I had to laugh at myself the other day, asking Tom when he FaceTimed if he’d had his tea (they are an hour ahead in Stockholm) and then asking what they had.
i remember watching the tv adaptation of Alan Ayckbourn's 'the norman conquests' on public broadcasting here in the states in 1977. i adored it and fell in love with the stellar cast. i could NOT even explain the plot to my friends. they just didn't get it. public broadcasting was the only place back in those days to see the classic 60s - 70s british comedies. i loved them all. and they were free. nearly FIFTY years ago now... yikes.
As a southern American I grew up with laughter (and a table of food) injected into even the most doleful of situations. It is healing and brings people together. After the stroke I laughed at the fact my first meal was spaghetti when i couldn’t even find my mouth and somehow conveyed that the walls would need a wash as a result of my feeding myself. Life is too fleeting to be grave. Lol I absolutely adore the humor of Ab Fab….
True, the South has its own unique humor, an ability to laugh at oneself, a dry wit. Even Flannery O'Connor's dark, tragic stories are intentionally funny!
This has made me think deeply about what makes me laugh and yes it’s wit and warmth. Teasing, scoring points and crude humour never hit the mark for me. Interesting point about how much one has at stake…
So true about Leonard Cohen - I immersed myself in him in the wake of a messy breakup and ended up so loving his wit that it cheered me right up again.
Worth it just for Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade head to head. Or Bob Mortimer torturing David Mitchell on Would I Lie to You? Then Lee Mack with his lightening repartee. I'm smiling just thinking of them and that's a good thing.
A pleasure on my Sunday morning, as always 🧡 I actually went looking for you on Instagram to thank you for alerting to me about the Winifred Nicholson rag rugs — my friend, five year old and I made a journey to Carlisle to see them this week before the exhibition closes. Perhaps they didn’t quite make me laugh, but they did fill us all with a lot of joy !
My Swedish partner admires the appreciation of silliness in northern English humour, and our readiness to laugh. And I’m with you on Instagram - I deleted my account in January after receiving some Chinese state propaganda about Xinjiang as a suggested post. No regrets; such a thief of time.
Thank you, lots of lovely funniness here. I can never not click on a Ted Lasso clip. Did you try Shrinking, from the same gentle stable but with a priceless comic turn by Harrison Ford? Who knew! And I find the comedy of embarrassment, like Fawlty Towers, quite tricky, but did enjoy The Studio on Apple TV. The episode where the director Sarah Polley is trying for the perfect 'one take shot'. Brilliant.
Absolutely loved this exploration of laughter and the carnivalesque literary mode. I'm one American who watches only British comedy and drama (thank you PBS and Britbox!) I have never understood the appeal of US sit-com shows. However, the US did produce Woody Allen and many great stand-up comedians. But nothing as amazing as Shakespeare, Charlie Chaplin, and of course, the Beatles!
Oh Jane! You’ve made me laugh. You’ve made me cry.
i remember watching the tv adaptation of Alan Ayckbourn's 'the norman conquests' on public broadcasting here in the states in 1977. i adored it and fell in love with the stellar cast. i could NOT even explain the plot to my friends. they just didn't get it. public broadcasting was the only place back in those days to see the classic 60s - 70s british comedies. i loved them all. and they were free. nearly FIFTY years ago now... yikes.
As a southern American I grew up with laughter (and a table of food) injected into even the most doleful of situations. It is healing and brings people together. After the stroke I laughed at the fact my first meal was spaghetti when i couldn’t even find my mouth and somehow conveyed that the walls would need a wash as a result of my feeding myself. Life is too fleeting to be grave. Lol I absolutely adore the humor of Ab Fab….
True, the South has its own unique humor, an ability to laugh at oneself, a dry wit. Even Flannery O'Connor's dark, tragic stories are intentionally funny!
https://laingartgallery.org.uk/whats-on/with-these-hands
Jane - you might like this
Best wishes Linda
This has made me think deeply about what makes me laugh and yes it’s wit and warmth. Teasing, scoring points and crude humour never hit the mark for me. Interesting point about how much one has at stake…
So true about Leonard Cohen - I immersed myself in him in the wake of a messy breakup and ended up so loving his wit that it cheered me right up again.
Did you see Last One Laughing?
Worth it just for Bob Mortimer and Richard Ayoade head to head. Or Bob Mortimer torturing David Mitchell on Would I Lie to You? Then Lee Mack with his lightening repartee. I'm smiling just thinking of them and that's a good thing.
Wonderful Sunday reading as always - thank you xx
A pleasure on my Sunday morning, as always 🧡 I actually went looking for you on Instagram to thank you for alerting to me about the Winifred Nicholson rag rugs — my friend, five year old and I made a journey to Carlisle to see them this week before the exhibition closes. Perhaps they didn’t quite make me laugh, but they did fill us all with a lot of joy !
My Swedish partner admires the appreciation of silliness in northern English humour, and our readiness to laugh. And I’m with you on Instagram - I deleted my account in January after receiving some Chinese state propaganda about Xinjiang as a suggested post. No regrets; such a thief of time.
Thank you, lots of lovely funniness here. I can never not click on a Ted Lasso clip. Did you try Shrinking, from the same gentle stable but with a priceless comic turn by Harrison Ford? Who knew! And I find the comedy of embarrassment, like Fawlty Towers, quite tricky, but did enjoy The Studio on Apple TV. The episode where the director Sarah Polley is trying for the perfect 'one take shot'. Brilliant.
I was born in Stockport, left at 18 but still consider my sense of humour that of a northern lass! Great writing as always. Thank you ❤️
Did you catch the recent Eric Tucker exhibition in London? Typically, I only noticed the week after it closed!
When I was younger I loved when my scattered Yorkshire relatives got together. A LOT of laughter from very dry jokes! The South just isn't the same.
Do you remember watching sitcom about two girls flat sharing in Liverpool in the 70s? The Liverbirds? I loved that when I was a little.
Absolutely loved this exploration of laughter and the carnivalesque literary mode. I'm one American who watches only British comedy and drama (thank you PBS and Britbox!) I have never understood the appeal of US sit-com shows. However, the US did produce Woody Allen and many great stand-up comedians. But nothing as amazing as Shakespeare, Charlie Chaplin, and of course, the Beatles!