One of the many things Allie and I have in common is our Anglophilia. I thought I'd share a list with you of the British comedians I wish I were half as funny as. They are listed in no particular order, because I go through phases of loving each of them the very best. And I'm sure I've forgotten some of the best people, so forgive me (and tell me off in the comments)!
1) Alan Carr
I first loved Alan when I saw him with Justin Lee Collins in the Friday/Sunday Night Project, which everyone should watch (on youtube). Now he has his own show, Chatty Man, and his interviews are the best. I've posted one of my favorites, with Adele. The combination of his facial expressions, accent, quick wit, and false modesty slay me. I also recommend his autobiography, Look Who It Is!.
2) Catherine Tate
I'm actually going to London for the first time ever later this month, and Catherine is a huge part of why. She's currently starring with David Tennant in a production of Much Ado About Nothing, and I can. not. wait. to see her as Beatrice. I love her playing rather straight characters like Donna in Doctor Who or Angela in Wild West, but I think she shines brightest in her impressions. Take some time to watch The Catherine Tate Show (streaming on Netflix) and see some of her greatest characters like Lauren, Nan, and Elaine Figgis, who's in the video I posted (with Daniel Craig!). But even when she's not playing a character, she's hilarious:
Justin Lee Collins: What was the name of the character David [Tennant] played in The Goblet of Fire?
Catherine: Something like Perfidious Snatch, or something? I’ve never seen it! Cuckleberry Wish!? Gilfroy!? Don’t! I’ll get this...Something like, someone Jr. Snatchy Slime Jr...or something?! Someone called...Perfidious!? No! Swarty?! Someone Jr! Swarty, isn’t it? Bertie!
Justin Lee Collins: Close! Barty!
Catherine: Barty?! Barty Snatch, Jr!
3) David Mitchell & Robert Webb
Best known for their work together in Peep Show (on Hulu) and That Mitchell and Webb Look (streaming on Netflix)--both of which I recommend heartily--this duo are also brilliant on their own. Watch Robert's amazing take on Flashdance and David in, well, any TV appearance he's ever made. But I especially love him in Clatterford and David Mitchell's Soapbox.
4) Miranda Hart
I would watch Miranda in anything (and I do). Her current show Miranda is an extremely fun and fresh sitcom that I re-watch constantly. I also recommend her in Hyperdrive and Monday, Monday (both streaming on Netflix). Her humor is largely self-deprecating, with incredible timing and willingness to make a complete fool of herself. In the video I posted she re-enacts a scene from the Lifetime movie William & Kate: The Movie with the actor who played Prince William.
5) Simon Amstell
Simon's stand-up DVD, Do Nothing, is wonderful, but I like him best as host of music quiz show Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and in his semi-autobiographical dramedy series Grandma's House (all on youtube). His humor can be quite...biting, but his honesty about his own insecurities makes up for it greatly. As you can see from the video, Jessica Hynes and I feel similarly about him.
6) French & Saunders
I completely love them individually (Vicar of Dibley, Absolutely Fabulous, and so much more) but their work together makes me laugh the hardest. They had their own show, French & Saunders, with characters they invented combined with spoofs of famous movies. I've posted part 1 of their Mamma Mia spoof (with Alan Carr, Miranda Hart, Joanna Lumley, and Sienna Miller!), but also check out their Harry Potter, Titanic, Lord of the Rings, and Gone with the Wind spoofs as well. And add their other shows Clatterford and Girls on Top. Ok, ok, I'm stopping, I promise.
9) Richard Ayoade/Matt Berry/Julian Barratt/Noel Fielding
If you haven't already, watch all of the following: The IT Crowd, The Mighty Boosh, and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. But my personal favorite that features all 4 of these comedians is the Jesus Christ Superstar spoof, AD/BC: A Rock Opera, which I've posted the first portion of for you. Also check out Noel as a team captain on Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
10) Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie
They've been in many things together, but the best I've seen are Alfresco (with Emma Thompson!), Happy Families, A Bit of Fry & Laurie and Blackadder. Stephen's cerebral and often sexual humor pairs perfectly with Hugh's sweet dunce/musical parody genius.
11) James Corden & Ruth Jones
Their solo stuff kills me, but I believe they are at their best when paired (of course) as their characters Smithy and Nessa from Gavin & Stacey, a show they wrote together after meeting on the show Fat Friends. I've posted the outtakes from series 1 of Gavin & Stacey, because I think you should really just watch the whole show. And if being funny wasn't enough, they are also hopeless romantics:
"The stuff that Ruth and I really like is the stuff about...people coming together, and family. And you know, for me, the idea of two people meeting up and falling in love and saying 'I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you' and someone saying, 'Well, I wanna do that too' is more amazing than any kind of Matrix-type thing or big explosions or things like that. That to me is kind of the most incredible thing in the world, and that's what we try to write about." - James Corden
12) The Cast of Horrible Histories
12) The Cast of Horrible Histories
Guys, I am so obsessed with this children's program. I sing the songs constantly. And I want to be personal friends with every last cast member. But if I had to choose personal favorites, it would be Jim Howick and Mathew Baynton, who are both in the clip I've posted. The show, based on books by Terry Deary, tries to teach kids both World and British history by exploring its grosser, funnier, weirder, and more barbaric aspects. It's like a side-splitting mash-up of Blackadder and Monty Python.
Ok, I should stop. But here are honorable mentions who I would have added if I didn't already think this post was too long! But if you're really interested, their names have links to some of my favorite videos featuring them. The men of Monty Python, Peter Sellers, Ricky Gervais & Stephen Merchant, Victor Spinetti, The League of Gentlemen, and David Walliams with Matt Lucas.
4 comments :
Any post with David Mitchell is a post I like!
Where do I apply to become a guest blogger? I have some hot iPhone 5 rumors that I think this blog's readership would L-O-V-E
This is amazing! Have you ever watched 'Jeeves and Wooster' starring Fry and Laurie? It's a period dramedy! And so very British! London is one of the best cities in the world, I'm going in two weeks for the weekend. You'll love it!
Jennifer Saunders as Gandalf is just too too accurate.
Lana, I've been meaning to watch Jeeves and Wooster--it's in my queue!
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