The Secret Policeman's Ball - not as good as it used to be.
Is it just me, or have the contents of charity concerts declined? The first SCB I saw was at the cinema. I'm convinced (though the ravages of time may have played havoc with my recollection) that I saw Peter Cook with a new (and great) satirical monologue, Sting going solo with Roxanne, Pete Townsend and John Williams doing Won't Get Fooled Again, Rowan Atkinson standing in in the Four Yorkshiremen sketch, Cleese playing the straight man to Peter Cook (again), Phil Collins spreading his solo wings with 'The Roof Is Leaking' and Rowan Atkinson reading the register. That I can remember these off the top of my head says a great deal about the quality of the turns and impact that that show had on me. Tonight's highlights have been (so far) utter, utter bobbins. If our watercoler hadn't already been out of action, well, there'd be nothing to gather round and talk about.
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I actually knit me own yoghurt and I grow me own denim
Reading Michael Palin's 1969-1979 diaries recently there seemed to be many more ad hoc, one-off live comedy perfomances to benefit charities and/or to support specific causes back then. These nights were often organised very hastily and they would reel out sketches etc with guest appearances by whoever happened to be around, sober or otherwise (amusing that when The Goodies appeared, they were seen by the Pythons as the enemy).
So the Secret Policeman's Ball was another one of those. Now, I suppose, they have be planned months in advance so perhaps something is lost just by doing that.
Haemoglobin, Kosygin, Loudhailer, Muttock. . .
From that to Mr Bean - the shocking decline of a British comedian, rivalled only by Dud Goes to Hollywood (although their financial advisers would no doubt disagree).
Rowan Atkinson as Zak the Alien
Just found another classic Rowan Atkinson sketch, as Zak the Alien, advising Earthlings on how we can save ourselves. Unfortunately his translator "podule" keeps malfunctioning. Not the Secret Policeman's Ball, but funnier than the whole of last night's performance.
You can enjoy it here:
http://www.jibjab.com/view/180430
Agreed
I have never watched this event before but I flicked on last night, watched about 20 minutes and then turned it off without having laughed once.
Surely part of the problem must be the venue, the Albert Hall is a terrible place to do a comedy gig.
Another problem...
Frank Skinner was on the bill.
I was shocked at how unfunny it was
I really like Frank Skinner but he was crude and unfunny, with only his Osama song raising a few smiles. The people from Gavin & Stacey and Peep Show and that American woman were really terrible.
The hypnotised never lie...do you?
Now there's a cross-cultural meeting of minds, a special event and a masterclass in acoustic guitar playing all rolled into one. And what do we get this year? Razorlight.
Looks like Pete chipped in with providing the monitors too.
A great performance...
but I'm not quite sure what John Williams was supposed to be playing... I can't hear him at all!
A shameless namedrop at this point... my late uncle knew John Williams well, and as a kid I remember sitting at his feet as he played 'Cavatina' (theme from The Deer Hunter). I was spellbound.... I think my love of music was definitely kick-started by that experience. Absolutely lovely fella as well, as I recall...