Benny Hill

Johnny said:
I thought the guy was a genius. Tremendous slapstick coupled with wonderful mimicry and use of language. The babes didn't hurt either. I see his old shows every now and then on local tv. My favorite skits were when he plays the asshole waiter who abuses the patrons at the restaurant. Sublime.

But why was it sublime? Rude, or a commentary on contemporary society as it then was? Or are we, heaven forbid, saying that scantily clad women are funny? No, it offends my feminist principles to accept such a thought.
 
citymike said:
But why was it sublime? Rude, or a commentary on contemporary society as it then was? Or are we, heaven forbid, saying that scantily clad women are funny? No, it offends my feminist principles to accept such a thought.
"Feminist principles" ? I have been in your company on many occasions and have yet (thankfully) to see your feminist principles ! Perhaps you are in need of Benny to swat you upon your balding pate !
 
Johnny said:
"Feminist principles" ? I have been in your company on many occasions and have yet (thankfully) to see your feminist principles ! Perhaps you are in need of Benny to swat you upon your balding pate !

It's not balding, it's receding!
 
bmagda said:
He's probably popular due to the chauvinism and sexism prevalent in South America.

That's what I think too! Personally, I am shocked by the macho attitudes I encounter in BsAs but then I am very sensitive.

Benny isn't getting much support here, I think we'll have to accept that his humour was so bad that it was good.
 
Also what made Benny Hill, "Benny Hill" is the music too & those accelerated tempos with funny walks (quite monty-pythians).
But I was watching the show when I was a teenager, now I'm not sure I'd handle a best-of.

On French TV, we also had a German series called "Derrick" (old policeman, 1970s show). It was so boring I still remember the hour it started being on air (2pm) : at that time there were like 3 canals on TV.
 
I met some British entertainers a couple of years ago whose act reminded me of him in some ways. They informed me Benny died pretty much alone and uncelebrated. Kind of sad. I could not figure that out. I thought he was a talented writer, singer and comedian. I also believe he was gay and never felt the vaudeville/bawdy stuff was in bad taste.
On NY eve in San Francisco they used to carry marathon broadcasts of his programs. He was loved by that gay community.
p.s. It is weird to mention Woody Allen in the same sentence with Jerry Lewis.
 
salgueiro said:
I met some British entertainers a couple of years ago whose act reminded me of him in some ways. They informed me Benny died pretty much alone and uncelebrated. Kind of sad. I could not figure that out. I thought he was a talented writer, singer and comedian. I also believe he was gay and never felt the vaudeville/bawdy stuff was in bad taste.
On NY eve in San Francisco they used to carry marathon broadcasts of his programs. He was loved by that gay community.
p.s. It is weird to mention Woody Allen in the same sentence with Jerry Lewis.

Hi, Salgueiro. I watched a program about him which described him as asexual rather than gay. Apparently he was incredibly shy. Phyllis Diller, the great US comedienne tried to speak to him once but he wouldn't take her call and she was calling from a different room in the same hotel.

Personally, I never found him funny, apart from his Fanny Cradock impersonation. I think he got worse when he started making shows for the US market. He became a bit arty farty. But the contempt he received in the UK was unwarranted, I feel.
 
citymike said:
Hi, Salgueiro. I watched a program about him which described him as asexual rather than gay. Apparently he was incredibly shy. Phyllis Diller, the great US comedienne tried to speak to him once but he wouldn't take her call and she was calling from a different room in the same hotel.

Personally, I never found him funny, apart from his Fanny Cradock impersonation. I think he got worse when he started making shows for the US market. He became a bit arty farty. But the contempt he received in the UK was unwarranted, I feel.
I didn't know he was such a shy guy. Seems like performing must have been his life. I also was unaware that so many in the UK didn't like him. I've always thought he was hilarious and still do. But then I still tune in to The Three Stooges every Wednesday night on TCM at 7pm !:)
 
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