Eric 'n Ernie, Mike 'n Bernie...

[swee'pea99]

(from y'day's Guardian)

I like Eric Morecambe's response when asked what he and Ernie would have been had they not become comedians: "Mike and Bernie Winters" (Letters, 24 August).

Jim Smith
Cambridge

(This being a followup to a letter earlier in the week referring to an occasion when Bernie was onstage, and after a couple of minutes, Mike poked his head through the curtains, bringing a loud groan from someone in the stalls: "Oh God, there's two of them.")

 

[downfader]

Bring me Sunshine - everytime I hear it ends up like a loop in me head. Love that song and the way Morecambe and Wise did it. Morecambe got all the credit - praise - acclaim, but without Wise it would never have worked.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Mike and Bernie Winters were as funny as toothache. They only ever got anywhere because double acts became fashionable, they didn't have an ounce of talent between them.

But for real bottom of the barrel crap, anyone unfortunate to remember Hope & Keen?

 

[byegad]

While M&B weren't a patch on E&E they weren't that bad IMHO. They were OK until you saw the real duo. Eric Morecambe was a genius and Ernie Wise not that far off. Importantly, they could both play straight man or funny man and did so with consummate professionalism.

 

[Smokin Joe]

The best double act of all were Pete & Dud.

 

[vernon]

The best double act of all were Pete & Dud.

You forgot about Bill and Ben

 

[Arch]

The best double act of all were Pete & Dud.

Nah, Eric and Ernie for me. That may be partly because I grew up watching them, and not Pete and Dud, and partly because although I quite enjoy Pete and Dud in small doses, Dud's habit of corpsing spoils it a bit. I know Eric and Ernie did it occasionally, but much more in control.

There was a Morecambe and Wise on some time last Christmas, one of their Xmas specials, and not even a classic I think. But it was still hilarious, and barring the Brotherhood of Man as music act, not really all that dated. I could happily sit and watch repeats of their stuff week after week.

Proms last night, was Rogers and Hammerstein, and they had four singers doing 'Nothing like a Dame'. Not a patch on the newsreaders' version....

And yes, Bring me Sunshine gives me a warm feeling, like Oliver Postgate's voice, and fish fingers.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

But for real bottom of the barrel crap, anyone unfortunate to remember Hope & Keen?

Don't remember them but how about Hale and Pace for unfunny - get more laughs thrashing yourself with stinging nettles.

 

[PaulB]

Don't remember them but how about Hale and Pace for unfunny - get more laughs thrashing yourself with stinging nettles.

Hale and Pace! They eventually discovered what had caused the mystery of the Mary Celeste. Hale and Pace were the cabaret.

 

[Andy in Sig]

It's funny innit because I quite liked Hale and Pace but thought that the worst imaginable ever were Little and Large.

Cannon and Ball could be very funny though.

 

[bauldbairn]

Cannon and Ball could be very funny though.

+1

I saw them 30 odd years ago in Blackpool(with my mum and dad) when I was a kid(11) and thought they were brilliant - it must have been their heyday? They were good for the time.

Eric and Ernie were the Kings though!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

...thought that the worst imaginable ever were Little and Large.

Steps back in amazement!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I'd forgotten them. And nobody's mentioned the Krankies yet either.

What about your faves, Mort? The Chuckle Brothers!

 

[rich p]

What about your faves, Mort? The Chuckle Brothers!

Crankarm & Peanut?

 

[PaulB]

What about your faves, Mort? The Chuckle Brothers!

The Chuckle Brothers! Isn't that a sexual position? It's another term for that which I won't name but if you imagine 'to me, to you' and you're probably in mind of that alternative term