quote:Originally posted by Magdalene: ...the "British-isms" have always mildly annoyed me, because she'll 'hiccup' them--she'll start to say, "I'm going to stuff my fa--gob." "I'm going to wash all my un--knickers." I think I've just always thought, "You were already halfway through the 'American' word anyway, the British one isn't your first choice, quit it."
Up until you said this, I was with the people who were asking "What's the big deal?" If she just fell into the habit of using such terms, well, that's part of her personality; it may sound silly to you, but let her have her fun. But if she's actually correcting herself to use them...yeah, that'd be pretty annoying, though in a strange sort of way.
However, I don't see what there is to do about it...except perhaps what you did, blow off steam here so it doesn't boil over into something unnecessarily nasty there. So, blow away.
(And hey! What's wrong with quoting large swaths of Monty Python sketches anyway...?)
posted
Here I thought the rant was about those obnoxious Ren Faire ads on the radio in really bad British accents. Or does only Arizona get those?
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posted
In DC, they were usually delivered in American accents. The annoying part was that the narrator would always speed up at the very end so that she could mention in the closing seconds that there would be "lots of men in kilts" there.
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posted
By Jove, I like a gel who wears unknickers!
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posted
Presumably UN Knickers are light blue, and monitor the withdrawal by combatants from a former conflict area.
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quote:Originally posted by Echinodermata Q. Taft: (And hey! What's wrong with quoting large swaths of Monty Python sketches anyway...?)
Well, it is 40 years old, and comedy has moved on a little since.
Think of it like a Brit quoting large swathes of The Carol Burnett Show.
-------------------- seriously , everyone on here , just trys to give someone crap about something they do !! , its shitting me to tears. Posts: 16061 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Echinodermata Q. Taft: (And hey! What's wrong with quoting large swaths of Monty Python sketches anyway...?)
Well, it is 40 years old, and comedy has moved on a little since.
Think of it like a Brit quoting large swathes of The Carol Burnett Show.
I think you're reaching a bit to make Python seem irrelevant but, frankly, there are lots of great lines from The Carol Burnett Show, that probably do get quoted pretty often.
Chris "..this old thing? I saw it in a window and couldn't resist..." tie
-------------------- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation. - Jean Kerr Posts: 18428 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Christie: [QB]I think you're reaching a bit to make Python seem irrelevant[...]
Well, to be brutally frank, I couldn't think of any American sketch show from the 60s that was hugely influential on comedy. Hmm, maybe Dan Ackroyd, Chevvy Chase and John Belushi on Saturday Night Live.
But, as it is, I'm not sure that I can think of much in the way of British comedy that is influenced by Monty Python any more. There's a tendency to label anything somewhat surreal as "Pythonesque", but I'm having a hard time thinking of anything more recent than Reeves And Mortimer that could be described as in any way similar.
If anything, comedy has seemingly regressed to pre-Python days. There's a return to variety, and a return of catchphrase comedy (the latter of which, I think, is directly attributable to The Fast Show - which is 12 years old itself).
quote:[...]frankly, there are lots of great lines from The Carol Burnett Show, that probably do get quoted pretty often.
"Large swathes", though?
You have to admit that Monty Python does seem to hold a special place in many American's hearts. Which, much as I love the show (and grew up on it), I have to say that I find utterly bemusing.
-------------------- seriously , everyone on here , just trys to give someone crap about something they do !! , its shitting me to tears. Posts: 16061 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Christie: [QB]I think you're reaching a bit to make Python seem irrelevant[...]
Well, to be brutally frank, I couldn't think of any American sketch show from the 60s that was hugely influential on comedy. Hmm, maybe Dan Ackroyd, Chevvy Chase and John Belushi on Saturday Night Live.
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In come to mind. SNL didn't start until the 1970's.
Nick
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quote:Originally posted by Christie: [QB]I think you're reaching a bit to make Python seem irrelevant[...]
Well, to be brutally frank, I couldn't think of any American sketch show from the 60s that was hugely influential on comedy. Hmm, maybe Dan Ackroyd, Chevvy Chase and John Belushi on Saturday Night Live.
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In come to mind. SNL didn't start until the 1970's.
Nick
He missed it by THAT much.
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posted
And yet I've not heard any of those things said here on snopes, yet the Pythons crop up all the time.
-------------------- seriously , everyone on here , just trys to give someone crap about something they do !! , its shitting me to tears. Posts: 16061 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Christie: [QB]I think you're reaching a bit to make Python seem irrelevant[...]
Well, to be brutally frank, I couldn't think of any American sketch show from the 60s that was hugely influential on comedy. Hmm, maybe Dan Ackroyd, Chevvy Chase and John Belushi on Saturday Night Live.
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In come to mind. SNL didn't start until the 1970's.
Nick
Mom always liked you best.
-------------------- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation. - Jean Kerr Posts: 18428 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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quote:Originally posted by trollface: You have to admit that Monty Python does seem to hold a special place in many American's hearts.
There are at least as many Americans, and probably far more, who actively dislike it or just don't find it funny. It's mostly a nerdy thing.
quote: Which, much as I love the show (and grew up on it), I have to say that I find utterly bemusing.
Novelty factor, maybe. Plus, since it was never on network TV, you kind of had to find it, which may have given it some cachet. Sort of a nerd chic.
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posted
Most young people I know aren't really into the TV sketch show as much as they are into the films. My son is 19 and he and his friends love "Life of Brian" and "Holy Grail" - to the point where, yeah, they do know whole swatches of it off by heart.
I'm not sure why that's something they should feel stupid about though nor do I see them liking Python to the exclusion of more recent films & TV shows.
Trollface are you equally bemused by those of us who love Jack Benny, Burns and Allen and the Marx Brothers?
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posted
I've never encountered anyone reciting whole scenes from Jack Benny, Burns and Allen or the Marx Brothers.
-------------------- seriously , everyone on here , just trys to give someone crap about something they do !! , its shitting me to tears. Posts: 16061 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2000
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quote:Originally posted by trollface: I've never encountered anyone reciting whole scenes from Jack Benny, Burns and Allen or the Marx Brothers.
I was responding to your:
quote:You have to admit that Monty Python does seem to hold a special place in many American's hearts. Which, much as I love the show (and grew up on it), I have to say that I find utterly bemusing.
Not so much the "whole swatches" bit.
-------------------- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation. - Jean Kerr Posts: 18428 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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quote:Originally posted by trollface: I've never encountered anyone reciting whole scenes from Jack Benny, Burns and Allen or the Marx Brothers.
I've encountered people reciting whole scenes from the latter two, especially the Marx Brothers.
I've also encountered people reciting whole scenes from the Three Stooges, which I find entirely unfunny. I suppose that would bemuse me if I gave it any thought.
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quote:Originally posted by Lainie: I've also encountered people reciting whole scenes from the Three Stooges, which I find entirely unfunny. I suppose that would bemuse me if I gave it any thought.
Is liking the Stooges a guy thing do you think? I've never met a woman yet who liked them but I know lots of otherwise intelligent men who find the Stooges hilarious.
-------------------- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation. - Jean Kerr Posts: 18428 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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quote:Originally posted by trollface: I've never encountered anyone reciting whole scenes from Jack Benny, Burns and Allen or the Marx Brothers.
quote:Jack: Hmmm...sure is dark tonight...no moon. Oh, well. (Hums "Love in Bloom") Ya ta dee da dah, da dah, da dah....
Mel: Hey, buddy. Got a light?
Jack: What?
Mel: Got a light?
Jack: Oh. Oh, sure -- Mister! Put down that gun!
Mel: Shaddup! Your money or your life!
[EXTENDED PAUSE]
Mel: I said your money or your life!
Jack: I'm thinking it over!
quote: George: Gracie! What were you doing outside at this time of night?
Gracie: I was down at the corner, helping my brother look for his car keys. He lost them in the middle of the block.
George: He lost his keys in the middle of the block? Then why were you looking for them down at the corner?
Gracie: Well, it's an awfully dark night, and the street light is at the corner--
George: ...and the light is better down there.
quote: Groucho (Unfolding a set of plans): Now all along the river here, these are levees--
Chico: Oh, that's the Jewish section?
Groucho: Well, we'll pass over that. You're a peach. Now, this is a little peninsula, and here's a viaduct leading over to the mainland--
Chico: Why a duck?
Groucho: Oh, I'm all right, how are you? I say here is a little peninsula and this is a viaduct leading over to the mainland.
Chico: All right, why a duck?
Groucho: I'm not playing Ask Me Another! I say that's a viaduct--
Chico: All right, but why a duck? Why a no chicken?
Groucho: Look, that's--that's deep water! You try to get over that, you'll find out why-a no chicken!
-------------------- "No hard feelin's and HOPpy New Year!"--Walt Kelly Hear what you're missing: ARTC podcasts! http://artcpodcast.org/ Posts: 7581 | From: Gainesville, Georgia | Registered: Jun 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Lainie: I've also encountered people reciting whole scenes from the Three Stooges, which I find entirely unfunny. I suppose that would bemuse me if I gave it any thought.
Is liking the Stooges a guy thing do you think? I've never met a woman yet who liked them but I know lots of otherwise intelligent men who find the Stooges hilarious.
I've noticed the same pattern. It did bemuse me, I guess, when I was a kid and had to put up with my brothers watching them on the only TV in our tiny little house. Now I'm older and wiser and have my own TV and I don't really care who finds what funny.
-------------------- How homophobic do you have to be to have penguin gaydar? - Lewis Black Posts: 8322 | From: Columbus, OH | Registered: Aug 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Brad from Georgia: [QUOTE]Originally posted by trollface: [qb] I've never encountered anyone reciting whole scenes from Jack Benny, Burns and Allen or the Marx Brothers.
quote:Jack: Hmmm...sure is dark tonight...no moon. Oh, well. (Hums "Love in Bloom") Ya ta dee da dah, da dah, da dah....
Mel: Hey, buddy. Got a light?
Jack: What?
Mel: Got a light?
Jack: Oh. Oh, sure -- Mister! Put down that gun!
Mel: Shaddup! Your money or your life!
[EXTENDED PAUSE]
Mel: I said your money or your life!
Jack: I'm thinking it over!
When I was in labour with my first child *after* the epidural I was listening to this on a tape. The doctors came in to check on me and couldn't understand why this about-to-give-birth lady was lying on the hospital bed howling with laughter.
-------------------- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation. - Jean Kerr Posts: 18428 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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posted
Another favorite moment, when opera singer Dorothy Kirsten was Jack Benny's guest:
quote: Don Wilson: I saw your performance last night, Miss Kirsten, and may I say it was wonderful.
Dorothy: Why, thank you, Mr. Wilson.
Don: I thought your attack was splendid, and your bel canto was wonderful, such a difficult passage and your coloratura was impeccable.
Dorothy: Yes, it's very difficult not to put much tremolo in the higher registers.
Don: But you did a superb job, and your voice held up wonderfully even in the recitative immediately preceding the aria.
Jack Benny: Well, I thought--
Mary Livingstone: Oh, shut up!
-------------------- "No hard feelin's and HOPpy New Year!"--Walt Kelly Hear what you're missing: ARTC podcasts! http://artcpodcast.org/ Posts: 7581 | From: Gainesville, Georgia | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
"I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How it got into my pajamas, I'll never know."
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quote:Originally posted by Lainie: I've also encountered people reciting whole scenes from the Three Stooges, which I find entirely unfunny. I suppose that would bemuse me if I gave it any thought.
Is liking the Stooges a guy thing do you think? I've never met a woman yet who liked them but I know lots of otherwise intelligent men who find the Stooges hilarious.
I have one female friend who loves the Stooges, and we've had this conversation (I don't really get the humor, myself). Neither of us have met any other women who like the Stooges, either, but there's at least one.
ETA - As far as quoting outdated British comedy sketches go, I prefer Blackadder to Python. I'd never admit it in my circle, though - I have to keep pretending "The Larch" is just hilarious.
posted
My wife loves the Sttoges but, she likes all slapstick humor (or, to be British, humour). So, there are at least 2.
When I was in the army, I had a senior NCO that spent a great deal of time in Englad. When he was in a good mood, he would lapse into a psuedo British accent. Example of chewing out a private that had his shirt pocket unbuttoned. "soldier, you are naked!!!, stark, bloomin' 'orrible naked!!"
Living in Bahrain, I have uncontiously picked up a few Britishisms, like saying "flat" and not "apartment" or "lift" and not "elevator".
-------------------- Just singin' in the Bahrain Posts: 49 | From: Manama, Bahrain | Registered: Aug 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Lainie: I've also encountered people reciting whole scenes from the Three Stooges, which I find entirely unfunny. I suppose that would bemuse me if I gave it any thought.
Is liking the Stooges a guy thing do you think? I've never met a woman yet who liked them but I know lots of otherwise intelligent men who find the Stooges hilarious.
I must regrettably admit that the Wolfcub absolutely loves the Three Stooges; she's seven, I'm hoping she grows out of it. Mr. Greywolf turned her on to them, something I'm definitely bringing up as a bargaining chip in the future if need be.
For now, he gets a
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posted
I've also heard many people recite all or parts of Abbott and Costello's Who's on first comic routine.
And really, it's the height of provincialism to suggest that the frequency of snopester quoting is a measure of the influence or popularity of a comedy show; the ULMB isn't the whole world, much as we'd like to think so.
Nick
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quote:Originally posted by Echinodermata Q. Taft: However, I don't see what there is to do about it...except perhaps what you did, blow off steam here so it doesn't boil over into something unnecessarily nasty there. So, blow away.
(And hey! What's wrong with quoting large swaths of Monty Python sketches anyway...?)
I'd suggest turning the tables on her & doing it myself. Learn a few British slang terms that she likely doesn't know. And next time she gets in a snit, tell her, "Don't get your nappy in a bunch." And see how long it takes her to get it. (Why quote MP when you can quote Black Adder?)
dawn-who doesn't wear a nappy-da
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posted
Better yet, just make up nonsensical words that sound as if they barely might be British slang and throw them in:
"Strang! If this hooftah doesn't pring the bangle soon, I'm going absolutely spice!"
-------------------- "No hard feelin's and HOPpy New Year!"--Walt Kelly Hear what you're missing: ARTC podcasts! http://artcpodcast.org/ Posts: 7581 | From: Gainesville, Georgia | Registered: Jun 2000
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