I always liked Bob, despite only really seeing him as a game show host. Will give the doc' a look.
The Secret Life Of Bob Monkhouse Page 2
Quote: Badge @ January 5 2011, 10:29 PM GMTDoes that cover it?
Ooh yes!
Yeah, I'm not saying that this means it definitely was written by him, but I'm sure I've heard Bob recite that line on shows and performances that pre-date the start of ISIHAC, let alone Monkhouse's first appearance (whenever that may have been).
Quote: Griff @ January 5 2011, 10:36 PM GMTReally Dave? Gosh. And wow. That joke's been attributed to Monkhouse since, like, forever.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1958051.stm
Yeah. Jokes get attributed and they stick. Like the 'dissecting a frog' line*, which is now officially in the possession of Barry Cryer. But goes back even further than him (can't remember who).
*'Analysing comedy is like dissecting a frog. No one is interested, and the frog dies.'
It's more likely to date back to the late 80s/early 90s when Monkhouse did various chat shows based on the old American style. Bob: Denis Leary, great to have you here, how was your flight over from the States? Cue Denis Leary two minutes flying material. Bob used quite a few writers back then.
Quote: Griff @ January 5 2011, 11:00 PM GMTAh so Ian used to write for Bob pre-Clue? Sorry to be like a dog with a bone but discovering that one of my favourite jokes ever is not by who I thought it was has pretty much turned my world upside down.
You need a new world.
Quote: Griff @ January 5 2011, 11:00 PM GMTAh so Ian used to write for Bob pre-Clue? Sorry to be like a dog with a bone but discovering that one of my favourite jokes ever is not by who I thought it was has pretty much turned my world upside down.
Well it was a very drunken Christmas party but our conversation was quite lucid. And with regard to the other gag, if I remember it correctly Ian came up with the definition but Fry came up with Piers Morgan.
It was said by Bob on the documentary.
How can anyone say who definitely came up with a joke in the first place?
Quote: Nil Putters @ January 5 2011, 11:10 PM GMTIt was said by Bob on the documentary. How can anyone say who definitely came up with a joke in the first place?
Agreed. And aren't most jokes just hybrids and mutations of jokes that have come before? Provenence is often murky.
Quote: Griff @ January 5 2011, 11:14 PM GMTCheers Nil. What sort of era did it look like that bit of footage came from?
Quote: Griff @ January 5 2011, 11:14 PM GMTCheers Nil. What sort of era did it look like that bit of footage came from?
It was in audio at the end, so no idea I'm afraid.
I'm sure I've seen him do it when he was younger though, although I could be mistaken.
Quote: chipolata @ January 5 2011, 11:15 PM GMTAgreed. And aren't most jokes just hybrids and mutations of jokes that have come before? Provenence is often murky.
Fair point. And a touchy issue in the world of stand-up right now, since Cheggers has been passing off top comedy gags as his own. Stand-ups are very protective of their material - understandable, as it's their living. Writers slightly less so because their job is to constantly come up with new stuff.
Despite having seen many of my stand-up gags recycled over the years I'm slightly less bothered about nicking. I believe the serial nickers get caught in the end, and also the best stand-ups simply write more material and get on with it.
Occasionally though I like to bang the drum for the great unsung writers. Especially someone like Ian, whose classic scripts for Humphrey Lyttleton, and acres of gags for the Clue panellists, rarely get credited outside of a small group of people.
Very good show. Monkhouse was a comedy god.
But all those videos? And not just comedy, some of them were the X-files. Mad as a bang of spanners.
He also wrote an excellent book on public speaking, which when I read it had me rolling about laughing. It was an "educational" book as well.
Quote: bigfella @ January 6 2011, 6:24 PM GMTBut all those videos? And not just comedy
I wouldn't know anyone else who does anything like that.
Quote: Aaron @ January 6 2011, 6:46 PM GMTI wouldn't know anyone else who does anything like that.
I know. Anyone who does that, lock em up I say.
Quote: bigfella @ January 6 2011, 6:24 PM GMTVery good show. Monkhouse was a comedy god.
But all those videos? And not just comedy, some of them were the X-files. Mad as a bang of spanners.
He was a massive film buff, too. I have a soft spot for film buffs.