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Benny hill
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"Watched a few on YouTube this evening. Made me laugh out loud.
What would the snow flakes of today think of it?
Genius ? Discuss"
Humour has a shelf-life and as a society changes and evolves, what was tolerated then may not be tolerated now, or in the future. And that is a good thing.
If we don't re-evaluate ourselves and look at the past with a critical lens, we stagnate.
More importantly, it's completely ok to say, "That was not ok, because of this or because of that" and avoid the mistakes of the past.
My family used to watch it, and as a young lad I caught it sometimes too. However I could not see the humour in the objectification of women. It felt crude, crass and unkind. It was also for "my parent's generation", not mine.
I grew up on Blackadder, but even looking back at that now, it's just one long running joke where the audience are invited to find Blackadder's relentless bullying of Baldrick from one episode to the next, somehow funny.
He's bullied because of his socio-economic status, his minimal to non-existent education, his lack of any great intellectual capability, and his inability to logically reason.
I don't watch re-runs of Black Adder.
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"Watched a few on YouTube this evening. Made me laugh out loud.
What would the snow flakes of today think of it?
Genius ? Discuss
Humour has a shelf-life and as a society changes and evolves, what was tolerated then may not be tolerated now, or in the future. And that is a good thing.
If we don't re-evaluate ourselves and look at the past with a critical lens, we stagnate.
More importantly, it's completely ok to say, "That was not ok, because of this or because of that" and avoid the mistakes of the past.
My family used to watch it, and as a young lad I caught it sometimes too. However I could not see the humour in the objectification of women. It felt crude, crass and unkind. It was also for "my parent's generation", not mine.
I grew up on Blackadder, but even looking back at that now, it's just one long running joke where the audience are invited to find Blackadder's relentless bullying of Baldrick from one episode to the next, somehow funny.
He's bullied because of his socio-economic status, his minimal to non-existent education, his lack of any great intellectual capability, and his inability to logically reason.
I don't watch re-runs of Black Adder.
"
And evoloution of comedy could come back to Benny Hill and Blackadder..
I can honestly honestly say that I am flabbergasted that you cannot enjoy Blackadder..
And don't forget Fawlty Towers.. comic gold and genius.. |
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"Watched a few on YouTube this evening. Made me laugh out loud.
What would the snow flakes of today think of it?
Genius ? Discuss
Humour has a shelf-life and as a society changes and evolves, what was tolerated then may not be tolerated now, or in the future. And that is a good thing.
If we don't re-evaluate ourselves and look at the past with a critical lens, we stagnate.
More importantly, it's completely ok to say, "That was not ok, because of this or because of that" and avoid the mistakes of the past.
My family used to watch it, and as a young lad I caught it sometimes too. However I could not see the humour in the objectification of women. It felt crude, crass and unkind. It was also for "my parent's generation", not mine.
I grew up on Blackadder, but even looking back at that now, it's just one long running joke where the audience are invited to find Blackadder's relentless bullying of Baldrick from one episode to the next, somehow funny.
He's bullied because of his socio-economic status, his minimal to non-existent education, his lack of any great intellectual capability, and his inability to logically reason.
I don't watch re-runs of Black Adder.
"
Sorry.. you nearly got me..
Love your lost.. I was hook line and sinker for a moment... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Benny Hill was barely funny when I was growing up. I don't find him funny at all now"
He wasn’t in the same league as the greats like Dave Allen, etc. but nevertheless, I did find his show funny when young... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Benny Hill
The Two Ronnies
Dick Emery
Kenny Everet
OTT (remember that one?)
Rising Damp
Steptoe & Son
The Carry On films
The Goon Show
On The Buses
Love Thy Neighbour
Hancocks Half Hour
In Sickness & Health
All great comedies of their time.
We can't disregard the era they were written and broadcast, it reflected what was socially acceptable at the time.
Watching them doesn't make it or anyone watching them wrong, its a view into the past. Some of the comedy is acceptable and funny, some not so.
It depends on the person watching and their own personal views.
I love old comedies and comedians from Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, Les Dawson, Dave Allen, up to Billy Connolly, Frankie Boyle and Micky Flannegan.
We laugh at what we find funny, not what someone tells you is acceptable.
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Loved his show, loved the girls and the characters. The funny thing is you see more flesh and less humour on Love Island today.
He was reviled by Mary Whitehouse and Thatcher yet they were both pally with Jimmy Saville. Mary even gave Saville an award in 1977 |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Don’t forget that a lot of this outrage is manufactured by sections of the media because it fits their agenda to cause divisions
Benny Hill was and is still for the most part funny, but his humour was of its time. I think we can agree that a man chasing a woman in this day and age isn’t reallly funny or a lesson we want to give our kids |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Benny Hill and Carry-On are both from the same stable, they were the saucy seaside postcard humour made live. Yeah its dated now but is still funny in places.
Yes some humour has a shelf life, stand-up comedy is fairly limited because it draws it's comedy from real life, and reference to people/institutions now may be lost on audiences 10yrs from now. Comedy like BH/CO isn't like that, neither is Blackadder, Red Dwarf, Only Fools, Porridge, Open All Hours...that Comedy is timeless. |
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By *yron69Man
over a year ago
Fareham |
Benny was a clown. A very good clown. Even Chaplin applauded him. His shows included song and dance and the Americans loved him. He was tempted with generous offers but he never went. I wonder why? |
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By *lofeldMan
over a year ago
Redhill |
I found him hilarious as a kid, as others have said, British seaside humour of it's time.
I'd venture access to porn from an earlier age like kids have now will have a far worse effect on objectifying women, than a middle aged comedian routinely being made a fool of in comedy sketches, but that's a whole other argument. |
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"I’ve never watched Benny Hill.
From what I’ve heard, I’d find him as funny as toothache.
You cannot beat Only Fools and Fawlty Towers."
Yeah, but you have the enjoy comedies at the time, most / all of them look dated and jar a bjt when you look back on them.
Del buy groping women and slapping there arses, for example, good luck slipping that into a comedy these days, things have changed.
And basil would be done for bullying. |
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By *yron69Man
over a year ago
Fareham |
"I found him hilarious as a kid, as others have said, British seaside humour of it's time.
I'd venture access to porn from an earlier age like kids have now will have a far worse effect on objectifying women, than a middle aged comedian routinely being made a fool of in comedy sketches, but that's a whole other argument."
True. My mate got caught by his dad wanking to Hill’s angels. No way can the argument against Benny stand when teenagers now have easy access to porn by the bucket load. Every type, every kink, every orifice….wish I had |
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"Don’t forget that a lot of this outrage is manufactured by sections of the media because it fits their agenda to cause divisions
Benny Hill was and is still for the most part funny, but his humour was of its time. I think we can agree that a man chasing a woman in this day and age isn’t reallly funny or a lesson we want to give our kids"
As I remember it, benny wasn’t chasing women. The end of show chase was always him being chased by an angry mob. |
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By *lofeldMan
over a year ago
Redhill |
"I found him hilarious as a kid, as others have said, British seaside humour of it's time.
I'd venture access to porn from an earlier age like kids have now will have a far worse effect on objectifying women, than a middle aged comedian routinely being made a fool of in comedy sketches, but that's a whole other argument.
True. My mate got caught by his dad wanking to Hill’s angels. No way can the argument against Benny stand when teenagers now have easy access to porn by the bucket load. Every type, every kink, every orifice….wish I had "
Haha. And your username, a nod to Sid James? |
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"I wasn’t allowed to watch it. It was Bed after coronation street "
i am 7 years younger than you and i got to watch Bennu around 6,7.
so you were 13-14 and sent to bed after corrie? thats a shame. |
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By *yron69Man
over a year ago
Fareham |
My dad never laughed at Benny or most other humour of the 70s . My mum did but would look away if things got too saucy.
But my dads humour was robust to say the least. Working on the railway and in the docks, he did long shifts in entirely male company.
Myself on the other hand went into a largely female workforce.
That came with mothering (I started at 16) and much saucy malarkey. Good help you if you had to visit the factory. The women were more intimidating than the men. But that was then.
I’d say one thing about those years, I learned to laugh heartily. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Benny Hill
The Two Ronnies
Dick Emery
Kenny Everet
OTT (remember that one?)
Rising Damp
Steptoe & Son
The Carry On films
The Goon Show
On The Buses
Love Thy Neighbour
Hancocks Half Hour
In Sickness & Health
All great comedies of their time.
We can't disregard the era they were written and broadcast, it reflected what was socially acceptable at the time.
Watching them doesn't make it or anyone watching them wrong, its a view into the past. Some of the comedy is acceptable and funny, some not so.
It depends on the person watching and their own personal views.
I love old comedies and comedians from Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, Les Dawson, Dave Allen, up to Billy Connolly, Frankie Boyle and Micky Flannegan.
We laugh at what we find funny, not what someone tells you is acceptable.
"
add to list: Morecambe and Wise, Bernard Manning, Frank Carson, etc. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"Benny Hill
The Two Ronnies
Dick Emery
Kenny Everet
OTT (remember that one?)
Rising Damp
Steptoe & Son
The Carry On films
The Goon Show
On The Buses
Love Thy Neighbour
Hancocks Half Hour
In Sickness & Health
All great comedies of their time.
We can't disregard the era they were written and broadcast, it reflected what was socially acceptable at the time.
Watching them doesn't make it or anyone watching them wrong, its a view into the past. Some of the comedy is acceptable and funny, some not so.
It depends on the person watching and their own personal views.
I love old comedies and comedians from Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, Les Dawson, Dave Allen, up to Billy Connolly, Frankie Boyle and Micky Flannegan.
We laugh at what we find funny, not what someone tells you is acceptable.
add to list: Morecambe and Wise, Bernard Manning, Frank Carson, etc."
Definitely!
Morcambe & Wise were (and still are) brilliant.
The television programme, The Comedians, from the 70's had some excellent funny men on there. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Watched a few on YouTube this evening. Made me laugh out loud.
What would the snow flakes of today think of it?
Genius ? Discuss
Humour has a shelf-life and as a society changes and evolves, what was tolerated then may not be tolerated now, or in the future. And that is a good thing.
If we don't re-evaluate ourselves and look at the past with a critical lens, we stagnate.
More importantly, it's completely ok to say, "That was not ok, because of this or because of that" and avoid the mistakes of the past.
My family used to watch it, and as a young lad I caught it sometimes too. However I could not see the humour in the objectification of women. It felt crude, crass and unkind. It was also for "my parent's generation", not mine.
I grew up on Blackadder, but even looking back at that now, it's just one long running joke where the audience are invited to find Blackadder's relentless bullying of Baldrick from one episode to the next, somehow funny.
He's bullied because of his socio-economic status, his minimal to non-existent education, his lack of any great intellectual capability, and his inability to logically reason.
I don't watch re-runs of Black Adder.
"
The final scene in Blackadder goes forth is one the most emotional and best written scenes i have seen on tv and film so i think there was more to it then just one joke |
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By *ensualMan
over a year ago
Sutton |
I was watching the BBC 4 programme last night on Lenny Henry, and on how moved on from using stereotypes and minorities for humour to creating genuine character based humour.
It is kind of sad that people feel that humour of laughing at minorities and false stereotypes is something to be missed.
That is not to say that Benny Hill did not do some good sketches. There are some that do not rely on sexual stereotypes which are funny. More than can be said of the Bernard Manning's of the world.
If you want to listen to funny unPC humour listen to Doug Stanhope or early Amy Schumer. |
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By *yron69Man
over a year ago
Fareham |
"I was watching the BBC 4 programme last night on Lenny Henry, and on how moved on from using stereotypes and minorities for humour to creating genuine character based humour.
It is kind of sad that people feel that humour of laughing at minorities and false stereotypes is something to be missed.
That is not to say that Benny Hill did not do some good sketches. There are some that do not rely on sexual stereotypes which are funny. More than can be said of the Bernard Manning's of the world.
If you want to listen to funny unPC humour listen to Doug Stanhope or early Amy Schumer."
But Lenny isn’t that funny really. He likes to intellectualise which is ok but I find with all comedians it takes away a little bit of that magic.
Comedy doesn’t necessarily fit into pc or non pc.
For me Rowan Atkinson grinning at a camera and then falling into a manhole on Not the Nine O’Clock News was funny. That series straddled the time shift with much current type humour and some still making fun of old stereotypes. |
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"I was watching the BBC 4 programme last night on Lenny Henry, and on how moved on from using stereotypes and minorities for humour to creating genuine character based humour.
It is kind of sad that people feel that humour of laughing at minorities and false stereotypes is something to be missed.
That is not to say that Benny Hill did not do some good sketches. There are some that do not rely on sexual stereotypes which are funny. More than can be said of the Bernard Manning's of the world.
If you want to listen to funny unPC humour listen to Doug Stanhope or early Amy Schumer.
But Lenny isn’t that funny really. He likes to intellectualise which is ok but I find with all comedians it takes away a little bit of that magic.
Comedy doesn’t necessarily fit into pc or non pc.
For me Rowan Atkinson grinning at a camera and then falling into a manhole on Not the Nine O’Clock News was funny. That series straddled the time shift with much current type humour and some still making fun of old stereotypes."
Lenny Henry is a massive revisionist. Made his money hamming up racial stereotypes.
And agreed, he was never funny.
Didn’t Atkinson walk into a lamp post rather than fall down a hole?
As for benny hill, the funniest part was probably my mother being so bloody po-faced about it, knitting away in the corner. |
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By *yron69Man
over a year ago
Fareham |
"I was watching the BBC 4 programme last night on Lenny Henry, and on how moved on from using stereotypes and minorities for humour to creating genuine character based humour.
It is kind of sad that people feel that humour of laughing at minorities and false stereotypes is something to be missed.
That is not to say that Benny Hill did not do some good sketches. There are some that do not rely on sexual stereotypes which are funny. More than can be said of the Bernard Manning's of the world.
If you want to listen to funny unPC humour listen to Doug Stanhope or early Amy Schumer.
But Lenny isn’t that funny really. He likes to intellectualise which is ok but I find with all comedians it takes away a little bit of that magic.
Comedy doesn’t necessarily fit into pc or non pc.
For me Rowan Atkinson grinning at a camera and then falling into a manhole on Not the Nine O’Clock News was funny. That series straddled the time shift with much current type humour and some still making fun of old stereotypes.
Lenny Henry is a massive revisionist. Made his money hamming up racial stereotypes.
And agreed, he was never funny.
Didn’t Atkinson walk into a lamp post rather than fall down a hole?
As for benny hill, the funniest part was probably my mother being so bloody po-faced about it, knitting away in the corner. "
Atkinson did both. Started with just noticing a camera on him. The lamppost.Then bumping into another person. Finally the manhole. Simple but hilarious. |
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"Benny Hill
The Two Ronnies
Dick Emery
Kenny Everet
OTT (remember that one?)
Rising Damp
Steptoe & Son
The Carry On films
The Goon Show
On The Buses
Love Thy Neighbour
Hancocks Half Hour
In Sickness & Health
All great comedies of their time.
We can't disregard the era they were written and broadcast, it reflected what was socially acceptable at the time.
Watching them doesn't make it or anyone watching them wrong, its a view into the past. Some of the comedy is acceptable and funny, some not so.
It depends on the person watching and their own personal views.
I love old comedies and comedians from Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, Les Dawson, Dave Allen, up to Billy Connolly, Frankie Boyle and Micky Flannegan.
We laugh at what we find funny, not what someone tells you is acceptable.
add to list: Morecambe and Wise, Bernard Manning, Frank Carson, etc.
Definitely!
Morcambe & Wise were (and still are) brilliant.
The television programme, The Comedians, from the 70's had some excellent funny men on there."
And we never questioned Eric & Ernie sharing a bed. |
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"The final scene in Blackadder goes forth is one the most emotional and best written scenes i have seen on tv and film so i think there was more to it then just one joke"
Except… it actually wasn’t written!
The final scene was being filmed, but they had to vacate the studio by 9:00pm or the unionised workforce would have gone on to a higher rate and the added costs wouldn’t have been budgeted. So it was rushed. When the final episode was edited, they realised they were short on the running length. So, they decided to slow down the scene of the cast going over the top to their deaths and, in doing so, created one of the most poignant scenes in any drama about WW1.
But Blackadder Goes Forth proves that if done well, comedy can be found in everything, without trivialising loss. That series illustrated how futile the war was, with so many lost for so little. It’s an epic comedy masterpiece. |
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Goon Show is the finest anarchic comedy of all time. You cannot beat Bluebottle and Eccles as a great double act!
Frankie Howerd was one you missed out. Apparently very miserable in real life as my aunt knew him and acted with him. It's a tough life trying to make people laugh because you never quite know what will work! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Benny Hill
The Two Ronnies
Dick Emery
Kenny Everet
OTT (remember that one?)
Rising Damp
Steptoe & Son
The Carry On films
The Goon Show
On The Buses
Love Thy Neighbour
Hancocks Half Hour
In Sickness & Health
All great comedies of their time.
We can't disregard the era they were written and broadcast, it reflected what was socially acceptable at the time.
Watching them doesn't make it or anyone watching them wrong, its a view into the past. Some of the comedy is acceptable and funny, some not so.
It depends on the person watching and their own personal views.
I love old comedies and comedians from Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy, Les Dawson, Dave Allen, up to Billy Connolly, Frankie Boyle and Micky Flannegan.
We laugh at what we find funny, not what someone tells you is acceptable.
add to list: Morecambe and Wise, Bernard Manning, Frank Carson, etc.
Definitely!
Morcambe & Wise were (and still are) brilliant.
The television programme, The Comedians, from the 70's had some excellent funny men on there.
And we never questioned Eric & Ernie sharing a bed."
They refused to do those scenes incase it gave the wrong message, but one of the writers pointed out that Laurel & Hardy did the same kind of scenes and never got questioned on it as it was innocent.
They both agreed to filming the scenes after that. |
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"Goon Show is the finest anarchic comedy of all time. You cannot beat Bluebottle and Eccles as a great double act!
Frankie Howerd was one you missed out. Apparently very miserable in real life as my aunt knew him and acted with him. It's a tough life trying to make people laugh because you never quite know what will work!"
I thought howerd was fantastic, supremely talented. I never found the goons funny, just odd screeching, shouting and funny voices.
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"Unfortunately, we are now told what we can laugh at, aren't we?"
.. to an extent, yes.
Broke my arse laughing recently seeing a bloke falling off a bar stool. Obviously checked to see he was ok, but the guy is a bit pompous and I laughed my ass off |
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"Unfortunately, we are now told what we can laugh at, aren't we?"
We are ? By whom ?
I think it's more a case that people are learning to be more introspective and self-question their responses. It's how you break out from indoctrinated and conditioned responses. It's how you learn more about yourself, and if there are things you need to change. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I was watching Hancock's half hour today out of boredom of modern TV
He had been on an unsuccessful date and his poor lady friend told him that she has had better night's, to which he replied she had also seen better days lol.
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"Unfortunately, we are now told what we can laugh at, aren't we?
We are ? By whom ?
I think it's more a case that people are learning to be more introspective and self-question their responses. It's how you break out from indoctrinated and conditioned responses. It's how you learn more about yourself, and if there are things you need to change."
And presumambly adopt new conditioned and indoctrinated responses... Just to different stimulus .... |
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"
And presumambly adopt new conditioned and indoctrinated responses... Just to different stimulus ...."
If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.
~ Confucius |
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"
And presumambly adopt new conditioned and indoctrinated responses... Just to different stimulus ....
If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself.
~ Confucius"
If I am walking with two other men and I see a hungry lion, I know that I do not have to run faster than the lion, just faster than one of the men.
Confused.com |
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Benny Hill's character woman chasing bit at the end was a cartoon of life itself. Basically men are programmed to chase women and, within reason, women want to be "chased"; but not literally of course. (Other options are available so please don't bother to drag up gay, bi, #meetoo sensitivities etc. That is taken as read.)
With "Yackety Sax" playing in the background and the group all running in a conga line waving their hands it was obviously a comic interpretation of life itself.
There are serious dangers in a society that allows itself to be entertained by extreme violence whilst roundly criticising, and seeking to expunge, a comic who entertains by presenting a characture of an over the top, but ultimately harmless, pervert. |
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"The final scene in Blackadder goes forth is one the most emotional and best written scenes i have seen on tv and film so i think there was more to it then just one joke
Except… it actually wasn’t written!
The final scene was being filmed, but they had to vacate the studio by 9:00pm or the unionised workforce would have gone on to a higher rate and the added costs wouldn’t have been budgeted. So it was rushed. When the final episode was edited, they realised they were short on the running length. So, they decided to slow down the scene of the cast going over the top to their deaths and, in doing so, created one of the most poignant scenes in any drama about WW1.
But Blackadder Goes Forth proves that if done well, comedy can be found in everything, without trivialising loss. That series illustrated how futile the war was, with so many lost for so little. It’s an epic comedy masterpiece."
It reminded me of the shoot out at the end of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Benny Hill's character woman chasing bit at the end was a cartoon of life itself. Basically men are programmed to chase women and, within reason, women want to be "chased"; but not literally of course."
Except the skit always ended will the women chasing Hill around, not him chasing them. |
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By *ea monkeyMan
over a year ago
Manchester (he/him) |
Much the same as many other parts of media, it was of it’s time. Whilst it may display aspects of misogyny and other traits that we see as toxic now, it was part of popular culture and I don’t agree that it should be deleted or cancelled.
Placing it in context is important and it can still be enjoyed, with a big *but…attached.
It’s only by seeing what was and recognising the issues, that society learns.
As a child I’m sure I enjoyed it for it’s clownishness and his comic talent, I’m not so naive to think that the rose tinted glasses of nostalgia make it ok though |
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Les Dawson was a genius and one of the funniest men ever. There are many.
Comedy of the past is nostalgic and represents what was topical and acceptable at its time. To be critical of it today, using the values of now is futile.
The world has changed and not for the better in my opinion. Everything has to be critiqued, deconstructed and given a subjective title which relates to a political stance that is frequently a personal one.
There is an extremely simple answer to all of this... if you don't like it or it does not fit your agenda then don't watch it!
I have views on many of today's 'so called comedies and comedians' but if they are not to my taste I disregard them and leave others to choose and decide for themselves. That, I think, is the grown up way to approach things.
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"Les Dawson was a genius and one of the funniest men ever. There are many.
Comedy of the past is nostalgic and represents what was topical and acceptable at its time. To be critical of it today, using the values of now is futile.
The world has changed and not for the better in my opinion. Everything has to be critiqued, deconstructed and given a subjective title which relates to a political stance that is frequently a personal one.
There is an extremely simple answer to all of this... if you don't like it or it does not fit your agenda then don't watch it!
I have views on many of today's 'so called comedies and comedians' but if they are not to my taste I disregard them and leave others to choose and decide for themselves. That, I think, is the grown up way to approach things.
"
I used to like Les Dawson mother in law jokes.
There was a knock at the door. I knew it was the mother in law because the rats started throwing themselves on the traps... |
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Watched the IT Crowd and Father Ted I can still separate the comedy from the writers view on Trans people.
Curb your enthusiasm doesn’t pander to Political correctness either. Also think at times I have his opinions on things as well.
Absolutely love Derry Girls managing to be funny around the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
Black Books, The Inbetweeners, Limmy Show funny and can get close to the knuckle of what is acceptable today.
These are just a few off the top of my head of programmes that (in my opinion) absolutely trounce on Benny Hill or some of the more bland 70’s and 80’s comedy.
I still think The Young Ones would be made today and The Day Today, which brought us Alan Partridge.
So if you still desire the comedy of old (Nothing wrong with Hancock or Kenny Everett) in which scantily clad ladies run after middle aged men, get your fill on YouTube or Porn Hub.
I’ll keep looking forward to more interesting output |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I do wonder how all these love island and naked attractions type shows will be viewed in the future . Benny Hill was a comedy of its time and yes is still funny but I find these programmes where they encourage young impressionable people to have sex and break up relationships rather distasteful |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Watched a few on YouTube this evening. Made me laugh out loud.
What would the snow flakes of today think of it?
Genius ? Discuss
Humour has a shelf-life and as a society changes and evolves, what was tolerated then may not be tolerated now, or in the future. And that is a good thing.
If we don't re-evaluate ourselves and look at the past with a critical lens, we stagnate.
More importantly, it's completely ok to say, "That was not ok, because of this or because of that" and avoid the mistakes of the past.
My family used to watch it, and as a young lad I caught it sometimes too. However I could not see the humour in the objectification of women. It felt crude, crass and unkind. It was also for "my parent's generation", not mine.
I grew up on Blackadder, but even looking back at that now, it's just one long running joke where the audience are invited to find Blackadder's relentless bullying of Baldrick from one episode to the next, somehow funny.
He's bullied because of his socio-economic status, his minimal to non-existent education, his lack of any great intellectual capability, and his inability to logically reason.
I don't watch re-runs of Black Adder.
" Bloody funny though |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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American cops used to salute like Benny Hill , what greater compliment...
There's a certain breed of human now that would manage to get offended at his harmless antics , how sad for us all. |
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