Wednesday, February 14, 2007

I just got A Bit of Fry and Laurie in the post. The book, actually, not the DVD. Did anyone else know that Hugh Laurie starred in a sketch comedy show? (Not talking to you, Stephen.) (All right. And Denis. And everybody at the Hugh Laurie FAQ) But this explains a lot. I've always suspected that the scariest thing in the world is a comedian playing it straight and showing his pain...

Labels: comedy, scary actors

10:49 AM

9 Comments:

I had watched, and liked, a lot of comedy with Hugh Laurie before I saw the first episode of House but it took me a while into the episode before I realised who it actually was. I always thought he was just a loud, obnoxious, albeit very funny, British comedy actor. And then he came along and played this American doctor in a drama and it just blew my mind. He's a fantastic actor but I hadn't seen it before.

Actually, there are a lot of funny comedy actors who are really, really good in dramas. Not sure why that is...

By  Marvin Gardener, at 11:31 AM  

Easy. Because comedy is harder than drama.

And especially British actors, who are all stage trained, comedy requires more discipline. If you have training and discipline, going from comedy to drama is going to be far easier than going the other way round.

Alex, come on? Really? No Hugh Laurie comedy before now? See, your lack of formative British cultural influences in your misspent youth living in the New York cultural bubble is showing.

seriously. I can almost see your ass.

I would suggest getting the DVD's. On one of them there's a Cambridge Review from 1985 or 6 that's notable not just for Fry and Laurie, but Emma Thompson, too. All of 20.

And Blackadder, my boy. It's time you discovered Blackadder.

Who knew Hugh Laurie did comedy?

Harrrupmph.

By  DMc, at 11:38 AM  

Easy. Because comedy is harder than drama.

And especially British actors, who are all stage trained, comedy requires more discipline. If you have training and discipline, going from comedy to drama is going to be far easier than going the other way round.

Alex, come on? Really? No Hugh Laurie comedy before now? See, your lack of formative British cultural influences in your misspent youth living in the New York cultural bubble is showing.

seriously. I can almost see your ass.

I would suggest getting the DVD's. On one of them there's a Cambridge Review from 1985 or 6 that's notable not just for Fry and Laurie, but Emma Thompson, too. All of 20.

And Blackadder, my boy. It's time you discovered Blackadder.

Who knew Hugh Laurie did comedy?

Harrrupmph.

By  DMc, at 11:38 AM  

I can highly recommend his novel, The Gunseller.

By  Shuggie, at 11:50 AM  

I cannot believe you haven't watched Black Adder. ;) Come on, it's classic comedy : Laurie + Atkinson = genius.

Laurie is the best protrayal of the dumbest prince in world history I have ever seen ;). Try renting it.

Oh and if you have BBC America, try watching the State Within, it's a mini-series with Jason Isaacs and Sharon Gless, in the same vein as State of Play.

By  Skyfleur, at 12:47 PM  

Sure did know he was a sketch comedian and a good one, too. One of the benefits of here .. until BBC America showed up you had to rely on your local PBS affiliate to get the really good British stuff on tv in the USA. You aren't a Black Adder fan? Truly genius stuff. If Denis was a real friend, he'd get you the DVDs just because he loves you :-)

I'll plug a series that I think will end up on BBC Canada shortly (it's airing on BBC America as Clatterford but here's the link from the Beeb website with the original title). Have seen the first two eps. and it's pretty damn good, too. Special commendation to Joanna Lumley for having the guts to transform herself into a horrible and hilarious hag.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/jamandjerusalem

By  ME, at 6:36 PM  

Check out Jeeves and Wooster DVD's with the two together. Very funny stuff indeed.

By  Scott Squires, at 12:38 AM  

I'm a Brit, so I knew...Is that cheating? ;)

As previously recommended, you should take a look at Jeeves & Wooster, and Black Adder (the series with the Prince Regent)...and anything else of his you can get hold of. :)

He is a great actor, and very, very funny.

By  Eleanor, at 1:47 PM  

Jeeves and Wooster and Blackadder. Anyone who says that you can't be smart and play dumb has not seen this man in action- the man can do sneaky dumb, true dumb and craftily dumb. Beyond that he is a brilliant dramatic actor who has honed his timing to a razor's edge.

By  Hawise, at 10:30 AM  

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