hahaha hoo hoo hehehe ha ha ha hee hee

September 22, 2007 6:13 PM

A collection of vintage British Comedy Clips.

Monty Python l Ali G l The Office l Mr. Bean l Fawlty Towers l Benny Hill

One of my favorites, Monty Python's Argument Clinic.

Stand Up Comedy Clips thrown in for good measure.

posted by nickyskye (41 comments total)

Here's a bunch of clips from Do Not Adjust Your Set – a British children's TV series featuring [pre-Python] Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Eric Idle, and some animations by Terry Gilliam.
posted by Poolio at 6:30 PM on September 22, 2007

The full version of the Argument Clinic, with added meta.
posted by Aloysius Bear at 6:42 PM on September 22, 2007 [1 favorite]

Election Night Special is one my favorite Python sketches.
posted by Poolio at 6:47 PM on September 22, 2007

Ali G vs Kent Hovind is worthy of respec.
posted by ericost at 7:06 PM on September 22, 2007

Man, Ali G is so painfully great. Monty Python of course kicks ass. Thanks for posting this!
posted by Eekacat at 7:36 PM on September 22, 2007

Wow, I expected the Spanish Inquisition.
posted by yhbc at 7:36 PM on September 22, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'm not sure I understand what Benny Hill is doing in a collection of comedy clips.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:40 PM on September 22, 2007

Oh, just watch a few of them.
posted by yhbc at 7:51 PM on September 22, 2007

Love the extended version! "Oh, sorry this is abuse." *wipes laughter tear
Thanks Aloysius Bear.

omg That Ali G one is so deliciously cringeworthy. I remember the first time I saw him and my eyes bugged out of my head, jaw dropped. No way was he really getting away with that!

Seconding Excellent Election Night (had never seen it before).
posted by nickyskye at 8:30 PM on September 22, 2007

This is wonderful, though I wish there was some Blackadder there.
posted by Nabubrush at 8:33 PM on September 22, 2007

Nabubrush: "This is wonderful, though I wish there was some Blackadder there."

Seconded. So here's one of my fave Blackadder bits.
posted by Effigy2000 at 8:42 PM on September 22, 2007

Python's World Cup of International Philosophy is also very funny, nickyskye.
posted by Poolio at 8:43 PM on September 22, 2007

The funniest BritCom you've never heard of.
posted by RavinDave at 8:51 PM on September 22, 2007

Nabubrush & Effigy2000... try this. Voila.
posted by miss lynnster at 9:19 PM on September 22, 2007 [3 favorites]

Should have added some Dave Allen, IMO
posted by Kickstart70 at 9:21 PM on September 22, 2007

Oh, and add a pinch of Fry & Laurie for good measure.
posted by miss lynnster at 9:22 PM on September 22, 2007

Sorry nobody's paying attention to you yhbc...

*clears throat*

NO ONE EXPECTS THE SPANISH INQUISITION! Amongst their weaponry were such diverse elements as: fear, surprise, ruthless efficiency, an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope, and nice red uniforms.

Etc.
posted by miss lynnster at 9:28 PM on September 22, 2007

Good call on the F&L, miss lynnster.
posted by Poolio at 9:28 PM on September 22, 2007

Dave Allen was brilliant, but Irish-brilliant, not British-brilliant.

*pinches Fry and Laurie equally and compares their giggles*

Mr. Burmie is a classic.
posted by maudlin at 9:38 PM on September 22, 2007

Farty Towels.
posted by Devils Rancher at 9:40 PM on September 22, 2007

Dave Allen was brilliant, but Irish-brilliant, not British-brilliant.

As far as I can tell, his humour goes over really well with my fellow Canadians, but Americans just don't get it.
posted by Kickstart70 at 9:44 PM on September 22, 2007

Yeah, his show played for ages on one of the tiny cable channels in Toronto. I think it was the only thing my family ever watched on that station.
posted by maudlin at 9:46 PM on September 22, 2007

This is wonderful, though I wish there was some Blackadder there.

Hey, where you been?

And thanks for the post nickyskye. There's always room for more laughs!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:05 PM on September 22, 2007

FYI, full episodes above, though. Not youtube clips.
posted by miss lynnster at 10:11 PM on September 22, 2007

Wonderful post, ms nickyskye - I needed those laughs - thank you!
posted by madamjujujive at 11:00 PM on September 22, 2007

FYI, full episodes above, though. Not youtube clips.

Oh, yes! Oh, yes! Thanks for the FYI heads-up, miss lynnster, cause I hadn't checked out your previous link. Full episodes! That is the total bomb, and I love you.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:05 PM on September 22, 2007

Often copied, never equaled, the four Yorkshire men.
posted by afu at 11:43 PM on September 22, 2007

The "Class Sketch" John Cleese, Ronnie Barker + Ronnie Corbett with brief commentry.
posted by adamvasco at 3:23 AM on September 23, 2007

A modern classic, The Mighty Boosh.

Featuring the wonderful insanity of the Soup Song and the Moon.
posted by patricio at 3:34 AM on September 23, 2007

There's plenty for recent British comedies that manage to tickle my funny bone quite badly. The second series of the IT Crowd (ep. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) is miles better than the first. Spaced was genre-bending and absolutely brilliant. Black Books has two of the funniest comedians working in Britain at the moment: Dylan Moran and Bill Bailey (Monster and Part Troll respectively are required viewing for their standup). To 'get' Black Books, all you have to do is watch this clip and understand the red-wine drinking, chain smoking, grumpy Irishman character of Bernard.

I maintain that British comedy (when on good form) is truly something special. And it didn't begin and end with the admittedly genius Monty Python years.
posted by slimepuppy at 3:45 AM on September 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

Mitchell and Webb are in some ways the new Fry and Laurie. Their TV show "That Mitchell and Webb Look" has only had one series so far but it had some of the best sketches I've seen in ages.

Also, that archive lacks The Goodies.
posted by tomcooke at 4:39 AM on September 23, 2007

Ali G is just a poor man's Dennis Pennis.
posted by afx237vi at 5:15 AM on September 23, 2007

Oh YAYYY, tickled by all the wonderful additional links! Thanks for making this thread so excellent.
posted by nickyskye at 7:34 AM on September 23, 2007

RavinDave writes 'The funniest BritCom you've never heard of.'

You're pulling out legs, RavinDave. Father Dear Father was good solid sitcom fare but it was no Rising Damp
posted by PeterMcDermott at 8:53 AM on September 23, 2007

Oh man, this thread is over the top now. Thanks, miss lynster & flapjax, and everyon else!
posted by Nabubrush at 9:52 AM on September 23, 2007

Some bits from Alexei Sayle's Stuff.

Unlucky Alf.
posted by tomcooke at 10:20 AM on September 23, 2007

No clips, alas, but what a source
posted by IndigoJones at 11:10 AM on September 23, 2007

Thanks nickyskye, I needed a break from hyena people and rabid cops.
posted by RussHy at 12:14 PM on September 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin...
posted by El Brendano at 2:22 AM on September 24, 2007

Another "Alf". At the Hammers
posted by johnny7 at 3:59 AM on September 24, 2007

miss lynnster: "Nabubrush & Effigy2000... try this. Voila."

Sweet. Thanks miss lynster.
posted by Effigy2000 at 7:22 PM on September 24, 2007