Piano sketch

[ed2288]

Hi there is this sketch where a guy is pretending he is really good at the piano but when he starts to play he is really rubbish but says he is playing all the right notes just not in the right order. does anyone know who he is or what the sketch is called?
thanks

[vehelpfulguy]

It is Morecombe and Wise and they had as a guest the composer and conductor Andre Previn.

[saxy_jag]

Les Dawson also used to do a version where he'd sit at the piano, really straight-laced, and begin to play a serious, classical piece, but with some dreadful 'wrong' notes (he was actually a very talented player).

[craigiep]

vehelpfulguy is right - it was on telly only the other day. It reminded me of the scene in the movie Amadeus where Mozart was absurdly criticised for including 'too many notes'.

[Pippa68]

Apparently you have to be a very good player to be able to play so badly..

I love both sketches!

*Andrew Preview* :o)

[Robinia]

oh that's cheered me up after a rotten night's sleep! if you haven't already found it you can see a clip .....

here :o)

[Pippa68]

Marvellous...

And here is Les :o)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZh8LJOy4xI

[Robinia]

haha lol Pippa! ....still funny, even when you know what's coming up.... I'll be watching these all morning at this rate... :o)

[vehelpfulguy]

In fact if you want to see GREAT comic timing watch the moment where Eric says Rubbish at the end of the sketch.

Andre has played part of the music properly and stops to wait for Eric's comment.

The audience laugh, then laugh again, and you can see Eric's comic mind thinking and waiting for just the right moment to speak.

JUST as the laughter is dying away he says Rubbish and it is EXACTLY at the right moment.

Brilliant timing.

[Pippa68]

Oh I know...classic comedy at it's best! lots of respect t Andre Previn for keeping a straight face, I think.

I was watching the Shirley Bassey 'Smoke gets in your eyes' sketch earlier. I laughed like it was the first time I had seen it. Marvellous.

[JK2]

This guy was the greatest piano comedian
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/10853 23.stm

Victor Borge. Anyone old enough to remember him? He was a huge star, very witty & funny & a brilliant pianist also.

[Robinia]

yes, JK, I'm sure I'm not really old enough (ahem!) but I do remember Victor - he was brilliant! There are some clips on YouTube for anyone who's interested.

now look what you've started ed2288! :o)

[JK2]

I'm not really old enough either Robinia - I was merely a baby when I watched him - a very advanced baby!!!!

[vehelpfulguy]

In fact comedians like Morecambe and Wise, Victor Borge, Bob Hope, Les Dawson etc learned their comedy craft after years and years going round pubs and clubs.

Nowadays a comedian tells one funny joke on TV and they get offered a series.

But even the best comedians had their disasters.

Morecombe and Wise first TV series in ITV was a disaster and it was about 5 years before they got back on TV again.

One critic said about their first series.

Television - a box they buried Morecombe and Wise in.

But they bounced back.

[960cd]

I think Morecambe and Wise's first TV show was on the BBC and was called "Running Wild". Their later show for ATV was "Two of a Kind" and was quite succesful.