I did like The Young Ones when I was 11.
Blackadder was great.
Poor Lenny though.
He should have stayed with Tiswas
Ben Elton and Lenny Henry - They're Dead To Me Page 3
Well as I've said in another thread, Ben started to lose his edge with 'The Man from Auntie' - far slower and safer than his earlier stand-up. Quite honestly I always preferred Alexei Sayle, but that's another story.
I also stand by The Young Ones - I still love it even now, and not just for nostalgia reasons. There's so much going on - story, skit, live music, puppets... Happy Families was also excellent. Filthy Rich and Catflap and The Thin Blue Line were enjoyable but hardly masterpieces, and flay my nads if you like but I never got into Blackadder. I appreciate its quality but there are STILL people who quote it, Jeez...
Lenny Henry? No connection really. He has a warm, instantly likeable persona but I always thought 'Trying Too Hard'. And yes, a lot of his best TV work was down to having a strong set of writers. (Same reason I suddenly started liking Jasper Carrot with Carrot Confidential way back.)
Quote: Michael Monkhouse @ September 25 2012, 4:09 PM BSTAnd yes, a lot of his best TV work was down to having a strong set of writers.
I really don't understand why people make this kind of criticism. The larger part a comic plays in writing their material, the more Marmite they tend to be. Just look at the great fluctuations in perceived quality of Morecambe & Wise's shows to see how third party writers play an important role. The Two Ronnies. Frankie Howerd. Les Dawson. And so on.
Lenny hasn't been funny since the early 90s (Live and Unleashed and marrying a whale).
Ben I suspect is probably still funny but since he's a sell out faux-socialist weasel no body cares. Good luck in all your future endeavours Benji, ole bean.
Ben Elton has got a brand new BBC One sitcom.
Quote: Aaron @ August 11 2008, 9:54 PM BSTThen she should also be sacrificed!
But The Young Ones is still trés over-rated.
So is Monty Python.
Loved Lenny as Theo Wildebeest though. "you got any African in ya ? Would you like some ?"
The Young ones was one of those you had to be there comedies. Lenny Henry was one of those you wish you hadn't been there comedies.
Katanga, my friends.
Quote: Imajica @ October 14 2012, 8:06 PM BSTSo is Monty Python.
Loved Lenny as Theo Wildebeest though. "you got any African in ya ? Would you like some ?"
I recall Lenny was on the Gary Davis show on Radio One one afternoon in 1988. He was in character as Theophilus Wildebeest and groped Nina Myskow, who was a fellow guest. She had a mardy and stormed out, and Gary Davis had a mardy and shouted, 'Where's your sense of humour woman!?' It was really quite funny!
I do think that probably Lenny is quite a nice person though whereas Elton is just a smug bastard - though he wrote the brilliant Blackadder.
Quote: Chappers @ June 24 2013, 9:03 PM BSTElton is just a smug bastard - though he wrote the brilliant Blackadder.
He co-wrote it with Richard Curtis, and there's no way of being certain whose input predominated in making it the show it was.
Quote: Phoenix Lazarus @ June 24 2013, 9:17 AM BSTI recall Lenny was on the Gary Davis show on Radio One one afternoon in 1988. He was in character as Theophilus Wildebeest and groped Nina Myskow, who was a fellow guest. She had a mardy and stormed out, and Gary Davis had a mardy and shouted, 'Where's your sense of humour woman!?' It was really quite funny!
How very Jimmy Savile.
Quote: zooo @ June 25 2013, 12:29 AM BSTHow very Jimmy Savile.
Does this chat up line ever work?
works on me
I don't know whether I entirely agree with this thread, I used to love Lenny Henry's sketch shows from the early 2000s, but I can take it or leave it now. As for Ben Elton, I really loved his latest series The Wright Way despite all the negative response. So they're not really dead to me, quite yet.