Hi guys, I'm new here.
This may have been discussed before but a quick search didn't reveal anything. I am trying to find a copy of the above program, apparently aired in 1992 and made by Tiger Aspect, but I can't track it down anywhere on DVD or video (or even on YouTube for that matter!).
Does anyone know where I might find it. Has anyone even seen it? Was it any good? A lecture on how to be funny by Rowan Atkinson must be worth hunting down!
Thanks
Joe
I've got it, but it's not all that memorable. Some interesting, some a bit "..." really.
I can't actually find anything about extras at the moment, but I have a feeling I've seen it listed as an extra on the Live DVD.
See Amazon product listing
[p=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/6367139/Rowan-Atkinson-Live/Product.html]
[h=852907]
Quote: joebloggs69 @ December 5 2009, 2:21 PM GMTA lecture on how to be funny by Rowan Atkinson must be worth hunting down!
I don't think that was on there. 
I may be wrong though. 
I had it on VHS (and gave it away about seven years ago). It was fun at the time. 'Kevin' pretending to be a dog, with a small banana, in a cupboard, sort of thing.
Far better value is the 'Live in Belfast' album. OK, so it's decades old and not the moving image but, crucially, it shows Rowan Atkinson at his very best.
Quote: joebloggs69 @ December 5 2009, 2:21 PM GMTA lecture on how to be funny by Rowan Atkinson must be worth hunting down!
He played a sort-of professor character explaining how comedy works. And also played a stooge comedy actor called Kevin, amusingly showing why comedy doesn't always work.
Another interesting look at comedy, specifically the history of US comedians and sitcoms, is a recent 6-part series called Make 'Em Laugh. Has it aired in the UK yet?
Quote: Griff @ December 7 2009, 1:08 PM GMTYes Make 'Em Laugh has been on over here, on BBC Four I think.
It has. And here's a thread for it that I started.
Thanks. I had searched here for "make 'em laugh" but that thread didn't show up.
Thanks for the reply guys. It's very easy to get caught up hunting down rarities isn't it? (It is for me anyway, spent months looking for a copy of Delerious on VHS before it's DVD release.), so it's good to know that it might not ultimately be worth it anyway, saves time!
Will have to have a look at 'Live'.
While on the subject - and I'm sure this definitely HAS been asked before - I was hoping to glean some intelligent thesis on comedy from it. Does anyone else have other recommendations whether on film or in print on the nuts and bolts of humour - I don't mean 'How to Write Jokes' I mean sort of...humour studies.
I've been fascinated by that ever since Monty Python's gangster sketch. What was his name again?..."He used to come round every Sunday and nail my head to the floor". Anyway, I just remember a line form that, "He used to use sarcasm. He knew all the tricks...litotes..." and ever since I've been searching for some kind of thesis on comedy, types of comedy, etc.
I think this may be what you're looking for:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9fsn6lQBV4
It was also called "Laughing Matters" -- there are four parts on YouTube.
Enjoy!
C
Yep, that's the one.
That was excellent, thanks for posting the link. Rather annoyingly part 4 of 5 is missing!
But still very good.
If anyone else is interested - which it doesn't seem they are! - this is around on DVD as a Dutch import (hence the subtitles on YouTube) under the name "Laughing Matters". I bought it from Play for £7.
Jobs a-good 'un, or whatever it is poor people say.
Hi and greetings from Australia,
I have been searching for a copy of Funny Business and and off for the last few years and had given up. After working a few decades in live theatre I have retraiend s a high schoo, Drama Teacher sand find I nowe need the have resources, like Funny Business, for my classroom teaching. Can you please advise me how I can order a copy ort sedn me the link?
thanks so much.
You should be able to order it here: [p=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/13525086/Laughing-Matters/Product.html]