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Alone on the Island of Meh

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Started 2 years ago by shitsu_tonka
Latest reply from MightyBlair

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shitsu_tonka

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There are some comedians and comic writers who are universally acclaimed as being the masters of their craft, and to admit you don't find them funny marks you out as big ol' lump o' joylessness. So it's confession time.

I don't find Richard Pryor funny. I know he's frequently hailed as one of the best stand-ups of all time, but I've listened to a couple of albums watched a concert and I just don't get it.

Same goes for Spike Milligan. Love the Goons - thanks BBC7 - but the Q series and his books fail to raise a titter.

Come on, Biscuits I can't be the only one. Which legends of comedy leave you going 'meh' instead of howling with mirth?

Posted 2 years ago #
wallster

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French & Saunders. Nope. Don't get 'em at all.

Hardly a legend, but Michael McIntyre. Complete tw@ and a total waste of calcium.

Posted 2 years ago #
StoopyDeGunt

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I got a Tommy Cooper DVD the other day

Couldn't watch more than 30 seconds of it.

I've given it away now.

I like David Mitchell. And Webb.

I quite like Mel and Sue. Sue is on a kids programme, I'm Sorry I've Lost My Head, on CBBC. Thing is, it's brilliant.

Don't all watch it though, or you'll spoil my cult.

Posted 2 years ago #
QorbeQ

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Gervais.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mary Evans

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Not sure I've mentioned this, but I don't get Caroline Quentin at all. And I think she's a fat bitch.

With you on French & Saunders, Wally. Wish I got it, but I just don't.

But my uber meh is Victoria Wood. I've had funnier bum spots.

Posted 2 years ago #
StoopyDeGunt

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I just remembered, it's Mel that's the funny one. Mel Giedroyc. (or something)

Posted 2 years ago #
Mary Evans

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I love I'm sorry I've lost my head, Stoops. That and the Ooglies...

Posted 2 years ago #
MrChigleysAunt

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Russell Brand
Victoria Wood. And a nasty piece of work too I think. She was SO rude to someone when she did Great Railway Journeys.
French and Saunders, with the emphasis on Dawn French.
Jo Caulfield - Having said nasty things about her before, I recently sat down and tried to listen to her show. I survived two minutes. Everything about her comedian-wise is wrong.
Patrick Kielty
Lenny Henry
I'm Sorry I've Lost My Head - even my children (ages 10, 12 and 15) think it's appalling.

Posted 2 years ago #
Stan Laurel

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French & Saunders
Lee Evans
Jon Culshaw

Posted 2 years ago #
Oxbridge

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Lee Evans was brilliant in a sweaty pub, but lost on a big stage IMHO.

Other than the brilliant sketch about posh mummies competing to buy ever stupider cars, I can't abide French & Saunders - the worst ever example of ooh-I'm-batty-I-am comedy which too many female comedians inexplicably ape.

Russell Brand. Someone please explain.

Believe it or not, the funniest ever stand-up performance I went to was a corporate awards do for my former employer presented by Graham Norton. Crude, hilarious and just respectful enough of the occasion, he was a consummate professional who has become sadly wasted. The next year we had Jonathan Ross, who was just crude. Phil Jupitus the following year was unspeakable.

Posted 2 years ago #
Stan Laurel

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I was going add Jonathan Ross, but he's not really stand-up.
He's just a 'witty' autocue reader.

Posted 2 years ago #
shitsu_tonka

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In the Jonathan Ross vein I don't get Terry Wogan. I know it sounds mad but I've always found him really creepy.

Posted 2 years ago #
brownpaperreporter

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Saw Harry Hill supported by Al Murray early 1990s very funny but now? Disappointing

Same for Jasper Carrott - he forgot how to be a Brummy

But Billy Connolly .... fab, why when, after crying with laughter, you can never recall anything after you've left the theatre?

Posted 2 years ago #
StoopyDeGunt

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Oxbridge, are you going to the same corporate events as me?

We had Graham Norton, who everyone seemed to like.

Then one year we had Phil Jupitus. The publisher said he was a different bloke after he'd been left alone with a bottle of vodka. He had all the charm of a hungover John Prescott with a nail in his foot.
Which is just what you want when you're paying someone twenty two grand to give out industry awards.

Posted 2 years ago #
LittleSpender

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This week, I am mostly dislikin' James Corden

Posted 2 years ago #
Doctor Moptop

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Have seen F&S and VW live (separately - tickets were gifts) and both were v v v funny, but not overly funny on TV.

Johnny Vegas in his home town of St Helens (in t'Citadel) was fab. Don't get him on TV either.

James Corden - twat; Lee Evans makes my skin crawl; Graham Norton appears to be going for National Treasure status - the new Dale Winton?; Patrick Kielty - arrogant twat; Russell Brand - gobshite and not a bit amusing (caught his show after watching Sean Locke, although the Banshee daughter saw Russell B live and hearts him).

I can't help liking Miranda, although everything about the show screams CHEESE. Is there any hope?

Posted 2 years ago #
Des Custard

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All those Ben Stiller films...

Posted 2 years ago #
Doctor Moptop

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Oh yes!

And Adam Sandler. Why?

Posted 2 years ago #
Des Custard

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How about a NB sub on a French and Saunders spoof of a Ben Stiller movie someone?

Posted 2 years ago #
MightyBlair

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Any Impressionist. Ever. I find them most irritating when on chat shows and they grab every possible opportunity to tell us 'what George Bush would say is ....'. Cnuts.

Posted 2 years ago #
thisisall1word

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Alan Carr often fails to make me laugh although I don't mind him all that much.
I really never liked Big Train either - though most of my friends loved it.

Post Marion & Geoff Rob Brydon
Gavin & Stacey leaves me fairly cold too - Ness is ok, mind.

Posted 2 years ago #
The All New Jeni B

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This will have me slated, but I just don't find The Mighty Boosh even vaguely funny.

Posted 2 years ago #
Mr.3374

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Russel Brand.
Just no, can't abide the prick.

Vegas, I suspect live in the club with beer in everyone is great, but on tv, no.

Either of the Carrs, just not funny.

Heard a rumour Lenny Henry was a comedian, never seen proof.(He was ok on Tiswas, though, iirc, though Sally James was why I watched that....)

Jack Dee live is fine, but Lead Balloon was exactly that.

Posted 2 years ago #
thisisall1word

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Shows I thought were awful when I gave them the first look over were Mighty Boosh and the IT crowd to name, well, two. But both grew on me and I love the first series of MB and later stuff on ITC (as no-one calls them).

Lenny Henry is sometimes funny - but, yeah +1

Posted 2 years ago #
theumpire

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I'm someone who doesn't think there has been anyone really funny come to the surface since the day Ronnie Barker passed away. So I just don't watch and don't know the people you are crucifying here, but I'd probably agree with you all.

Last year I did see Richard Digance live at Windsor Theatre and laughed my socks off. Funny without being filthy at all. Anyone else ever seen him?

(And he's a brilliant classical guitarist too.)

Posted 2 years ago #
StoopyDeGunt

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I can't stand Mind Your Language. ANd I never quite got the joke of Love they Neighbour.

All my friends in Militant Tendency absolutely loved it though.

Friends tell me Bob Crow is big fan of On The Buses. If they ever do re-make, I'm sure he'd be offered a walk on part

Posted 2 years ago #
MrChigleysAunt

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I forgot to mention Charlie Chaplin. I find some other silent stars funny (e.g. Harry Langdon and Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy) but Charlie Chaplin leaves me cold.

Posted 2 years ago #
The All New Jeni B

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With you on that Mr CA, but to be honest, ALL the silent comedians leave me cold. I just don't like slap-stick. It's too infantile and childish for me. Probably why Jerry Lewis and Lee Evans cause me to have violent tendencies.

Posted 2 years ago #
StoopyDeGunt

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I once went to the Curzon in Mayfair watch a Belgian comedy, with sub titles, about a serial killer.

It was even less funny than it sounds, despite the rave review in Time Out.

But some people in the audience were killing themselves laughing.

Posted 2 years ago #
rickwestwell

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Stoopy - that's gotta be Man Bites Dog (C'est arrivé près de chez vous) - I loved that!
And who knew at the time that it depicted life in Belgium pretty accurately?

Anyway - bloody "Four Candles" from the Ronnies. I know it always wins "most witty thing ever" awards, but for me it's drab drab drab.

Posted 2 years ago #

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