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View Full Version : Today I wear a black armband.

Ace42X
10-04-2005, 06:19 AM
One of the greatest comedy legends of all time is dead, and the world is saddened by his passing. Mankind is surely the lesser for his demise.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4307216.stm

Let us all light four candles. He is an ex-Ronnie, he has ceased to be.
paul jones
10-04-2005, 06:27 AM
R.I.P. the Guv'ner :(
scotty
10-04-2005, 06:32 AM
And its goodnight from him. Farewell.
ms.peachy
10-04-2005, 06:33 AM
Yeah, I think this is one of those things that, no matter how long I may live in England, I'll just never really 'get'. Like panto, and beans on toast.
Parkey
10-04-2005, 06:41 AM
Poridge is one of the greatest comedy shows ever written. It's a real shame that he's died, but with the miracle of UK Gold he'll live forever and ever and ever and ever...
Ace42X
10-04-2005, 06:45 AM
Yeah, I think this is one of those things that, no matter how long I may live in England, I'll just never really 'get'. Like panto, and beans on toast.

Hmmm, not sure if I can do The big R justice, but his comedy genius has many facets.

For starters, he had a (now lost) mastery of the English language. Numerous 'Ronnie' sketches were on the face just slapstick nonsense, but if you look at the use of language, incredibly subtle and clever. He was a master of the double-entendre, spoonerism, mallypropism, etc. The fact that it is framed within quite childish / puerile "early evening" trappings is part of its charm - the fact that children find it amusing because of the occasional toilet humour and whacky settings, whereas adults can laugh at the more ribald comedy, safe in the knowledge that their children aren't following the filthy secondary layers.

This goes further in that he was also a master of dialogue. Compare the above "word games" with the often earthy language used by Fletcher in "Porridge" - where it works in a completely different way.

He was comfortable with "Zany" / surreal humour that we have already mentioned, meaning that he wasn't divorced from the "new" comedy of Python / Milligan.
But it also appealed to the fans of "cheeky" Benny Hill / Dick Emmery style farce.

And the infamous "News desk" sketches were great examples of contemporary satire.

He was a fellow of almost infinite comedic talents.

And Panto is a lame music-hall relic that even kids don't like, and beans on toast are great.
ms.peachy
10-04-2005, 06:49 AM
Whatever.
Parkey
10-04-2005, 07:10 AM
Whatever.
IT'S BEHIND YOU!
Tone Capone
10-04-2005, 07:14 AM
Whatever.

LOL! :)
Now THAT'S funny (y) (y) (y)
ms.peachy
10-04-2005, 07:45 AM
IT'S BEHIND YOU!
*gigglesnort*

I'm not saying no one else can enjoy all those things, only that they are peculiarly British. That's not a bad thing.
Parkey
10-04-2005, 07:51 AM
Panto's are very very odd, although they do get kids into the theatre which can only be a good thing.

As an non-Brit, what are your thoughts on the Queen's Speech and TV Licences?
DandyFop
10-04-2005, 08:42 AM
You're all terrorists!
ms.peachy
10-04-2005, 09:24 AM
Panto's are very very odd, although they do get kids into the theatre which can only be a good thing.

As an non-Brit, what are your thoughts on the Queen's Speech and TV Licences?
I've never actually watched the Queen's Speech; as a non-Brit it's one of those things that I don't feel obliged to care about, along with things like cricket, Noddy Holder, and Eastenders.

TV liscenses, I have mixed feelings about. In theory - that they enable the BBC to make programs without being beholden to commercial pressures and subject to influence of advertisers - I am in favour of them. However, if my money is being used to make yet another 'home makeover' or antique-hunting program, I say, fuck off.
Ace42X
10-04-2005, 10:01 AM
TV liscenses, I have mixed feelings about. In theory - that they enable the BBC to make programs without being beholden to commercial pressures and subject to influence of advertisers - I am in favour of them. However, if my money is being used to make yet another 'home makeover' or antique-hunting program, I say, fuck off.

I concur completely. But of course, on the other hand a lot of people don't like the BBC's political / current affairs programs (which I think are exempliary) and prefer bland tosh. Fortunately, we have ITV for "lowest common denominator" garbage, but I do think the BBC often feels obliged to meet up with where the other service providers leave off.
Parkey
10-04-2005, 10:06 AM
My American mate's least favourite thing about the UK was Lilt and it's totally tropical taste... "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT?!!"
Ace42X
10-04-2005, 10:09 AM
My American mate's least favourite thing about the UK was Lilt and it's totally tropical taste... "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT?!!"

So, to an American, its taste is totally topical?
paul jones
10-04-2005, 04:39 PM
My American mate's least favourite thing about the UK was Lilt and it's totally tropical taste... "WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT?!!"

pineapple and grape fruit (y)
discopants
10-05-2005, 02:40 AM
Poridge is one of the greatest comedy shows ever written. It's a real shame that he's died, but with the miracle of UK Gold he'll live forever and ever and ever and ever...

Correct. Not much more to say really, God love him.