Reg Varney dies

[jno]

First person in the world to take cash out of an ATM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6230194.st m

[anotheoldgit]

And your question is?

[Jafi]

yes i read that this morning. I loved on the buses, don't make films like that anymore.

He lived to a good old age though.

[jno]

Wasn't he a fine comedian?

[anotheoldgit]

Yes a great comedian, as others like him he served his 'apprenticeship' treading the boards, in music halls.

The comedians of today don't get this valuable training. Another fact is we also won't get these simple, funny but relaxing sit-coms, due to those horrble two words 'Political Correctness'.

[andy-hughes]

Acutally anotheroldgit, you don't get them because of two other words -

Not Funny.

[jno]

Comedy dates easily; once you've heard a joke, it's not funny when you hear it again. I don't blame Varney, or anyone else, for making jokes that were funny in their day but might not seem so now (Are You Being Served also comes to mind). But as for modern comedians who try to revive the hilarious racism and homophobia of the 1950s... no thanks.

But I mostly posted this because of the link. I hadn't realised ATMs were a British invention, much less that Varney started a worldwide trend. Clearly a moment to go down in history.

[BertiWooster]

I find these so called 'modern' stand up comedians , oh so not funny .

You know , the ones , who rely on profanaties such as
f -ing this and f-ing that , plus referring to the sexual parts of the body - in every other sentence , in order to get a laugh .

Also ,quite what that says about the audiences - I dont know .

What's happened to commedians who were funny for being funny , who had natural talent , and had no need to revert to the above , for laughs

I'm not and old fuddy duddy - far from it , but where are your Ken Dodd's , your Tommy Coopers etc etc ?

[jno]

I know what you mean, Berti. Sometimes Russell Brand says funny things. But that blather about Sachs's granddaughter - I mean, was that something anyone would want to laugh at? People talk a lot about how comedy has to be cutting edge... but why does it? As far as I'm concerned, comedy has only one job, which is to be funny. I'm not fussed if I merely find something unfunny because I know others may disagree. But when I see a comedian who thinks shock tactics=humour, I switch off.

[Sgt.Rock]

He was 52 when he statred chasing after those 20 something girls in On The Buses!!

[Gromit]

He was a comedy Actor not a comedian. The two are very different.

[sp1814]

As a child I actually loved 'On The Buses', but it has dated badly because that humour was 'of it's time'.

It's not really fair to tar all modern comedians with the same brush - for every Russell Brand, you have a Victoria Wood.

Likewise, for every 70s genius (Ronnie Barker, Stanley Baxter, Les Dawson, Morecombe & Wise) you have also have a Bernard Manning, Jim Davidson, Stan Boardman and Little & Large).

[Sgt.Rock]

Quite right Gromit, the two are often confused.

[lankeela]

I remember as a child seeing them film this, it was our local Eastern National bus depot in Wood Green they used, where the buses used to take us on day trips to Southend.

I agree that the simple sit coms were the best, the ones with funny lines, not the ones that are buttock clenching because they are embarrassing like The Office or The Royal Family, they leave me cold. Give me On the Buses or Birds of a Feather any day. As for the programmes they call 'comedy drama' I don't know where they get the idea they are even remotely funny.

[Sgt.Rock]

Bernard Manning was a genius too and please don't do the racist thing, he's no worse than Chris Rock.

[banned-dot]

interesting article, when we were in Turkey last year they were already using mobile phones to scan at the supermarket till point for paying for shopping

[anotheoldgit]

andy-hughes

you don't get them because of two other words -

Not Funny.

In your opinion only.

I suppose you wouldn't find Laurel & Hardy funny also.

jno states Comedy dates easily; once you've heard a joke, it's not funny when you hear it again

Yet I and many others (old & young alike) can watch these two over and over again, and still roll over laughing, and most of their antics date from the 30s.

[slark]

I would not have thought Manning was your cup of tea sgt rock

synonyms for swear words
Ed,
Can you please pay more attention to people posting synonyms for swear words and take the appropriate action. I have just reported a repeat offender.
Thanks

Sgt.Rock Sun 16/11/08 15:20

[banned-dot]

I agree that alot of modern comedy is not funny the first time let alone a second time, that show for Prince Charles last week was good, Robin Williams and John Clease were tedius but a couple of the lesser known ones were hilarius, guess it's about individual taste

[Sgt.Rock]

slark - Manning's material was for an adult audience,this site covers all ages,including children so I don't expect to see thinly disguised versions of the F word on here.
Understand now, it's all about time and place.

[legendis.god]

lol slark its ok if sgt rock says s**g for havin sex but not anyone else


hes as contradictory as reg varney was funny

only difference is reg will be missed : 0)