People /shows that were funny once... but no longer...

scrumhalf

I used to see Hale and Pace when they were part of Fundation down at the Woolwich Tramshed. I sometimes wonder what happened to the brilliant performers I used to see when I saw them on telly.

Sassafras

EricTheWeary said:

I used to think Whose Line is it Anyway was brilliant. That has not aged well, seen a bit on Gold ( or somesuch) and oh dear God what was I thinking....

 I've usually found improvised comedy excruciating and cringeworthy so I know what you're saying.

EricTheWeary

Sassafras said:

EricTheWeary said:

I used to think Whose Line is it Anyway was brilliant. That has not aged well, seen a bit on Gold ( or somesuch) and oh dear God what was I thinking....

 I've usually found improvised comedy excruciating and cringeworthy so I know what you're saying.

I think I probably had some naivety around it and was amazed at how clever I thought everyone was, now I would see the set ups coming from a mile off.

xSkarloey

Remember John Sessions on the Spot? That was probably the zenith (i.e. nadir) for the improv vogue.

I'm sure someone finds it funny and this is purely personal taste, but whenever I see Paul Merton's 'Improv Chums' tour advertised, I cringe a little.

(And away from Radio 4 does anyone actually use the word chum if not referring to dog food?)

crunchman

Never Mind the Buzzcocks.  Hasn't been funny since Mark Lamarr left.  The new ones aren't quite as bad as when Simon Amstell was doing them but they are still pretty poor.

Col_Decker

Jack Dee. I used to like is dead pan style but now I just think he should cheer up a bit.

CabbageCat

I think it would be much harder to come up with a list of things that have stayed funny.

Even very funny things become a victim of their own successes. Richard Curtiss and Douglas Adams and Bill Hicks and Monty Python and Terry Pratchett etc feel like parodies of themselves nowadays because every teenager since they were new has adopted little chunks and recited them until they stopped being funny.

not_the_dj

That one from Lee and Herring that didn't write the Jerry Springer Opera. We saw him live a few years ago and he was awful, just came across as a nasty and very bitter bloke.

The other one from Lee and Herring (that did write Jerry Springer the Opera) seems to be quite nasty and bitter as well.

However I did used to enjoy TMWRNJ and Fist of Fun.

Teetonetal

I think all comedians and comedies have a shortish shelf life. more pertinent question would be who from 80/90/00s is still funny...

chillidoggy

Perhaps we should be asking ourselves why Michael MacIntyre is considered funny?

scrumhalf

chillidoggy said:

Perhaps we should be asking ourselves why Michael MacIntyre is considered funny?

He's focus-group funny. And we all know how good focus-group-oriented things are.

Philly_Q

not_the_dj said:

That one from Lee and Herring that didn't write the Jerry Springer Opera. We saw him live a few years ago and he was awful, just came across as a nasty and very bitter bloke.

The other one from Lee and Herring (that did write Jerry Springer the Opera) seems to be quite nasty and bitter as well.

However I did used to enjoy TMWRNJ and Fist of Fun.

I loved those shows so much.

Can't believe they got away with stuff like "P.S. I am wanking as I write this" on a Sunday lunchtime on BBC2.

RocknRollDave

not_the_dj said:

That one from Lee and Herring that didn't write the Jerry Springer Opera. We saw him live a few years ago and he was awful, just came across as a nasty and very bitter bloke.

The other one from Lee and Herring (that did write Jerry Springer the Opera) seems to be quite nasty and bitter as well.

However I did used to enjoy TMWRNJ and Fist of Fun.

paging @Bucket for some back up re Stewart Lee..

Handsome_Chris

not_the_dj said:

That one from Lee and Herring that didn't write the Jerry Springer Opera. We saw him live a few years ago and he was awful, just came across as a nasty and very bitter bloke.

The other one from Lee and Herring (that did write Jerry Springer the Opera) seems to be quite nasty and bitter as well.

However I did used to enjoy TMWRNJ and Fist of Fun.

When I was out with my  ex, I saw Stewart Lee walking around Salisbury market square. He looked fat and depressed.

Sassafras

He's married to Bridget Christie and she's quite funny but maybe she's brought him down.

HAL9000

The thing (can't recall the title) with Martin Clunes, Neil Morrisey, etc. First series was funny, but essentially it had only one theme which was Neil Morrisey trying to get off with the Lesley Ash character. Wore a bit thin by series three or whatever it went up to. 

Any of Hi-de-hi or its offshoots. Oh wait, they were never funny we're they.?

Nunogilberto

HAL9000;569345" said:

The thing (can't recall the title) with Martin Clunes, Neil Morrisey, etc. First series was funny, but essentially it had only one theme which was Neil Morrisey trying to get off with the Lesley Ash character. Wore a bit thin by series three or whatever it went up to. 



Men Behaving Badly...

Wolfetone

Monty Python. I watched some the other day and I can't see what was hilarious.

RocknRollDave

Peter Kay

lloyd

Wolfetone;569474" said:

Monty Python. I watched some the other day and I can't see what was hilarious.

The films are great (2 of them) but I agree with 90% of their output is not great