He's been around for so long, and his show is so consistantly good, he's a bit like the Alex Ferguson of British comedy. Unlike Ferguson, though, I think people have got to a stage where they just take him for granted, and they no longer give him the credit he deserves.
No. It's just that the impressionism end of the SoS (Spectrum of Satire) is minimal right now, so he's not getting the exposure which he once did or would have. There's only so many David/Victoria jokes McGowan can get away with before the whole country tells impressionism to f**k off.
Actually, I should've really asked if he was the most under-appreciated man in comedy.
Same answer.
I think just for having Bird and Fortune on his prog he should be knighted. I don't know what influence he had over that decision but then I also don't care.
I don't think he is underrated. He has his own show and everyone knows of him, so I don't know what more he can achieve.
Quote: roscoff @ May 12 2008, 10:15 AM BSTI think just for having Bird and Fortune on his prog he should be knighted. I don't know what influence he had over that decision but then I also don't care.
I remember a comedy actor ranting about Bird and Fortune, and how it pissed him off that every week they churned out the same anti-establishment stuff before driving back home to their big houses in Surrey. He kind of had a point. They're as much establishment as the people they deride.
Quote: chipolata @ May 14 2008, 11:19 AM BSTThey're as much establishment as the people they deride.
No they're not. As far as I can tell, Bird and Fortune have no say in the way the country is run.
Are rich people not allowed to be satirists?
Yes, of course. But those two have been churning out the same schtick for twenty odd years.
I'm really not a fan of Rory Bremner at all. In fact I'd list him as one of my comedy allergies.
Just never found him or his show funny. Despite the fact that I am now a grown-up myself I still feel like I'm watching something for Dads and general adults only when it is on. It bores me.
Quote: Griff @ May 14 2008, 12:12 PM BSTIt often strays into the "clever rather than funny" bracket for my tastes.
But, as Aaron said, isn't it satire? I haven't made a study of it, but surely satire isn't necessarily laugh-out-loud funny? Isn't Bremner, Bird and Fortune more akin to a political newspaper cartoon dealing with issues rather than a laugh out loud comedy? Hogarth, Steve Bell etc. A lot of the sketches could also just as well be scenes from a play and have actors rather than comics. I'm no expert and maybe someone can put me right if I'm wrong, but it seems to me BB&F stands on its own at the moment - IMO Headcases does try to straddle the celebrity/politics divide but tends to plump more for personality/celeb comedy rather than issues. I am interested in seeing how Headcases does develop. But maybe it has a younger average age audience than BB&F? Gosh, what an opaque paragraph, looks as if I've said this all with one breath ... 
Quote: Griff @ May 14 2008, 11:27 AM BSTYou know the rules. People working in topical comedy are supposed to give all their money away to funding armed insurgencies OTHERWISE THEY ARE HYPOCRITES YEAH ??!!!
You may have edited, but I saw the original version and approve wholeheartedly.
Quote: Griff @ May 14 2008, 4:04 PM BSTI think satire is still supposed to be funny. Otherwise it would be called Marcus Brigstocke.
But still stand by my breathless previous comment ...
Quote: chipolata @ May 14 2008, 11:19 AM BSTI remember a comedy actor ranting about Bird and Fortune, and how it pissed him off that every week they churned out the same anti-establishment stuff before driving back home to their big houses in Surrey. He kind of had a point. They're as much establishment as the people they deride.
Not quite sure how the size of one's home equates to whether one is int 'the establishment' or not...?
Quote: Griff @ May 14 2008, 11:27 AM BST
You know the rules. People working in topical comedy are supposed to give all their money away to funding armed insurgencies OTHERWISE THEY ARE HYPOCRITES YEAH ??!!![/quote]
Quote: Aaron @ May 14 2008, 4:10 PM BSTYou may have edited, but I saw the original version and approve wholeheartedly.
I'm off quick to form the charity "Armed Insurgency" - please give generously Unless you've got in there b4 me ... 
