[TV] Bob Monkhouse

[Codner's Wallop]

My father hit me only once - shame it was in a Volvo….

Classic Monkhouse of course but he was elevated to new heights during his ‘cameo’ on Toast.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Just got round to catching up on recorded programmes over Christmas and last night watched An Audience With Bob Monkhouse from I believe 1994. In my mind he must be one of the greatest comedians this country has ever produced.

Good start

Most probably wouldn't go down too well with the current easily offended generation, but to me a very funny and talented man. Comedians no longer tell jokes, unless it's about the Royal Family or Christianity, for fear of being labelled racist or homophobic. It's such a shame that all we are left with is unfunny PC rantings where every other word is now the acceptable f*** or c*** where the audience roll up laughing because the person next to them is.

Why would you associate Bob Monkhouse's name and talent with this pathetic rant ?

You could at least have the balls to put the subject in the title, rather than hide it under 'Bob Monkhouse'. It's the way other posters figure out whether a thread is worth contributing to, or a complete load of old bollocks

 

[MJsGhost]

The epitome of whats sh*t about modern day comedians.

He’s no Jim Davidson, I’ll give you that

 

[studio150]

His autobiography - Crying With Laughter, is a good read,

 

[clapham_gull]

I suppose if your source of comedy is “an audience with” from almost thirty years ago you’re probably not going to be going to see much live stuff. Where you will find some brilliant comedians, they just don’t do much telly.

Now, I'm not jumping into the culture war mind of Arthur Guinness - but there is a reason for that.

TV eats up material, in way live doesn't. You can't do the same act two weeks running on TV like you can on stage. That's why the great television comics like Morecambe and Wise had writers.

The reason the vast majority don't do telly, is they couldn't handle it.

Anyway - on the subject of the late great Bob Monkhouse, he was a great live comedian although completely different (and more blue) than his TV persona. He just didn't do it much, because he got sucked into the world of the gameshow host.

His last performance (when terminally ill) was recorded in front of a number of "modern trendy left wing woke pc" comedians. He invited them because he admired them and they admired him back.

The original post is not only full of spite, it's an early clear contender for the most inaccurate post of 2022.

You probably know I come from "Kent", I hear people mention the word, they mutter it when they meet me.

Enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koFrPs_80gQ

 

[schmunk]

Enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koFrPs_80gQ

Featuring El Pres' mate Kev, no less!

 

[clapham_gull]

Featuring El Pres' mate Kev, no less!

Lovely man, spoken to him a number of times. Used to write jokes for Gary Lineker...

 

[The Clamp]

Now, I'm not jumping into the culture war mind of Arthur Guinness - but there is a reason for that.

TV eats up material, in way live doesn't. You can't do the same act two weeks running on TV like you can on stage. That's why the great television comics like Morecambe and Wise had writers.

The reason the vast majority don't do telly, is they couldn't handle it.

Anyway - on the subject of the late great Bob Monkhouse, he was a great live comedian although completely different (and more blue) than his TV persona. He just didn't do it much, because he got sucked into the world of the gameshow host.

His last performance (when terminally ill) was recorded in front of a number of "modern trendy left wing woke pc" comedians. He invited them because he admired them and they admired him back.

The original post is not only full of spite, it's an early clear contender for the most inaccurate post of 2022.






Enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koFrPs_80gQ

I couldn’t agree more. Great post. And all true apart form possibly the not being able to handle telly aspect.

I think some of the few comedians who still have/had great material despite being on telly a lot were Sean Lock and arguably Frankie Boyle.

Yes, I’ve heard Monkhouse was a whole different act live. Frank Skinner and Steve Coogan both speak highly of him.

 

[clapham_gull]

I agree one of the most talented comedians of the last 50 years and showed you don’t have to use swear words to be funny.

Cos you only saw him on television in the 80s.

You probably know I come from "Kent", I hear people mention the word, they mutter it when they meet me.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Really?

Just for saying you're English.

 

[The Clamp]

Just for saying you're English.

Especially if you say it in English.

 

[arfer guinness]

You do realise that is the family friendly dumbed down ITV version of Bob Monkhouse don't you ?



Sorry to let you down.

Doesn't let me down at all, just goes to show what a great comedian he was. He can perform to family audiences with innuendo and adult audiences with material as blue as the rest of them.

 

[arfer guinness]

Good start



Why would you associate Bob Monkhouse's name and talent with this pathetic rant ?

You could at least have the balls to put the subject in the title, rather than hide it under 'Bob Monkhouse'. It's the way other posters figure out whether a thread is worth contributing to, or a complete load of old bollocks

My apologies, for future reference I will title threads for example My opinion Of Bob Monkhouse And Current Comedians, to save your precious time of having to read something but time you found to reply.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Just got round to catching up on recorded programmes over Christmas and last night watched An Audience With Bob Monkhouse from I believe 1994. In my mind he must be one of the greatest comedians this country has ever produced. Most probably wouldn't go down too well with the current easily offended generation, but to me a very funny and talented man. Comedians no longer tell jokes, unless it's about the Royal Family or Christianity, for fear of being labelled racist or homophobic. It's such a shame that all we are left with is unfunny PC rantings where every other word is now the acceptable f*** or c*** where the audience roll up laughing because the person next to them is.

Absolutely this, modern comedy routines do very little for me, and l don't find listening to so called comedians relentlessly using swear words at all funny, and quite a cop out actually..

Bob Monkhouse doing stand up was a very funny man indeed, just a shame that we saw so little of it on tv, as he seemed to make a concious decision to start hosting quiz shows instead, much in the Bruce Forsyth mould. That was where the money was l guess.

Remembered with affection though.

 

[arfer guinness]

I suppose if your source of comedy is “an audience with” from almost thirty years ago you’re probably not going to be going to see much live stuff. Where you will find some brilliant comedians, they just don’t do much telly.

I agree you're quite possibly right. I've been to comedy clubs where some have been very funny. I was talking about mainstream TV where a lot of comedians either regale long stories which, unlike Dave Allen, are not funny, or resort to bad language to shock, again unfunny. I just don't feel, unlike the past, there is a range of comedians who actually tell jokes, due to fear of upsetting some sensitive souls.

 

[Poojah]

I always found this advert fascinating. Crucial to know is that this wasn't filmed before Bob Monkhouse died, but rather strung together via a series of historically recorded clips, a soundalike and a body double. Cleverly done but also thought provoking about the cause on which it touches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PKVVBP1DJQ

 

[rogersix]

I agree you're quite possibly right. I've been to comedy clubs where some have been very funny. I was talking about mainstream TV where a lot of comedians either regale long stories which, unlike Dave Allen, are not funny, or resort to bad language to shock, again unfunny. I just don't feel, unlike the past, there is a range of comedians who actually tell jokes, due to fear of upsetting some sensitive souls.

maybe all those low quality jokes have been done to death, "ad nauseum", in the distant past?

 

[clapham_gull]

I agree you're quite possibly right. I've been to comedy clubs where some have been very funny. I was talking about mainstream TV where a lot of comedians either regale long stories which, unlike Dave Allen, are not funny, or resort to bad language to shock, again unfunny. I just don't feel, unlike the past, there is a range of comedians who actually tell jokes, due to fear of upsetting some sensitive souls.

There are, but you are clearly the sensitive soul they offend.

 

[The Clamp]

I agree you're quite possibly right. I've been to comedy clubs where some have been very funny. I was talking about mainstream TV where a lot of comedians either regale long stories which, unlike Dave Allen, are not funny, or resort to bad language to shock, again unfunny. I just don't feel, unlike the past, there is a range of comedians who actually tell jokes, due to fear of upsetting some sensitive souls.

Mainstream telly has always been the same. Largely broad, unfunny comedians with the odd gem. With the exception of a few “golden eras”, that’s mostly been the case with TV comedians.

I would site Jimmy Carr, Tim Vine, the late Sean Lock, and a few others as being very funny TV comedians who tell jokes without resorting to base elements.

 

[essbee1]

Mainstream telly has always been the same. Largely broad, unfunny comedians with the odd gem. With the exception of a few “golden eras”, that’s mostly been the case with TV comedians.

I would site Jimmy Carr, Tim Vine, the late Sean Lock, and a few others as being very funny TV comedians who tell jokes without resorting to base elements.

Are you really serious Clamp? Jimmy Carr has said some absolutely shocking things about disadvantaged people.