What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger

I’m not being condescending, I’m too busy thinking about far more important things you wouldn’t understand.

Yes, we meet again Mr Jimmy Carr.  He of the dead-pad delivery, sharp, witty and intelligent comedy.

Jimmy Carr

His jokes can be a tad shocking, intentionally harmful it seems; challenging you could say, leaving you feeling a little ashamed or embarrassed

And the title of this post?   He said his father always used to say this, ’til the accident…

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It’s the way I tell ’em!

A fella said to the doctor: “What’s the good news?”

“You’ve got 24 hours to live.”

He says: “What’s the bad news?”

And the doc says: “We should have told you yesterday”.

Hee hee – another brilliant joke from the master of the gag, Frank Carson

Frank Carson

Much of Frank’s quick-witted humor was self-deprecating, being about the Irish (of which he was) and about his marriage/wife, however, none of his comedy was  dirty or obscene.

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It’s a cracker!

An Irishman’s wife gave birth to twins. Her husband demanded to know who the other man was.

How could we let today pass without mention of the late great Frank Carson, who sadly passed away today

Frank Carson

A Northern Ireland comedian, Frank started his career as a stand-up club comedian before making inroads into the TV scene, where he had many successes – one of his first was the hit talent show Opportunity Knocks which he won three times.

May he rest in peace

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Not Only… But Also

You know, I go to the theatre to be entertained.  I don’t want to see plays about rape, sodomy and drug addiction…I can get all that at home.

Not satirical, just a good old fashion gag, from the godfather of British Satire – Peter Cook

Peter Cook

I’d rather not quote other people, but I find it hard not to with Peter; so many people have great things to say about him.  So, from Stephen Fry we have this testament to Peter’s greatness:

“There was the famous occasion when Peter addressed a group of revellers at a lunch celebrating 25 years of Private Eye. Almost everyone who was there, myself included, will tell you it was the funniest, most brilliant speech they had ever heard. But ask us to recall the jokes and there will be a complete blank. Peter’s funniest performances were generally of this impromptu, unscripted variety.”

’nuff said

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The funniest man

I’ve always been after the trappings of great luxury.  But all I’ve got hold of are the trappings of great poverty.  I’ve got hold of the wrong load of trappings, and a rotten load they are too, ones I could have very well done without.

Something a bit older now from an extremely influential figure in modern British comedy; someone who was regarded as the leading light of the British satire boom of the 1960’s

Peter Cook

Peter Cook has been described by Stephen Fry, no less, as “the funniest man who ever drew breath” – a tremendous accolade by someone I consider as incredibly influential in the modern era of comedy – so great heed should be taken of this

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Ooh Betty!

Betty Spencer: Our marriage was a great shock to her, she wanted me to marry someone else.

Frank Spencer: Who?

Betty Spencer: No-one in particular, just someone else.

Now I’m beginning to show my age – some really cringeworthy slapstick comedy by a true acting genious – someone who was also noted for doing his own stunts – Frank Spencer (aka Michale Crawford)

Frank Spencer

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em was a TV classic that followed the accident-prone Frank Spencer and his tolerant, if long-suffering, wife, Betty, through Frank’s various attempts to hold down a job, which frequently end in disaster.  Frank’s catchphase “Ooh Betty” will forever be part of the British psyche.

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One size does not fit all!

The other day I weighed my breasts to see how much they’d cost to post. Too heavy for 2nd class if you get what I mean…

Right up to date now with the 2011 Best TV Comedy Actress – Miranda Hart (aka just “Miranda”)

Miranda Hart

A very talented (and very popular) comedienne, writer and actress, Miranda is the talk of the town at the moment with her TV series.   She earned her reputation as a comedian from her stand-up and sketch shows at the Edinburgh Festival and on the London circuit.

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Knight a-round a table

Knights of Camelot: [singing]

We’re knights of the Round Table, we dance whene’er we’re able. We do routines and chorus scenes with footwork impec-cable. We dine well here in Camelot, we eat ham and jam and Spam a lot.

We’re knights of the Round Table, our shows are for-mi-dable. But many times we’re given rhymes that are quite un-sing-able, We’re opera mad in Camelot, we sing from the diaphragm a lot.

In war we’re tough and able, Quite in-de-fa-ti-gable. Between our quests we sequin vests and impersonate Clark Gable

It’s a busy life in Camelot

How difficult is it to portray the comic genius that is monty Python without the aid of images – still it is rip roaringly funny even still.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

The last in the current batch of Python quotes where the legend of King Arthur is given a vicious mauling.  Killer rabbits, Trojan rabbits, French military officers – all comic fodder to the genius of Python

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Of rodent parentage

French Soldier: I don’t want to talk to you no more, you empty-headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.

The third in the series of quotes from the comedy partnership called Monty Python and The Knights that say NI !

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

“King Arthur and his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Grail, encountering many very silly obstacles. ”  – so says the IMDB.  Well that does it no justice from the team that probably pushed the boundaries of silly and brought it to the public; the same team that conjured up the ministry of silly walks!

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If God could complain…

God: Every time I try to talk to someone it’s “sorry this” and “forgive me that” and “I’m not worthy”…

The second of a short series of quotes from the Monty Python heritage

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

To truly understand the impact that Mony Python made to comedy, in 2005, 35 years after Monty Python appeared on our screens, a UK poll to find The Comedian’s Comedian, three of the six Pythons members were voted by fellow comedians and comedy insiders to be among the top 50 greats.

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