Geoffrey Perkins tribute to feature in British Comedy Awards show

This year's British Comedy Awards on ITV1 will feature a tribute to the late comedy producer, writer and performer Geoffrey Perkins.

Perkins, who died on August 29, worked on some of the most popular comedies from the past three decades, including I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, Spitting Image, The Fast Show and Have I Got News for You.

He was a familiar face at the annual British Comedy Awards ceremony and a number of the shows he executive produced won prizes down the years, including The Catherine Tate Show and Father Ted.

It is thought the celebration of his life will feature clips and tributes from former colleagues such as Rowan Atkinson and Harry Enfield.

"We're looking to honour Geoffrey Perkins in some way but it's too early to be specific yet," a show insider said.

Perkins' most recent production to air was BBC1 comedy Harry and Paul.

He had also been co-executive producing Horne and Corden, new BBC3 sketch show starring Gavin & Stacey stars Mathew Horne and James Corden.

Former head of BBC comedy Perkins' long list of credits also includes the radio series of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Ben Elton's The Thin Blue Line.

Since 2001, he had worked for independent production company Tiger Aspect Productions, where he helped propel Catherine Tate to fame and also oversaw ITV1 sitcom Benidorm.

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The Secret Policeman's Balls Up

No other type of entertainment requires as much guts as live comedy. To get up in front of an audience of strangers with the explicit intention of making them laugh is something very few sane people would dare attempt. Fail and you 'die', suffering the kind of public humiliation that would render most of us hopeless psychological wrecks.

So why is it that so many British comedians are prepared to run that risk with such lame material? Or to put it another way, why do they lack the conviction of their courage?

Last week on Channel 4, a host of British comedians filed on to the stage of Royal Albert Hall to take part in the Secret Policeman's Ball 2008.

Commissioned to raise money for Amnesty International, the show was obviously for a good cause. Yet there's no cause, however worthy, if you're a comedian, that obviates the need to be funny.

And sure enough, the likes of Peter Cook, John Cleese, Rowan Atkinson and Billy Connolly have provided previous Secret Policeman's Balls with some of Britain's finest live comedy moments.

This year, Frank Skinner talked about peeing and having sex 'doggy style' (though not as a simultaneous activity). Jonathan Ross discussed his long testicles. Alan Carr camped on about Botox and blow jobs. And Russell Howard told a story about his brother's erection during an epileptic fit, which was, if you can imagine, less funny than it sounds.

So it went on, one comic after another, dredging the shallows of their pseudo-experiences to come up with ersatz laughter. With all its lavatorial humour and sexual desperation, the Secret Policeman's Ball was the stand-up equivalent of one of Britain's binge-drunk urban centres on a Saturday night at chucking- out time.

What Will We Do Without George W Bush

I know this is a UK comedy blog, but as the end draws near I have to pay tribute to George W Bush. Not for his political achievements, He started two wars, destroyed the worlds economy, and raised the price of oil to record levels, he is truly evil and the world has been a scary old place under his leadership, and I am sure it will be a much saner safer and less volatile place when we see the back of him, but no matter who takes over. We will loose the richest vein of comedy there has been this century.

Whether we are chuckling at his vacant expression, his massive gaffs or mispronunciations, he will be missed. A quick google search on "George W Bush quotes" gives us page after page of material to laugh at. Here are a few of my favourites.

* "You know, one of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror." --interview with CBS News' Katie Couric, Sept. 6, 2006
* "The same folks that are bombing innocent people in Iraq were the ones who attacked us in America on September the 11th." --Washington, D.C., July 12, 2007
* "I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain -- I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being president." --as quoted in Bob Woodward's Bush at War10. "Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" --Florence, South Carolina, Jan. 11, 2000
* "As yesterday's positive report card shows, childrens do learn when standards are high and results are measured." --on the No Child Left Behind Act, Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2007
* "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier, just so long as I'm the dictator." --Washington, D.C., Dec. 19, 2000
* "I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the Secretary of Defense." --Washington, D.C. April 18, 2006
* "There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on --shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again." --Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
* "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." --Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004
* "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." --Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004
* "You work three jobs? ... Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that." --to a divorced mother of three, Omaha, Nebraska, Feb. 4, 2005
* "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." --to FEMA director Michael Brown, who resigned 10 days later amid criticism over his handling of the Hurricane Katrina debacle, Mobile, Ala., Sept. 2, 2005
* "My answer is bring them on." --on Iraqi insurgents attacking U.S. forces, Washington, D.C., July 3, 2003


George W Bush You are undoubtedly evil and the worst president your country has ever had , but the comedy world will miss you.

Need some laughs more great comedy here!

BBC bans controversial religious characters from Harry Enfield sketch show

Comedian Harry Enfield has been banned from performing both as "a sex-crazed Muslim hoodie" and a "paedophile Catholic priest" in his new BBC comedy show Harry and Paul. The BBC reportedly told Enfield to abandon the characters because they might "cause trouble." Enfield said: "I was told, 'Don't even go there'."

The show’s production company claim the decision was made almost two years ago by key members of the production team and so has not affected the programme’s production or launch. A Tiger Aspect Productions spokesperson said: "The characters never made it further than the page.”

The decision follows British comedian Ben Elton’s allegations that the BBC does not allow the same level of satire against Islam as it does other religions out of a fear of “provoking the radical elements of Islam.”

In April 2008 he controversially said: “There’s no doubt about it, the BBC will let vicar gags pass but they would not let imam gags pass.”


source http://europenews.dk

BBC1's New Comedy To Bring Sunshine To The Autumn

Sunshine BBC1, Tuesday, 9pm WITH the combination of comedians Steve Coogan and Craig Cash, surely this comedy will be dynamite? We will have to wait and see, but it is definitely one to stick in your diary this week.

Steve Coogan plays Bob 'Bing' Cosby, a likeable chap with natural wit and optimism that is infectious to all those around him. The only problem is his inability to resist gambling a few quid on the occasional bet.

Bernadette, his childhood sweetheart and mother of their son, Joe, loves Bing for the person she's known all her life and, although she doesn't approve of and is often infuriated by his casual betting, she always reluctantly forgives him.

When Bing's gambling develops into something more serious than the occasional bet and the risks he takes become greater, it's no longer just a few quid that Bing stands to lose - potentially, it's everything.

The three-part series is written by Craig Cash and Phil Mealey, the teambehind the BBC's hit comedy Early Doors and co-writers of the Bafta award-winning The Royle Family - Queen Of Sheba. What more can you say?

Russell Brand's comedy hour

Russell Brand has been contracted to shoot a one-hour stand-up special in the US.

The British comedian - who has made a name for himself in America in movies such as 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' as well as hosting the recent MTV Video Music Awards - will tape the show in November, for airing in 2009.

The special will feature Russell along with "an eclectic roster of special guests".

Speaking about the Comedy Central programme, Russell said: "Comedy Central is the home of 'South Park', 'The Daily Show' and 'The Sarah Silverman Program'. I am thrilled to have such esteemed neighbours - particularly Sarah whom I shall be constantly troubling for cups of sugar and milk, breast milk."

Russell recently revealed he is keen to host the Academy Awards next year, and thinks he would be the perfect presenter.

He said: "I noticed there was an article in the Los Angeles Times newspaper saying that I should host the Oscars. So, I am available. I wrote it though, with a crayon. 'Why Russell Brand should host the Oscars', by Russell Brand!

"I think the Oscars would be a lovely challenge. What a day out! People would not be upset. They would have the Oscar ceremony of their lives. It would cheer people up during this time of economic crisis. What you need to do is take a few risks, that's my words.

"I will host the Oscars. Unless I've got all madly revolutionary by then and capitalism is already collapsing."

Article Source www.myparkmag.co.uk

More British Sitcoms Cross The Atlantic

The latest Britcoms to be given a makeover for broadcast in the USA include Steve Coogan's Saxondale, Nighty Night and Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt's The Mighty Boosh all are being rewritten and recast for American television companies such as NBC and Showtime, And the hit UK show little Briton , although this is somewhat unique as being written by and starring the same people in Matt Lucas and David Walliams.


British comedy programs have not always worked when transported across the Atlantic. Although some have won a cult following, such as Are You Being Served?, the US remake never even made it past the pilot. Various versions of John Cleese's Basil Fawlty character also failed to make an impression in the US with remakes of Fawlty Towers.


However, some remakes of British comedy classics have fared somewhat better. Most notably the remake of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's The Office, eventually became a major hit, despite an initial slow start. Warren Mitchell's, Alf Garnett, became Archie Bunker in All In the Family and the rag and bone men comedy sitcom Steptoe and Son was rewritten for the US TV comedy market as Sanford and Son.


There is much debate about the reasons why some comedies and sitcoms survive the journey from the UK to the US and visa versa, whilst other don't. Some people claim that the less that is done to change the original comedy show the better. Perhaps assuming that local audiences have to have everything 'translated' for them is one of the biggest mistakes.

Little Britain helps launch funnyordie.co.uk

Little Britain stars David Walliams and Matt Lucas have helped launch the UK version of comedy website Funny or Die.

As co-founders of www.funnyordie.co.uk, the comedy duo are providing exclusive clips and sketches every month. Identical to its American brother funnyordie.com, the site invites aspiring comedians and sketch performers to upload their own comic videos alongside more established acts. Users are then invited to grade the videos. funnyordie.com was launched by comedian Will Ferrell, his Talladega Nights co-writer Adam McKay, and writer and producer Chris Henchy. Launched last year, the site was immediately made famous with The Landlord sketch, starring McKay's two-year-old daughter Pearl, and Ferrell. Pearl played the part of a swearing, drunk landlord, demanding overdue rent, while Ferrell played the terrified tenant. The video has now been viewed over 60 million times.

Earlier this year it was reported American TV channel HBO had signed a deal with the site to produce shows and DVDs, a moment Ferrell jokingly described would "change the way we as human beings interact with reality." Other popular videos include "acting masterclasses" by Spiderman actor James Franco, and Paris Hilton's recent response video to John McCain's election campaign advert which used her image.

The comedy portal reportedly attracted over nine million unique viewers in August 2008 alone. Little Britain's partnership with Funny Or Die comes at a convenient time for the pair, as they aim to crack America with the US spin-off version of their hit show. Lucas told the BBC: "My friend emailed a link to the American site and in particular the Will Ferrell sketches and it was really funny. Then we were approached to work on the British version and we were really excited.

"It's an interesting site because it mixes material from established comedians with that of aspiring comedians newcomers. It's something we're really excited to be part of." Anchorman actor Ferrell, said: "When I first saw Little Britain, I thought David and Matt were two of the funniest Canadians I've ever seen. And then I felt like an idiot when I realised they're from Australia."

The Little Britain stars will be blogging, as well as encouraging other UK comedians and celebrities to get involved.