Religion and Ethics Forum

General Category => Literature, Music, Art & Entertainment => Topic started by: Nearly Sane on December 08, 2017, 12:58:18 PM

Title: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Nearly Sane on December 08, 2017, 12:58:18 PM
Humph's 'pointless rant' about Del Boy not being a cockney has triggered off in my tiny brain the question about what is my favourite comedy character. I love Jason's  portrayal of Del Boy, it always seemed deeply affectionate for the character,but in the end the ones I most love are Norm from Cheers and Niles from Frasier.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Rhiannon on December 08, 2017, 02:29:06 PM
I love Niles too, you probably heard my cheer when Daphne didn't marry Donny from Glasgow. Not that Donny was from Glasgow, but you know what I mean. As an aside, Ham Radio is the only sitcom episode that has made me quite literally snort with laughter.

One of my favourite jokes ever was in Cheers - an old man walks into the bar and talks about all the changes that had been made since the last time he was there so many years ago, how everything was different. Can't remember the exact wording but the gist was:  'And the staircase was someplace different'. 'Really? Where?' 'Right over there behind Norm.'

I really like Miranda, I know the lines are blurred between acting and reality there but she's been a fantastic role model for my girls and her humour is so warm. I love Phoebe from Friends, too.

I think though that my favourites are Kevin and Maggie from Outside Edge when it was turned into a sitcom, as played by the incredibly sexy Timothy Spall and the glorious Josie Lawrence.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Nearly Sane on December 08, 2017, 02:40:56 PM
One of the great memories of Cheers was Norm walking into the bar, and being asked 'What's up?' to which the reply was 'My nipples, it's cold out there!'

Ham Radio is a work of genius but then Niles is a work of genius.


Oddly I could never take to Outside Edge, though Spall, with whom I used to frequent the same off licence,and Lawrence are great.


As an aside my current most enjoyed sitcom is The Good Place.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Sebastian Toe on December 08, 2017, 03:03:37 PM
Nighty Night.
Jill and Glen.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Nearly Sane on December 08, 2017, 03:12:53 PM
Just realised that I see myself as a cross between Niles and Norm, and yes that is as weird as it sounds.


Another favourite is Kenneth from 30 Rock but I don't see myself as him at all. Patsy from AbFab and maybe just that one night was I close to being her.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Shaker on December 08, 2017, 03:30:37 PM
One of the great memories of Cheers was Norm walking into the bar, and being asked 'What's up?' to which the reply was 'My nipples, it's cold out there!'
On another occasion somebody said "What's shaking, Norm?" to which he replied: "All four bellies and a couple of chins".
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Nearly Sane on December 08, 2017, 03:35:24 PM
On another occasion somebody said "What's shaking, Norm?" to which he replied: "All four bellies and a couple of chins".

Sitcoms are when well done the highest form of art we have. At its best The Simpsons was a deeper investigation of humanity than all of poetry rolled up into a haiku and spray painted with 25 carat gold.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: floo on December 08, 2017, 04:22:35 PM
My husband and I quite enjoy detective fiction, usually the ones shown a few years ago. At present we are watching re-runs of 'A Touch of Frost' (David Jason), Foyles War (Michael Kitchen), and Wycliffe (Jack Shepherd). 
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Nearly Sane on December 08, 2017, 04:27:01 PM
My husband and I quite enjoy detective fiction, usually the ones shown a few years ago. At present we are watching re-runs of 'A Touch of Frost' (David Jason), Foyles War (Michael Kitchen), and Wycliffe (Jack Shepherd).
I kill myself watching them, just hilarious.


Leaving aside the this about favourite comedy characters for a moment, I think Kitchen as Foyle is a beautiful piece of acting.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: floo on December 08, 2017, 04:33:32 PM
I kill myself watching them, just hilarious.


Leaving aside the this about favourite comedy characters for a moment, I think Kitchen as Foyle is a beautiful piece of acting.

As for comedies we like the old ones the best, 'Dad's Army', 'Hi di Hi', 'Allo Allo' and 'Are you being served'. We do watch Mrs Brown occasionally, which can be amusing, although we dislike the frequent use of the 'F' word.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Nearly Sane on December 08, 2017, 04:40:37 PM
As for comedies we like the old ones the best, 'Dad's Army', 'Hi di Hi', 'Allo Allo' and 'Are you being served'. We do watch Mrs Brown occasionally, which can be amusing, although we dislike the frequent use of the 'F' word.
Dad's Army is Croft and Perry at a creative highlight. Almost every character is astounding to the extent that one of our members is currently named after the fourth? lead.  Hi de hi and Allo' Allo I find jejune and grating, though Officer Crabtree is a brilliant creation.


There are words for Mrs Brown's Boys - I will refrain from using them
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: floo on December 08, 2017, 05:18:37 PM
Dad's Army is Croft and Perry at a creative highlight. Almost every character is astounding to the extent that one of our members is currently named after the fourth? lead.  Hi de hi and Allo' Allo I find jejune and grating, though Officer Crabtree is a brilliant creation.


There are words for Mrs Brown's Boys - I will refrain from using them

We watched the modern re-run of Dad's Army, which we thought was very poor and not nearly as good as the original.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Owlswing on December 08, 2017, 05:48:41 PM

Can't remember the name of the bloke who played him, but the character was an incompetant idiot, NOT the appaling Mr Bean, - but his long-suffering girlfriend was played by, I think, Michelle Dotice?  I'm not even sure I got her name right!
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Sebastian Toe on December 08, 2017, 05:52:02 PM
Can't remember the name of the bloke who played him, but the character was an incompetant idiot, NOT the appaling Mr Bean, - but his long-suffering girlfriend was played by, I think, Michelle Dotice?  I'm not even sure I got her name right!
Frank Spencer . Some mothers.....
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Aruntraveller on December 08, 2017, 05:55:54 PM
I give you the one, the only, Endora from Bewitched.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Nearly Sane on December 08, 2017, 06:04:04 PM
Can't remember the name of the bloke who played him, but the character was an incompetant idiot, NOT the appaling Mr Bean, - but his long-suffering girlfriend was played by, I think, Michelle Dotice?  I'm not even sure I got her name right!
As Seb has covered, you are talking about Frank Spencer, I hated him but the actor you are very slightly mis naming is Michele Dotrice, child of Roy. 
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Gordon on December 08, 2017, 06:09:38 PM
Not a massive fan of US comedy, but the TV series of MASH was an exception (though it wasn't just comedy).

Frank Burns (played wonderfully by Larry Linville) was a absolute delight.

A few years ago the BBC (I think) put out some episodes of MASH with the canned laughter removed, which emphasised the darker aspects and highlighted the pathos - wish they'd do it again.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Shaker on December 08, 2017, 06:10:39 PM
As Seb has covered, you are talking about Frank Spencer, I hated him but the actor you are very slightly mis naming is Michele Dotrice, child of Roy.
... a superb actor who died only recently, incidentally.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Nearly Sane on December 08, 2017, 06:22:34 PM
... a superb actor who died only recently, incidentally.
Roy, that is, rather than Michele Dotrice or Michael Crawford
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Aruntraveller on December 08, 2017, 06:26:25 PM
Not strictly a sitcom but Roy Dotrice was in the excellent 80's production of Clochmerle. Edit: Make that 70's.  :(
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Rhiannon on December 08, 2017, 06:51:10 PM
As Seb has covered, you are talking about Frank Spencer, I hated him but the actor you are very slightly mis naming is Michele Dotrice, child of Roy.

And who was married to the rather lovely Edward Woodward.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Rhiannon on December 08, 2017, 06:53:49 PM
Father Dougal McGuire - genius.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Shaker on December 08, 2017, 06:54:26 PM
And who was married to the rather lovely Edward Woodward.
... whose name was (apocryphally) said by Sir John Gielgud to sound like a fart in the bath.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Rhiannon on December 08, 2017, 06:56:45 PM
... whose name was (apocryphally) said by Sir John Gielgud to sound like a fart in the bath.

And is the punchline of one of my favourite jokes which my kids don't get because they haven't seen the Wicker Man yet.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Shaker on December 08, 2017, 07:00:48 PM
It's time.

(The Director's Cut Special Edition bells and whistles deleted scenes chocolate sauce and sprinkles whatsit is in front of the telly crying out to be watched again. Dear old Christopher basso profundo Lee of blessed memory thought it was pretty close to the finest film he'd ever made).
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Gordon on December 08, 2017, 07:10:56 PM
Father Dougal McGuire - genius.

Yep - the 'Kicking Bishop Brennan up the arse' episode is my fav.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Robbie on December 08, 2017, 07:13:28 PM
I really loved the comedy drama series, "Outnumbered", all the characters were great and so true to life!
Also liked, "Cold Feet", very much.
I don't think I've ever really watched comedy detective series, like detective stuff but prefer it serious.
Years ago I used to love, "Soap". Does anyone remember that?
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Shaker on December 08, 2017, 07:15:00 PM
Robert Guillaume as Benson the butler. I remember  ;)

ETA: very recently died, though at a ripe old age.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Rhiannon on December 08, 2017, 07:15:37 PM
Yep - the 'Kicking Bishop Brennan up the arse' episode is my fav.

This is one of my favourite pieces of dialogue from the episode 'Tentacles of Doom'.

Bishop Facks: So, Father. Do you ever have any doubts about the religious life? Is your faith ever tested? Anything you would be worried about? Any doubts you've been having about any aspects of belief? Anything like that?
Father Dougal McGuire: Well, you know the way God made us all, right? And he's looking down at us from heaven and everything?
Bishop Facks: Uh-huh.
Father Dougal McGuire: And then his son came down and saved everyone and all that?
Bishop Facks: Yes.
Father Dougal McGuire: And when we die we're all going to go to heaven?
Bishop Facks: Yes. What about it?
Father Dougal McGuire: Well, that's the bit I have trouble with.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Robbie on December 08, 2017, 07:16:49 PM
And is the punchline of one of my favourite jokes which my kids don't get because they haven't seen the Wicker Man yet.
The stuff of which nightmares are made! I hated that film.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Rhiannon on December 08, 2017, 07:17:26 PM
Robert Guillame as Benson the butler. I remember  ;)

My parents let me stay up on a Friday night to watch it after the ten o'clock news. It always ended with a flashing map of where that weeks' job losses were. The news, not Benson.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Nearly Sane on December 08, 2017, 07:20:47 PM
I really loved the comedy drama series, "Outnumbered", all the characters were great and so true to life!
Also liked, "Cold Feet", very much.
I don't think I've ever really watched comedy detective series, like detective stuff but prefer it serious.
Years ago I used to love, "Soap". Does anyone remember that?
Mickey Mouse's dog is gay!
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Sebastian Toe on December 08, 2017, 07:56:03 PM
Not a massive fan of US comedy, but the TV series of MASH was an exception (though it wasn't just comedy).

Frank Burns (played wonderfully by Larry Linville) was a absolute delight.

A few years ago the BBC (I think) put out some episodes of MASH with the canned laughter removed, which emphasised the darker aspects and highlighted the pathos - wish they'd do it again.
It was the other way around.
No canned laughter was the default. They put it out once with it and got roasted for it!
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Owlswing on December 08, 2017, 08:12:35 PM

Frank Spencer . Some mothers.....


Thanks S T
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: Harrowby Hall on December 08, 2017, 09:24:04 PM
Frank Spencer . Some mothers.....

Responsible, I believe, for the widespread adoption of the very unwelcome New York-Italian pronunciation of the word "harass".
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: jeremyp on December 10, 2017, 08:10:17 PM
It was the other way around.
No canned laughter was the default. They put it out once with it and got roasted for it!
In the USA they broadcast MASH with a canned laughter track but the BBC showed it without the laughter, probably because it was so obviously fake. I know that because I saw the episode where they (the BBC) accidentally broadcast the canned laughter and it really was cringe worthy.
Title: Re: Favourite fictional comedy characters
Post by: jeremyp on December 10, 2017, 08:11:25 PM
In the USA they broadcast MASH with a canned laughter track but the BBC showed it without the laughter, probably because it was so obviously fake. I know that because I saw the episode where they (the BBC) accidentally broadcast the canned laughter and it really was cringe worthy.
I also saw the Points of View following that episode, it wasn't pretty.