Comic Actors..

[Malt 379]

Funny enough I'm watching Porridge at the minute, and that coupled with the news that Rodger Lloyd-Pack had died made me wonder what happened to the art of genuine comic acting? We used to have a load of them back in the day, funny people who were good enough actors to bring the characters they played to life. You think back to Ronnie Barker and the characters he played. You mention his name and the thought of characters like Fletcher and Arkright spring to mind straight away. David Jason and it's Dell Boy and Granville, etc. These days any new sitcom seems to have an average stand up comic chucked in a role and that's it. None of them have the acting talent to make the characters they play stick in the mind. The likes of Barker, Jason, Rossiter, etc were all helped with brilliant writing but without their ability to act properly as well as be funny, even the best script would struggle with the dross that TV seems to be full of today.

[baw 4,360]

Allan Patridge does ok

[Malt 379]

Allan Patridge does ok

He's been going for donkeys years mate, same could be said of Gregor Fisher and Rab C Nesbit. I wouldn't class them as new talent..

[Bosun11 537]

The very best....

[Stabs 3]

Rising Damp and Reggie Perrin.....f***ing genius. Nothing compares to Rossiter & Barker these days

[baw 4,360]

 

 

Allan Patridge does ok

He's been going for donkeys years mate, same could be said of Gregor Fisher and Rab C Nesbit. I wouldn't class them as new talent..

True Malt, but when you think of the comedies we used to have, there is only a handful you'd class in the Ronnie Barker class.

[marshman 7,758]

I don't think its there's not the good comic actors I thinks its that most comedy sitcoms have there hands tied as to what they can say and can't say. Most sitcoms today seem to be political correct and not wanting to offend anyone .

[mushroom 13,590]

Funny enough I'm watching Porridge at the minute, and that coupled with the news that Rodger Lloyd-Pack had died made me wonder what happened to the art of genuine comic acting? We used to have a load of them back in the day, funny people who were good enough actors to bring the characters they played to life. You think back to Ronnie Barker and the characters he played. You mention his name and the thought of characters like Fletcher and Arkright spring to mind straight away. David Jason and it's Dell Boy and Granville, etc. These days any new sitcom seems to have an average stand up comic chucked in a role and that's it. None of them have the acting talent to make the characters they play stick in the mind. The likes of Barker, Jason, Rossiter, etc were all helped with brilliant writing but without their ability to act properly as well as be funny, even the best script would struggle with the dross that TV seems to be full of today.

The keyword missing here is "entertainers" these men mentioned grew up in the clubs of UK learning and plying their trade None of this act gay, swear like a commando on D day or insult people... (well ok the ones that deserverd it ) it's a shame :yes:

[Nik_B 3,790]

any minute now Walshie will be in here thinking your talking about him...

 

 

No mate not this time

[baw 4,360]

Mrs Browns boys is class

[Nik_B 3,790]

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are funny but again that's down to their writing talent and directing of Edgar Wright

[Malt 379]

 

 

Allan Patridge does ok

He's been going for donkeys years mate, same could be said of Gregor Fisher and Rab C Nesbit. I wouldn't class them as new talent..

True Malt, but when you think of the comedies we used to have, there is only a handful you'd class in the Ronnie Barker class.

 

 

IMO Ronnie Barker was in a class of his own mate, but there were plenty of others who had good enough timing and acting skills to make a character stand out even if they weren't as good as him.

 

I don't think its there's not the good comic actors I thinks its that most comedy sitcoms have there hands tied as to what they can say and can't say. Most sitcoms today seem to be political correct and not wanting to offend anyone .

 

I wouldn't agree with that mate. While there are things like what Rigsby used to say about his black lodger and certain terms in shows like Only Fools that wouldn't be acceptable today, most of if would be IMO.

 

 

Funny enough I'm watching Porridge at the minute, and that coupled with the news that Rodger Lloyd-Pack had died made me wonder what happened to the art of genuine comic acting? We used to have a load of them back in the day, funny people who were good enough actors to bring the characters they played to life. You think back to Ronnie Barker and the characters he played. You mention his name and the thought of characters like Fletcher and Arkright spring to mind straight away. David Jason and it's Dell Boy and Granville, etc. These days any new sitcom seems to have an average stand up comic chucked in a role and that's it. None of them have the acting talent to make the characters they play stick in the mind. The likes of Barker, Jason, Rossiter, etc were all helped with brilliant writing but without their ability to act properly as well as be funny, even the best script would struggle with the dross that TV seems to be full of today.

The keyword missing here is "entertainers" these men mentioned grew up in the clubs of UK learning and plying their trade None of this act gay, swear like a commando on D day or insult people... (well ok the ones that deserverd it ) it's a shame :yes:

 

 

Some of them mate, but a lot of them were genuine actors first and foremost who could act excellently as well as do the comedy stuff.

[bracken boy 584]

Alf garnett always had me in stiches,

[mushroom 13,590]

 

 

 

Allan Patridge does ok

He's been going for donkeys years mate, same could be said of Gregor Fisher and Rab C Nesbit. I wouldn't class them as new talent..

True Malt, but when you think of the comedies we used to have, there is only a handful you'd class in the Ronnie Barker class.

 

 

IMO Ronnie Barker was in a class of his own mate, but there were plenty of others who had good enough timing and acting skills to make a character stand out even if they weren't as good as him.

 

I don't think its there's not the good comic actors I thinks its that most comedy sitcoms have there hands tied as to what they can say and can't say. Most sitcoms today seem to be political correct and not wanting to offend anyone .

 

I wouldn't agree with that mate. While there are things like what Rigsby used to say about his black lodger and certain terms in shows like Only Fools that wouldn't be acceptable today, most of if would be IMO.

 

 

Funny enough I'm watching Porridge at the minute, and that coupled with the news that Rodger Lloyd-Pack had died made me wonder what happened to the art of genuine comic acting? We used to have a load of them back in the day, funny people who were good enough actors to bring the characters they played to life. You think back to Ronnie Barker and the characters he played. You mention his name and the thought of characters like Fletcher and Arkright spring to mind straight away. David Jason and it's Dell Boy and Granville, etc. These days any new sitcom seems to have an average stand up comic chucked in a role and that's it. None of them have the acting talent to make the characters they play stick in the mind. The likes of Barker, Jason, Rossiter, etc were all helped with brilliant writing but without their ability to act properly as well as be funny, even the best script would struggle with the dross that TV seems to be full of today.

The keyword missing here is "entertainers" these men mentioned grew up in the clubs of UK learning and plying their trade None of this act gay, swear like a commando on D day or insult people... (well ok the ones that deserverd it ) it's a shame :yes:

 

 

Some of them mate, but a lot of them were genuine actors first and foremost who could act excellently as well as do the comedy stuff.

 

Yes I know what I'm saying they are part of the club generation that grew up seeing the likes of Formby etc in the working clubs learning timing etc

[Malt 379]

With you now Mush, I agree.