Heh, I find it pretty common that the most popular role of an actor or comedian is rarely the favorite of their biggest fans. That said, I agree. Being in the US means my introduction to him was Mr. Bean, as I got older and had the chance to experience some of his other work, I came to enjoy his other work much more. His stage performances are hilarious, and yes Blackadder was amazing.

Sorry nerdwriter, this is where you and I part ways.

I HATE Mr Bean. It's Atkinson's worst role, which is a shame because Atkinson is brilliant.

Blackadder is one of my favourite characters, but even the other stage bits are way funnier than Bean.

Are you seriously suggesting Blackadder lied to me?

My whole world view has been shattered....

Blackadder II - Lord Flashheart has been added as a related post - related requested by ChaosEngine.

Hate to break it to you, but Vyvyan was Adrian Edmondson.

Rik Mayall played Rick.
And Alan B'Stard and Richie Richard and of course... Lord Flasheart!! WOOF!!

*related=http://videosift.com/video/Blackadder-II-Lord-Flashheart

I don't know about this... Think about the best American comic right now, Louis CK. His on-stage (and on-screen) persona almost exactly fits what Fry describes as the British archetype. And he's not alone: think about Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, George Costanza in Seinfeld, Homer Simpson, even Lucille Ball.

On the flip side, British comedians like Russell Brand, Jimmy Carr and Rowan Atkinson in Blackadder (except for the first season) are more like Fry's description of American comedy. It seems to me that what Fry has done here is come up with a nice neat story about differing national character based on broad stereotypes rather than acute observation, turned that into a theory of comedy, and then cherry-picked examples that fit his theory without mentioning exceptions. It all sounds very impressive given his amazing facility with language and rhetoric, but it's not very good analysis.

>> ^Reefie:

>> ^Yogi:
Great show, miss Frankie, BBC are a bunch of cunts that don't understand comedy.

BBC understand comedy, let's see there's Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, Red Dwarf, to name just several classic comedy shows known and admired around the world. Blackadder, Porridge, Absolutely Fabulous, Only Fools and Horses, Morecambe and Wise, One Foot in the Grave, The Two Ronnies, The Young Ones, Fry and Laurie, My Family, 'Allo 'Allo, Yes Minister, The Vicar of Dibley, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, I could go on and on and on but I think I've established the trend... The BBC also spends a lot of money promoting new and established comedians performing at large venues like the Apollo, and also runs the BBC New Comedy Awards annual ceremony which is considered one of the highlights of the comedy calendar. Frankie is a gem and a fellow Scot so I'm biased in favour of him but let's not forget he left comedy behind of his own accord. Can't blame the BBC for that.
In fact if you're going to slag off the BBC the least you can do is come live over here for a year and pay your TV licence fee so a) you're contributing, and b) you actually have a leg to stand on if you're going to make ludicrous and offensive claims.


You're naming classic comedies that shaped the world...and do not apply in this discussion (The good ones, not the shit you listed). Just don't even bother making an argument next time if you're going to produce strawmen like this. Monty Python and Fawlty Towers are amazing...AND OLD! Really fucking old and were made at a time where the BBC wasn't run the way it's run now.

Frankie was constantly harassed and treated like shit on Mock the Week by it's Producers because they kept getting complaints from stupid people who think their opinion matters. Frankie was the funniest part of that fucking show, the BBC took him away, so YES they don't understand that saying offensive things is a comedians job. You don't have the right to not be offended.

I'm glad you're offended because you're fucking wrong. The BBC used to produce seriously funny shit...some of the most cherished shows ever. Now they produce crap, because it's an upside down pyramid of executives noting shows to death and killing the funny parts of others because some mother called in to complain.

You are whats wrong with humanity. You're a lowly wretch who defends morons who ruin things for the rest of us. Why don't you go work for NBC you evil monster.

>> ^Yogi:
Great show, miss Frankie, BBC are a bunch of cunts that don't understand comedy.


BBC understand comedy, let's see there's Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, Red Dwarf, to name just several classic comedy shows known and admired around the world. Blackadder, Porridge, Absolutely Fabulous, Only Fools and Horses, Morecambe and Wise, One Foot in the Grave, The Two Ronnies, The Young Ones, Fry and Laurie, My Family, 'Allo 'Allo, Yes Minister, The Vicar of Dibley, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, I could go on and on and on but I think I've established the trend... The BBC also spends a lot of money promoting new and established comedians performing at large venues like the Apollo, and also runs the BBC New Comedy Awards annual ceremony which is considered one of the highlights of the comedy calendar. Frankie is a gem and a fellow Scot so I'm biased in favour of him but let's not forget he left comedy behind of his own accord. Can't blame the BBC for that.

In fact if you're going to slag off the BBC the least you can do is come live over here for a year and pay your TV licence fee so a) you're contributing, and b) you actually have a leg to stand on if you're going to make ludicrous and offensive claims.

Whenever I again hear the viking horns myth I'm reminded of the quote:
"A war hasn't been fought this badly since Olaf the Hairy, High Chief of all the Vikings accidentally ordered 80,000 battle helmets with the horns on the inside" - Blackadder (from Blackadder Goes Forth) referring to World War 1

Prince Blackadder is the most deliciously inept villain.

I stand corrected.

>> ^Trancecoach:

After years of Black Adder, Mr. Bean, and the brief Rowan Atkinson stand-up on HBO, the man is finally speaking as himself in public -- and it's nice to see, because he seems rather articulate and thoughtful, and quite a driver!

>> ^Yogi:

Is this from something specific?


Just a little thing the BBC did to hawk Blackadder DVDs. There was another one but I didn't sift it 'cause I thought it wasn't that good.

There's just something so righteous about the formula:

Blackadder > Tom Cruise.

For some reason, I can't get into this series but can for Mr. Beans, IT Crowd, Whose Line It Is Anyways, Fast and Loose, etc.

In reply to this comment by kymbos:
Well, I can't argue with that.

In reply to this comment by ant:
Not funny to me.

In reply to this comment by kymbos:
So indulge me. What was downvotable about this 17 seconds? http://videosift.com/video/Did-you-miss-me-Blackadder

Well, I can't argue with that.

In reply to this comment by ant:
Not funny to me.

In reply to this comment by kymbos:
So indulge me. What was downvotable about this 17 seconds? http://videosift.com/video/Did-you-miss-me-Blackadder