, as the house from the series (At Carlton Road, London N7) is up for sale. At a mind boggling asking price of 4 million of your English pounds.
Slightly out of my price range I'm afraid.

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the handsome family on the simpsons - far from any road and weightless again

Watching a repeat of The Simpsons tonight, and this song came on during an extra segment at the end, after most of the credits had already been shown.
A moody and atmospheric little number by The Handsome Family, 'Far from any road', which was the theme music to the True Detective series. 'Weightless again' used to be my favourite song of theirs, but this has maybe surpassed it.
However, both are great.





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sasha and john hartson, plus john and nobby stiles

Two scary looking fellows you don't want to meet in a dark alley late at night.
It's Sasha, one of my mates who l've played football with on numerous times over the years, with John Hartson, after last weeks 'Gentlemans Evening' at Catterick / Colburn's 'Hanson Sport and Social Club' (or, as we still call it, 'The Arc'). A splendid evening for all, which also featured Nobby Stiles' son (John) in his role as compere and stand up comedian, and who was much, much better than l was expecting, although, as he said himself, nobody remembers him playing for Leeds United, it's always as Nobby's son.
Mind you, Nobby did play for Manchester United and England, and is one of the few English players to have won both the European Cup (in 1968) and World Cup (in 1966).
Sadly, Nobby has had dementia and very poor health for a while, as aging and illnesses are bastards, but l hope he and his family are not suffering.
Here's John and Nobby

And here's Nobby at a charity match in 1968, pre owning the 'Spud' look that was later used in Trainspotting. He may not look it from the photograph, but he was one mean, hard player.

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dom joly is unwell

Or at least Dom Joly has lost weight and been bitten a lot by sand flies during his recent travels into 'The Heart of Darkness' (the Panamanian jungles).
He tweets here

And for those of you who may have been to The Coach and Horses, or seen the play / film of it, yes indeed, the heading idea is a play on Jeffrey Bernard is unwell.

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moss gives evidence in the it crowd

I'm sure l have posted this before, but it is one of the funniest things l have seen on TV, and luckily for me, was repeated again last week.  Maurice Moss from The IT Crowd giving evidence in court.
It makes me laugh every time l watch it, and Richard Ayoade's (who plays Moss) expressions, speech, reactions, and comic timing are just perfect.

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harry enfield in the hildyard arms

Something that wasn't expected at the weekend.  Harry Enfield in The Hildyard Arms in Colburn, Catterick Garrison. One of our few remaining local pubs.
Either that or my drug flashbacks have started to kick in (about bleeding time).

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tony hancock and mrs brown's boys

Some of my Tony Hancock related books (yes -  l know l am sad!!)

I still love the old radio shows of Tony Hancock's 'Hancocks Half Hour', but found the TV versions less satisfying, because when he was on the radio, your imagination visualised a lot of the material, plus there were other characters such as Bill Kerr and Sid James that added to the charm.
However, whether it was on the radio or TV, one of the hooks to it's immense popularity, was that you felt everyone was having a laugh together, and in a way, playing themselves (which they were to a degree). Mistakes that were left in only added to the charm, a common theme with 'Mrs Brown's Boys', as that has a close nit (and often related) cast, and the mistakes and general playfulness make the TV audience and viewers at home feel as though they are in on (and part of) the joke, creating a climate where all are wanting the show to succeed.
Sadly for Hancock, he lost his way, left behind the people that helped make him successful (especially Ray Galton and Alan Simpson), and ended up committing suicide in 1968 while filming a (very poor) series in Australia. The magic, scripts and timing had left him, and l guess it all got too much for him, so he left us. There are some of the Australian shows on You Tube, but they are cringe worthy to look at, especially compared to what had gone before.
Luckily a lot of the old shows, especially the radio ones, have survived, so at least the humour can be enjoyed and rediscovered by new generations, and help pass the time for demented old bastards like myself, even if l am too young to remember the shows when they were first transmitted.
It's dated, but good humour is still good humour.
As for Mrs Brown's Boys, who knows what direction that will take. I just hope it isn't dragged on way past its sell by date, although l have a sneaking suspicion it will be, because most comedies are.




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the real tarzan of the apes and gerald the gorilla

Tarzan of the apes, looking a bit camper and longer haired than the best known Johnny Weissmuller portrayals.
Brothers and sisters, I present to you the largely forgotten Elmo Lincoln (Otto Elmo Linkenhelt), the first movie Tarzan from the 1918 -1921 versions (unless you count Gordon Griffith, who played the young Tarzan).
This was a time when even wild men of the jungle weren't afraid of their feminine side, and who also looked as though they had a more than 'special' relationship with the apes.
Lincoln also made fleeting appearances in a couple of the 1940's Tarzan films, then starring Weissmuller (Tarzan'e New York Adventure) and Lex Barker (Tarzan's Magic Fountain), but was uncredited.
Fame can be so fleeting.

And thinking of special relationships....Gerald The Gorilla, from Not The Nine O'Clock News, featuring the recently departed Mel Smith, with Pamela Stephenson and Rowan Atkinson as Gerald.
Wild...l was absolutely livid!



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impressive magic tricks by kevin james on america's got talent

A pretty smart trick trick or two by Kevin James on 'America's Got Talent' (where he won the best comedy illusionist award), which l nicked from Baron Harkonnen's 'The Afterword'  post here.
I'll let you know how it's all done for the right price.

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russell brand on msnbc tv

This is about a month old now, but Russell Brand makes mincemeat of the presenters on USA's MSNBC.
It makes you proud to be English.

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the falconhoof adventure phone in

This is fantastic.
From Limmy's Show, it's the Falconhoof Adventure Phone In, which somehow, never ends well. The show pisses all over most of the 'so called' comedy shows that are usually commissioned, as it avoids the same boring middle class problems and overacting.
It's very subtly done, with some great performances by Brian Limond, and, as l have found to my cost (and precious time), there are loads of them on YouTube.
There's also the his website where you can waste more time playing stupid sounds here.
Enjoy!

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the rather magnificent rich hall

 

Myself, Robbo, Kerrie and the FPO went along to see Rich Hall in Middlesbrough in May, and it he was hilarious.  Up to then, the funniest comedian l had seen was Billy Connolly in a small place in New York (coz l'm cool!), but the night out with Rich Hall was sooooo much better than l had hoped for, and just as good (if not better) than the Connolly show.  I was crying with laughter throughout, and although a lot of the show is obviously scripted, there was a lot of riffing with members of the audience as well, which highlighted how quickly Hall thinks on his feet. Sadly, there was no appearance of his alter ego, Otis Lee Crenshaw, but that didn't matter, as his command of comedy which he has honed over the years more than made up for it.

I've since finished reading three of Hall's books, the results of which were varied.  I enjoyed them all, but although the language used and topics covered were impressive, there wasn't that many laugh out loud parts, except in the 'I Blame Society' one, which has a potted history of Otis' life and marriages to various Brendas.  Some of the song lyrics in that were both clever and funny, and you find yourself rooting for the old rascal.  The other two books would have been a lot better if performed on stage, as they lacked Halls delivery and timing, but the content was pretty top notch.

Anyway, here's a clip of him reading from 'Inglorious Bastards' and some videos.
Just a pity he didn't have tour posters for sale, as they would have been bought, signed, framed and hung in no time (a bit like Otis himself).








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the red bastard

I thought my brother lived in Leeds.
One of the most surreal comedians l have ever seen - the  wild and wacky Eric Davis as Red Bastard.  Only in America at the moment, but l will be keeping an eye out in case he tours the UK, as it would be great to see him in a small club. His website is here.
Comedy gold.

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get lucky - daft punk (the peter serafinowicz video)

Still my favourite video of Daft Punk's 'Get Lucky'.
There's not a lot of stuff by Peter Serafinowicz that l like, as he always comes across as too smug and self satisfied to me (although he may well be an incredibly nice guy), but the video for this is spot on.  Arched and subtle.

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books l read in egypt (#2) the devil rides out - paul o'grady

The second of Paul O'Grady's autobiographies, The Devil Rides Out tells of his troubles just generally surviving, trying to make some kind of living in menial jobs, plus extended stints as a bar man and carer.  He eventually decides to move from his Birkenhead home to the bright lights of London full time, and nurtures the ideas that will one day spring forth as his Lily Savage character. It also deals with his mothers attitude towards him, plus his feelings about having fathered a child (and getting married). It's interesting and funny, and it has sparked my interest in reading his first book.  If l had paid good money for this, he would soon have been doubling it.  Sadly for him, that is not the case (but he's a lot richer than me anyway).

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there's something about mary (1998) - the farrelly brothers

There's Something About Mary is one of those outrageously rare things.  An American film that is actually funny.  This features just the right amount of visual humour, slapstick, surreal episodes and emotional moments, plus it has the added advantage of the serenading Jonathan Richman appearing throughout, who can do little wrong in my eyes (and ears).  Everyone must know the story by now, as it's been out for years and it was a huge success, so l won't ramble on about that, but all of the actors are just right in their roles. Cameron Diaz has never looked better, but all of them play their part in making the movie such a runaway hit.  The story has a twist or two along the way, and the episodes with the zip and the hair cream are the most famous, but for me, the segments with the dog steal the film, especially Ben Stiller's.  This was about the third time l have seen it, and it was still worth it.  If only all the 'so called American comedies' were like this.

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jerry sadowitz on jimmy savile

Jerry Sadowitz is promoting his new show at the Leicester Square Theatre by impersonating Jimmy Savile, but more importantly, reminding everyone that he was not afraid to say it how it was back in the day, with a recording of one of Sadowitz's old shows from 1987 (Gobshite) being highlighted.
Sadowitz is not always hilarious  by any stretch of the imagination, but he certainly is unique, and at times, can hit the nail right on the head, while being funny with it (and doing magic tricks).  I'll even forgive him for appearing in the crappy Kathy Burke series about her childhood (Walking and Talking)
We'll miss him when he's gone.


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the monty python boys

When Monty Python were all still getting along (I think), having a laugh, and coming out with some classic comedic moments.  Some of their stuff was crap, but when they were funny, boy were they funny.

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