English Comedy

If you've stickybeaked around this site, you may have discovered that I hold the philosopher, Gurdjieff, in great respect. Here's the little that's reported of what he had to say on Laughter: 

Why is laughter so pleasant?" asked someone.

"Because," (Gurdjieff) answered, "...laughter relieves us of superfluous energy, which, if remained unused, might become...poison. We always have plenty of this poison in us. Laughter is the antidote..."

In Search Of The Miraculous P.D. Ouspensky.

With that in mind, I present my two great comedic influences, Peter Cook (& Dudley Moore) and Monty Python, two teams which dominated English comedy through the 1960s, 1970s and to this day. This isn't meant as any great analysis, it's merely a brief look at two great English comedy acts:  

Monty Python

• Monty Python TV series
• Monthy Python & The Holy Grail + Spamalot
• Monthy Python's The Life Of Brian
• Monthy Python & The Meaning Of Life 
• John Cleese
• Terry Jones
• Eric Idle
• Michael Palin
• Graham Chapman
• Terry Gilliam

For an extremely thorough overview of English comedy, 1960-1980, I cannot help but recommend Roger Wilmut's unfortunately little known book From Fringe to Flying Circus. It looks at in some depth (photos, quoted scripts etc.) and traces historically:

• Beyond The Fringe: Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett & Jonathon Miller
• The Cambridge Circus: various Monty Python & The Goodies members at and just out of university 
• Private Eye & The Establishment club: Peter Cook's iconoclastic entertainment empire 
• This Was The Day That Was: The rise of David Frost on Peter Cook's back
• Pete & Dud: Peter Cook & Dudley Moore
• Marty Feldman: (with Cleese & Chapman)
• Do Not Adjust Your Set: (a children's show with Jones, Palin, Idle & Gilliam)
• Monty Python
• I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again (radio show): Bill Oddie & Tim Brooke Taylor & John Cleese
• The Goodies & more

Roger Wilmut: From Fringe To Flying Circus

From Fringe To Flying Circus seems to have been written with full co-operation of many of its subjects and, despite being a whistle-stop history book, it's hugely entertaining. I've read it a number of times and consider it the best book on the era, so please don't be discouraged by the lack of Amazon reviews, Wilmut's book is a beauty. You won't be disappointed!