Could you get away with this today

Just came across this old sketch of Benny hill. Laughed from start to finish. Could they get away with it today though.

Steve.

Benny hill sketch

Being interested in steam engines I find myself often defending anarchronisms. I think this humour was very much of it's time; I'm glad we have moved on. Progress isn't always to be feared.

A different time, when the culture was to all laugh at how ridiculous people are

Nowadays the culture is everyone is a special case, or a victim that needs help

I blame the lawyers

I think the definitive tv programme of the 80s was spitting image and of the 90s south park

Anything since 2000 that's worth a mention?

Frasier was very clever, that was 90s

some Blackadders

Father Ted was hilarious

Edited By Ady1 on 10/10/2021 23:56:32

21st century

I only recognise 2 names, and watched neither

uk 21st century comedies

I believe the thick of it was very good

Edited By Ady1 on 10/10/2021 23:59:33

No, couldn't get away with that today, no four letter words or gratuitous nakedness. Simple humour died long ago. Fell foul of PC.

Regards Ian.

Smoking is verboten

Gratuitous swearing and violence is fine though

Be honest, did even the most PC of you not just break into a smile ?

Stiff upper lips. I P.M.S.L

Steve.

Nah, gormless bikeshed humour for adolescents.

Could they get away with it today? Dunno why anybody'd want to.

Fawlty Towers still works well, though...

I think this is what is missing from today's miserable offerings that are called humour.

I suppose that dates me!

I just think the world is no longer a funny or relaxed place.

I had hoped it was not my age.

JA

Is Benny Hill funny? I think so, but not all of it. Like most comedians he operated close to the edge, and the edge moves. Go too far, and jokes become offensive. Don't go far enough and they aren't funny - who laughs at Charlie Chaplin today?

Bad-language in jokes has been fashionable for a few decades, but it's fading now. In twenty years TalkingPictures will be prefacing early 21st century comedy with bad taste warnings. The next generation of old men will moan about it, whilst their youngsters try to explain why grandad of 2040 is crass, prejudiced, tactless and out of touch. Old folk never understand the young, and the young don't understand they will soon be old too.

Anyone serious about comedy should read Henri Bergson's Le Rire. Essai sur la signification du comique. Brief overview in English here on Wikipedia. Bergson determines the process of the comic instead of analysing its effects. So you're not allowed to enjoy Benny Hill unless you can explain why he's funny now racism, homophobia and misogyny are in disrepute. As laughter is a social mechanism, laughing at the wrong time is a gaffe!

It's no wonder I have a complex.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 11/10/2021 17:45:12

Lots of people! And when the Marx Brothers film with the mirror scene was on telly, the kids and I were rolling on the floor!

I quite enjoyed quite a lot of this, especially the slap-stick aspects, and particularly the nurse learning karate and then using it to remove a patient's plaster cast. The scenes of lots of skimpily clad women running about seemed very dated though.

Rod

I went on night shift in 1976 and spent non work nights down the pub, have watched next to no TV since then. We didn’t have a TV until No. 1 son arrived and needed more input than was humanly possible, a TV gave some respite.I also lived in Germany until the age of 10 so no forces TV in those days or satellite so I read voraciously about 5 books a week. I find these days that I consume media from online sources. When the Telegraph hit £2.30 a day for a print copy I gave in and subscribed to the online version. We are in a media revolution and TV and print journalism are losing. Although I doubt Till Death Us Do Part is likely to be shown again it was a brilliant portrayal of bigotry although I suspect it would be wasted on many of today’s cancel culture warriors.

Mike

Do I live in a different world?

I watch this every 5 years or so for a good giggle

Remember that we will be vilified in two centuries time for our actions and views.

Just as the woke brigade do now for the actions of two centuries ago, when what was tolerable or commonplace was acceptable, but now abhorrent.

No doubt, in two hundred years time, we shall be castigated for using fossil fuels, and plastic, and radios will be a museum novelty, as long as no one thinks about the materials within them and their sources ..

Standards change. Different ships, different splices!

Howard

+1

Although it doesn't need two hundred years. There are things that were de rigueur in my youth which are PI now (according to some).

Kenny Everett is being re-run on Freeview here, it even has a disclaimer at the start!