On the BOX! Discussions about Film & Television

[Aviador]

I've already mentioned in the Skytalk forum my favorite comedian of all time is Dave Allen. As much as I like Roy Chubby Brown I often wonder if it's really necessary for such a large use of the F word by him. At the end of the day people know what to expect when they go to see him so they can't really complain but I do feel comedians can be funny without swearing as much as many of them do.

image hosted on bebo.com

I would say my other favorite comedian is Jasper Carrott, again another comedian that doesn't need to use an array of swear words to make people laugh.

Image hosted on primeperformers.co.uk

Here's a couple of youtubes from Dave Allen and Jasper Carrot

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxo81Ok9Urk[/video]

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI95r6nzVZ0&feature=related[/video]

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I'm not fond of modern comedians - too much foul language and schoolboy lavatory humour. Perhaps it's a generation thing.

I'm not prudish to the extent that I abhor swearing - I don't and I let rip myself at times - but skilled, professional communicators (which is what comedians should be) should only have to resort to it for specific effect and not as an everyday part of their act.

Although I often have rants about Americanisms and Britain being subsumed into the culture and values of that country across The Pond, I have to say that two of my favourite stand-up comics (now both dead) were Bob Hope and Jack Benny - though Bob Hope was born in Eltham, London.

Of today's comedians I like Frank Skinner.

To me Ken Dodd is a legend and they say he times his act by the calendar because if he's in the mood on stage he will just go on and on, pausing to tell people with late buses to catch that if they want to go they can.

Years ago one of his radio catch phrases always started with, 'What a beautiful day, what a beautiful to ............... (he'd then say what).

The one I remember and this was in the 1960s when no risque jokes were permitted but Doddy got away with, 'What a beautiful day. What a beautiful day to knock on an old lady's letter box, put a cucumber through it and shout out the Martians are coming'.

I'm sure this passed over the head of the old guard in charge of the Beeb at the time.

 

[CL44]

For me my favourite comedian is Kevin "B****y" Wilson. He is an Australian who you will never see on television. He does tend towards the ruder side of comedy, but, much as Billy Connoly he tends to tell stories (bursting into song more often than not) about his life in the Outback. He started out as a sparky in a gold mine singing in a band after work. Gradually his singing took over his life and he has made his career now taking his show on the road. He is scheduled to be doing his last European tour later on this year. No dates have been confirmed as yet (apart from October / November). His most famed song by the way is "Hey Santa Claus you ****, you forgot me F******g bike" which most people tend to know (just nt who sang it). If you get the chance to see one of his shows please do so (but be as open minded as possible when you go, he does not take prisoners nor does he target anyone in particular evetyone gets it).

 

[Hassaan]

As far as comedians go I do like the British ones, and those who talk about things people can relate to. Not to mention ones that do good one-liners. To name a few, Michael McIntyre, Tim Vine, Milton Jones, Russell Howard and so on.

As far as television goes, I do enjoy some comedy. Only Fools and Horses was brilliant, Mrs Browns Boys isn't the cleverest comedy around (in fact I think it's the most slated one around, but viewing figures show it's very popular) but it's a nice way to switch my brain off for the night. Additionally I like Vicious, Big School, and those comedy game shows (The Guess List).

Who watched Eurovision?