NOTICE-THIS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TONGUE-IN-CHEEK BLOG.
Admittedly, I am a card carrying Anglophile, in particular as regards British humor. A favorite British comedian, actor and writer of mine is Rowan Atkinson. Some of his most noted accomplishments are, Blackadder, The Thin Blue Line, Not the Nine O'Clock News and Mr. Bean. All of these are hilarious on different intellectual levels. But for pure inventiveness, Mr. Bean stands out. It appeals not only to adults, but children as well...albeit, a little risque at times.
In the clip below, Mr. Bean meets the Queen. Stay with it, the pay off is worth the wait. It's one of my favorite routines of his...and he has a ton of good ones.
25 comments:
Rowan Atkinson is always a big hit in ou house too, my boys love Mr. Bean. I think one of my favorite NTNON sketches is the Python Worshippers.
Mr. Bean Takes A Vacation, at least I think that's the name of it... the one where he befriends a lost child and works his way across France trying to help him/her reconnect with family... is just plain stupid... but funny as hell.
I share your Anglophilia, perhaps because I am of English extraction, and one of my all time favorites, apart from Peter Sellers, is Terry Thomas. Every time I see him in Mad, Mad World he cracks me up. "What, you don't like the English?"
iasa---I'm not familiar with the Python sketch. I'll have to look it up.
Mr. C---Well, I really should have qualified this post. What I am actually referring to is his television work. In agreement with the vacation movie, just damned silly. Hated it...as well as Mr. Bean goes to America (I think that's what it's called).
Yeah, Terry Thomas, the best in understated comedy. With the exception maybe of Benny Hill, All of the Brit comics are top drawer...in my view.
iasa---just took a look at the Python sketch. You are right...still laughing. For anyone who wants to also see it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asUyK6JWt9U
Bean is one of those guys who's great as a sketch artist, like Jim (Ernest) Varney and Benny Hill, but not so hot in a full length film. The remarkable thing about Sellers is he could pull both off with equal aplomb. Did you ever see After the Fox, the prequel to the Pink Panther series? Hilarious. Particularly the scene in the restaurant where he's speaking to a master spy seated behind him while pretending to talk to, and has the hots for, a voluptuous woman seated across the table from him.
I’m a bit ambivalent about Mr Bean – not much into mimes – but the Blackadder series (particularly the Elizabethan and the Regency ones) are absolute classics. I’ve only seen a few of the NTNOCN ones, since I didn’t have a TV at the time, but they also are excellent. And the parody of The Life of Brian you just linked to is an excellent example of that.
If you haven’t seen any yet, you should try looking for some of the Alas Smith & Jones sketches (Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones), such as the downed pilot one.
I agree, Mr. Bean is up there with Benny Hill and Terry Thomas...all great comedians.
I love Blackadder (series 3 particularly - the Regency one). Hasd to sneak to watch NTNON as it was on late and I was only 14 at the beginning - probably most of it went over my head.
I love Rowan Atkinson too, "Mr. Bean's Holiday"is a great belly laugh, not enough of those. My favorite comic is Peter Sellers, not only as a comic, but a great actor too. His performances in "Lolita" and "Dr. Strangelove" are great comedy and exceptional acting. He was a master of the accent.
No offense...I am not a great fan of British humor. I guess that makes me a stick in the mud. I will, for your sake, go watch the clip.
Mr. C---I've seen all of Sellers films. He was much more than a comic, that is for sure. One of my favorite Cousteau moments was when he went disguised as a dentist and got overly involved with the "laughing gas", I am sure you know which scene I'm talking about...I laugh even mentioning it here.
Simon---oh don't get me wrong, Blackadder was primo for it's word play and downright comical viciousness of Atkinsons character. I am an ardent fan. I have probably watched the series at least a dozen times. But, what struck me about Bean was the fact that my children love it too. So it works on two levels, and is clever at the same time.
My old brain vaguely remembers Smith and Jones. I will admit, however, that I' going have to go to the link you provided...and thanks.
Mom---I sort of guessed this would be your cup of tea.
Lou---NTNON is for sure as amusing as Ba, but of course on a different level. Check it out sometime now you are a little older ;-)
Holte---And don't forget the Mouse That Roared, three characters...absolutely amazing.
Mango---different tangos for different dancers (I have no idea what I just said). It's ok, my brother who has a great sense of humor, just doesn't get the Brit wit...but otherwise, he's an ok guy.
Thanks for the laugh
LOL... Chimp likes "Mr Bean" too. He's who I learned about Mr Bean from....thanks for sharing the funny! :)
Classic! Even the French appreciate this particular Brit.
Mr. Bean always made me think of Pee Wee Herman without the LSD and masturbation.
Now you guys have got me going. Remember the Goon Show? Radio program starring Sellers, Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe? The skit about the one legged man auditioning for a Tarzan movie was a scream. "What! A uni-dexter Tarzan?"
I'm Canadian, we automatically "get" Brit comedy :-) I haven't seen Terry Thomas's movies in a long time, but I remember him in "How To Murder Your Wife" with Jack Lemmon and Virna Lisi (hot hot hot!)
I like some of the Mr. Bean stuff, but I have to say I prefer Mr. Atkinson's speaking roles :-)
PE---any time.
Judy---I thought Chimp WAS Mr. Bean.
Dedene---now that is odd.
WM---now that you mention it...
Mr. C---I don't recall Goon. Goona have to look that one up. Thanks for the tip.
Doug---I do recall "How to..." and, ahem, Virna. I always though Virna was an odd name for such a beautiful woman.
"Merry Christmas Mr. Bean" is a holiday classic at our house. And jaded, isn't it fun introducing this stuff to the kids?
intell---Actually we watched the series back when our twelve year old was about six. We are re-watching now through Netflix. So, the oldest gets to tell our youngest all about what's going to happen. I am amazed that she remembers...I don't.
That's a great one. I introduced my 6-year-oold granddaughter to Mr. Bean. She loved him. I was weaned on Monty Python. Love all the BBC comedies.
this one has long been a favourite of mine... such a great string of mundane sillinesses... thanks for the re-view.
Hehe ;)
Chimp, Harlequin, Judy---glad you enjoyed this little memory lane thing.
This was a delight to watch. I'd not seen much of his stuff outside of Mr. Bean. I love to watch the old shows on BBC. Of course, as you might have guessed, I love the girls of Absolutely Fabulous.
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