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Post by bluebottle on Aug 4, 2006 20:01:54 GMT
Just watched the Video and what can I say
OUR KEN'S ACE
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Lieutenant Columbo on Aug 7, 2006 9:28:19 GMT
Love it! Was alway tolkd never to laugh at your own jokes... but Gawd, he'd a knack for it... even if the joke's cack, once he goes for it you can't help but join in! That's given me a belting laugh by the way - cheers!  N. |
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Post by Stan Butler on Aug 7, 2006 10:43:27 GMT
I love the rice pudding joke. It's so shit, it's brilliant!
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Post by Lieutenant Columbo on Aug 7, 2006 11:44:57 GMT
I love the rice pudding joke. It's so shit, it's brilliant! Very much so - priceless! N. |
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Post by The Collector on Sept 11, 2006 15:45:17 GMT
The past is a foreign country. They tell jokes differently there. Listen. ''There's an Englishman, an Irishman and a Scotsman and they've been captured by cannibals '' You might remember how that goes. It ends with the Irishman stabbing himself with a fork: ''You're not making a canoe out of me.''
The joke's teller is Ken Goodwin. He's on stage in Bolton. The place is full of laughing northerners. It could be 1974. Goodwin's suit, like the joke, is certainly of that vintage. Thing is, this is now and the audience couldn't be happier. They're lapping it up and when he takes his bows, they settle down for more. Three more, to be exact: Roy Walker, Mick Miller and Frank Carson, all old-school comedians and proud of it.
Or should that be Comedians? After all, it was the ancient television series of that name which made the four of them famous back in the seventies and under whose banner they are currently touring. The show is a throwback to a pre-Billy era - Connolly or Hicks, take your pick - when a velvet suit and some Christmas-cracker humour could take you onto the telly.
Theirs was the style to which the alternative comedians of the eighties set up in opposition; a style that seemed to disappear from the small screen when the powers that be realised the Saturday- night television audience would rather watch Blind Date than Bob Monkhouse.
Actually Miller still pops up on TV from time to time. For years, of course, Roy Walker was better known as a game-show host than a stand-up. And only his pacemaker prevented Carson appearing on the last series of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!
So although they're not the biggest blips on the cultural radar, they haven't disappeared. Far from it. It's appropriate that we should be speaking in Bolton: it's the home of Peter Kay, the contemporary comedian with whom the old guard feel most in tune. “He's not really interested in alternative,” says Walker. “He just thinks what's funny's funny.''
''Peter Kay has brought back the old type of humour, agrees Miller. “So there's a whole new audience for us out there.''
The foursome are accompanied by Johnnie Hamp, producer of both the new stage show and the original Comedians television show. Thirty years on, he still sounds slightly awestruck by the show's success. ''They were club comics, completely unknown, going from about ten quid a night to five grand a week, and here we are 33 years later and it's still working with new gags.'' He pauses. ''OK, Frank's gags have stayed pretty much the same.''
What does it take to be a good comedian? The answers are various. Timing, they say. Attack. Desire. ''I think to be a comic you have to have a comedy face,'' says Miller, who lost his hair when he was 16. ''You don't get many good-looking comedians. You can't imagine Pierce Brosnan standing there doing 20 minutes. Have you seen this Geordie lad Noble?''
Ross Noble?
''Yeah. Now he looks as if he's going to make you laugh.''
They even laugh at the grim reaper on stage. But then it's a subject that's hard to ignore. Carson is 78 this year. He's already been fitted with a pacemaker. Does he think about death? ''Now and again I do. I'm aware I'm going to die some day, but it's not a thing I worry about.''
He has no plans to retire. Hamp reckons that if Carson stopped working he'd drop dead. ''In our business you don't retire,'' adds Walker. ''They retire you. I hope I'm doing it when I'm Frank Carson's age.''
As far as they're concerned, they've outrun the enemy - and they're still going. As Walker said, it's about balls. That and a half-decent joke is enough for them. That's all they ever needed. And soon it will be the start of the summer season in Blackpool. After all, there will always be Blackpool.
The Original Comedians play the Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow on May 30.
Not sure what Year this was...BUT it mentions Bolton!, was this recent?, I don't remeber seeing anything about it and if it was at the Albert halls, i get there Brocure every few months
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Post by The Collector on Sept 11, 2006 15:47:28 GMT
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Post by The Collector on Sept 11, 2006 15:50:29 GMT
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Post by Stan Butler on Sept 11, 2006 15:52:13 GMT
Oh dear. He looks a bit knackered on that photo does Ken
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Post by Stan Butler on Sept 11, 2006 16:28:50 GMT
 Right. I've just had a quick look on the DVD.... Anyone know where this is...?  or this... (same place, different angle!)  What I watched of it never actually told you where he was from, however this pub here...  was where Ken did his first gig. Also, he used to be the drayman that delivered the ale. The Pub is in Moss Side in Manchester! We're getting closer!  "This woman come round our house collecting for the local swimming baths.
So I gave her a bucket of water!" ;D  |
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Post by Lieutenant Columbo on Sept 12, 2006 7:14:00 GMT
Bloody pictures - they look like EVERYWHERE in the Northwest.
Could be Leigh... Bolton... Eckersley's Mill Wigan...
Could be opening scenes from 'Kes'...
Oh why isn't there some graffiti and a 'You Are Here' sign!
;D
N.
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Post by Stan Butler on Sept 12, 2006 8:12:33 GMT
I did mention Moss Side. There must be a clue there!
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Post by Lieutenant Columbo on Sept 12, 2006 9:09:15 GMT
Clue me arse!
If ye think I'm driving up to Moss Side to find out...
Hmm... well... I am off work this week...
No! NO! I'm not being drawn in!
Anyhow - I'm taking me dogs out for a bizz in a bit... plus then I'll have to go into Wigan later so I'm not doing Manchester!
N.
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Post by Stan Butler on Sept 12, 2006 9:32:13 GMT
Now I wouldn't want to lead you on a wild goose chase.
Might be better trying to find out a bit more first, just in case of disappointment.
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Post by Stan Butler on Sept 12, 2006 9:34:12 GMT
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Post by Lieutenant Columbo on Sept 12, 2006 10:05:05 GMT
Emailed 'em previously about summat else! ;D By the way - "Comedians" DVD just dropped through the door - so I'll be having a watch of that in a minute! N. |
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