Issue 7 - March 1997

Yes, pansies. I mention this word, purely for the benefit of certain studs, who because in their absence of time keeping, need reminding that spring is just around the corner, and the whole Stoke skyline is changing from a dark grey, to a nice sunny grey. The beginning of Spring also heralds April Fools Day, so naturally this month's column is all about comedy.

Those of you who have read my printed article in Get Knotted, will realise that this article is quite different. Yes, gremlins got at my web addresses, and some of the sites do not exist anymore. So to compensate, I have put in loads of new links to add to the few which did work. It is a tough job, this journalism.

I love The Goon Show. What? You haven't heard of it? Well, you should of; it was the series that arguably kick-started British comedy as we know it. From 1951 to 1960, Spike Milligan churned out over 200 episodes of sheer mayhem. Known affectionately as 'cartoons in sound', the surreal antics of Spike, Peter 'Clouseau' Sellers, and Harry 'Highway' Secombe split the sides of the nation, before the onslaught of television and Milligan's desire to move on, ended things. Compilation tapes still top the charts, and devotees have advertised their love for the show on the Net. Some merely print show scripts, which don't work when read. It is far better on the ear, so sound clips are provided on some sites.

Another favourite of mine is Red Dwarf. Needless to say, the recent series has attracted much interest from the fan club pages which abound across the web. Personally, I found the series a little less emphatic on comedy, and more on storylines, which I find a little uneasy. The absence of Rimmer is scandalous, while Kochanski seemed far too attractive and well spoken for Lister. Still, that's the trouble with comedy, it needs to change before it gets boring for its audience.

Stephen Fry is one of the few comedians who have actually taken the bull by the horns and placed his wit and wisdom on the Internet. The page contains loads of weblinks to various places, but you can no longer e-mail him, which is a shame. Perhaps too many people were asking him why he ran out on that play...

Many of the classic British comedies have homes on the web. Take a peek at some of these; Blackadder, Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, Bottom, The Fast Show, and last but not least, Father Ted. And now for some American sitcoms; The Official Friends page (or you can talk to them!), Frasier, and Due South.

Alas, I could not find a single site for Corky and the Juice Pigs, marking the first time the Web has not delivered. So I shall have to give an alternative page, Britcomedy Digest, a fine electronic journal of all the latest comedy news and trivia.

Steve Coogan fans can access this Alan Partridge page, while the promised Paul Calf link has had to go. Sorry about that.

Comic Relief is back for another year. Friday March 14 marks the six hour live television comedy extravaganza, and all for a serious purpose. Go on, give a little.

Yes, this article was very short wasn't it? Didn't have much time for it you see, but next month will be a bit better, when I will tackle the subject of science and technology.

© Stephen Scott February/March 1997 [tweaked April 2000]

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