Close
BBC Four Curse of Comedy Season
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Writer2K said:
An interesting piece in this months BBC History magazine. (& Appologies if this has been posted elsewhere)
It won't be to everybody's taste however in March BBC4 is having a 1960's comedy season.
The Curse of Comedy Dramas will be:-
Frankie Howard: Rather You Than Me; Staring David Walliams
Most Sincerely: Trevor Eve starring as a womanising Hughie Green.
Hancock & Joan: Starring Ken Stott.
The Curse of Steptoe: Starring Jason Issacs & Phil Daniels
And they will also be showing:-
The Frost Report: Reuniting the surviving team.
Marty Feldman – Six Degrees of Separation (Documentry)
Not sure if they're augmenting the season with any 1960's sitcom repeats.
The progs. are scheduled for March but the firm dates/times are not yet available.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
*weeps with joy*
(I'd heard about most of that, and attended the recording of The Frost Report thingy, but still...)
Hopefully there will indeed be oodles of repeats.
Yay! 
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Mark said:
Here's a picture of David Walliams as Frankie Howerd...
And here's more info on all the various comedian-related dramas...
BBC Press Office
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Bloody hell. If that's the best Lurcio they can do...
Looking at the list though, they sound really good. I'll definitely be watching. The Medieval Season looks rather interesting as well.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Mark said:
The BBC have now setup quite a snazzy website for this series of dramas...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/curseofcomedy/
I have to say looking at those pictures and the trailer they've done a pretty good job of copying the stars. This should be a really interesting series!
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Yep, I'm really looking forward to it, particularly Frankie, who I think Walliams actually does quite a good job as!
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
I was interested to read the piece in The Times on Saturday by Galton & Simpson who, whilst not slagging off the dramas, certainly made the point that in their experience of Hancock and Howerd both were more than happy to have a good laugh. I don't hope they over-state the 'tears of a clown' cliche. Sure, Hancock killed himself, but that (as they point out) was after he lost his performance skills to the booze. And Frankie lived to a ripe old age, enjoying his status as a national treasure.
In my experience most comics aren't miserable. Cunts, by all means... but happy cunts.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Frankie was a proper leg-end. I'm really looking forward to that one particularly, although I doubt it'll tell me anything I don't already know.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Mark said:
Quote: Tim Walker @ March 10, 2008, 8:25 PMI was interested to read the piece in The Times on Saturday by Galton & Simpson who, whilst not slagging off the dramas, certainly made the point that in their experience of Hancock and Howerd both were more than happy to have a good laugh.
View original
It was a good article wasn't it, worth linking to here I'd say so others can read:
Scriptwriters reject the 'Curse of Comedy'
Quote: Tim Walker @ March 10, 2008, 8:25 PMIn my experience most comics aren't miserable. Cunts, by all means... but happy cunts.
View original
Jimmy Carr and Lucy Greeves have written at length about this in The Naked Jape (generally considered to be one of the best books ever written in the field of joke telling, even by those that don't like Carr). Basically after much study they have indeed found that most comics are actually quite happy.
To paraphrase:
"For every tortured genius, there's an average happy family man who doesn't get the press"
To back this up, the book quotes studies which show there are just as many damaged individuals in other professions. In fact comics are quite a bit behind traveling salesmen, artists and many other professions.
That said, I don't think anyone could say Howerd and Hancock were your average comedians - they did have problems so I'm sure the drama will focus on these.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
The Naked Jape, eh? Sounds intriiiiguing. Anyone read it? Good?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, zooo said:
I haven't read it yet. Want to though.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Godot Taxis said:
I haven't read it either. Other books i haven't read include The Brothers karamazov and No orchids for Miss blandish.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, zooo said:
There are only three books I haven't read.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Mark said:
Quote: Aaron @ March 10, 2008, 10:00 PMThe Naked Jape, eh? Sounds intriiiiguing. Anyone read it? Good?
View original
I'm currently reading it now (well, in theory, I've been a bit busy so haven't got many pages in yet).
From what I've read so far though I'm very impressed and would recommend it to anyone reading this. It's a well researched and quite a thorough breakdown of what makes something funny - but presented in a fun and lighthearted way so it never feels too serious (i.e. they talk in depth, but splice in jokes).
I bought the book after reading some of the reviews (these aren't cherry-picked, it got five stars pretty much across the internet):
Quote:In a hilarious book Jimmy Carr explores the art of joke telling, why stand-up comedy appears to be a male dominated profession, taboos on joke telling, and more. Each page is laced with the jokes that Jimmy and his co-author decided were their personal favourites so this is both a joke book and an academic insight into the mechanics of humour at the same time.
Quote:An intelligent, sensitive and wide-ranging study of comedy - and jokes - that is actually quite funny
Quote:This book is great. The Naked Jape is funny, interesting, and beautifully written. It made me laugh out loud and also think. It's full of jokes. It's full of interesting facts. Marvellous.
Quote:An exceptionally well researched, informative, well written and entertaining book. Jimmy and Lucy are obviously two very intelligent people who like a laugh and understand why that's important.
Quote:Like most people I hate Jimmy Carr. But this book is OK
The last review was by David Walliams
Anyway, I think you get the idea.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
I don't know why people hate Jimmy Carr. The Channel 4 bitch thing was ... Not good. But otherwise, I reckon he's alright.
I'm planning on popping into an uber-cheap bookshop tomorrow, so I'll check and see if they've got that one, thanks!
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, zooo said:
I think he's really nice. I don't understand the hate either.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Mark said:
I think it's because Jimmy can come across as quite cruel/cold in his act. Plus he's successful, which instantly brings enemies. I agree though - seems like a nice guy.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Along with the Curse of Comedy season, Wednesday's Mark Lawson Talks to... will be with Ray Galton and Alan Simpson.
TALK SHOW: Mark Lawson Talks to...
On: BBC Four
Date: Wednesday 19th March 2008
Time: 23:05 to 00:05
Galton and Simpson.
Steptoe and Son creators Alan Galton and Ray Simpson in conversation with Mark Lawson.
Excerpt taken from DigiGuide - the world's best TV guide available from http://www.getdigiguide.com/?p=1&r=47874
Copyright (c) GipsyMedia Limited.
I for one will definitely be watching.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, chipolata said:
I'm looking forward to this season, but isn't the "unhappy" comedian becoming something of a cliche. There must be hundreds out there who lead happy, well adjusted lives. And on the subject of tonights about Steptoe and Son, was it really so bad for these men to be trapped playing comedy characters in one of our greatest ever sitcoms? There are worse fates.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Quote: chipolata @ March 19, 2008, 10:19 AMAnd on the subject of tonights about Steptoe and Son, was it really so bad for these men to be trapped playing comedy characters in one of our greatest ever sitcoms? There are worse fates.
View original
But if you play a character that you're not actually that fond of, and in a show so successful that you're typecast and never again play anyone who's not just a variation on that character, I would imagine that it could become quite wearing.
Anyway. Quite enjoyed it. Seemed a bit typically sensationalised, and I did read a short article last week (possibly linked to here, I can't be bothered to check right now) written by Galton and Simpson, basically saying that these shows aren't really reflective of their experiences, and that everyone was genuinely lovely in private, etc.
Yeah, anyway... Looking forward to next week's, on Hancock.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, zooo said:
Ray now looks a lot like Matthew Kelly.
I didn't know they met at a tuberculosis sanitorium. That may be the coolest thing ever.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Yeah, I read that just last week. Very interesting stories there! Good interview on the whole, some nice insights into the writers' world.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, zooo said:
It was a wonderful interview. Even my mum got drawn in.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, chipolata said:
I enjoyed it, but there was nothing new in it. Plus I come back to a previous point I made in that I can't see that it was such a hellish experience playing these characters. Working down a mine or cleaning sewers seems worse.
The one I'm really looking forward to is the one with Paula Yates's dad, since I don't know as much about him as the other people featured in the series. Other than he was a truly horrible man.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
Didn't find much to enjoy in the Hancock one tonight. Think Ken Stott's a great actor, but he was badly mis-cast here I think. And what was with that accent?
Told us very little that wasn't already known about Hancock, and IMO was better covered in the drama they made some years back, starring Alfred Molina (doing a v.good Hancock).
Also, the script never really alluded to why the man was so funny. And he was never shown as funny. An hour-and-a-half of alcohol and self-pity was just too much. In the end all it seemed to be saying was "This man had demons", but with no real idea why. Or indeed why we should really care.
Was interesting to learn a little more about the strange affair with Joan. But it never really explained what she found so compelling about the man. And the Joan character never seemed to have a voice.
A wasted opportunity this? Or was it just a bad idea in the first place?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
A bit of both. As far as the 'Curse of Comedy' remit goes, I don't think it did TOO badly. But you're right - nothing that wasn't already known, a shockingly weird accent, and for me personally it was just plain uncomfortable viewing for the final 10-15 minutes or so. Not so much because of the actual subject matter as how it was handled. Definitely a lot more could have been made of it. Pity really.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
Well, as I say, the one they made a few years back had a great performance from Molina and covered much of the same ground. But it at least let you in on the sunny side of Hancock's life. Seeing how those brilliant shows were made and recorded. And it delved into the philosophy that led to Hancock's downfall... that he constantly compared himself unfavourably to his comic heroes. That he was blind to the fact that playing a pompous fool living in East Cheam WAS a grand comic idea.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Tuumble said:
Unless I'm searching badly, YouTube lets us down for once - I'd love to see Molina show again. 
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Griff said:
Quote:And it delved into the philosophy that led to Hancock's downfall... that he constantly compared himself unfavourably to his comic heroes.
That's intriguing. Who were Hancock's comic heroes ?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
Paul and Barry Chuckle, obviously.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Griff said:
I think you're getting him mixed up with Marcus Brigstocke.
By the way I watched The Late Edition for the first time last week. God it's shit, and laboured, and awkward, and not remotely funny.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Tim Walker said:
Quote: Griff @ March 27, 2008, 9:46 AM
That's intriguing. Who were Hancock's comic heroes ?
View original
Chaplin, Jacques Tati... Little Miss Jocelyn?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, chipolata said:
Last night's on Hughie Green was the best yet, with good performances from Mark Benton and Trevor Eve. I can't escape the slightly sour taste they leave in my mouth, though.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Godot Taxis said:
Quote: Tuumble @ March 27 2008, 4:52 AM BSTUnless I'm searching badly, YouTube lets us down for once - I'd love to see Molina show again.
View original
What's it worth? I've got it.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Bohannon said:
I've really been enjoying these. Which other stars of the past would you like to see biographized(?) and who would play them?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Eat_My_Shirts said:
I'm liking this. First time I've ever watched anything on BBC4, I think.
Quote: Bohannon @ April 3 2008, 2:42 PM BSTIWhich other stars of the past would you like to see biographized(?)
View original
Barry Evans ('Mind your Language' actor, not the Eastenders character)
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Bohannon said:
Quote: Eat_My_Shirts @ April 3 2008, 3:32 PM BSTI'm liking this. First time I've ever watched anything on BBC4, I think.
Barry Evans ('Mind your Language' actor, not the Eastenders character)
View original
Played by Barry Evans (the Eastenders character, not 'Mind your Language' actor)?
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
He'd have to shed a few first.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Aaron said:
I really enjoyed that one. Didn't learn anything, but pretty powerful dramatisation I thought, and the level of detail in some places was staggering.
Relatedly, next Saturday (19th April) marks 16 years since Frankie's death. RIP.
On Wednesday 31st December 1969 GMT at 7:00 PM GMT, Badge said:
From what I saw it was the best one of the season. Even if Rafe Spall seemed to be playing a David Walliams character half the time.