Comedy 101...

[Lee Nelson]

classics

how about classics that children are already familiar with like that comic pairing of Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins.
Show me the person that cant laugh at the madness in that film.
or the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Great simple comedy, maybe you can explain to the greedy little oxygen thiefs why they are laughing!!

[Lee Nelson]

oh and I absolutely grew up on the wackiest of all English stuff....


The Goodies!!

I still rip off their ideas .....

[Rachel Peters]

SCTV

[Doctor Eric]

I have to second Goldie Haun and Ruth Buzzie, although both of which would create a tough example for a child, their humor layed under the surface while their apparent humor was blatant. I have a box set of Laugh In that I watch on every flight, as ADD as I am, it has never once bored me. Ruth Buzzie is brilliant on the show, and Goldie is sharp as hell and as hot as lava.

[Peter Voice]

No "Comedy 101" would be complete without some mention of satire.
The most accessable is probably Barbara Feldon and Don Adams in "Get Smart".

I think Goldie Hawn and Barbara Feldon occupied about 65% of all my conscious thought from 1968 to 1971.

[Lynneski]

Originally posted by Peter Voice
No "Comedy 101" would be complete without some mention of satire.
The most accessable is probably Barbara Feldon and Don Adams in "Get Smart".

*Slaps forehead*

Thanks for mentioning this, Peter. I was (still am) a Get Smart addict. There keep being all these tantalizing rumours of boxed set releases that failedto make the reality test until now. I desperately want them, but they're too dear. I managed to trip over some at a Voldemart of all places, and got crazy excited, till I realized they were "Get Smarter" collections. Boo.

Best. Writing. Staff. Ever.

And can we lower the cone of silence here?

Here's a most excellent resource/fansite:

http://www.wouldyoubelieve.com/

[Lynneski]

Sorry for the threadjack ...

I definitely had contemplated Gilda - what's not to love - but couldn't think of her material that would be accessible to kids.

Another that might not cross most people's radar is Betty White. Master of both the lady of manners and the bubbleheaded ditz, while able to deliver sarcastic zingers like a strong right jab to the chin. (Kinda like my mother-in-law, come to think on it. Ba-dum cha.)

[Rachel Peters]

oooo, that's right.
I was laughing my guts out at The Golden Girls back when I was too young to understand why I shouldn't be watching it.

I wasn't allowed to watch the Smirfs, but somewhow I got away with Golden Girls. Go figure.


The Jerk remains one of my favourite movies.

[Lynneski]

Clearly not chyx

Upthread I saw mention of duo acts, clearly Abbot & Costello are in on the classic duo ground floor. But don't forget Crosby & Hope, and Martin & Lewis.

[Doctor Eric]

If we're going to include Betty White, why not Jeff Ross? They're both brilliant at friar's club roasts. I always love how she manages to look like a shocked old grandmother at the things other's say, and then pop back with something ridiculously nasty.

Screw it, just show the kids the newest Louis C.K. special, it had me in tears for an hour

"Oh god, now I have to know that YOU exist?

"Why don't you go rollerblade into an AIDS tree?"

show em Clowns by fellini

[pablo]

The Electric Company

I don't know if you can find it on VHS or DVD, but I remember howling with laughter at The Electric Company, a PBS variety show for kids that featured Rita Moreno, Morgan Freeman, Bill Cosby & others.

This was my favorite show until I started watching Kung Fu featuring David Carradine, which I have never fully recovered from.

[Lynneski]

Originally posted by Doctor Eric show em Clowns by fellini

I think he does want to graduate these kids back to productive society, nu? Maybe not so much with the Fellini.

And Pablo, having just used a Little Grasshopper reference earlier this afternoon, it's clear that no-one recovers from watching Kung Fu.

[Lynneski]

Ahh, teachable moments

A comedy class, especially one based on TV and films, would not be complete without an explanation of "jumping the shark", nu?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_shark

http://www.jumptheshark.com/index.jspa

Or, of course, you can simply share the "Because comedy explained is comedy improved" rule of thumb.

[dave walbridge]

classics...Monty Python

Monty pythong still funny after 30+ years...that's classic