Whether it’s surreal Monty Python humor or slapstick Mr. Bean, there’s something great about British comedy.
The heroes are bumbling complex figures and the stories often manage to be stupid and highly intellectual at the same time. Add to that a whole range of cultural influences you don't see in American comedy, and you've got a fascinating as well as hilarious good time.
Here are six classic British comedy sketches for when you desperately need a laugh.
1. Sounds Like Greek ("Blackadder")
There are a few things one shouldn’t do. Betrays ones family, leave friends to suffer in silence, or use figures of speech around people who don’t understand English.
In this case, Blackadder (who does the first two things multiple times later) foolishly says “It’s All Greek to Me” to one of his idiot henchmen.
Perhaps the funniest part – and maybe what helped make this show so successful, is this silly scene’s happening in a period piece.
2. "The Dead Parrot Sketch" (Monty Python)
In one of the best-known Python sketches, John Cleese’s character tries to get his money back for a parrot which was already dead when he bought it.
Ironically, John Cleese reused some of this material for his eulogy at cowriter Graham Chapman’s funeral.
3. "The Devil Toby Welcomes You to Hell" ("Rowan Atkinson Live")
A few years before Blackadder or his more famous Mr. Bean appeared, Rowan Atkinson wowed crowds and seasoned TV professionals with live comedy shows featuring anything from slapstick to Shakespeare parodies.
In this particular show, Atkinson is the Devil (“you can call me ‘Toby’”) welcoming the last shipment to his infernal domain.
4. Street Interviews ("A Bit of Fry and Laurie")
What do two comics – one of them a Python fan – do when they start their own sketch comedy show and need something to transition between sketches?
Surreal cartoons were out of the question, so they went with “Man in the Street” interviews where they played ridiculous characters giving silly responses.
These pieces turned out to be so popular they often appear on YouTube by themselves, endless streams of ten- to sixty-second sketches.
Warning: some of the jokes may be adult.5. "The Ministry of Silly Walks" (Monty Python)
Sometimes you wonder if the government really needs all the programs (or “ministries” as they’re referred to in the UK) that we pay tax money for.
Especially if they involve paying people to walk funny.
6. Critics ("A Bit of Fry and Laurie")
TV critics can be a bit pompous at times – so Fry and Laurie turned tables by playing TV critics critiquing their own sketches in one episode.
For context, here’s the sketch that leads up to this one
Enough about me - what's your favorite British comedy sketch? Feel to mention it in a comment below.
