Blog No. 28
Friday, January 15, 2010 at 9:04PM I’m glad you enjoyed my reminiscing about writing those old shows. Yesterday I was in a place called the Dean Street Townhouse, a trendy club and restaurant with two of my restaurant reviewer friends and I pointed out that the building we were in was the site of the original Comedy Store back in 1979. You took a lift which could only accomodate four people to the third floor I think, you were then in a topless bar called the Nell Gwynn, customers seeking new wave comedy then had to walk through the bar and go down a flight of metal stairs designed by Mondrian or possible Matisse to the Gargoyle Club which was the site of the Comedy Store. I told the maitre d’ all this and he was tremendously uninterested.
Funnily enough, though the maitre d’ was a very thin man he was dressed in a suit that was too small for him, which is apparently the new look but it made him look a bit like he was wearing one of my old stage suits. Truly there is nothing new in the world.
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Reader Comments (15)
a suit that is too small symbolises how the soul tries to fit into the narrowminded [and often bonkers] 'rules of society'. it is a very good comic stage suit. It might have been a lark if sometimes you and Ben Elton had swapped stage suits?
others have adopted clothes that are too big. Circus clowns and some of Freddie Starr's act. For some reason i associate revolutionary socialists as wearing clothes too big for them. Don't know why.
i remember somewhere you wrote about the dress sense of Newsnight female presenters. Which makes sense. I suppose they too are selling 'entertainment' and trying to satisfy a need?
Talking of political porn have you been watching the Iraq Inquiry? It reminds me of the talent show format where a panel grill some victim over their 'talent;. I guess the nation hopes at the end one of the witnesses will be fired?
Hi Alexei,
Great anecdote about Marshall and Renwick. Don't know if you've heard but a DVD set including both the TV series and film Whoops Apocalypse is finally to be released, after years of delays. http://www.networkdvd.net/product_info.php?products_id=1061
I'm currently putting the finishing touches to a comprehensive booklet on Whoops Apocalypse's history to be included in the set, and wondered if you had anything you wanted to add to it for posterity.
Best,
Jonathan.
In all seriousness!!!!!
I hear a whole lot of talking but really they're not saying ANYTHING!
It's absolutely disgusting at the response times and actions of the globe towards Haiti.
I mean, if this disaster had happened where the people had at least a little money then i'm sure they would have pulled their fingers out alot quicker.
12 million pounds donated in the first 24 hours?? and they still ask for more but have done NOTHING! how hard is it to get a few back packa and and just run out of the airport and save and feed these people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and what's more sickening is when we finally do see the miserable creature ,which is the U.N, they spend their time crying over their lost lickle building and sadly burying the two employees that they found!! in the voice of old Mr Meldrew...I DON't BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(I wonder if the lack of organisation and unwillingness to feed the people has anything to do with America putting final touches to a democracy control agreement over the poor country!)
With this sentiment I hold my cheeks in fury.
I believe part of the problem with getting the aid in to Haiti was because of the fact that the Government had shut the runway for some time, so there were planes with people and supplies but no one could land.
Planes with aid had arrived within 24 hours of the incident...
Perhaps the maitre d' was more of a Mr. Bean fan?
It really saddens me that I never got to see any of those Comic Strip shows. Nor the Comic Strip performances at the Raymond Revue Bar. They look incredible on film. I'd love to know how you went about writing your stand up material.
(Bit out of my depth with the Haiti disaster... I don't even have a telly, so I can't repeat something I heard George Alagiah say and pass it off as my own. I'm ignorant. Sorry.)
Yes, sorry that was quite inaccurate actually. But some planes were turned away despite guarantees from the UN that they would be able to land. An example of this was the 'Medecins Sans Frontieres' cargo plane with inflatable hospital aboard. The airfield controlled by the military had a single forklift truck to offload supplies!
Another part of the problem is that key government and key UN personnel (the ones you mentioned) died leaving a state of total disorganisation. I still share your sentiment though, how hard should it be?
I'm staying out of this one....on another note, C4 are running a poll for greatest ever stand-up. You can vote repeatedly, which I have done and am getting the folks on the fan page to do. Here's the link :)
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-100-greatest-stand-ups/articles/greatest-stand-ups-of-all-time
Alexei is thankfilly second on the list and easy to find, so just select and hit enter...i have heard of people talking about 'a life', but I've obviously no idea what it entails....
xx
Hi Jay. Did you notice that Jim Bowen is on that list? It seems to me like it was compiled by someone who really doesn't give a monkey's about comedy.
But don't Panic, I still voted for Alexei. (And Woody Allen - sorry.)
Jay, you're right, anyone can vote and multiple times, even if you can't actually watch C4, LOL!
I did of course vote for mr Sayle about 5 times...
Jim Bowen?!?!? That's not a bullseye that one! I bet someone would mount a campaign to get Bernerd Manning to number one (or worse, Ben Elton.....shudders.....)! Evelyn, I voted so often my browser got sick of it and almost died, but at least it doesn't cost to vote :)
xx
I wonder who Alexei rates as a grade A stand up comic... Jerry Sadowitz? Woody Allen? Chris Rock? Himself? That's something I'd like to know.
Alexei,
I'd like to know who you rate as a grade A stand up comic. Jerry Sadowitz? Woody Allen? Chris Rock? Or are you thinking of someone much better?
Also - does comedy even register now you're a fully-fledged member of the literati?
Talking of the Iraq Enquiry (comment above) Simon Cowell would be a great chairman .Non?
Alexei, just want to tell you: you are the man!! I have loved you since I saw the 2nd season of your show's intro. You're great!! Have you thought of reviving the 'Stuff' show?
Be cool, dude.
For nigh on 3 decades I have been singing a snatch from The Wine Bars of Old Hampstead. And yes I know it is on the B-side of Cak! but I cannot get hold of that either.
Can someone please either give me the lyrics or shoot me. At this stage I'd go for either option.
Geoff