O/T - Best Comedy Sketch

The Rise and Fall of Reginal Perrin:
Reggie (now a successful owner of a string of Grot shops), is interviewed on the weekly magazine programme, Pillock Talk.
 
As well as just being superbly written, Four candles is a masterclass in timing, a lot of what Corbett does in it takes it to a higher level.

Can I also add the Mastermind sketch they did, answering the question before last. Barker said they were worried when filming it that the audience might not get it all first time round, and the reaction would be diluted in multiple takes to the ones they did get. He needn't have, it was done first time and everything was spot on.

Have to agree that RB was the best. Cleese runs him close but didn't have the range of characterisation Barker had. I'd also have to find a place for some Fawlty in there somewhere, even though it wasn't strictly sketches. The end sequence of the Psychiatrist was spot on too.
 
CGP1 said:
As well as just being superbly written, Four candles is a masterclass in timing, a lot of what Corbett does in it takes it to a higher level.

Can I also add the Mastermind sketch they did, answering the question before last. Barker said they were worried when filming it that the audience might not get it all first time round, and the reaction would be diluted in multiple takes to the ones they did get. He needn't have, it was done first time and everything was spot on.

Have to agree that RB was the best. Cleese runs him close but didn't have the range of characterisation Barker had. I'd also have to find a place for some Fawlty in there somewhere, even though it wasn't strictly sketches. The end sequence of the Psychiatrist was spot on too.
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Was just about to say - as good as the four candles sketch was, in my opinion the mastermind sketch was better. Absolute genius!
 
Simonized said:
An old guy I worked with from Blackpool Tommy Salt used that one on me once while we were breaking scrap railway line many many years ago.
Before OF's&H's did it but he was telling me about his old Sledgehammer and gullible young lad me fell for it.😒😋
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RIP Tommy, what a top lad he was and very funny to boot. Back to O/P for me it was Blackadder in WW1 when General Melchett (Stephen Fry) had a date with Corporal George (Hugh Laurie), pure comedy gold.
 
There are so many to choose from, all those comedy sitcoms were wonderful.
Only fools and horses
Fawly Towers
Rising Damp
Open all Hours
Steptoe and son
Hyacinth Bouquet (can’t remember the name of the programme)
And many more

Pity there are none now
 
Mates - Keeping up appearances.

To your list I'd add Are you being served and It ain't half hot mum (neither of which would probably even be allowed to be made now, especially the latter even though the protesters would ignore that it was taking the piss out of Imperial Britain and not being racist).

I think im right in saying the shows we have are all BBC, bar Rising Damp? A testimony to the gulf in class. ITV had several funny sitcoms but very little came close to the BBC ones.
 
Dawn French jumping into the puddle in Vicar of Dibley
Jennifer Aniston singing "I like big butts and i know i cannot lie" to her baby in Friends.
 
Still Game where Winston kicks his false leg and £30 grand out through the window.
Also the munter girlfriend episode where Victor and Jack are out on a double date
 
As has been posted earlier Ronnie Barker was an absolute comedy genius.
He would metamorphosize into many different characters and be totally unique
(Arkwright and Fletcher!!)

Personally, the sketch I'd choose would be Barkers portrayal of the minister of the mispronunciation of words.

I've tried reading it on the comedy carpet and its nigh on impossible to do when you see the worms in front of you.
To be able to even think of a sketch like that is fantastic but then to be able to perform it with such comedy timing and faultless precision is a thing of wonder.

Ronnie Barker, no one comes close👍🏻
 
I think the Monty Python "Election Night Special" is right up there, but I've only ever heard it on vinyl on the Live at Drury Lane album.

The Philosophers Football Match and the Drinkers Song both really appealed to me ("Rene Descartes is a drunken fart, I drink therefore I am"). Brilliant.
 
Barker is just a superb comic actor.

In terms of pure sketches, as well as the classics that have been mentioned, some that stick out for me are 'Ted & Ralph' in the Fast Show, stars in their eyes on Reeves and Mortimer and a couple of great sketches from Mitchell and Webb too.
 
CGP1 said:
Mates - Keeping up appearances.

To your list I'd add Are you being served and It ain't half hot mum (neither of which would probably even be allowed to be made now, especially the latter even though the protesters would ignore that it was taking the piss out of Imperial Britain and not being racist).

I think im right in saying the shows we have are all BBC, bar Rising Damp? A testimony to the gulf in class. ITV had several funny sitcoms but very little came close to the BBC ones.
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We get to watch both are you being served and it ain’t half hot mum down here, John inman was hilarious and as camp as a row of pink tents. And Sargent shut up ( oh dear, how sad never mind) you bunch of puffs, were awesome. But the pc brigade cannot see the wood for the trees.
 
straightatthewall said:
Barker is just a superb comic actor.

In terms of pure sketches, as well as the classics that have been mentioned, some that stick out for me are 'Ted & Ralph' in the Fast Show, stars in their eyes on Reeves and Mortimer and a couple of great sketches from Mitchell and Webb too.
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I’d not even thought of The Fast Show, some great sketches on there.
PW was genius, “I was very, very drunk”, and “Bugger!” were top drawer.
👍
 
Scarecrow: " What idiot bought that pizza oven? Must have cost hundreds!"
Brownpants: " But grandad it is the latest trend especially in Lytham..Er, can you sub me a grand i've got some parking fines.....
 
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