DVD: A Bit of Fry & Laurie

There's not many things better than a good laugh and British comedies are some of the funniest and silliest things to watch.  I love Hugh Laurie.  He's funny, talented and attractive in a goofy/dorky kind of way.  With the huge popularity of House, I feel compelled to comment on the show.  Unfortunately, while House is an interesting character, I think the show as a whole is lame.  Every episode I've watched seems to be a variation on the 'Oh, House, you're such a maverick!' theme.

BTW, his scruffy look for House?  Meh.  But let's focus on what I do like.  I loved him and Stephen Fry in Jeeves & Wooster.

 

Now, J&W is humorous, but it's usually not ROFLMAO funny.  Still, I enjoyed it tremendously and wished there had been more seasons.

Now, Blackadder is hysterical.  If you're unfamiliar with it, here's a pretty good description from Wikipedia:

Although each series is set in a different time era, all follow the fortunes (or rather, misfortunes) of Edmund Blackadder (played by Atkinson), who in each is a member of a British family dynasty present at many significant periods and places in British history. Although the character is quite unintelligent in the first series, he is increasingly clever and perceptive in subsequent generations (while decreasing in social status). Each Blackadder though is a cynical, cowardly opportunist concerned with maintaining and increasing his own status and fortunes, regardless of his surroundings. In each series, Blackadder is usually a cynical (almost modern) voice puncturing the pretensions and stupidity of those around him, and what might — through modern eyes — be seen as the more ludicrous and insane follies of history (from the medieval religious witch-hunts and the petty whims and insanities of various British monarchs to the bloodshed and horror of World War I).

The lives of each of the Blackadders are also entwined with their servants, all from the Baldrick family line (played by Tony Robinson). Each generation acts as the dogsbody to their respective Blackadder. They decrease in intelligence (and in personal hygiene standards) just as their masters' intellect increases. Each Blackadder and Baldrick are also saddled with the company of a dim-witted aristocrat whose presence Blackadder must somehow tolerate. This role was taken in the first two series by Lord Percy Percy (Tim McInnerny), in the third series by Prince George, Prince Regent, and in the fourth by Lieutenant George, the latter two played by Hugh Laurie.

I laughed so much watching this show.  I especially like Laurie as the exceedingly foppish and foolish Prince Regent.

There's an episode with a sidestory of the prince being without his manservant and so he ends up having to put his pants on himself.  That's a favorite, along with the one where he learns how to give a speech.  Prolly my fave episode is the one about The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Besides all these laughfests, there was A Bit of Fry & Laurie, a comedy sketch show.  I've just started watching it (on DVDs borrowed through the oft-recommended-here inter-library loan system) and sometimes I'm still laughing at one joke only to miss the next one.  They dress up a lot, which is always fun.  (Seems like a career requirement for British actors to dress up in drag at least once.  Works for me.)

Laurie is actually an accomplished musician and he quite rightly wastes this talent by performing horrible yet funny, i.e., horribly funny, songs.  In one episode he gives us the Cliffs Notes version of my hero, Bruce Springsteen; there's so little to it, yet it's so funny.

So, if you like to laugh at silly stuff, I recommend A Bit of Fry & Laurie and Blackadder.  Happy giggling!

Comments

[Alex]

Never watched Jeeves & Wooster, by I've just started reading P. G. Wodehouse and I just have the image of Fry and Laurie as the characters. It works so well.

[Annie]

Alex, I did the reverse: saw the DVDs first and then started reading the books. If you like the books, I think you'll enjoy the DVDs.

[Cece H]

Haha I love this post, and lovee Hugh Laurie! I came across this looking for pics of Fry and Laurie on google..

I disagree with the first meme tho; I think _Hugh Laurie_ is the one that needs a break from the swooning women too, then Johnny Depp can come and fill in for him lol ;)