99 questions to ask your grandparents #57

57. Who do you think was the funniest comedian of your generation?

My taste in comedy has changed over the decades although it never lost its foundations. It’s grown more sophisticated but its base is built with rubber chickens and Groucho glasses (more on him later). Once upon a time I thought The Three Stooges the height of comedy; now they seem stupid.*

My grandfather liked Bob Hope, who was not at all funny. He and Johnny Carson are of the ilk of stand up types who tell jokes and wait nay demand a response.  Oh the pain.

Flip Wilson was the one who made me laugh. I enjoyed his poking fun at the white ho-hum types. I still remember the time he appeared as Geraldine for the first time, slowly descending the stairs in his bunny outfit as the audience anticipated what would happen. After a pregnant pause Bing Crosby said ‘well you got to see it to believe it” to which Flip replied ‘well honey you better believe it ‘cause you ain’t gonna get to see it” 

I am old enough to remember the stupid hilarity of ‘Laugh-in’ where I met Lily Tomlin and many others early in their career. Sock it to me!

British comedy always appealed to me: Monty Python; The Goodies (remember them?); Are you being served? – there was no lack thereof. Brits are maybe the funniest folks there is. Later in life there was Absolutely Fabulous” from which I have taken many lines and made them my own. 

My brothers and a few choice friends were and remain ardent fans of The Firesign Theatre. When my brothers aren’t quoting MPFC we are quoting TFC.  Why you’re no fun you fall right over.

I don’t know the modern comedians but I sometimes overhear Someone watching some. On the whole they strike me as a crude lot, making lewd jokes and using bad language just to get a joke – not at all my cup of tea. But this is coming from a fellow who nearly wets his pants watching Judy Tenut.

When it comes to comedy there is no accounting for taste. 

If my hypothetical grandchild asked me which comedian I would take to the desert island it would be The Marx Brothers. I weep to hear youngsters exclaiming not knowing who they were. The Brothers Marx were the best at combining farce, satire, and great lines. Groucho Marx was one of the funniest men of the 20th century; do not dare to question this. And I am not alone on this stance. When Groucho died  Newsweek magazine had a short article mentioning his passing. In the next edition in the letter section appeared:

“Didn’t you guys do a short shrift on Groucho?” – signed Woody Allen. 

I feel sorry for today’s comedians as the job description is to poke fun at others and ourselves and make us laugh at clichés and foibles. The Fool gets to say out loud what no one else dares to. People get offended so easily nowadays; no matter what you say there will be outrage and boycotts. Go ask Kathy Griffiths how she’s doing, 

Thank goodness for the comedians. Terry Pratchett said human beings need fantasy to be human but I would add humans need comedians just as much. 

Who are your favorite comedians? 

*That said, whenever I need cheering up I watch “Disorder in the court’ which invariably makes me laugh even after fifty years, and that’s saying something.