[narfstar]

I have enjoyed the humor of all of them except the monkeys. But i love their music.

[paw broon]

What about?....What about?   Never mind all that, I hope you've all laughed yourselves silly at the 2 Ronnies.  And if not, why not. 
Prof, you mentioned Monty Python and that's what I'm saying - that "Fork Handles" is up there with The Dead Parrot. And "Who's on First"  for that matter.

See now, this is serious stuff.

[josemas]

Mark, 

Since you are a big Laurel and Hardy fan here's some good news recently posted by one of my old film buddies, Rob Stone, who currently works for the Library of Congress, that may be of interest to you.

"Today FedEx delivered four barrels of nitrate purchased by the Library of Congress from a private collector in Suffolk, United Kingdom. Included in the shipment was the previously thought to be lost Oliver Hardy film, AN EXPENSIVE VISIT (Lubin, 1915). Always a good day to be able to add back onto the extant list any film, but it is always a bit more special when it features Babe Hardy.

It should be noted that the purchase was made possible due to the work of leading Laurel & Hardy solo film expert David Wyatt. He made us aware of the potential sale, and when the deal was made he transported the films to the British Film Institute (who helped facilitate the shipment to the U.S.).

More on this title in the near future...."

Best

Joe

[josemas]

To clarify my point, my statement was with regard to "extreme graphic violence" as depicted in modern comic books. Not cartoons, not b&w film comedies, not cheapo Warren rip offs from the 60's. When you can see realistic blood and guts offered as a humorous counterpoint to a story point, I have to pass. If "sick" is "funny", I'm not laughing. YMMV.

Peace, Jim (|:{>

Jim,

I'm still not clear.  Are you saying this is a strong trend in comics now-a-days?  If so, I have not noticed it.  I'm not saying it's not happening but it's probably just in a small niche of the market that I haven't noticed. 
There are just so many comics coming out every week and I can only check out a small percentage of what is being published. 
While I can definitely say that many comics are grimmer than Silver Age comics and pretty graphic violence is certainly more common now-a-days I really haven't noticed the use of it in the sort of humorous context you refer to.  Not in any that stick in my mind, anyway.

Best

Joe

[Yoc]

BTW Keaton is funny Chaplin is not.

Wow, that's pretty harsh Mark.  Each to their own but I defy anyone to watch the classic 'eating the shoe' scene in 'The Gold Rush' and not die laughing.  Chaplin would depend on sentimentality more than perhaps some others but he was a master of physical humour too.  Maybe not to the level of Keaton who was at the top, but gosh he was good.

Surprising how little mention there is of The Marx Brothers who I put right near the top of my list.

And I'm the first to mention Dave Allen at Large among all you UK members?  tsk tsk.   

Gee and what about The Last of Summer Wine?

[MarkWarner]

Last of the Summer Wine? Are you being serious?

[paw broon]

'Fraid so. Our Trans-Atlantic cousins seem to like it.

"Each to their own but I defy anyone to watch the classic 'eating the shoe' scene in 'The Gold Rush' and not die laughing."  Yoc
I just don't find him that funny but there was a time,when I was young and saw that scene for the first time and because my parents were laughing like drains, I smiled a bit.

"And I'm the first to mention Dave Allen at Large among all you UK members?  tsk tsk." Yoc.
Yes, well, once upon a time he made me laugh but I haven't seen his stuff for ages.  Other dead comedians that do still make me chortle are Chic Murray; Francie and Josie (Jack Milroy and Rikki Fulton) Fulton is also famous for his lugubrious Minister of the Church, I.M.Jolly; Max wall and some other Scottish and British comics you've probably never heard of. Currently and very much still alive, Count Arthur Strong, whose radio show is  running on Radio 4
By the way, before anybody mentions him, when I was in a folk group, we played on the same bill as The Humblebums, in their very early days, when Billy Connolly was a member.  Tudor hotel, Airdrie.
Connolly in his earlier days, before becoming a world star, was fall off the chair funny, especially in smaller venues.

[Captain Audio]

The Prison diner scene where Chaplin gets hold of the Cocaine being smuggled to the gangsters is great.
The scene where he is caught up in the gears of a great machine is also great. Both deal with recognizable social issues of the day, and translate to todays world as well as then.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoJtNQinInA

[Yoc]

Last of the Summer Wine? Are you being serious?

Well, maybe half.  But there is a charm to it.  It's not fall down laughing but I do enjoy good character actors that work well together.

Palmer and Dench in 'As Time Goes By' was such a show.  Certainly no 'Fawty Towers' or 'Yes, Minister' but still very watchable.  'Doc Martin' is another very well made and charming show.

Now 'Cracker', 'Prime Suspect' and 'Blood In The Wire', those are all top notch crime shows that run circles around American network shows.  These days I'm finding I enjoy the American cable shows much more.

[Captain Audio]

Some of the pre cable crime dramas of the 50's and 90's were pretty good, much better than more recent fare.

Best crime drama series on TV lately has been "Copper" on BBCAmerica.

[MarkWarner]

Nothing can beat Columbo and that is a fact!